Chapter 13
He didn't expect much, but this must be even lower than he could ever have imagined. As a Marine, one should have at least some dignity and pride in their work to justify being the lowest of the low of human beings. But it seems such things don't exist in the end.
Carrying bags upon bags of clothes and jewelry, Castiel plodded behind his employer. Stacy, she said her name was. He was very suspicious of her, and she somehow felt familiar, but in the end, Castiel did as he was told and didn't care about anything else.
She probably was one of the nobles, or maybe a mistress of one. She sure was arrogant and rich. In the days he was with her, she spent more money than he had ever spent on himself. And she was showing off her wealth, like telling him that he would never have what she had.
Though she was also playful and flirtatious. He didn't miss her smiles at him or her winks. He didn't understand why she was acting like that. Neither did he really care to participate in her little games. He was just doing his job, and that was all.
Either way, it wasn't like there was anything better for him to do. He had already sent a letter to most of the hospitals in the Ilisia Kingdom. Now, he only needed to wait for an answer. And if any of those hospitals did have the medicine Castiel was seeking, he would order it.
He didn't care how he had to pay for it; he first had to acquire it. After his sister was healed, he could think of ways to die to repay the debts he would incur. He was already too tired of this shit. And time was running out. If only he could die sooner to end his and his sister's suffering.
"Hmm, let's get some coffee." Stacy was acting like a young and rich lady, going from one fancy place to another, and Castiel followed her like a good little toy soldier he was.
But deep in his mind, he couldn't help but suspect that something was wrong with this image. Like this girl was acting rather than being who she claimed to be. Though, to begin with, she was supposed to be a rich merchant or something.
And yet, she acted more like a lady from a noble family. She could be both. But there was something suspicious about her. If he cared even a little bit, he might be able to piece it together, but he didn't.
While she took her time ordering a very complicated and unnecessary drink, Castiel looked around. For a while, he felt like someone was watching them. And not in innocent curiosity, but with malice behind it.
A few times, he turned around, only to find shadows disappearing around the corners of the shops. He didn't like it. Even though an assassin would be preferable, he knew they weren't coming for him. Well, all he needed to do was act heroically and die protecting this lady.
After the order finally came and they sat down for the lady to enjoy her coffee, Castiel took a closer look at her. She was pretty, with short, curly blonde hair. Her eyes were large and blue, and her soft face got some edge from her red lips.
Thin but curvy, she looked young. His age, even. But the way she moved, the grace she exhibited, made him think of her as at least ten years older than him. And there was this aura around her that suggested she wasn't as meek as she tried to appear.
Castiel trusted his eyes. So, he was perplexed by this girl from the very beginning. And he didn't like how he felt like he was being played. Well, he was a toy soldier in the end. If it wasn't her, it would be the World Government that would play with him.
"Don't be so serious all the time," Stacy said as she rested her head on her linked hands and stared at him. "Tell me about yourself. I heard you are quite a Marine who faced Revolutionary Army officers and survived. You must be impressive."
Rather than answer her, Castiel turned his head to three men walking into the coffee house. They wore heavy suits with top hats that covered their eyes. But he also noticed bulges inside those suits. Something told him that they were trouble.
Putting down the bags he was carrying, he pushed his chair away from the table so he could move more easily. If they were dangerous, Castiel would put his body before Stacy's to take the hit for her. And hope that it would come to this.
But he stopped. He looked at Stacy, the lady he was guarding, and found it odd how expectantly she looked at him when these three men entered the shop. It was fine, he had to tell himself. He didn't care what the situation was; he only had to be a good Marine and die already.
His will had been written. The money would go to Cass, and the doctor who had taken care of her for the past year would see to it that she got the treatment and the medicine she needed to be saved. In the end, money was all that Cass needed right now.
"Don't play a hero." Before Castiel could even realize it, the trio of men had already approached them and shown him their pistols hidden within their suits. "We only want the woman; it doesn't have to go any further than that."
Castiel fixed his hat, then put his hand on his pistol. Stacy, who should have been scared at the moment, looked nonchalant. And Castiel realized that she had stopped acting as she looked at him, expecting him to just do his job and die.
Good thing he didn't care, because at the moment he would have wondered what kind of situation he was in and who set it up. The least he could have done was thank them for this opportunity. Giving the lady a quick smile as his thanks, he drew his pistol.
There was a silence that settled for a moment before four gunshots could be heard in succession. The coffee shop settled into a frenzy as Castiel stepped back. The lady he was protecting looked at him with a sympathetic expression.
But that look quickly changed to one of surprise as Castiel and the assailants looked at each other. Castiel had been aiming at the ceiling from the very beginning, since he didn't wish to harm them or anyone in the shop, but how all of them missed him, he couldn't understand.
They were all very close to him. Castiel just looked at them with a blank face, questioning their aim, while the assailants looked at their guns, then at Castiel. With a sigh, Castiel was used to giving his soon-to-be murderers a second chance.
He moved slowly, finally gathering their attention on him again. As bizarre as it was for them to miss the first time, it would be very embarrassing if they did it for a second time. This time, they even aimed their pistols properly, and then the ceiling fell on them, crushing them.
"Are you alright, sir?" Stacy, if that was her name, asked after a moment of silence.
"I am fine." Castiel decided to continue pretending like he didn't know she was somehow involved in people trying to kill him, as that was just fine with him. "Are you hurt? Did they scare you?"
After asking pointless questions and pretending to care about her, the security showed up, and Stacy said she wanted to go home. She pretended to be shaken, though she was quite a terrible actress, especially since he saw how she reacted when those guys tried to kill him.
…
Those damn idiots. She couldn't believe that they had missed such a perfect opportunity. And she had worked her ass off to piss off Capone Bege by stealing his clients. She had literally painted a target on her back, and they missed it.
Calming herself down, Stussy looked at the new dresses she bought today. She never expected that playing a lady in distress would be so tiring. But she had too much to gain to fail this mission.
Not only could she spread her influence in West Blue without the Marines bothering her, but she also gained their support. And all she had to do was get this upstart killed. Though she could admit that the man looked quite stunning when he faced those idiots in suits.
The smile he gave her did make her heart skip for a moment. If only there weren't so much to gain from his death, she might have played with him for a bit longer. Well, it didn't matter. He would die today anyway.
"Miss Stacy."
His voice could be heard behind the doors to her room, making her flinch. The image of him standing against the assailants and taking care of them in a way that protected her rather than save himself flashed through her head.
"You can come in." Stussy put on a thankful look as she called out to him.
"I hope I am not disturbing you."
"No, though you did give me a scare." She punched his shoulder teasingly and got annoyed when he gave her no reaction, not even a weak smile to hide his fluster. "There's still time until my next appointment; you should take a rest for now. You more than deserve it, my hero."
Stussy gave him her best flirtatious smile and a wink that would make other men faint, and again he didn't even react to her. This man was getting on her nerves now. She was the one who felt embarrassed trying to flirt with him to put him off guard.
Usually by now, she would have any man wrapped around her finger. Making them do as she wished, without even saying anything. They would fall over each other to help her. And if the situation arose, they would risk their lives to save her. But not this one, though; he did his job well.
And she had to admit that the dashing figure from earlier still hadn't disappeared from her mind. But it was more out of surprise, as she never expected to see a dashing Marine. All of them were ugly and way too corrupt or too prudish for her liking.
"I have a request, if it isn't anything difficult for you, Miss," he said as he looked down at her. She hated that he was taller than her and was looking down on her. "I know you must be influential and powerful, since you have so many enemies. I know that I might not make it through the next encounter like the previous one, so I would like to request something from you, Miss."
"Of course, as long as it is within my power, it will be the least I can do for you."
"There is this medicine, very expensive and rare, newly created…"
"I know what you are talking about." It was one of the reasons she came to this place, so of course she knew it. "I think there will be a next shipment of it soon enough. I can secure it for you, if you wish."
"It is for my ill sister," he said, for the first time showing eyes that were softer than clouds. "It would mean a lot to me if you could get some for her. That is my last wish."
And with that, he turned away and left. She watched him for a second before quickly taking out his profile folder after she was left alone. She read through it again and only now noticed that there was a girl he was close to.
But she wasn't his sister, at least not by blood. There wasn't much information, but she kept that in mind for now. All day today, he had been nothing but cold. And even when he faced death, he only smiled at her to reassure her, but his eyes never changed.
That was until he mentioned his sister. She had never seen such soft eyes. Eyes full of pure love, which was the best way she could describe them. So bright that they blinded her for a second. And what was worse, worse than anything else, she felt jealous.
Jealous of the love he had for this girl. That made her even angrier at him. And even more resolute in taking care of him. Tonight, she would set a stage where there was no escape for him, even with those idiots doing the work.
A.N. As always, thanks for reading and supporting me so I can continue writing without any concerns, and if you want more, up to seven chapters in advance, you can support me on Pa treon. com \ ironwolf852.