Chapter 4: Count Blackstone
When Evan heard the count speaking calmly to him, he raised his head in surprise to observe him, but when he noticed that he was smiling his face paled and his expression became fearful, he lowered his head again to the floor and kept silent; next to the count, the butler who also noticed his master's smile changed his expression slightly and although he seemed a little disconcerted and surprised, he kept silent as well.
The study became quiet while everyone remained silent, as the seconds passed Evan's complexion became paler and paler and in his expression traces of anxiety and worry could be noticed more clearly. Thus the time passed and after a while the earl's voice was heard.
"Sir Evan, you have disappointed me, it is indeed a pity to have to dispense with your services."
hearing the count speak Evan was relieved to escape from that uncomfortable silence, he raised his head again noticing that the smile on the count's face had faded recovering his usual stoic expression, however, after a few moments as he processed what the count had just said his face filled with panic and fear and he implored aloud.
"count please forgive me, please forgive me, please forgive me, be magnanimous sir, I was greedy, I accepted that payment, but they said they would do nothing to the young master, you must believe me sir"
Evan began to beg for forgiveness immediately, he was speaking quickly and his voice was very anxious, he feels very sorry, he did not think this matter would be so serious, at first, in addition to avoid offending the sender of the letter, he accepted a payment for convincing the young master Aldeus to go on a trip, and although he knew that it was likely that the count would find out he was not so worried, because he thought that at most the count would reprimand him for the matter, since, in the letter it was mentioned that they had no bad intentions towards the young master, but to think that the count would be angry; Evan was really frightened at this moment, this because he knew about the personality of the count Blackstone, in fact he was not the only one, in the kingdom the attention that the Blackstone county possesses is comparable to that of a duchy, in the celebrations that the count attends many nobles from different circles try to hit it off with him, the specific reason is not clear to the public, and even Evan who has some good connections does not know; being in the spotlight Count Blackstone's behavior has been under constant scrutiny and it has been unanimously agreed that he is a very capable man with a refined demeanor, he has a great command of noble etiquette and has extensive knowledge and experience in different fields, but he prefers to maintain a neutral stance towards the conflicts in the kingdom, this can be noticed in the fact that on multiple occasions he has refused the invitations of nobles who possess ranks even higher than his own, deciding to keep to himself; what is a bit disconcerting is that the rejected nobles have not retaliated in any way for such a snub, that is one of the reasons why Evan is so scared, if the problem were with another count perhaps they would not dare to do anything to him, after all, in the decade that he has worked as a tutor he has forged multiple connections, and he could even ask Prince Tristan for help, but Count Blackstone is not a simple count, with his influence not even the crown prince would dare to anger him easily, and Evan knows that the earl is now really angry, because from what has been agreed about him there are two important facts missing to mention, which are privileged information that few know, firstly he never smiles unless he is angry, and secondly, he is cold and ruthless in nature, once you offend him for him you are nothing but a corpse.
No one knows for sure who made these last two details known, but special emphasis was placed on them, Evan believes that the person in question must have been too concerned about his own life so he remained anonymous, by the second detail in question it is evident that once you offend Count Blackstone you are practically doomed to death, unless you have a back up influential enough to keep you safe, or you hide properly, but isn't Evan in the study at Castle Blackstone right now, just a few steps away from the Count, well, you can't hide, has Evan any backing to rely on, unless he moves several princes or the king himself, but with what benefits could he get them to help him, thinking this far Evan couldn't help but feel increasingly desperate, it is clearly a dream to think that dispensing with his tutoring services refer to a simple dismissal, don't those servants who were flogged and locked up months ago for offending young master Aldous serve as an example, though flogged and locked up they seem to have kept their lives, but is that really so, their life or death depends on the mood of the count, being locked up, for the public in question they are alive, but who can guarantee such a thing, they may be being tortured or have been executed, but no one knows, the guards in the dungeon dare not open their mouths, as for sneaking in to check it out, who is going to risk his life that way.