Chapter 59: Let’s Begin.

Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Let’s Begin.

Chapter 59: Let’s Begin.

The Baron, as well as his wife and children, already stood at the entrance of the manor to greet him, along with a few vassals.

The Baron had brunette hair like his two children, his son, who looked to be in his twenties, and his daughter, who looked to be a new adult. His wife, on the other hand, was slim with blonde hair, making her stand out amongst their little family.

Osborne stepped off the carriage along with the others.

"It’s an honour to meet you, my lord."

Baron McClain stepped forward to greet him.

"...."

Gilhound was stunned when the man walked past Osborne and instead bowed to Silvester.

Out of everyone here, he found Silvester more fitting to be the Marquis’s wife. His tall, imposing figure, handsome appearance, and the noble air that surrounded him made the Baron more sure that this man had to be the noble lord he sought.

"I am Baron McClain. During your time here, we’ll spare no expense to make sure your stay is as comfortable as can be."

"I believe there’s–" Silvester wanted to clear the misunderstanding.

"My lord appreciates your sincerity." But Osborne stepped forward and said with a smile, offering a bow towards the Baron.

Silvester raised a brow but said nothing.

"Splendid," the Baron said, before ordering his vassals to help them with their luggage.

"I’m afraid that’s not needed, my lord," Osborne said politely.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Do you want to waste more of the lord’s time?" Osborne chastised Clawdeth.

Her expression darkened, but nevertheless, she went to gather everyone’s belongings from the carriage. With her strength, it wasn’t a difficult task. What truly irked her was how Osborne was treating her.

The Baron had some vassals lead Clawdeth to their assigned rooms so she could drop the luggage.

"Once you’re done with those, meet me in my room," Osborne whispered to Clawdeth as she passed by.

---

Osborne arrived at his assigned room. He fell back on the bed, letting out a content sigh.

He felt glad to be on a bed again, especially one that wasn’t in that darn estate.

Osborne went and set his belongings in order. The McClains had several guest rooms, so he wasn’t worried the others would have to share.

Knock~ Knock~

"Come in," he said when he heard a knock on the door.

Silvester stepped in. "I can see you’re already making yourself at home."

Osborne let out a quiet laugh. "I guess so."

"Is there a reason why you did that back there?"

"I’m guessing the Baron has been following you up and down, hasn’t he?" Osborne chuckled.

Silvester sighed, massaging his temple. "So that’s what it was," he said.

It wasn’t strange for lower ranking nobles to try and curry favour with higher ranked nobles, especially someone they’d never heard of or seen before who was the Marquis’s husband.

If they could get on the good side of someone like that, their future growth would be set in stone.

Of course, Osborne didn’t do that just because he wasn’t interested in being pestered.

’It’s easier to see one’s true intentions when they mistake you for someone else rather than yourself,’ he thought inwardly.

This way, he could better assess the Baron’s family.

Moreover, this way, if he left to deal with the reason he came here in the first place, they wouldn’t go overboard or try to stop him.

Just like that, he struck three birds with one stone.

"You asked for me, my lord?" Clawdeth entered Osborne’s room after he told her to enter.

Osborne asked some things, which she answered.

In the end, he sighed before saying, "And remember, when we’re not alone, just call me Osborne."

"As you wish, my lord," Clawdeth said before turning around to leave.

"Did I say I was done talking..." Osborne stopped her in her tracks.

Clawdeth let out a suppressed breath before turning around again.

"Is there anything else you need, my lord..."

"I don’t exactly enjoy being alone in foreign lands. I’ll need you to move in here with me."

Clawdeth’s brows furrowed slightly. "I’m afraid that’s a bit much, my lord... I don’t think her ladyship would approve. Besides, I’m afraid her ladyship would have my head if we both shared–"

"Who said anything about sleeping together?" Osborne gave her a disgusted look.

"You’ll be lying on the floor," he gestured calmly.

"T-The floor?" Clawdeth secretly gritted her teeth.

"Wait, did you actually think I was asking you to?" Osborne suddenly burst into a fit of laughter.

"Do I look like I’m into washboards? Or did your confidence boost up because I touched those beastly ears of yours?" Osborne said.

Clawdeth clenched her fist so hard that her knuckles began to pop.

Osborne no doubt believed that if not for his standing as Roseline’s husband, she would have torn him apart long ago.

’But unfortunately, she can’t.’ Osborne smirked inwardly.

He stood up from the bed and approached her.

Clawdeth was caught off guard when a crisp sound rang out within the room.

"What’s with that look? I’m doing you a favour here, yet you keep acting like I’m the bad guy." Osborne said with displeasure.

PA~!

Another slap landed on her other cheek.

"Do you think it’s easy taking in such a traitor? Even that beastly scent of yours makes it hard to breathe."

"You think I enjoy this?" He yelled at her.

"Hey!" Osborne grabbed her by the cheek, lifting her gaze so she would look straight into his eyes.

"Look me in the eye when I’m talking to you!" He said, yet inwardly, his heart leaped with joy seeing the hatred in her eyes she tried so much to hide.

Her feline eyes sharper than any normal blade.

"You really don’t listen, do you?" He sneered wickedly.

Clawdeth’s blood stream accelerated when he suddenly grabbed her shoulder strap.

With a violent jerk, he tore off a huge part of her top.

Her hands rushed to cover her exposed parts, her head lowered while her body continuously trembled, yet she said nothing.

"Useless thing! This is the body you’re so proud of?" Osborne said in a mocking tone.

He grabbed another piece, tearing it off.

"You dare to act so presumptuous, but you can’t really do anything, can you?"

Knock~ Knock~

Before Osborne could do anything else, a knock came from the door.

"Tsk~!" Osborne clicked his tongue with disgust, tossing her face aside.

"Yes, who is it?" He said, yet the person didn’t talk, walking in without a confirmation.

"And who might you be?" Osborne frowned on seeing a random maid step into the room.

The maid glanced at Clawdeth, who was on the floor trying to cover herself, completely ignoring him.

"Hey! I’m talking to you! Do you have any idea who I am?!" Osborne glared at the maid, feigning an irritated expression. "I’m one of the lord’s most trusted aids."

The maid turned around, looking at Osborne for a moment before offering a polite bow.

"My apologies, sir. Forgive me for failing to notice you sooner."

"I came to politely ask that you reduce your voices. I’m afraid your conversation is disturbing our household."

"It’s your choice to listen or not," the maid said. "I’ll be taking my leave now." The maid turned around.

Only for her to stop when Clawdeth suddenly grabbed a hold of her leg.

"What do you think you’re doing?" Osborne glared at her. "Let go of her this instant."

The maid looked at Clawdeth, who looked at her with pleading eyes while biting her lower lip.

"And what are you doing? I thought you just said you were leaving," Osborne said to the maid in an impatient tone.

"Indeed..." The maid muttered. She shifted her gaze to Clawdeth before shaking off her grip.

The maid then left the room.

When she stepped outside, she heard the faint sounds of the young man rebuking the woman she just saw.

Yet she said nothing, continuing to walk away.

---

"Alright, I think she’s gone now," Osborne said.

Clawdeth gradually stood back up. The pleading look on her face long gone, replaced by her usual cold look.

"Then if you’d please excuse me..." Clawdeth said.

"Wait," Osborne said to her before searching through his belongings.

He found a nice top which he tossed to her. "Use this to cover yourself."

Clawdeth collected the top yet said nothing.

She waited a few more moments as per Osborne’s instructions before leaving.

Once she did, Osborne’s expression turned solemn.

’I can’t believe it...’ he muttered.

The moment they arrived at the Baron’s estate and were greeted by them, in that moment, Osborne sensed something he thought he would never feel again.

A feeling he had long since grown accustomed to.

The same feeling he felt from those nightmarish rabbits in the former sub-space was what he faintly felt here.

Though he couldn’t quite discern who were the ones giving him the same feeling.

’I don’t understand why Silvester didn’t sense it as well,’ he said to himself, wondering whether it was because of his "intimate" past, which was why his senses towards such things were far greater than even the swordsman’s.