Chapter 08
843 Words
Ada Williams
My voice came out steadier this time.
Or maybe just desperate.
He stared at me through the narrow crack. Then, he slowly took a step back.
And smiled.
That fake, overly polite smile. The kind of smile manipulative clients gave right before trying to screw you over.
"Calm down, Ada..."
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a folded, somewhat crumpled piece of paper. A red wax seal marked the bottom. He extended the document toward the gap.
I swallowed hard.
"I only came to deliver this."
I kept a firm grip on the door as I watched him hold out his hand with the paper, waiting for me to take it. I didn't trust him for a second.
That was when he spoke again, his voice dropping lower, more menacing.
"So... have you thought about what I proposed?"
My brain short-circuited.
Proposed?
Damn it.
What exactly had this guy proposed to fictional Ada?
I immediately racked my brain. And then the flashes came. Fast. Duene holding flowers. Ada evading him in town. Her father slamming the door in his face. Her mother telling her never to be alone near that man. And then... the proposal.
Marriage.
My stomach churned. Of course. The creep wanted a relationship with her.
More memories resurfaced slowly. Fictional Ada's parents had been terrified because of Duene's influence and his connections. He held sway over the peasants. If he wanted to ruin someone... he could.
I swallowed hard again. So that was it.
I took a deep breath before answering.
"I... I already told you. I'm promised to someone else."
I saw something dark flash across his eyes. But I kept going. The memories were still returning piece by piece.
Fictional Ada's father had always told her to say that. That she had been betrothed since she was little. That her fiancé had gone off to war. That he would return soon.
A lie.
A total lie invented to keep that man away.
So I repeated it exactly, just like fictional Ada used to do.
"He will be back soon."
Duene instantly lost his patience. The smile vanished. He lunged against the door again. The wood shuddered violently.
"This again?!"
My entire body froze.
"That man is probably dead by now! Don't you get it?!"
He shoved the door again. Harder.
"A young woman like you can't be left alone waiting for a corpse!"
Fear crawled up my throat like ice. I shrank back, taking a few steps away. The door chain groaned dangerously.
"I-I already told you! He's coming back!" I screamed, my voice trembling.
Damn it! I had to make him stop, or that door was going to give way. Think. THINK!
And then I blurted out the first desperate thing that popped into my head.
"I received a letter!"
He stopped. Instantly.
"What?"
I was so terrified my body was practically shutting down.
"He... he arrives next week!"
A heavy silence fell outside. I could see his expression perfectly through the narrow gap. That look... almost animalistic, possessed.
"Are you lying to me now, Ada?"
He took another step toward the door, his eyes hunting me inside like a rabid beast.
"You have no idea the mistake you're making!"
He shoved it again. I screamed even louder before I could even think.
"HE ARRIVES NEXT WEEK!"
My voice echoed through the entire house.
"And if you don't stop this... I'm going to tell him everything!"
Silence again.
Duene stood frozen outside, lost in thought, confused and hesitant. Trying to decide if I was bluffing or not. My chest was heaving way too fast.
Then, he violently threw the letter through the crack. The paper fluttered to the floor.
He stared at me for a few more seconds, completely beside himself, and then he smiled again. Except this time... the smile looked different. Worse than before. More terrifying.
"We'll see if that story is actually true..."
My blood ran cold. He began to slowly step away from the door.
"If he doesn't show up by the end of next week..."
The moonlight partially illuminated his face.
"Our wedding will be at the end of the month."
My entire body went rigid. Then, he turned his back and walked away.
Only when his footsteps vanished completely did I realize my legs were shaking. I let go of the piece of wood.
It hit the floor with a dull thud. And I slid down against the wall opposite the door, buried in a sitting position.
My breathing was completely out of control.
"What... the f**k was that...?"
My hands shook as I picked up the paper from the floor. I quickly unfolded it and began to read. With every line... my despair grew.
*New Imperial Order*
*Any woman without a husband or a responsible male representative who owns land must formalize a marriage or administrative guardianship.*
*Unaccompanied women do not possess legal authorization to independently manage rural properties.*
*Failure to comply will result in the immediate confiscation of the lands by the local lord.*
- Writer
