Chapter 154: 154 - a partnership
154
~Belinda’s POV
The palanquin rocked slowly along the dirt road, and I kept peeking out from the side curtain. My father’s house wasn’t too far away now. My chest tightened with each step the horses took, and I felt a mix of fear and excitement. Fear because I didn’t want him to see me here—excitement because I knew exactly why I had come.
I leaned forward, tapping Richard’s shoulder through the small opening.
"Richard."
"Yes, my Lady?" he answered quickly, eyes darting back like a loyal dog.
"Stop here," I whispered. "Not another step closer to the gates."
He frowned a little. "Here? But we’re not—"
"Do not question me!" I snapped, my voice sharp enough to make him stiffen. "Stop right here. I don’t want my father to know I came. Do you understand me?"
Richard nodded fast, swallowing hard. "Yes, my Lady. I understand."
"Good," I muttered, brushing the curtain aside and climbing out. My feet touched the ground, and I adjusted my gown with slow, deliberate grace. "You will stay here with the palanquin. Do not move until I return. If anyone asks where I went, you know nothing. Am I clear?"
"Yes, my Lady. Crystal clear."
I walked off without another word, my heart thumping harder the closer I got to the house. I avoided the main entrance, slipping around the side path that I knew too well from childhood.
When I reached the servants’ quarters, the faint smell of smoke and starch lingered in the air, mingling with the muffled chatter of maids finishing their morning duties. Heads lowered, bodies stiffened. Good. They knew better than to meet my gaze unless I called on them.
The first maid I laid eyes on was a thin, timid little thing, clutching a folded sheet in her arms as though it could shield her from me. I stopped in front of her, letting the silence stretch until I could see her trembling from the corner of my eye.
"You," I hissed, my voice slicing through the air like a whip.
Her whole body jolted as if I had struck her. She froze mid-step, eyes wide and fearful, before stumbling forward and lowering her head quickly. "Y-yes, my Lady?" she stammered, her words barely above a whisper.
I tilted my chin down, letting my eyes rake over her. "Come here."
She obeyed at once, shuffling closer until she stood just a few paces from me, clutching that ridiculous sheet tighter, as if it could protect her from what I was about to say.
"Go and fetch the rogue," I ordered, each word precise, cold, clipped. "Quietly. No noise. No one is to know. Do you hear me?"
Her lips parted, and I saw the horror flood her face. The color drained from her cheeks so quickly she looked like a ghost. "The rogue, my Lady?" she echoed, her voice trembling.
My eyes narrowed into slits, and I let the silence hang between us for one long, dangerous moment. "Yes," I snapped, my tone sharper this time, heavy with warning. "Do not make me repeat myself."
She swallowed hard, her throat bobbing visibly, and her hands clutched the sheet so tightly her knuckles went white. "I...I didn’t mean...yes, my Lady," she whispered quickly, ducking her head lower.
"Bring him to me at once," I finished, stepping closer until I loomed over her. "And if you dare speak a word of this to anyone...anyone at all...your punishment will make you wish you were never born. Do you understand me?"
Her head bobbed frantically in a nod. "Y-yes, my Lady. At once," she breathed, before turning on her heel and nearly stumbling as she hurried off down the hall, desperate to escape the weight of my gaze.
At last, the maid returned, dragging along the rogue.
"This is the one, my Lady," the maid said quietly, bowing her head.
"Leave us," I ordered with a flick of my hand. She disappeared quickly, leaving me alone with him.
The man straightened himself, his shoulders stiff like he was trying to appear braver than he felt. His eyes lingered on me, waiting, almost daring me to speak. I folded my arms across my chest, letting the silence stretch a little longer, watching the nervous flicker in his gaze. Finally, I tilted my chin.
"What’s your name?" I asked, my voice calm but laced with authority. That was the first time I would asked for his name.
He tilted his head slightly, studying me as though deciding how much to reveal. "Dolph," he said, his tone low but steady.
"Dolph," I repeated slowly, letting the sound of it roll off my tongue. It tasted bitter, like something sour I didn’t want to swallow. My lips curved in a faint, mocking smile. "Strong name. But strength doesn’t mean anything if it isn’t put to use properly."
His jaw tightened, though he said nothing. I stepped closer, each heel of my shoe clicking softly against the polished floor, closing the gap between us until I could see the twitch of his throat as he swallowed. My eyes didn’t leave his.
"Listen to me carefully, Dolph. From this moment on, you belong to me. Do not mistake this for freedom, you are not free." My tone sharpened with each word, cold and precise. "You will work under me. You will be my bodyguard. Nothing more. Nothing less."
I smiled, though it was sharp as a blade, the kind of smile that made even the air between us tighten. "If you fail again, you will regret ever being born. I can promise you that. I hope you don’t forget the mission."
For a heartbeat, the space between us felt heavy, like the walls themselves were listening. He stood tall, unmoving, his dark eyes trying to measure me. Then, finally, he gave a short nod. "To finish my job."
I leaned forward slightly, letting my words drip like poison. "No. To finish my job. Let’s not get confused, Dolph. You live now only because I allow it. You will breathe because I allow it. And when I decide, you will strike because I command it." My voice dropped lower, venomous and unforgiving. "You will kill Lisa."
His jaw tightened, but his face remained unreadable. That arrogance in his stance—it annoyed me, but it also challenged me to remind him of his place. He gave a small nod, not rushed, not fearful, just... steady. "Alright. I’ll do my best. I’m good at what I do."
I almost laughed, but it came out as something darker—a sound that didn’t hold warmth. "Good?" I tilted my head, letting my gaze pin him down. "Your best will not be enough unless it ends with her blood spilled. You are a weapon, Dolph, nothing more. Weapons don’t think. Weapons don’t hesitate. Weapons obey."
"Understood." His voice was low, but I could hear the edge of pride in it, like he wanted me to know he was capable.
I nodded once, my tone cold and final. "You will not move until I say so. You will not breathe unless I permit it. And you will get yourself a horse. You’ll be following me back to the palace."
"A horse. Got it. Anything else, my Lady?"
I raised my chin proudly. "Yes. Do not test me. This is not a partnership. This is me giving you a purpose you don’t deserve. Remember that."
"I’ll remember."
"Get the horse," I repeated firmly. "And keep up. I won’t wait for you."
"Yes, my Lady," Dolph said with a bow before trailing after me.