The Demon’s Bride

Elise didn't know whether her story would be amusing to hear as Master Ian seemed like a person who dislike boredom. But she felt happy to be asked that her lips were pulled up, "I didn't do much. After going to the church in the early morning and visited the shops to buy a few yarn and threads with Carmen and Vella."

"I see. Your legs must be tired now." he whispered. "Did you go anywhere else around the market?"

"I didn't have enough time to do so." she heard Ian hummed in approval as if confirming her words. Elise fidgets and played with her fingers to speak again, "Master Ian, could you possibly lessen your punishment to two men from earlier?"

Ian narrowed his eyes, sparing no thought to change his mind, "Did my explanation from earlier haven't reach up to your ears, Elise?" came the clipped tone that made Elise to shift her eyes which had been looking at her brown shoes toward Ian.

Elise felt her breaths hitch when she heard him whispering her name. She came to notice once again how Ian would only call her by her name due to his whim or when he was speaking of a serious matter. The tone he used made her flinched, looking up Ian saw the way Elise gulped and her tongue slipped out to lick her dry supple pink lips.

Frankly she felt nervous with the tone he used as it made her feel as if there had been a bridge that appeared once again between them but she didn't hold back on her thought and speak, "But they have families waiting home for them and their family would feel very painful with their loss. Dead punishment is a little too cruel to them." she whispered her last words, her brows knitting to recall the pain she could still feel for her dead families.

Instead of replying yes or no, his eyes narrowed at her words. "Have you never seen people killed to the scaffold?" asked Ian to see her read hair flowed right and left when she shook her head. "How could you possibly missed it? If I'm not wrong Runalia had the more people beheaded in the scaffold than the other lands and villagers or town folks are command to appear and watch the executions."

"I came with my parents however before the execution begin, my parents would tell me and William to sneak out. Some times the death is too painful to watch."

Which explain why Elise didn't stand death, thought Ian. Elise could faintly see him move and crossed his legs, his eyes which glowed now stared at her.

"Do you know what would happen if I didn't stop the man from earlier?" Elise wondered what he meant, he gave her a puzzle once again a riddle which she had to reply but she find no words to her lips. "They will without a doubt kill you. They were not the type of people who would kindly take your words or explanation. If the situation continued, they wouldn't mind to kill you right there at the moment and there would be no one who would help you." His eyes narrowed as he had said the words.

Which was true because as she was speaking toward the Timothy and his friend, no one wanted to be involve with her trouble. Elise was a commoner where Timothy and his friend was undoubtedly the sons of noblemen. At that time if Timothy killed her, no one would be able to help her in fear that they would enraged the noble.

"Don't feel sad for them." he whispered, a taunting echo slipped over his lips, "I had given them the kindest punishment possible." Elise wondered whether death was the kindest punishment but she didn't know that Ian had plenty of ways to kill the man in a worse fashion.

She then thought of the harsh grip on her shoulder, recalling the man's anger which was directed to her and thought of how she was very fortunate Master Ian had come for her. "Thank you for saving me from the man's false accusation. If it wasn't for your help, I would have met a great danger." she said, her eyes looking at him with a grateful smile.

"I feel that the only words coming from your lips are thank you. But I don't hate it your thank are a melody."

"That's the least I could do for all your help to save my life." she replied and it was a fact. Whether it was at the dead or her family, the forest, and now, each time Ian never failed to save her which made her delighted.

Ian lips were pulled wide, his eyes crinkling forth feeling pleased. He hadn't done it for her thanks but now receiving one, it wasn't certainly a bad thing.

At the time, the carriage stopped at a place, Elise who hadn't payed mind to the path where the carriage went to heaved her neck trying to see what was outside which she wasn't able to see and turn to ask, "Can I open the curtain?"

"Sure." With the permission, she tucked the end of the curtain pulling to see light coming in before the imagery of a large gate could be see when she try to turn her face to the back. Then after passing the guards in front of the gate, the carriage moved again to enter the building for a large manor and garden appeared to her eyes.

The manor maybe smaller compared to the White Mansion which in actuality was a castle for the Lord. Nevertheless, the house was big enough to show the place belong to a person of a higher social standing. Elise looked at the place then wondered whether she would have to go with Master Ian but she doubt that would be the case as she wasn't dressed appropriately for the occasion.

The coachman, Frank pulled the knob which was attached to the carriage door and pulled to open the door. His eyes first sought toward the Lord before moving toward Elise. Frank knew the girl was a human and also a maid, they had met and talked although it was a little he knows much about the girl because he had seen her since the time she was brought in as a slave by the Lord. There was a question on his eyes when he saw Elise entered the carriage but who was he to question the Lord?

Ian stood up from his seat and walked down languidly, his long legs brought the floor much closer toward him and when he had exited the carriage, he didn't continue his steps inside, instead he turned and extended his hand to Elise. With a tilted grin he asked with a mischievous tone, "Come down, puppy." his extended hand waited for her to take.