BK1 Chapter Forty-Five

Chapter Forty-Five

The lecture hall felt ominous as I stood alone with Garret. My eyes flickered to the doorway that was Lieutenant Cragborn’s study. He had shut himself away in there; knowing he was within distance was somewhat comforting. I wasn’t entirely alone with Garret.

Garret stood before me with a look that would have frightened a child; as he stepped closer, I quickly backed away, folding my arms across my chest as I regarded him warily. “What is it that you wanted to discuss, Lord Asher?” I bit out my words, trying to calm my thumping heart.

The last time we were alone like this, he had assaulted me.

Garret dropped his arm as he approached. Seeing my body language, he sneered before opening his mouth, his voice laced with barely concealed anger. “I won’t tolerate your disrespect Lady Heversham. It was humiliating for me to endure your outburst earlier.”

My lips upturned at his words. “Humiliating? Exactly how do you think your actions toward me aren’t humiliating? You had no right to lay your hands on me, but you did anyway.” I furrowed my eyebrows as my unease swirled with a mix of rage.

“Hah”, Garret sneered. “I have every right to you as your fiance. I can do what I want” he immediately stepped toward me, and my heart quickened.

I stepped away from him, avoiding his attempt to grab my arm again, which only upset him.

“Lady Heversham, you are treading on thin ice”, Garret growled as he stepped toward me again. I quickly sidestepped once more, avoiding contact, in-sighting a furious snarl from his lips.

“I am your fiance!” Garret shouted in place, his hands balled into fists. “You will learn to show me the respect I deserve.”

“Fiance?” I laughed with no emotion. “A title you hold by virtue of an arrangement made by our families. It means nothing to me, Lord Asher. You can not force me to show you any respect.”

Garret’s face twisted in anger as he glared at me. The room seemed to grow colder as I held his gaze. He took a step closer, his voice low and dangerous. “You will regret crossing me, Lady Heversham. I have power and influence, and I won’t hesitate to use it against you.”

I held my ground, refusing to let his threats intimidate me. Not this time. I pushed down the fear crawling in my skin. I can’t let myself become the woman I was as his wife.

“I’m not afraid of your power, Lord Asher. I’ve endured far worse than you can ever imagine. I will not be silenced or controlled by you, a mere Baron.”

His eyes narrowed, a mix of frustration and anger flickering in his gaze. “You think you’re so smug, but you’re nothing without me. I can ruin you, tarnish your family’s name.”

“Ruin my family name?” I couldn’t stop my mocking laughter. Garret hesitated, a little surprised at my tone. “I could not care less about that. You can do nothing that will threaten me in that regard Lord Asher.” what did I care if Garret created rumours to tarnish my name? It was already bad enough with my past actions.

“You little bi-” Garret raised his hand so quickly I didn’t register what was happening. A memory flashed in my mind of this very act, and fear punctured my courage, freezing my feet. I scrunched my eyes, reading for the impact, unable to move.

My body flinched and stiffened in auto response as I always did when Garret was about to hit me. But no pain followed.

Hesitantly I squinted open my eyes and quickly widened them at the box, now my vision.

Vishka’s Guidance System

Callan Heversham

Likeability: 24% (+5%)

“C-Callan?” I stuttered as he stood beside me, his hand gripping Garret’s outstretched wrist with a fury so intense it sent a shiver through me.

“You little shit”, Callan furrowed his lips as he stared daggers at Garret. “What do you think you are doing to my sister?”

Garret’s brown eyes trembled as Callan tightened his grip on his shaking wrist. “L-Lord Heversham. I-I was merely trying to t-tuck Lady Heversham’s hair behind her ear,” Garret lied on reflex.

Callan’s grip on Garret’s wrist tightened even further, his voice dripping with disbelief. “Do you take me for a fool, Lord Asher? You were about to strike her.”

Garret’s face flushed with anger, but there was a glimmer of fear in his eyes as he gulped under the weight of Callan’s gaze. “Y-you misunderstand; I would never harm my fiance.”

Callan’s eyes narrowed. “Yet you would force her to meet with you alone, knowing she could not refuse? You reek of lies, Lord Asher.”

Garret’s composure wavered, his facade crumbling under Callan’s unwavering scrutiny. His voice trembled as he struggled to maintain his lie. “I... I love Lynette. I would never lay a hand on her.”

My name coming out of Garret’s mouth made me want to hack in repulsion. Yet, a bitter laugh escaped my lips as I took in my situation. Never would I have thought I would see a day where Callan defended me.

“Love? Is that what you call it?” I shook my head, stepping away from the two as my heart squeezed tightly. “You have a messed up ideal of love Lord Asher.” Not that I know what love really is; that is something that has eluded me all of my lifetimes.

Garret’s expression contorted with a mix of frustration and desperation. “Lady Heversham, you don’t understand. I-”

Before he could finish his sentence, Callan released Garret’s wrist, but his stance remained unwavering as he stood between us, a silent warning hanging in the air.

“Leave. Now, Lord Asher.” Callan’s voice was cold and piercing. “You will stay away from my sister. If I ever hear of you demanding to be alone with her again, I will make sure you face the consequences.”

Garret stumbled back, his face pale as he cupped his wrist with a mixture of anger and defeat. He glanced between Callan and me before speaking with a bitter tone. “I assure you, Lord Heversham, this is a misunderstanding.” Garret forced a polite smile. “I will respectfully do as you ask, though, and forgo my right as her fiance to spend time alone with Lady Heversham” He straightened and performed an awkward bow.

“Leave.” Callan voiced calmly, but his irritation with Garret’s remaining presence was excluded from his body language.

“As you wish”, Garret gritted as he turned on his heel and made his way out of the lecture hall without uttering another word. The air seemed to lighten as the door slammed behind him, leaving behind a heavy silence that was eventually broken by a deep exhale from Callan.

The stiffness in my body slowly relaxed a little as Callan turned to face me, his grey eyes searching me with a look of concern so much like Cassandra’s once did. “I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner”, Callan spoke the cold edge to his voice softening.

“How did you know I was here?” I asked quietly as I unfolded my arms, my heart slowly calming down.

“Lady Thornfax rushed over to me whilst I was gathering; she told me what Garret had requested of you.” he spat Garret’s name with a purse of his lips. “That little swine. How dare he evoke such an old etiquette request? Nobody does that anymore.”

“T-thank you”, I said, still processing, as Callan regarded me.

“I promised I would not leave you alone with him. I want to keep my word.” Callan looked at me with what I could only regard as sympathy. Something I have not experienced often. “I-” he paused as his expression tightened.

“What is it?” I pried a little uncertain. Callan had promised me such, but I had never truly thought he would do so. His presence here, now, was surprising. As my brother, only he or Eduard could have refused Garret’s request. Yet I never expected that either of them would.

“I am sorry, Lynette”, Callan sighed with a look of guilt.

“Why are you sorry?” I frowned, a little confused; it was not Callan who made Garret so despicable.

Callan gently reached for my hand, and I allowed him to take it. “I tried to speak with Eduard about Lord Asher, but he refused to listen” he looked away from me, ashamed. “Eduard did not trust what you told me.”

I resisted the snort that wanted to escape my lips. “I wouldn’t worry”, my lips crooked. “Eduard has never had much faith in me.” So, Callan had told Eduard of my interaction with Garret and his assault. It was no surprise that Eduard did not believe me, even more that he did not believe Callan.

“He is stubborn, but no matter what I said, he would not listen” Callan frowned and pressed his lips tightly. “Lynette, he has handed Father’s letter to the generals for your blood contract to be revoked this morning.”

My hand in Callan’s froze for a moment.

Despite my expectation of Eduard doing this, my heart still sank. The small sliver of hope I had buried that maybe he wouldn’t do as Roger wished was broken.

“I see,” I said sullenly, the letter of my own tucked in my chest pocket, burning its presence.

“Lynette, I promise, I wouldn’t say this if I didn’t think it the best option for you. But maybe, you should accept it being revoked. I heard you are only being admitted as a foot guard, and well, I worry about you. You aren’t exactly the best with a Jian,” Callan spoke softly, but the calm that had washed over me faded as a wave of new anger replaced it.

I ripped my hand out of Callan’s and stepped back as he reached out, concerned.

“So, you think I won’t be able to make it as foot-guard?” my voice turned cold as I looked at my brother. I thought maybe he was changing, having come to save me from Garret. Perhaps I was wrong.

“Lynette, I’m only being realistic.” Callan used a soothing tone. “As a foot guard, you will eventually be deployed somewhere to assist Summoners. You will be at risk; you could die. You barely survived the march.”

“I am here to train, aren’t I? There are plenty of other weapons than the Jian I could be good at.” I bitterly clenched my teeth as I saw Callan’s box flicker.

“That may be so,” Callan raised his voice a little. “But staying in the army is a death trap for you; you aren’t suitable to battle.”

“Who are you to determine what I am suitable for,” I argued

“I am your brother, Lynette”, Callan replied, his voice tinged with a mix of exasperation and genuine worry. “I only want what’s best for you. I’ve seen the hardships you’ve endured, the struggles you’ve faced on the march. I don’t want you to be put in further danger.”

I crossed my arms, my anger boiling beneath the surface. “And what do you think is best for me, Callan? To be trapped in a life dictated by an arranged marriage, where I am at the mercy of a man like Garret Asher? To surrender my agency and live as a prisoner in my own existence?”

Callan’s expression softened, a flicker of remorse in his eyes. “I understand your anger, Lynette. I do. But the Army, the life of a foot guard... it’s not the only path for you. There are other ways to find freedom and happiness.”

I scoffed, the bitterness seeping into my words. “Tell me, Callan, what are these other ways? Enlighten me. Are there options that don’t involve me being shackled to a man I despise? Are there alternatives that allow me to go against Roger’s wishes?”

Callan sighed, his voice quieter now, filled with a mix of resignation and compassion. “I don’t have all the answers, Lynette. But I won’t let that happen. I will do everything in my power to stop your marriage. But believe there are paths out there for you, ones that don’t involve the Army.”

I knew better. I had lived those other paths already and died.

“Where is Lord Hudson” I spoke resignedly as Callan scrunched his face.

“He will be in his office. Why?”

“Can you show me where that is?”

“Sure, but…” Callan’s hesitation to bring me to the man of my scandal was obvious. Likely, his conversation with Eduard is what brought forward this argument between us. Eduard was adamant I was not suitable for the Army; he has said as much.

“Please, take me to Lord Hudson. I have something to discuss.” I asked Callan, glancing at the box above his head as he frowned.

“Alright.” he eventually agreed reluctantly.

Vishka’s Guidance System

Callan Heversham

Likeability: 21% (-4%)