Moments Earlier—
As the redhead glanced at Elias, snarling like a rabid cat.
"What? Didn't you fucking hear what I motherfucking uttered?"
Instead of hearing some gibberish or other young master-like words from the young boy before her, Redhead heard something that made her eyes widen.
Elias didn't speak. No, he mouthed the word, but that was enough!
I know where your brother is, Evelyn Morail.
The words hit Evelyn like a bolt of lightning. Before she herself knew, her body had already acted.
SHIING!
The sword that was her companion left the scabbard in a blur. Its edges shone in the light of the chandelier as she positioned it on the neck of the man before her.
"———"
A heavy silence shrouded the hall as the ringing music stuttered to a halt.
Mana, and a presence so overwhelming leaked from Evelyn that before Marcus and Rowan could even react or even comprehend how the woman had positioned her sword around their baron's neck, they felt their knees buckling.
"Hey," Evelyn said in a chilling tone that sent shivers down the spines of people present. Her eyes bore on the man before her. "How do you know?"
'Shit!'
Elias couldn't answer. He felt suffocated, as if getting pulled down in quicksand second by second. His body felt stiff due to the pressure, his breath stuttered, and his heartbeat started to quicken.
'I knew she would do this, but... to this extent!'
Elias knew that he was only standing because the redhead before him wanted him to. For if she wanted, she could kill him in an instant.
'However, I know she wouldn't.'
And this was what Elias was going to exploit. He didn't have any other choice, for he was weak.
But weakness didn't mean he had lost. No, Elias had something else. He had the information that she wanted, a power that he could exploit.
And he would!
Elias didn't know how, but as he steeled his heart, his stuttering breath came to a halt before he started to breathe normally. His heart slowed and gained its normal pace once more.
His body, which felt stiff and suffocated, now didn't feel like that. The pressure was there; it was, and he could still feel it, and it was quite evident by goosebumps on his skin.
Yet, Elias could at least move somehow. Not much, but it was enough. Enough to do what he wanted.
'Act.'
He looked into Evelyn's eyes, which looked like a pit of blazing fire.
"I asked you something. How do you know?"
Evelyn once more asked, pressing the blade more against Elias's skin.
"Can you calm down first?"
Elias answered her question with his own question as he shifted his hand over the machine to support himself.
However, feeling the sting on his neck, he knew she didn't like his comment. But even then.
'I just can't tell you the only thing that gives me the hold over you, can I?'
Elias smiled as he once more mouthed the words.
The guards will eventually come, and I am pretty sure you wouldn't want to risk your identity, would you? So, how about you find me at my hotel? We can deal with this issue there without any interruption.
"..."
The sting increased.
'Come on!'
"Do you not love your life? Or is the alcohol really affecting your senses?" Evelyn muttered, completely disregarding his previous words. "Tell me, or I will really slice this useless head of yours—"
However, before she could complete her words, the guards came. No matter what, this was the biggest gambling house owned by the baron himself, so there was no way anyone could do anything he wanted.
Well, exceptions were there, but a commoner pointing her swords against the baron? No way that was going to happen.
Cough—No way they were going to let it slide!
"Ms. Nadia," a bulky and muscular guard stepped forward. Looking at the way he effortlessly reached them in a few steps, he seemed powerful. "Please lower your weapon and remove your intent. You are disturbing our guest."
However, both Elias and Evelyn, also known as "Nadia," did not even glance at him.
Elias simply continued to stare into the eyes of Evelyn as if saying, 'said so,' while Evelyn did the same, her blazing eyes staring at those glowing hazel orbs.
Not getting the attention of the redhead, the guard himself released his intent, easing the pressure that people and Elias felt due to her.
After that, he once more spoke.
"Ms. Nadia—"
"Tsk," Evelyn lowered her weapon, putting it back in its scabbard. Following that, disregarding everything, she started to leave.
Seeing her leave, the guard's face twitched.
"Let her," Elias slurred, letting himself fall on the ground. His legs couldn't withstand his weight anymore. "As a great baron, I shall forgive this impudent but beautiful woman."
'And she is stronger than you guys. It's not even a twinge of her power.'
Evelyn gave Elias a side glance as she reached the entrance of the gambling house before exiting. However, others, seeing Elias like that, snickered, trying to undo the awkward silence.
'Yes. Just think of me as a pathetic baron,' Elias sighed as he felt sweat in his palm. The wetness of his back also became evident as he tried to pull himself up. 'It was so scary. What would have happened if she...'
Elias shook his thoughts off.
'I am not going to pull shit like this anymore... I hope I don't.'
"Here," the guard said, oblivious of Elias' thoughts as he pulled him up.
"Ah, thank you."
The guard shook his head.
"We haven't done anything that should be worthy of your thanks," he said, bowing before Elias and thumping his chest. "I would like to apologize for my incompetence. If it appeases you even a little bit, we would like to provide you with a small compensation—"
"Yes, yes," Elias cut through his ongoing rambling. "Rowan, come here."
Pointing towards his knight, Elias said to the one bowing before him.
"Just give him."
"Ah, yes."
Not listening to him anymore, Elias left wobbling. "Les go, I wanna sleep now~"
As Elias left, people in the hall laughed and snickered as they saw the person who had made a joke of himself exiting.