EX-SOLDIER: In Another World
Hunting - Part 3
"Vincent, what exactly are you thinking?"
That was the first question Celestine asked Vincent, who was sitting on the couch enjoying a cigarette. His face was pouting, clearly unhappy about something Vincent did not know. Celestine walked towards Vincent in a hurry and started glaring at him.
"What are you talking about?" Vincent asked, trying to figure out what was causing the question.
"You brought a woman into this manor, and according to the reports of the servants, that woman was a whore from the way the woman was dressed! A whore Vincent! A whore in every way! What are you thinking?!" Celestine's tone grew higher in each sentence, clearly angry with what Vincent was doing.
"You know, don't you, that this manor is not yours? This is just the accommodation my family provided because you saved my sister. You can't do this without our knowledge! What if that woman is a spy or a murderer who's after your soul or one of the family lives of the Duke of Mandoze?!"
"Calm Celestine, I-I..."
"Swimming?! Do you have any information about this woman? Do you know who this woman is? Because I doubt she's just a random whore!" Cut Celestine, don't let Vincent finish his sentence.
Vincent decided not to open his mouth and just waited patiently as Celestine continued to ramble furiously and blame herself.
Of all the noble girls Vincent knew, and in fact only three of them all. Among the three noble girls, Celestine was the most calm and calculating person. But at the moment Vincent sees him so angry at him, there is obviously a serious problem in it.
A few minutes passed and Celestine seemed to have calmed down. Vincent who was still sitting on the sofa pointed at the sofa opposite him, allowing Celestine to sit down.
"You're calm? Let me explain, why I brought that woman." Vincent said he lit a new cigarette. Vincent waited for a while, and Celestine simply nodded towards him. Vincent explained his intentions.
"Matilda, not a threat. As for if he turns around to attack me or your family, I'm the one who'll drop him with my own hands first."
"Can you guarantee that?" Celestine asked, still questioning Vincent's overconfident judgment.
"Sure, I guarantee it."
"I need Vincent's proof, not some bullshit about promises and assurances. Prove that the woman is neither a spy nor a murderer." Celestine said that kept Vincent quiet. So far Vincent has his own suspicions, but to prove Matilda's connection, he has no clue.
The pregnancy break comes as Vincent tries to find an answer that could prove Matilda is not what Celestine thought she was. But with a moment of thought, Vincent could not give anything to claim what he said about Matilda, and it seemed Celestine saw that on Vincent's face.
"Two days." Celestine said, awakening Vincent from his thoughts. "Prove that the woman is not a threat in two days. And if you can't prove it, that woman will be at the mercy of the Mandoze family."
"What are you gonna do to him?" Vincent asked after absorbing what Celestine said.
"It depends, I can use my father's resources to interrogate him, get him to tell the truth and if this woman is suspected of being involved like being a spy or a murderer. I'll execute it myself."
"How-ever ..."
"Vincent, listen to me. This world is not like our previous world. I know more about this world than you, I know the darkest side of this kingdom, so don't misjudge. The norms of this world are different from the norms of the old world."
That's right, Vincent doesn't know much about this world compared to Celestine who was born and reincarnated in this world. In fact, Vincent only attributed his logic about his old world here to reference, not purely knowledge of how this world works.
Knowing Vincent no longer had a valid argument to debate, he inevitably agreed with Celestine's words.
"Well, I'll investigate it myself in two days." Vincent said as he nodded, his mind racing against the many possible options to prove his claim.
...Xxvx...
It had been five days since Matilda had stayed at the manor with Vincent and the other 3 maids. Matilda was now convinced of that. Vincent knows nothing about him. He did not offer her a place in his business to ensure she could watch him closely. He did not offer her a comfortable bed and delicious food to deceive her. She did all that, because she truly believed that she was an abused prostitute, who could only survive through that type of work.
On the first day Matilda lived this manor, she asked him a lot like what caused Matilda to humble herself as she was now and even offered him a spell as an assistant because she was a new noble.
In just five days, Vincent has changed that. At first, he tried everything he could to seduce her, but it didn't seem to work. While he continues to work as Vincent's personal assistant, such as telling the schedule or just serving tea and talking freely with him.
Vincent also made a contract for him, he called it a contract of employment. He will be paid per day with 50 silver coins, not too big but if calculated in a month it will be almost the same as his greatest income to be a prostitute. But money is only part of why he likes his job. It was nice to be able to sell something other than her body. He wondered many times what would he be, if he had not been born in that environment.
"Thank you, Matilda." Vincent said as he watched Matilda bring him tea to his private room.
He is, of course, another part of why he enjoys his job so much. He feels comfortable around her. He was scared and intimidated at first, but it was gone by now. He found out he was one of the first people he could get along well with.
The realization of all this appeared in his mind only today.after all, today was the day he had to make a choice. A choice that will determine the rest of his life.
If he doesn't report to the Eclipse before tomorrow, they'll assume he's dead and act accordingly. They'll send someone else, and they'll find he's alive and well. Once they find out, they'll put him next to Vincent for his betrayal.
He could try to catch Vincent and bring him to them. That's the easiest way out. He would rise and eventually reach the strength he wanted. He didn't suspect her. He could easily stab her in the back.
When Matilda stood not far away Vincent. He and Vincent were only two meters away, while Vincent was too busy with a parchment he read while looking out the window.
'Now is the time!' Matilda thought as she took out a knife that had been magic from behind her clothes. The knife he ordered to knock Vincent out. The atmosphere of the manor at night also supported the situation as the other three servants would not be in this building but in another building where the servants were to rest. Makes it easy enough to take Vincent, plus there are no guards stationed here.
Matilda took a step forward. His heart is pounding. It's the right moment, maybe the best five days of his life, but all good times have to come to an end. He felt like a shadow of a hand on his shoulder. Large comfortable gloved hands. He lifted his dagger, ready to attack. A deep, gentle and powerful voice entered his mind.
...'You did a good job...'...
...'I really appreciate your help...'...
...'No one should suffer for the sins of their parents...'...
The dagger fell to the ground as tears began to flow down his face.
His knees gave up and he fell to the floor. Now she was crying openly. Immediately, Vincent was struck by the voice and turned to look at him sobbing on the ground with a dagger beside him. He immediately knelt down to his level.
"Are you hurt?"
Vincent's tone was pure worry even though he saw a dagger lying beside him.
'I. I can't!... This man... this is the only man I will never be able to kill... why?.. why?.... what emptiness do I feel inside?'
Matilda continued to sob as Vincent tried to find a wound and calm himself. It took a few minutes for Matilda to calm down and now look straight into Vincent's face.
"Vincent, i... I want to say something." Matilda said and she explained everything to him, his intentions and what Eclipse wanted. With all that explanation, Matilda is ready for Vincent's hatred of her, she will accept it if it's Vincent, the person who has given her the happiness she never got all this time.
"so... " Vincent said calmly as he stood up.
"We must run! It's too late to ask for help!"
"No." Vincent said, shaking his head. "I'll fight back."
"Are you crazy? Come Vincent. We have to run, there's no way we can hold on!"
"You know my power, don't you?" Ask Vincent rhetorically. "I think the time has come for me to go down to the battlefield once more..."