Free Web NovelChapter 33: 33: A Bet! (3)
Lucard took one step forward.
"Let us leave," he said. "Otherwise, I will kill your son with one thought."
Baron Ravencroft’s face was no longer full of arrogance. It was full of panic.
He had only one son. Adrian was his heir. His only heir. If Adrian died, House Ravencroft would lose its direct future. Whatever profit he could gain from House Vardros would become meaningless compared to losing his son.
Adrian coughed more blood.
"Father," he choked. "Save me."
Tina was crying again, but this time she did not dare curse Lucard loudly. Her eyes were full of fear as she looked at him. The swollen face helped her look pitiful, but only in the way a rat looked pitiful after stealing food and getting caught in a trap. freёwebnoѵel.com
Baron Ravencroft clenched his staff so hard that his knuckles became white.
"Fine," he said through gritted teeth. "You can leave."
Jenny’s eyes widened.
Jake looked at Lucard with hope.
Peter did not lower his sword. He knew this was not over.
Baron Ravencroft glared at Lucard with rage and hatred.
"But remember this. If anything happens to my son, I will kill each and every one of you. No matter where you go or where you flee, I will find you and kill you. I will kill your servants, your allies, your friends, and even a newborn child if it carries the Vardros blood. I will erase your entire family line."
Jake’s face became pale. He was a young child. He had already seen enough deaths. The only family he had now was Jenny and Lucard. He didn’t want them to die.
Jenny pulled him closer to calm him.
Peter’s eyes filled with anger.
Lucard only laughed. It was not a loud laugh, but it was enough to make Baron Ravencroft’s face twist further.
"How amusing," Lucard said. "I would really like to see that."
Baron Ravencroft’s eyes became colder.
Lucard continued, "But I will not kill your son. Not now. Tell your men to move from the door and let us leave."
Baron Ravencroft hesitated.
Lucard lifted one finger slightly. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
Adrian coughed again and fell forward, blood dripping from his mouth.
"Stop... Stop...," Baron Ravencroft shouted.
Then he turned to the guards.
"Move. Clear the way. Let them leave."
The guards did not move at first. They were shocked by the situation. Their master had ordered them to capture Lucard moments ago. Now they had to let him walk out because Lord Adrian’s life was in his hand.
Baron Ravencroft roared, "I said move. Clear the way."
The guards immediately stepped aside.
Jenny looked at Lucard with complicated eyes. Fear, relief, worry, and disbelief were all on her face. She did not know what kind of person her brother had become. He had saved them again, but the way he did it made her feel like she was standing beside a knife that smiled.
Jake was different.
He looked at Lucard with shining eyes.
To him, Lucard had beaten Tina, made Adrian kneel, tricked Baron Ravencroft, and saved them from prison. In Jake’s young mind, this was not frightening. This was amazing. His brother was becoming the kind of person who could stand in front of adults and make them step back.
Inside his little heart there was a dream forming. It was the dream of becoming as amazing as Lucard. Where he can protect everything important to him. Lucard had become his role model.
Peter looked at Lucard with respect and unease.
He had served House Vardros for years. He had known Lucard as a weak, ignored young master. But the person standing in front of him now was not weak. He was dangerous, intelligent, and ruthless. Peter did not know if this change was a blessing or a disaster, but right now, it was the only reason they were still alive.
Lucard looked at Baron Ravencroft and said, "After we leave, send someone to the inn in your town with your stupid son. I will cancel my spell at that time. Your son must come in person in the afternoon. If more than one person comes, your son will die before evening."
Baron Ravencroft’s jaw tightened.
"Which inn?"
Lucard smiled faintly. "You are the lord of this city. Find me."
Baron Ravencroft looked like he wanted to tear him apart. But Adrian coughed again. That sound forced him to swallow his anger.
"Fine," Baron Ravencroft said. "I agree."
Lucard turned toward Jenny, Jake, and Peter.
"Let us go."
Jenny nodded slowly. She held Jake’s hand and walked beside Lucard. Peter moved behind them, still holding his sword. As they walked through the garden, none of the guards dared to stop them. Tina stood near Baron Ravencroft, holding her swollen face and glaring with tears in her eyes. Adrian was on the ground, shaking and breathing hard while his father tried to hold him steady.
Lucard did not look back. They passed through the garden. They passed the side path. Then they passed the place where the tool room stood.
Behind them only the leader of the guards walked. He was coming with them so that no one could stop them. Not all guards of the house knew about the Adrian situation.
Jake looked at the broken little room once and then looked away quickly, as if he never wanted to see it again.
When they reached the black iron gate, the two guards from earlier were still there. They looked confused when they saw Lucard walking out with Jenny, Jake, and Peter.
They also saw their leader walking behind them. Then they saw the cold look on Lucard’s face and stepped aside without speaking.
This time, they did not laugh.
Lucard walked past them.
Jenny followed.
Jake followed while holding Jenny’s hand.
Peter came last, his sword still in his grip.
A few moments later, they stepped out of House Ravencroft and entered the streets of Gravehold.
The morning sun touched their faces.
They were free for now.
But behind them, the black iron gate of House Ravencroft remained open like the mouth of a beast that had failed to swallow them. The guard leader did not come out the gate. He stopped at the gate.
