Marcel
I was in my study room trying to catch up on the workload on my desk, it has become so bulky due to my absence. But the replay of what happened last night kept replaying in my head.
Hadn't realized how much I have been smiling until Aaron called me back to reality.
"Your file is upside down, sire," he said as he placed the tray of a steaming mug of tea on my table.
A sigh of exasperation escaped my slightly parted lips, and I tossed the file back on the desk. At this pace, I doubt if I can ever get any work done.
"Any news from the merchants?" I asked and he pulled a letter out from his bag. "I'm not reading that." I snarled and pulled myself up from my seat.
"Is there something you want to talk about?" he asked as I walked over to the window. "You haven't been yourself ever since-"
"Just schedule a meeting with the physician for me, would you?" I interrupted.
" I'll send for him right away" he replied, but didn't move from where he stood.
I turned and stared at him.
" I'm fine, Aaron," I replied with a smile to assure him. "It's nothing to worry about," I added, and he sighed.
"I'm worried for your sake, master," he muttered. "You're withdrawing even more, and I believe it has something to do with Thana."
I chuckled softly and poured myself a drink. "Just get the physician. Leave everything else for me to take care of" i replied and he nodded.
It is obvious Aaron didn't buy it, but he didn't push on.
Barely five minutes after he left, the door creaked open again and Aaron walked back in..
"Aaron, enough with your questions and just get the bloody physician," I snarled.
"Someone is here to see you," Aaron informed.
"Who is that?" I asked.
"He didn't say, but he did mention something about you being indebted to him in some way," Aaron replied, and my brows furrowed. I gulped down the last bit of my drink and set the glass on my desk.
"Where is he?" I asked and adjusted my clothes.
"He is still at the entrance, sire," he said.
" Let's go," I instructed, and he followed me immediately. I tried to think of who it might be that had the nerve to stroll into my manor and point fingers at me, but then I couldn't think of anyone bold enough to do that.
We got to the living room only to find an aged man sitting comfortably in the centre of the room like he owned the house. My pace reduced slowly, and I folded my arms behind.
"If it isn't the infamous Apollo," I growled, and he grinned widely, baring his stained set of teeth. I sat across from him and leaned my back properly on the couch.
"Marcel Edgar.." he replied. "It's quite a struggle seeing you these days, not even at the annual big sale.."
"I see you already offered yourself a seat in my home, so to what do I owe this unexpected visit, Apollo?" I snapped, ignoring his unnecessary question.
"Edgar… always impatient," he smirked. "So impatient that you couldn't wait for the elders to eat before dipping your baby fingers into the pot"
"I'm glad you know how impatient I can be, so save yourself the stress and save my time by telling me what you want from me". I shot back and he grinned again, wider this time.
"If you insist, Edgar.." he replied, and I glared at him. "I heard a rumour," he started and then he paused, trying to study my expression, but I kept it as neutral and unreadable as possible, making it difficult for him to detect what was going through my mind.
" What rumours?" I asked, focusing my eyes on him like a hunter on his prey.
"You took something of mine, and I was told that you were warned not to, but being the stubborn little boy you are, you paid no attention to the Mayor's warnings.
"Oh.." I muttered, and he nodded with a stern face. I knew Odessa was about to be sold off to an old man, but I never thought the old man to be this scrawny crook.
I clenched my jaws as anger started to rise within me as the implications of my decisions dawned on me.
"Well, too bad Apollo. I didn't take anything from you. I simply bumped into a damsel in distress, call it love at first sight but I decided I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. If you have any issues with that, meet the mayor" I replied and he burst into a hysterical laughter.
All my life, I've made sure to avoid anything and everything that concerned this crook. But I guess I can't avoid him forever. If it were anyone else who came for Odessa, I probably would have considered handing her over because it'd be a huge advantage on my end. Especially now that Thana has returned.
But I can't bring myself to let Odessa go with this spawn of the devil.
"You don't want this enmity to rise between us, Marcel. Return what is mine and I'll let you have your peace of mind," Apollo threatened, and I braced up.
"Odessa is my wife. Deal with that, but if you can't, there's always room for you to leave this earth completely. You're clearly on the verge of going anyways.." I snapped and Aaron muffled his laughter.
If there was anything Apollo despised, it was disrespect and mockery. I watched him closely, and with the look on his face, he was boiling up and ready to charge towards me, but he remained quiet.
"Ahh… there she is". Apollo smiled, and I turned to look at who he was speaking about, only to see Odessa standing by the staircase. Her eyes were wide open, and she immediately stormed back upstairs.
"Odessa, wait!" I yelled and immediately followed her up. I caught up with her in time before she slammed the door in my face.
"I can't believe you, Marcel," she cried. "You want to sell me out to the same old man you saved me from?"