Chapter 178 – Auction [7]
Veronica walked through the corridors, looking at Aissatou still standing in front of VIP room three, heading straight toward VIP room number two.
Her face was calm and serene, holding not a single trace of pain or bad mory. Everything looked completely normal, even better, in fact, for her face had shed the darkness that had been sared across it.
However, to an experienced assassin, and to soone who had spent so many years doing nothing but studying people and their every mannerism, Aissatou could instantly see sothing was off about Veronica.
That was all she needed to confirm that her Lady had succeeded. And because of that, as Veronica passed in front of her, Aissatou opened her mouth and spoke in a low, dark voice:
"My turn will co soon."
Veronica half-stopped in her steps. She turned her head toward Aissatou with a frown, and saw the old maid wearing a faint gentle smile that looked as though daggers were hidden between her teeth.
"Good morning, Veronica." Aissatou greeted, bowing her head in mock respect. "I thought I should offer my greetings, since you did not deem it important enough to do so yourself."
Veronica was far too tired and afraid to pay Aissatou any mind at that mont. If it were entirely up to her, she wouldn’t have spared her more than a glance.
However, she had been ordered to act as though nothing had happened. And under normal circumstances...
"Are you questioning my behaviour?"
...she would never let go of any act of disrespect from soone below her.
’I am exhausted. What does this woman want from ? I can feel an unhealthy amount of hatred coming from her.’
"I wouldn’t dare." Aissatou replied, straightening her back. "I simply wished to greet you. I won’t take up any more of your ti. However, I do hope you are enjoying the event."
"Can you tell what maids like us would enjoy at events like this?" Veronica said as she turned and continued on her way. "And this is the last ti you address without calling Head Maid. In fact, you naless, wrinkled old woman, this is the last ti you speak to at all. Understood?"
She said it without waiting for an answer. She reached VIP room two shortly after and entered with three knocks.
The first thing she heard was Cole complaining about her lateness in a grunting tone. The second thing she saw was Faye Kanam with her breasts laid bare, Cole kneading them as he pleased while watching the auction. The third thing was Faye fingering herself and moaning openly and deliberately, because Cole wanted it loud.
Veronica’s heart tightened inside her chest. She bowed her head obediently and asked forgiveness.
"Forgive , master. It is embarrassing to admit, but my stomach was aching."
"It doesn’t matter." Cole said dismissively. "Now co and kneel before , Ver. I can no longer wait for this boring thing to end. Suck ."
A short silence followed before Veronica managed to open her dry lips.
"It will be an honour, master."
A strange flicker of excitent bubbled inside her, knowing her master still wanted her — but in the sa breath, a crawling dread spread along her spine, the events of monts ago and what Sophia was preparing pressing back in.
She certainly did not know what that was.
But one thing was certain for Veronica as she walked toward Cole — her blue eyes locking onto the black ones of Faye filled with hidden disgust — and it was that everyone inside this room would soon go through hell.
’I have already had a taste of it.’ She thought, kneeling in front of Cole. ’And I can tell you with certainty, master, and you, Faye Kanam...’
She reached inside his robe, and took out his cock.
’...no amount of begging will get any of us out of that wrathful fire.’
She spat on it, and took everything inside her mouth.
"Oh! Perfect."
...
"They are certainly taking their ti, aren’t they?" Cassius said, drinking from a bottle of water. "Now you have to wonder whether the two actually hate each other as much as they like to act whenever they are together."
"I don’t think so." Raven said, watching adow and Omm presenting the Cristo Steel. He was mildly interested, but not truly. He was here only because he had been invited, though inwardly the main reason was simply that Anesthesia would be here with him.
And now she had disappeared with her sister. Raven was almost disappointed. Well, not almost. He was.
"What do you an you don’t think so?"
"Dislike." Raven answered. "They rely dislike each other, I believe. Hate is too strong a word, Cass. And an equally strong emotion. Anesthesia and Isolde are like my mother and great-great-grandmother, Hel Hood. They dislike each other because of what the other represents to them, but never beyond that. And I think they enjoy it."
Cassius chuckled, turning toward his uncle. "Enjoy it, you say? It certainly doesn’t look that way to , uncle."
"Believe ." Raven smiled. "So people find more joy and ease in that kind of relationship. They enjoy the sharp words, the insults, the dismissals. It is easier for them to process and even easier to maintain. There are no real expectations in that dynamic. And whatever we might think of it...to them, it is comfortable. Though they would never admit it. I don’t even think they are aware of it."
"You sound awfully knowledgeable about this."
"I am a Hood." He stifled a laugh. "We have lived every kind of toxic relationship. We are experts."
"Expert, my ass." Cassius rolled his eyes. "Have you forgotten that you were the one letting Anesthesia use you?"
Raven’s lips twitched. "I said we are experts. Not that I am one."
"You know that distinction doesn’t hold up. Regardless, I am glad you are making progress with her."
"I wouldn’t call it progress. But yes, sothing is different now."
"And you look happier, uncle."
"I am."
"Sarah or Anesthesia?"
Raven paused at the question, his expression becoming slightly complicated. Cassius noticed and laughed faintly.
"Alright, let add the third option: both?"
The Prince did not answer imdiately, only coughing awkwardly. "I can assure you I am not that kind of person. But... I honestly don’t know, Cass. I like who I beco when I am with Sarah, and I like how straightforward everything is with her. She loves ,,I know that. And I have co to feel sothing in return. I would not call it love yet, but I cannot bear the thought of seeing her with soone else. Lately I have also noticed that I cannot bear to see her sad. And just recently, once again, I understood that I am ready to fight for her if she is threatened."
Cassius simply listened, drinking from ti to ti.
"With Anesthesia it is different. I don’t like who I am when I am with her, but I am myself. She makes feel complete in a way nothing else has. I instinctively know that I can be truly Raven Hood — all my darkness included — and she would take all of it without flinching. I felt that way from the first ti I saw her, but she never opened herself enough for to fully live it. Well, lately that has changed. Now I can see why I always felt that way."
"So you see,"he exhaled, looking at his nephew, "it is quite complicated."
"I can see that. Lucky I am not in your situation."
"Do you have any advice, Cass?"
"Am I your personal adviser now?"
"It is partly thanks to them that I feel better despite the ss I am in."
"First ti was a free trial. Now we go premium, uncle. You need to pay."
"What do you want?"
"Let’s keep it simple: a favour."
Raven tilted his head. "Choose sothing else." He shook his head. "There is no need to ask for a favour. I will help you whenever you want, Cass. So that price doesn’t quite work."
Cassius fell silent, then smiled. "If you say it like that, how can I make you pay? Alright, free again. How benevolent I am. However, I want you to call Teacher."
Raven’s lips twitched. "Don’t push it, Cass."
"Not Cass, Teacher! Co on, say it. Will you die? No! Then say it!"
After enough pestering, the Prince finally relented and called his own nephew Teacher.
Cassius barked a loud, booming laugh, and just as it died down and he was about to respond, the door opened and Isolde entered.
Alone.
Raven frowned imdiately.
"Where is Anesthesia?"
"Gone." Isolde said softly, her voice slightly tired.
"Gone?"
"Yes." She nodded, sitting down beside Cassius. "She didn’t bother telling where. But she left the building after—!"
Isolde didn’t even finish her sentence before Raven was on his feet and out of the room, leaving only a few words for Cassius.
"At the Academy, Cass!"
—End of Chapter 178—
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