Chapter 14

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Eve's POV (Continuation 2/2)

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Did I stutter? A noble stuttered. I can't even speak a proper word! Is father going to learn of this? Is he going to hit me again? No Miquel will protect me! But Miquel couldn't protect me from this man!

"A-are you ok?"

Did he mock me? I knew it, I'm even getting mocked by a filthy villain! Will I not be the hero? But just someone for the hero to save? But who will save me? Miquel can't save me!

"I'll turn away if it makes you feel better?"

You want me to turn away?! So you feel better about killing me?! Then I see Miquel attempting to cut the man's neck! He's going to save me! Then the man leans back and the sword misses him. How did Miquel miss on a sneak attack isn't he supposed to be the strongest guard? And Miquel keeps swinging his sword, each time he swings it he misses! This would be amusing if I wasn't going to die!

Miquel and the man keep fighting, slowly moving towards me, but each time I try to move away from the battle they move closer! I see Miquel still swinging repeatedly, then I see a sword swinging towards my face taking up all of my vision. Just as I think I'm going to die, the man jumps in front of me to save me, blocking the sword with his arm.

I want to yell at Miquel for almost killing me but I can't. Why did the man save me? If he wanted to kill me, why? I turn to see Miquel smiling! Is he happy I almost got hurt!? Me? Why? Does Miquel hate me? Was the man trying to save me from Miquel?

"See you can't doge, everything that's what you get!"

Hearing this I want to yell at Miquel how could he think of something so petty as using me to cut the man. Before I can yell at Miquel. The man walks over to Miquel quickly and slaps him! Miquel gets slammed into the floor. How is he so strong? Is he going to protect me? Or hurt me?

"What the h*ll, you almost cut the girl? How dare you, you deserve much more than a little slap!"

Was he really worried about me? There is no way Miquel would have been so careless. Right? Does Miquel want me dead? Does anyone else want me dead? Are they like father?

"Are you ok? Are you hurt? I didn't mean it!"

Miquel? Does he care? Does the man care? Does anyone care? Is it all fake? Should I run? I want to run. I am shaking? Why am I shaking? Am I angry? Am I scared? Should I hide? I'm not hurt, is that the answer he wants?

"I-I'm fine."

Keep it together! Figure out what is happening! Is this my guard? Does he want to help me? Is he like father? Is he like father!? I hope he's not like father.

"I'll be your guard from now on if you need anything just ask!"

Anything? Does that mean I can ask to be left alone? Or ask if I can go run? Will he be mad? He grabbed my hand! Is he going to take me somewhere? I want to stay! I don't want to go!

"These flowers are pretty!"

Huh? Orchids? Does he like orchids? Is he not like father? Father doesn't paint orchids. Will I be safe if I act like an orchid? I should be quiet. Father didn't like it when I talked about flowers. He probably won't either.

"So are those!"

Lilies too? Does he like lilies too? Does he like all flowers? How can a guard like something pretty? Miquel said he only likes fighting and women? Can guards like flowers? Can boys like flowers? Can adults? Father likes roses! But he said they aren't flowers. He said they are another form of money. Does that mean that the man is not a good guard?

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Then he was kind. He asked and asked about what I like and what I want to do. Why does he care? He's nice but I can't even answer him without being afraid. What if he ends up being like father. Miquel tried to hurt be like father. Will Maximus hurt me like father? His name sounds weird and it doesn't sound like Miquel or father. Does that mean his name makes him good?

Next we just walked around the study. He talked with Miquel a bit about how I'm learning, and now he knows I'm not smart, I'm not even smart enough to get a teacher. Is he going to be like father now? Now that he knows I'm no good? Father said the only thing I'll be good for is procre- something. I could tell he meant it in a bad way. Is Maximus going to make me procre- too?

Maximus told me he's going to teach me tomorrow! He seems strong but is he really smart? He then took me to bed and did something called "tucking in." And it felt nice like someone is going to help me. He left for a while and had a loud conversation with Miquel about my safety. All Miquel did was say that I'll be safe by his side. Will I be safer with Maximus in here while I sleep?

The next day I woke up to a mess of wood on the floor and 2 wooden sticks that looked like they were carved. Maximus takes me to the kitchen and we wait for food. He seems very impatient, like food is taking a long time. How long does he normally wait? Am I weird for waiting this long? The food arrives and he takes it from me. Thinking he's going to steal it I get a bit upset. But he takes a bite and does a few odd things, and the chef ends up dead! He killed the chef, I didn't see him kill the chef but I know he's dead. I heard Maximus' tone and something large dropped.

We spend the rest of the day together, Maximus makes me a delicious omelet! I don't know how a guard can cook better than a chef! I don't think I've eaten anything that good ever! Not even at fathers' fake family meetings! Huh? Father. I didn't think about him at all when being with Maximus.