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The plan was simple really. All Meldenique had to do was annoy Lennox enough that he starts berating and comparing her to Sheria, and then Dominick will take care of the rest.
And it was working well too! He was screaming at her and saying how much of a better lover Sheria was; at least that's what Meldenique assume he's screeching about, it kind of goes from one ear to another.
And then he says “If you can’t be tamed, it’s more convenient for me to kill you”
Meldenique didn’t pay much mind to what he said, thinking it was just an empty threat; she was born in a much kinder world. Violence exists, yes, but she never truly experienced it. But Lennox took a step closer to her, and another, and another, and his hands reached out towards her; suddenly a blanket of fear covered her.
‘Ithurtsithurtithurts-icantbreathe!’
She brings her hands up, trying to slap his hands away. The domain around them is slowly crumbling but all she could do was flail around; hitting and kicking, anything to survive. Through her hazy vision she can see Lennox’s eyes grow even darker, and although faint in her ears she hears his words. “...Unless I can get a child out of you that is”
She flinched, struggling even harder than before. ‘Dominick, help me! Please! Please help. I don’t like this plan, I don’t want to do this anymore!’. Her eyes were welling up with tears now.
Instantly the dark subspace brightens, the world around them shatters and she can hear the explosion of murmurs and gasps. Finally she remembers Dominick’s advice, and kicks Lennox’s right at his nuts. He drops her, and she falls. Meldenique scrambles away from him, taking in large breaths in, finally she could breath.
She keeps an eye on Lennox Hessman, wary that he’ll approach her. If she paid attention she'd hear the people gossiping, talking about how the young duke was such a wretched man and how she is a pitiful young lady, but she didn’t pay attention, couldn’t pay attention. Everything was so hazy and muddled around her.
When a blurry hand approaches her, she flinches. The hand stops, and a whole person kneels in front of her; Isaac comes to view. “Are you alright, Lady Meldenique?” he’s voice is soft and gentle, it soothes her worries and fear.
“...I’m fine” her voice is hoarse, quiet unlike her usual loud personality. He gives her his hand once more, this time Meldenique takes it, finally standing up. Isaac puts his coat on her and it feels safer, almost like a security blanket.
‘...-Mel! Mel, are you alright?’
‘Dominick?’
‘For a moment, your mind suddenly blanked out’
‘I’m fine for now’
‘... I’ll kill him for you’
‘I know… but you don’t need to’
Meldenique let eyes wander as she talked with Dominick, before she spots someone. She walks towards the host of the ball. “Lady Moudsella…” her voice is still scratchy, “I’m sorry for ruining this wonderful ball”
She thinks she sees the other lady gape in surprise, but there's no way a noblewoman such as herself would be caught unaware like that. “N-nonsense! If anything I should apologize. I can't believe I invited such a vile man. Not only is he a scummy cheater, he had the audacity to!-”
Lady Moudsella stops her rant, gazing at the hand shaped bruise across her neck. “That doesn't matter right now, I'll go fetch the doctor”
“No need” Meldenique tries to grab the lady's hand to stop her, but she misses and ends up grabbing her sleeves instead. She gives the host a smile, although it looks more like a grimace, “I think I rather just go home for now”
“I see… Then let's make sure to meet and chat next time”
“I'll escort you” Isaac offers her a hand, and the two left.
There's a small part of Meldenique that's still scared. Lennox is still at Moudsella's estate, far away from the road that their carriage has taken. He's most likely at the party still, trying to salvage what's left of his reputation, instead of trying to chase after her. He can't hurt her right now.
And yet the carriage is small, crammed like that domain. The moon was barely out, and the outside was so dark, like that dark subspace. Then there is Isaac, he is not Lennox. He is nicer and more gentle, and yet Meldenique can’t help but wonder…
‘Dominick?’
‘Yes?’ Meldenique feels a small amount of relief, at least Dominick is still here. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘Nothing. Just making sure you’re still here’
She can feel herself shifting in her seat, the mood feels so awkward. She stares at her hands before remembering, “Oh yeah that reminds me, did you find the thief?”
Isaac stares at her in almost disbelief before he replied, “...Yes”
“That’s great! Congratulations!” Meldenique smiles brightly. She’s glad, even though it was scary and painful, at least both their plans worked out in the end.
“...” Her smiles wavered slightly at his non-response, it almost seemed like he was angry. “How is your neck?”
“Hmm? Ah… it’s fine” Meldenique says, but it was easy to spot the lie with the way she would flinch with every miniscule movement her head does.
Isaac attempts to lean closer towards her, but Meldenique immediately flinches from his movement. He pauses before speaking in a soft, low tone, “May I approach you?”. Minutes pass by with Meldenique not replying, but in all honesty she doesn’t think she can keep up her bubbly act right now. Finally, she says that he may.
He reaches his hand out towards her, slowly, as if he was approaching a wounded animal. When his hand was near her neck he cast a spell, a soft light glowing from his hand. Meldenique releases the breath she didn’t know she was holding, it felt easier to breathe now. She couldn’t see it, but she knew that Isaac healed the bruises.
“I do not like seeing you hurt” Isaac leans back into his seat, giving Meldenique her space. “From now on, please treasure yourself more” Meldenique pauses to process his words, before turning a bit red. “You should be careful saying stuff like that, people will get the wrong idea” Isaac just smiles in response.
It takes a bit before the conversation starts up again, their words filling the quiet night.
Meldenique waves Isaac off, waiting till the carriage was nothing but a tiny speck in her vision. Finally when she sees nothing, she opens the door to her beloved shop, her home, entering it. Immediately she sees Dominick and she feels relieved, she feels safe. She launched herself at the man.
He catches her, not even stumbling. He was stiff, his arms around her, before finally loosening up. He brings a hand to her head, patting her and softly brushing her hair. Finally, unable to handle it anymore, Meldenique bursts into tears, quietly seeking comfort in the man she sees as her brother.