The silence that followed was heavy.
This electric intimacy made Patrick's skin crawl and tingle all at once.
He stood frozen, his hand still clasped in Valeria's, while her forehead rested against his chest.
He could feel the rapid, fluttery heat of her breath through his shirt.
And to think he had been crushing her windpipe moments ago.
Reidward's voice broke the trance, smooth as aged brandy. "It appears the negotiations have reached a... climax. How fortunate."
Valeria pulled back just an inch, her fingers tightening on Patrick's hand. Her eyes, usually sharp enough to cut glass, were hazy, tracking the line of his throat.
Patrick cleared his throat, the sound rasping in the quiet room.
"Uh, Valeria?" Patrick stammered, his bravado leaking out of him like a punctured tire. "You're... you're doing the thing again. The creepy staring thing."
"You broke me," she whispered with a melodious vibration as she looked up at him.
"No one has ever dared to show me the monster beneath the suit, Patrick. They all play the game. You... you just.." She didn't continue.
Valeria reached up with her free hand, her fingertips tracing the lapel of his rumpled jacket. "The land documents will be at your estate by sunset. Consider the 'mistakes' already forgiven."
Patrick blinked, his brain struggling to reconcile the business transaction with the woman currently vibrating against his ribs. "Right. Great. Business. I love land."
He looked over at the floor, where Pem lay sprawled in a graceful swoon. "Is she... do we need to call a doctor? Or an exorcist for Reidward?"
Reidward stepped forward, stepping over the unconscious maid with practiced grace. He retrieved the fallen gun from the floor, checking the safety with a click that sounded like a final punctuation mark.
"Pem is merely overwhelmed by the sudden shift in atmospheric pressure, Young Master," Reidward lied effortlessly, tucking the firearm into his own waistband. "As for myself, I have never felt more refreshed. Lady Valeria, if you could release my master's hand, I believe we have a carriage to catch before the scandal reaches the local tabloids."
Valeria didn't move immediately. She leaned in closer, her lips hovering just below Patrick's ear. "I hate you. I don't know what sorcery you did, but I hate you."
She finally let go, stepping back with a sudden, sharp return of her noble composure, though the flush on her cheeks remained. She smoothed her hair, ignoring the chaos of the room as if she were standing in a ballroom rather than a disaster zone.
"Get out," she said, though the 'flat' tone she tried to use failed to mask the tremor in her breath. "Before I change my mind and have you arrested for treason. Or before I decide I want to see that 'animal' side of you again."
Patrick didn't need a second invitation. He turned on his heel, his heart hammering something that felt suspiciously like excitement.
"Right. See ya, Lady V," he called out, trying to regain his swagger as he marched toward the oak doors.
As they stepped into the hallway, the heavy doors groaning shut behind them, Patrick rounded on the butler.
"Reidward," Patrick hissed, his voice hushed and frantic. "What the hell was that? Why was she glowing? Why did the maid die? And why do I feel like I just survived a boss fight only to get a cursed reward?"
Reidward adjusted his spectacles, his eyes shimmering with that unsettling, crimson-tinged mirth. "Young Master, they say love and hate are two sides of the same coin. You simply flipped the coin so hard it shattered the floorboards."
"I do not understand a word at all of what you're saying old man." Patrick responded with unsatisfaction.
"The maid"
"The what? What about my fiance's personal maid?"
"She didn't die."
"..."
"..."
Patrick looked at the old man, then hit his head at a door.
Fuck I didn't pay attention to my surroundings.
"Of course she didn't die old man. I'm pretty sure she was just unconcious from shock."
"Shock can kill people." Reidward answered tersely as he opened the door leading to outside the mansion.
Patrick followed suit to walk outside, about to add another word but stopped himself, believing that this discussion was not worth, six, or seven seconds of his time.
Patrick remarked how the garden and fountain of Valeria's mansion looked really beautiful. Patrick didn't bother to answer, seeming growing comfortable to the old man.
"Young master, sometimes if you feel overwhelmed, you should look around nature to heal your mind." Reidward said simply, not minding being ignored.
"You still didn't explain to me how she glowed."
"Lighting." Reidward answered immediately.
"Lighting? Like those in movie scenes to enhance the view and make the viewers feel the same as the characters by setting the tone?." Patrick asked quzzically, he was about to think this world had magic but it was just light and shit.
"Movies..." Reidward muttered as he looked around the mansion, the walk was quite lengthy cause of how unecessary the distance is to show the rich power of Valeria's family.
"I don't know what that is but whatever makes you understand better young master."
"Meh, this whole thing is getting more and more confusing to me. I should take a break." Patrick said.
Right as they were about to leave the mansion gate the guard who was standing on the side of the gate looked at the two.
Reidward immediately slapped the guards face. The guard looked at the old man in fear as he walked back.
"Why did you hit that dude?"
"Nature sometimes has bad influences, such as humans, I was about to call nature beautiful but saw that creatures face."
Patrick sighed, believing that this old man is somewhat insane. The guard already opened the gates to let them walk outside and this is how they get treated. Such a poor guy.
The clacking of horses hooves resounded as the carriage carrying the name "Bidi Company," had arrived.
Rizz then opened the carriage to let Patrick get inside, then he entered too. The vehicle moved as soon as Reidward knocked on the wall to signal they are ready.
"Lets prepare the celebratory tea once we arrive at home. As your butler, I prefer that you sit in silence and contemplate your newfound 'rizz' and learn to use that smile again to make Valeria fall for you harder." Reidward said thoughtfully as he placed his gaze on Patrick, he then took a pillow from under the seats and told him to take a nap.
Patrick nodded and fell asleep on the other side from where Reidward was sitting.