The trap around her life had become more and more tight with each passing day, as Benjamin became a horrible person to be around. Thankfully, her father, Julian, was delaying the marriage, even if that reflected on her, by turning Benjamin worse.
Wiping the tears away, Alexstraza put her hand down, but whether it was due to sweat or improper tightening, her glove fell down, and she hurried to pick it up; however, a hand was already there, holding hers.
Louis's head was under the table, so his expression could not be seen; however, it terrified Alexstraza as she could feel his anger rising, but he held it back as he quickly concluded something.
"Young miss...Put your glove carefully on, and get outside of the hall. Wait for me. I will not take no for an answer, and if you go away, I will tell your grandfather, which, believe me, will make it so no one is spared in Marquis Frederick's family." Louis passed her the glove as he looked at her scarred hand. There were a lot of bruises and cuts.
Alexstraza seemed to swallow something as she got up and hurriedly walked outside past Aurelia, Morgana, Grandma Rose and her mother, Marianne. They saw that she was leaving in a hurry and seemed worried; thus, they took a look at the place she was at. They only saw Louis, who was gesturing to them to stay silent and slowly follow her outside.
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Alexstraza was outside of the wedding hall, breathing heavily as she leaned on the pervase. Her tears were flowing, and she felt drowned in them, deafened by them as the music was now barely audible.
"Oh my, why is my precious granddaughter crying? Did your uncle Louis scold you?" Archmage Rose's hand suddenly stroked her face, wiping away a tear. She had suddenly appeared there and was now smiling at her, gently.
Alexstraza's reaction was one of pure horror, for unknown reasons, and the look in her eyes made Grandma Rose even more shocked, as her expression shifted from gentleness to confusion. What was going on?
"Alex, my dear, what did that bloke your uncle tell you? I will beat him up for you!" Morgana's voice came as she was pulling her dress up so that she could arrive faster...Yet, Alexstraza's eyes only widened more in horror as she saw her aunt and her mother coming towards her as well. Her reaction sparked even more confusion in Rose.
Suddenly, someone appeared next to them in a flash. It was Louis; he had used his Expert cultivation to arrive in a hurry.
"Child, relax, it will be okay." Louis placed a hand on her shoulder and then turned towards his wife, his sister-in-law, and Aurelia, who was slowly coming. "All of you, calm down, create no further disturbances. You do not want Dain, Julian or Duke Garcia to catch word of this."
The ladies understood that there was something serious, while Grandma Rose clicked her fingers and a spell of invisibility was cast around all six of them.
"Alexstraza. Take off your gloves, now." Louis said as he signalled Grandma Rose to take them off if she refused.
"N- No... Please, uncle, I will- will be f-fine" Alexstraza was shaking and barely speaking as tears flowed down her eyes; however, her grandmother was not having any of it. It seemed something was causing great distress to her precious granddaughter! She was experiencing even panic attacks!
As if made of water, the gloves fell down, and her hands rose up against her will. Everyone's expression turned to horror as they saw the number of scars and bruises, as well as burns. Someone seemed to have stubbed out cigarettes on her hands.
Her mother was the most shocked, as Marianne suddenly stepped forward and grabbed her shoulders and, with a rip, revealed everything from her shoulders to her fingers. Louis turned around, while Alexstraza's sobs resounded along with the ripping of cloth, as Marianne was not stopped.
"Enough. Marianne. *snap* Turn around, Louis. All of you, not a word to the men of my house! Alexstraza, who did this?" Grandma Rose's voice was authoritative as she cast a spell that wrapped a robe around Alexstraza, hiding her scarred body.
"I...I...It was me, grandmother, I s,s,swear!" Alexstraza tried to speak; however, she couldn't as sobs came one after another, staining the ground in tears.
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Julian Garcia was having the day of his life when he felt like smoking. The general had led many armies during the war, and his heart was always in fear of what might happen to Dain under the lead of Aurelian. Yet, it turned out the brat was even a better leader than he.
Turning towards the exit of the hall, he looked for his wife but saw no one. Still, he shook his head.
'They are probably somewhere...even Alexstraza is not here'
It was a happy day, as his son had finally married. The women were probably having fun somewhere. Suddenly, a strong hand landed on his shoulder.
"Going somewhere, son? I remember your wedding as well. I headed out for a smoke too! Let us smoke outside, together!" Duke Garcia was also in high spirits, as they went outside and lit up a cigarette together.
"Bah, this child Alexstraza, she keeps worrying me, father. Dain is now settled, yet my daughter, she did something to Aurelian in the academy. I know you know as well. I was told of it...even then, this Benjamin guy is giving me the creeps. *Puff* I have seen so many men; I can recognise a bad egg. Bah, where is my wife? All the women are gone. Father? Father?!?" Julian suddenly turned towards his father, who seemed to be staring at something in the corner. His expression was flickering between- it's nothing, and there is something, however, he felt his wife's magic.
"Invisibility Spell. Come, Julian." Duke Garcia walked towards the corner, now suspecting something, Julian.
The grandfather put his hand in the air and felt something solid, causing Julian to be startled. Using his Master cultivation, he tore at the air, and a cracking sound was heard, as everyone that Rose was hiding was now revealed.
"What is going on here, wife? Why are you hiding half the family with you? Alexstraza? What is this?" Duke Garcia walked forward and saw her crying. He passed through the small crowd of relatives and saw a scar hidden beneath the robe.
His hand tore at it the moment he saw something blue on her legs, akin to a bruise. She was left naked, with only a part of the cloth covering her most important parts.
"May the gods have mercy on them, because I will fucking not!"