Chapter 6 - A Not So Great Start to My 1800s Field Trip

It took a couple of seconds for Raymond to process what Lilith had said. It was honestly the last thing he expected to hear that day, and for a moment he lost his composure, choking on his words and taking a step back.

This woman knew that he was a Prince. How in the world did she know? Who was she to know?

There was a pure look of doom on Raymond's face and Lilith knew that she fucked up. She should have just kept her mouth shut. Why did she have to have a smart response? There was no situation where what she said was ok. Even if he was a Prince that the entire world was aware of, she would still be in huge trouble for saying something like that to him. She really just shot herself in the foot.

"What did you say?" he asked after a full minute of silence. The ice in his voice made Lilith stiffen, wringing her hands behind her back.

"I- I-" she swallowed, her throat feeling dry and tight.

"What did you just say to me?" he took a threatening step forward.

"It was- I misspoke. I-" This was not going well. She needed something that would take the heat off of her. "It- it was a rumor. I just heard a rumor, since I'm new to town." her voice died with each word.

"There are no such rumors."

What?

"I know everything that happens here. Everything. And there are no such rumors." he took another step.

"I heard some women talking about it in a shop." she tried to explain but he put up his hand to silence her.

"I am going to give you one chance to explain yourself and if your answer is not satisfactory then you will be at the mercy of the royal court."

Lilith's heart dropped into her stomach and she took in a strained breath. Raymond looked at her, he could see that she was breaking, he could have clearly seen that she was lying about the rumor. And besides, he did monitor all the talk of the town to make sure that no such rumors were spreading. And if there was even the sliver of one, then he would make the necessary moves to make sure that it never got far. Even if it meant bribing or imprisoning someone.

There was another full minute of silence. The noises from outside dominated their space and relieved some of the tension Lilith felt. She knew that if it were completely quiet and she had to deal with Raymond's deadly stare, she would probably be crushed under the tension.

But there was nothing else she could tell him, she had no other way of proving herself innocent without looking like she was trying too hard. For a moment she contemplated acting insane but that would just make her life even more miserable.

But suddenly, Raymond turned around, his feet swiveling on the gravel below him, and he walked out of the alley. Confused, Lilith made to take a step but she stopped herself. He obviously was not going to leave her like that. It did leave a window for her to try and run but it could be exactly what he was trying to get her to do to get her to look guilty.

Seconds later, Raymond rounded the corner, but this time he was not alone. Two men accompanied him and it was obvious that they were guards, ready to haul her away she guessed.

"I gave you a chance," he simply said as they walked to her side.

"Wait, wait, I swear I'm telling the truth, I heard some other people say it. Even if you did not hear about it. They could have just been making up theories and I could have just happened to hear it as they were talking. Rumors start from somewhere." There was logic in her statement, but it was not enough to make Raymond see things her way.

They seized either one of her arms and dragged her out to the front of the building. Her face burned with embarrassment as she saw the people from the library were all looking out the windows at her, as well as the people on the street, stopping what they were doing to get a good look.

Raymond could not even be bothered. Of course, he knew that it would get people talking because he had personally come to arrest someone. That was not something that happened often. The public would be wondering who could have gotten under his skin so badly that he came himself. His reputation was for being indifferent so this event would raise a couple of eyebrows.

Lilith hung her head in shame and the guards carried her into the carriage. It was quite a big carriage that had seats on either side. So, the guards sat and held Lilith between them and Raymond was on the other. From the time he sat down, he had not looked away from her. Probably in an attempt to read her.

"Where are we going?" she asked as the carriage set off, giving her last look at the library.

"To the place, you will be held. I'd first like to try to solve this matter myself so that it does not cause... panic with the... higher people. But if you still refuse to comply and tell me where you got your information, then I will not spare you from the harshness that is the royal family."

It became quiet after that. Except for Lilith's heart pounding in her ears. She also knew that she was shaking and tried her best to stop herself so that she would not give the guards more reason to not like her.

Aside from the fact that she could be tortured or killed in the near future. Lilith was worried about her things. She would need to get to them soon. Since she was seen getting arrested, then news of the new citizen would spread, and then her landlord would go to her room to clear her things. And then he would find her crown and her money. And God knows she would never get them back.

Time passed and Lilith figured out that the place she was going was his house. Not what she expected. Maybe he had a cell in his basement or something. He would hold her in some damp room with roaches, and starve her until she told him what he wanted. Were there even basements in the 1800s? At her ridiculous thought, she stifled a laugh and Raymond sharpened her gaze on her. Her smile died at once and she bowed her head.

The carriage stopped outside of the Manor at the front steps and once she was hauled outside, was when the guards let her go. His manor was similar to the others that she had seen on the way but his was by far the biggest one. It was massive actually. Surrounded by vast plains, trees, and several paths that lead in different directions. It was definitely isolated, as she knew that was something Raymond liked.

Another thought popped into her mind as she took in her surroundings that made her smile. Raymond was awfully similar to Mr. Darcy. Now she knew that Jane Austen was not from Creona, but who knew right? Maybe she was able to get past Eridian and was inspired by his behavior. The book was published in 1813 after all.

That also meant that Lilith was technically alive at the same time as Jane Austen and that was enough for her knees to grow weak under her and cause her to fall.