The House of Verrin governed a few towns and villages. The head of the House, Baron Verrin, was in charge of maintaining the public road and collecting taxes from the travelers.
The family's main home was a white building with blue roofs, and a garden with a fountain in the middle. They had a small army of soldiers stationed outside the gates to guard their property. They wore blue uniforms and carried spears, which were held upright in front of them.
The act earlier was to warn the townspeople, not Lucian himself. They expected him to appear with some of his people, but not half a dozen guards and half the town!
"I came here to retrieve something that belongs to me," Lucian stated, "Inform your master I have arrived."
"Ha! You really have the nerve to admit to cheating in the open," his cousin sneered, unable to hold back the need to gloat, "Just because you have money and a few businesses doesn't mean you can go around disrespecting the Rochefort family! That's right, I'm talking about that girl that you've been playing around with! She sold you out, just like that, and told us everything!"
"...Sold me out?" Lucian's hands tightened on the reins. "What did she tell you?"
"Everything! " his cousin spat, "How many gifts you've showered her with just so she would meet up with you. Could you believe it? Your touch is so repulsive to her that she had to pretend she was sick to get you off her back! You're a traitor to the Rochefort house, and now everyone will know about it!"
The rest of the Varrin soldiers agreed with Lucian's cousin. They saw Lucian drag a woman into his shop and immediately went to the House of Varrin to inform the Baron of the situation.
Afraid of her screaming for help, they gagged her and tied her up so she couldn't escape. Then they had brought her here, where Baron Varrin had interrogated her. After a bit of persuasion, she told them everything they wanted to hear.
"Which woman would hate my touch beside Lady Celine, herself?" Lucian asked, "If you are going to tell a lie, make sure it makes sense."
His cousin's face turned red with anger, shouting back at Lucian, "Let's see for how long you can keep that attitude of yours before you break down!"
It was not Lucian's fault that his cousin's wife tried to seduce him again and again, only to be caught in the act by her husband, who then tried to kill both of them in a jealous rage.
Lucian didn't come here to settle old grudges or have a family reunion; he came to collect Celine, and leave. "Call Lady Rochefort down here," he addressed the rest of the Verrin soldiers, "I would like to hear her say it to my face. I deserve to be rejected by the woman herself, no?"
"Huh?" The soldiers were confused, "What are you saying? Why would Lady Rochefort be in Baron's home?"
"You kidnapped her."
"What?!" The soldiers looked at each other.
"Don't make up lies! That woman is just some harlot who wanted your money and sold you out when I offered her a better deal!" the Baron rushed to the main gates. A middle-aged man with a potbelly and a receding hairline. "Don't try to make me look like a bad person, Lord Arclight! You're the one who cheated! I'm just doing the noble thing and telling the Rochefort house the truth!"
"So you admit you kidnapped a lady?" Lucian asked.
"Kidnapped? She's not a prisoner. She's our guest."
"Then why didn't you bring her out yourself?"
"Because...!" The Baron paused when a few servants came rushing over. They whispered into his ear, and he widened his eyes, looking at Lucian.
"..." Lucian was quiet, watching the other man's face change.
Everyone could see the fear in the Baron's eyes as he gripped his chest. Unable to take a breath, he struggled to speak. He opened his mouth, gaping like a fish out of water.
The Varrin Soldiers around him were worried, shouting, "Lord Varrin!"
"What should we do?"
"Send for the doctor!"
But it was too late. The Baron dropped to the ground as if the heart attack had paralyzed him completely. The soldiers turned him on his back. The Baron's eyes were wide open, the whites of his eyes showing.
"LORD VARRIN!"
Lucian rushed forward, the town's guards following him.
The soldiers at the gate were flustered and didn't know what to do. The chaos had caused them to drop their spears in surrender, and they didn't try to block anyone from entering the property.
Lucian got off his horse and ran inside the building, "Where is she?!"
The servants were all panicking. Not sure what to do, they pointed at the stairs leading to the second floor. "U-upstairs! Upstairs!"
Lucian ran up the stairs and found a woman lying on the sofa, tied up with ropes. Celine's eyes were closed, but her chest rose and fell. She was still alive. He rushed forward, untying the ropes. She didn't react.
The town's guards bulged their eyes at the sight of the wig on the ground and the woman's unique dark blue hair. They were shocked, "Is...is she... alright? What did they do to her? Should we call a doctor?!"
"Alive," Lucian muttered, picking her up in his arms, he ordered his people, "Get me a carriage."
His people nodded and rushed outside to do as he asked.
Lucian carried Celine to the front yard where the town's people had gathered.
"It's really her!" The bystanders were shocked, "It's Lady Rochefort!" Did Baron realize the mistake he made, and that's why he had a heart attack?! From fear of what he's done?! Kidnapping the daughter of the duke?!
Lucian climbed the carriage and tossed her body at the seat before sitting opposite her. "To the Rochefort estate!" he commanded the driver, and the carriage took off.