Renzille walked down the hall, her brow furrowed with contemplation as she mulled over her sister's words.
Leira's words echoed in her mind, the vagueness of them making her feel like her big sister is hiding something big. Something that can't be ignored, but how is she going to find out?
The silence of the corridor served as an amplifier to her thoughts, the only sound being the soft click of her heels against the marble floor.
Renzille's hands reflexively clenched into fists as she walked down the hall, the tension due to her troubling thoughts building inside her so she excused herself from Leira and left Kreios with her, needing a moment to gather her thoughts by seeking a breath of fresh air.
The offer Leira offered.. Should I just take it and trust her? Renzille thought, the older woman's proposition weighing heavily on her mind, the idea of changing her life by accepting Leira's offer looming before her.
Renzille continued to mull over her choices, contemplating the idea of seizing this opportunity to reshape her future.
Renzille continued her walk, deep in thought, when a sudden commotion and a man's anguished cry pierced the air.
"No! I told you, I don't want to go with you!"
The desperate plea rang out, the man's voice filled with panic and frustration.
Renzille's steps faltered as the sound of the commotion reached her ears, her mind pulled out of her inner turmoil and instead, focusing on the screams.
Slightly intrigued and concerned, Renzille turned her head to see where the shouting was coming from.
Then, without thinking, Renzille walked down the hall and followed the sound of commotion, her steps taking her further down the hall, making her footsteps quiet and stopping her heels from making any noise.
She turned the nearest corner and caught sight of the white-haired beastman from earlier being forcibly pushed into a room by two noblemen.
She could immediately tell that the men were nobles due to their tailored suits— the only shop that sells that kind of suit is from the same shop that she bought Kreios' suit from.
How could she tell? The tailor leaves a certain shine on each suit they make and these suits? They have it.
Not only the men are nobles, the scene was outright abrupt and alarming, their aggressive actions clear as day, causing Renzille's concern to grow urgent.
All of a sudden, the white-haired beastman was roughly grabbed by his silvery hair by one of the noblemen, his cries of protest cut off by the harsh command.
"Get inside, you entertainer! You're here to entertain us, aren't you?!" One of the noblemen hissed, his grip tightening in the beastman's hair.
The other nobleman chimed in, his tone equally demanding. "That's right! You're nothing more than a lowly entertainer, boy! Do what you're told and amuse us!"
The two noblemen's expressions held a dangerous gleam, their arrogance and entitlement clear as day.
With a disapproving frown, Renzille approached, her face stained with displeasure.
"You two." She said firmly, her voice cutting through the air like a hot blade through a slice of butter. "Let go of that beastman immediately."
The noblemen were caught off guard by Renzille's authoritative tone, their heads snapping in her direction with a glare. "Who has the courage to call me, the son of Viscount Marl—"
The noblemen's demeanor suddenly shifted as soon as they recognized Renzille. "L-Lady Thillion!"
They immediately relinquished their grip on the white-haired beastman's hair, making the beastman stumble forward, his silver hair tousled from their rough handling.
"My lady!" One of them exclaimed, their previously arrogant expressions morphing into forced cheery faces. "Are... are you interested in this one?"
The nobleman who asked nervously gestured towards the white-haired beastman, who stood there, looking rather disheveled from their rough treatment.
Renzille's gaze flicked to the beastman and then back to the noblemen, her expression showing no hint of her thoughts.
"Yes, do you have any business with him?" Renzille's words sounded more like a statement rather than a question, which is enough for the noblemen to shake their heads.
"Then, get out of my sight." Her face hardened into a glare as she firmly commanded the noblemen, leaving no room for argument. "Now!"
The noblemen, taken aback by her commanding presence, mumbled hasty apologies under their breaths before walking away, practically tripping over themselves in their rush to avoid further confrontation.
The beastman stood there, looking relieved and confused as he glanced at Renzille, just in time to see Renzille exhaling through her nose, irritation and disdain coloring her features.
"These despicable noble children.." She muttered, her voice laced with disapproval. "Just because they're in an entertaining house doesn't mean they have the right to force someone into going with them."
She continued to grumble under her breath, her frustration clearly evident in her words.
The white-haired beastman stayed quiet, though curiosity and relief flickered in his eyes as he observed Renzille's unexpected intervention— the corner of his lips twitching into a smirk.
Renzille's gaze softened as she turned her attention to the beastman, her expression now one of concern.
The beastman's smirk quickly vanished from his sight and got replaced with a look of hurt.
"Are you alright?" Renzille asked gently, her voice tinged with worry. "Do you need anything? Do you want me to fetch someone for you?"
The white-haired beastman slowly straightened up, his silver locks falling back into place, albeit somewhat tousled from what happened earlier, but still, he looked quite pretty indeed.
He took a moment to compose himself, his cheeks still slightly flushed, and gave Renzille a nod.
"I.. Uhm, I think.. I—" He started and took a step forward, only for his face to morphed into a wince as soon as he stepped on his left foot.
He paused, glancing down at his foot, which he gingerly shifted, grimacing in pain. "I think I might have broken my ankle while struggling against them.. But it's okay! I can handle myself from here on out."
The beastman swallowed before sheepishly looking up at Renzille, a glint of embarrassment visible in his eyes.
Renzille's gaze dropped to the beastman's ankle that was hurt, her nose scrunching up into a frown as she observed his condition. "Alright, we should get you inside of the room for now."
However, Renzille paused when she realized what her words may have sounded to the beastman.
She cleared her throat, concern lacing her words as she quickly added. "I don't want any more of these noblemen to attempt to take advantage of you in the meantime so it's best to get you inside before I go to get someone to help you."
Renzille shifted her stance, preparing to offer her support to the injured beastman.
"Okay.. That sounds good.." The beastman mumbled, his eyebrows creasing together in worry as stared at Renzille.
"Please pardon me." Renzille apologized with a soft tone before sliding her arm around the beastman's waist, supporting him as she guided him into the room where the noblemen had previously tried to force him into.
She was careful as to not to jostle his injured ankle too much and once they were inside, she gently eased him onto the bed, ensuring he was comfortably settled before taking a moment to assess his injury.
Renzille knelt down with a blank expression, the corset making it extra difficult to do so, but she set aside her discomfort to focus on the task at hand.
She gingerly grabbed the beastman's ankle, her fingers carefully examining the area.
"Ow, ow—" The beastman hissed, making Renzille look up and shoot him an apologetic glance, then returned attention to his ankle, focusing wholly on the said injury before her.
The bodice of her dress strained slightly as she moved, the fabric pulled taut by her position.
Renzille's concentration was so fixated on the beastman's injured ankle, her focus so intense that she remained oblivious to the smirk that tugged at his lips.
The beastman's gaze lingered on her chest and observed the strained bodice of her dress, barely containing her curves.
The beastman silently revelled in the view before him, his gaze roaming over her figure unabashedly, but then, Renzille's head snapped up.
Her gaze clashed with his, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.