Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 41 - of tight spots

Chapter 41: Chapter of tight spots

Before dusk.

Kitchen, Theodore Mansion, Outskirts.

Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire

"Do you think the lord really is as evil as they used to say?" Joyce whispered as they worked in the kitchen with lamps and stories

"A monster you mean? What is your own opinion? You live here too after all" Dorathy countered her eyes red

"I think he is kind and intelligent" Joyce admitted her eyes dreamy

Dorothy nodded in agreement "Me too, he made Critic Arley into what it is and he bought us not for an experiment like we initially thought but to help his wife" she told

"I did not think he bought me for any experimental purpose, Dorathy" Joyce glared at her new friend, but Dorathy waved it off with a shy giggle.

"Also he married Lady Lydia despite she being an illegitimate child"

"He has darkness residing in him I will say though"

"Lydia is a witch" the whispering girls squealed, hiding their faces when Mira suddenly appeared and said those words

"How dare you call her by her name?"

"Oh I thought we were only gossiping"

"It’s not allowed, and why do you think she is a witch?"

"Her eye colour and her ability to make the Lord so smitten"

Joyce frowned "I agree the eye colour is rare in Critic-Ishire but you can’t call her a witch by that" Joyce told

"Yes, also what is happening with the lord is love" Dorathy added

"What are you whispering about?" They were all startled by squeals by Hound’s voice by the door, their spines ramrod straight as they turned to him.

"Nothing, good morning Sir Hound" Dorathy responded quickly

Hound coldly grunted "Don’t call me Sir, it’s only Hound"

"Yes ... yes of course" Dorathy stuttered out with continuous nods.

"Now get to work, the Lady of the house has an important place to be this morning" he informed them

"Right away"

He watched them intently for a while before turning and exiting the kitchen that had become stuffy from his presence, they gave out a sigh of relief the moment he was out of sight. Mira kept her eyes locked with where he just exited through, the people of the mansion were all protective of Lydia and she hated it.

**********

Morning.

Statham estate.

Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire

Liza "Where are you coming from?" Julius is asking his daughter who looked as pale as a white sheep yet glowing.

"Good morning Father" she greeted

"Good morning Mother" she added after her father’s silence met her acknowledgement

"Good morning sweetheart" the mother responded sweetly

"Isn’t it cold to be outside this early?" Liza pointed out in mock scolding.

"Yet you were outside all through the night" The father is butter about that fact

"I was at Suzanne" she confessed her head down now.

"You could have taken permission but you decided to risk the first daughter of the house Statham being out in the city alone and without any of the family cart, you insult this house, Liza"

"I’m sorry Father" she relayed her chin on her chest

"Inform me, take the house ride and always come back home before night if you ever go out again"

"Yes Father" she agreed like the perfect daughter they knew

"You go inside and let the employeds help you" Georgina advised her palm on her husband’s arm.

"Yes Mother" She gave a small bow to each of them before turning for the estate.

"Don’t you think you were being too harsh to her?" Georgina asked, holding her husband’s wise eyes.

"No Gina, I am the harsh parent, let me met out the rules," he told firmly

"I understand" She smiled at him, looking proud and satisfied.

**************

Noon.

Riding, Critic borders.

Critic-Ishire.

Helena was drifting to a sweet place when the steed whined shaking her up, she had completely forgotten it was a journey with a stranger because of his broad chest warm arms and strong thighs protecting her and making her feel weirdly safe, she quickly took her head that was resting on his chest, up between his heart and shoulder.

"Oyy, today is a good day mate, we got a ladette and a gent" A cold voice that sent shivers running down her spine gained her attention, and she pressed further into Conan’s chest, wishing she could become invisible.

"What is happening?" she mumbled a question into his chest

"Shhh... We shall only talk... I hope" he ended his assuring words with a hopeful one making her eyes widen.

Their footsteps neared them, a thump on the ground closer to them, Helena wanted to simply attack first but she had been using a lot of her strength for days now, it could kill her if she tried, her hunger was a sign of it too, her weakening.

"Give her to us and you might leave unharmed," one of the bandits dressed in clothes like chests full of fabrics said, stepping closer, Helena flinched her back pressing into Conan, wishing for invisibility.

"Young gents, how about I give you a satchel and a promise?" Conan offered, his voice calm yet authoritative.

"No, we want the young ladette" a croaky voice replied his creepy-looking fingers pointing at her prompting Conan to tighten his arms around her.

"Who are you?" the bandit who perhaps is their leader asked.

Conan nodded "Sir Conan of Critic Arley" he gave away his name.

"Lord Theodore’s right hand you mean?" the shorter one grinned, obviously delirious about meeting Conan.

He felt Helena freeze immediately and assumed she was frightened by the men, so he pressed his palm on her right thigh til he felt her softening.

"What do you promise?" the one who had insisted on wanting Helena is now asking

"A job?" Conan offered an opening

"Nobody wants a job that can be taken away so easily, give us food," the shorter one said quickly, his frown deep.

Conan shook his head "I can assure you about the job" he added

"You never really wanted the ladette, did you lad" the same green-eyed too fine to be a bandit man asked about Helena again, accusing Conan of negligence towards her.

"A sack of whatever of your choice, come to my estate or we can meet at a place you feel safer," he said surely.

"Give the satchel" the leader invited in a growl, his dirty fingers wiggling in their direction, they were both still on the horse. Conan reached for a satchel that he had gotten back from his horse and flung it to them, they caught it with a hoot.

"You know where to find me" Conan told the bandits but waited for them to leave before directing the steed away from the area.

Helena started to sob moments after they left "I... want to... I want to go... home" she whispered her shoulders shaking she had experienced real fear today and it was all because of this obnoxious insufferable man she had helped.

"I’m sorry, shhh... I shall get you home soon" he whispered the promise into her neck making her shiver involuntarily.

"Why are we changing route?" she inquired amidst her hiccups after a while.

"This is a faster channel to Critic Arley I assure you" he whispered, inhaling the smell of her tired hair and hoping to sneeze. He hadn’t been taking her to Critic Arley before but a place where she could be tested so he could know if she was a witch like had assumed the last time. Also with the way she had kept him alive and dragged him out of the cursed land, she most definitely wouldn’t be human, but her breaking down and with how flushed she’d been on him since morning she felt so human, he shall take her to her new home and then know her then.

But he knew without a doubt he had felt magic during their altercation earlier ’Who is this girl?

*************

Afternoon, Liza’s room.

Statham estate, Critic-Arley

"Liza?" Shi’Enz peered into the room through the wooden door of her eldest sister’s room, it had been a while since Liza got back home and had been in the room with the maids until minutes ago so Shi’Enz decided to check on her.

"Yes little squid" Liza answered with a grin

Shi’Enz sighed her eyes happy "You are back" she commented

"Yes alright, I am back" she agreed her face bright

Shi’Enz stood primly "I’m sorry you had to go into hiding for a while" she apologised for something that wasn’t her fault

"It’s not your fault, I was being dramatic," Liza said with a wave of her hand.

She nodded "But where did you go yesterday?" her eyes curious

"I told you, I went to a friend’s place" Liza retorted her face scrunching

Shi’Enz frowned "But you don’t have friends and Suzanne sent a letter to you that I took from the messenger myself last evening" Her words were fast and confused

"I was with her before then, we travelled around together, now shut up and leave my room" Liza lied through her teeth avoiding her innocent sister’s gaze.

"I see, I was hoping we could go to the baroness’s tea party together" Shi’Enz offered

"I have a headache, also give me the letter," Liza said briskly rolling to lie down after getting dressed up.

"Alright".

Shi’Enz turned and with a frown, she got ready with the help of maids, she had her make-up done, and her hair and oiled her skin, right before leaving she dropped the letter to Liza.

She hopes Lydia gets invited too.

"My my my, you were going to leave without me" Mira’s voice met Shi’Enz’s as she was about to reach the door, she turned slowly to a pretty Mira, her huge velvet red dress snatched attention and thrives on it, her locks over her shoulders in soft curls, she must have been preparing overnight.

"I beg your pardon?" Shi’Enz spots a frown

"You do not want to go to the tea party with me" Mira accused surely

Shi’Enz rolled her eyes "I did not think you were coming" she confessed turning to leave.

"Well now I’m here and I’m going to make you look brighter at the baron" Mira promised, full of herself and ready to oppress.

Mira had reached her as she talked and the door swung open after her sentence, she was going to show them who the soon-to-be Lady of Critic-Ishire is today and forever.

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