208: The price of honor (part 2)

The price of honor (part 2)

"What is it that you want? Speak clearly if you're man enough," Egon directed his words towards the man this time, his tone laced with a threatening edge.0

"I have no intention of harming you or any members of House von Conradie. I want Olga. Give her to me, and you can carry on with your life as if you've never met either one of us,"

"Olga is happy where she is. Leave her alone," Egon retorted.

"Never!" The man barked.

As Adela grew tense in his embrace, Bastian caressed her hand with his thumb and gradually released his grip, allowing his hand to descend from her mouth.

"You shall neither pursue her nor subject her to further threats," Egon declared firmly when Olga whimpered.

"I am not going anywhere until I have her. Release her at once!" the man grumbled defiantly.

"You attempted to take her life. What kind of a father are you?" Egon questioned, his tone dripping with disgust.

Father?

The notion of Olga's own father attempting to end her life was repugnant, causing a sickening churn in Adela's stomach.

"You stay out of our business! Von Conradie, I have already sold her to a brothel and they will extract their due! Do you understand?"

Olga released another cry, her distress echoing in the room.

"If it's about money, I'll double whatever amount you paid for her. You could have asked for it when we were in Kolhis. Take your money and get out of her life."

"And Olga? What will happen to her? What will I tell the brothel owner about his slave? How can I face the village people? I'd rather jump off the White Mountains! It's not just about the debt anymore, it's about my honor! Look at my face! Look at what the bitc* did to me! Living with one eye for the rest of my life like a fuc*ing stray dog without its tail! As if the debt and shame weren't enough! I have to live this pathetic life from now on!"

Although Bastian displayed no signs of discomfort, Adela released her hold on his hand and looked up at him. In the dim light, she focused on his one eye as he too gazed down at her. He shook his head once, silently conveying that he was alright.

How could anyone be unaffected by this?

"She was defending her life when she took your eye," Egon said gravely. "A court of law would rule in her favor, and you know it."

"Enough of this useless conversation! Give me the mana stone and let me continue haunting her from the shadows or give her to me right now! You have no right over her!"

"Soon... I will have the right over her, soon enough."

Adela blinked, unsure where Egon was going with that.

A boisterous snort reverberated through the room, accompanied by a disdainful spit. "What in the world are you blabbering about? Hah?" Olga's father jeered. "Hand over my daughter, and I'll be on my way."

"I will marry your daughter," Egon proclaimed heartlessly.

Adela sank back against Bastian, her body slumping slowly. Her heart pounded in her chest as her vitality seeped away. She let out a trembling breath, followed by two unexpected tears streaming down her cheeks.

"You're just bluffing to save her sorry as*," Olga's father said incredulously. "You think I'm stupid enough to fall for it?"

"You came here in exchange for this mana stone, didn't you?" Egon questioned, his voice strained. "You've shown me that there's a means of communicating with you. I will lay down my arrows and toss this mana stone towards you, and in return, you will surrender your firearm to me."

"Like hell I will," came the defiant response.

"We are in Emoria!" Olga interjected, her tone now composed. "If the knights discover you wielding that gun, they will execute you on the spot, without a trial."

The sound of metal hitting the ground echoed, followed by the exchange of the firearm.

"Now leave this place. I will find you and provide your payment. Your eye was justly taken when you attempted to end her life, and once she becomes my wife, she will be no one's slave... These are the resolutions to all of your troubles."

More tears streamed down Adela's face as her hand covered her mouth and nose. She vaguely registered Bastian's heaving chest behind her as they sat in the narrow space.

"I won't press charges in Emoria, but if you change your mind after this agreement, I won't hesitate to imprison you in Kolhis for the rest of your days." Egon said.

"...Alright. You have yourself a deal. But if you break your word, next time we see each other, only one of us will walk out alive."

"Before you depart... outside, we need to have a conversation," Olga addressed her father, her voice devoid of tears now.

As the door swung open and shut, Adela leaned against Bastian's shoulder, feeling the world spin within her vision.

Egon released a weary sigh. "Step forward... Bastian," he uttered.

Adela clung to Bastian's garments, shaking her head, her hand slipping away from her mouth. "Please, don't leave me," she pleaded, unable to meet his gaze, yet observing the tension in his clenched jaw.

"...I'll be waiting for you at home. Make your way back as swiftly as possible," Egon spoke hurriedly before the door opened and closed once again.

Adela rose to her feet, her legs unsteady, and Bastian mirrored her actions.

"Please, look at me," he implored.

She raised her reddened eyes, meeting his gaze, tears continuing to stream down her face. She had believed her tears had run dry the night before, yet evidently, there were more to be shed.

"Come here."

Bastian embraced her tightly, and she lacked the strength and will to push him away.

"He's out of his fricking mind. This is not the solution we all discussed and agreed upon last night."

Adela felt ashamed for listening in and traveling all this way only to cry even more for the man who had claimed she was his wife but now sought another woman's hand in marriage right in front of her. It took her a long time to notice Bastian's hands on her shoulders, shaking her gently.

"I'm telling you, he already knows you lied to him! Did you hear me? Maybe he's doing all of this to make you understand how he felt yesterday when you said you're considering another man's proposal."

She heard the words and understood them, but whether this explanation made things better or worse, she couldn't decide.

Either way, her mother was right.

"What started with such hatred will always be the same," she spoke calmly and clearly in her mind.

"Adela..." Bastian sounded more worried now.

"...Thank you for today, Bastian," she said, her eyes fixed on the door. "I'm going home now."

Somehow, her feet continued to move, and she stormed out of the house, managing to avoid falling on her face. She ran as fast as she could, her gaze always on the ground. The thought of collapsing now and being unable to recover consumed her, overriding any concern about being seen or unnoticed.

This was rock bottom. Adela had never stooped so low in her entire life.

pqdm.com