Unexpected changes

Brock stood up from his seat, and the rest of the men mimicked his actions as they stood up to leave.

Brock stretched out his hand, waiting for Jess to put her palms in his.

Jess was hesitant about going with these men to Magros Epic. It would mean going further away from her family when they were just a distance away from where her family was.

She lifted her head to see that Brock still had his hands outstretched. Seeing no other option than to accept his offer so as not to raise suspicion, she placed her hands in his.

Jess placed her hands in his, and he gently clamped them as he pulled her up. Alarm bells went off in her head when she felt his hands on her lower back for the second time.
His touch was repulsive to her, but there was little she could do about it but go along with the flow.

Jess could see the light at the other end of the building with loud music and laughter. She could see people dancing to their hearts' content without fear or worry from the distance.

She blamed Mia for her predicament.

If not for her sister's childish behavior, she would not have ended up in this situation. She missed James right now and prayed by some miraculous intervention that he would come to save her, but he was nowhere in sight.

James was not even in Black Wood Pine at that time. He had gone to the capital on the invitation of one Catherine, who wanted to help him enlist in the Royal Army as her father was a captain.

Jess was glad at the offer but did not trust Lady Catherine. The look in her eyes and the subtle flirting whenever she came to have her shoe measurements taken made Jess feel unsettled, but James was too excited to notice and accused Jess of trying to ruin their future because of her jealousy.

Brock guided the men through another passageway, which led them outside the castle wall without alerting the guards at the gate. Two horses with a carriage were waiting for them.

When the coachmen saw them, he jumped down from the front of the carriage to open the door so she could enter. Jess thought the man looked familiar but could not tell where she had seen him.

As they got closer to the carriage, she recognized him as the coachman who came to pick them up from the house.

Her brow shot up in surprise at the recognition. Jess was trying to process what was happening.

Her thoughts then went to her parents. Were they safe?

She turned her gaze to look at Simon with his head bowed. He refused to raise it or gaze into her eyes.

She found his demeanor quite strange, but before she had time to dwell on it, she felt a hand tucking two locks of hair that had fallen on her face behind her ear.

What are you doing? She snapped with gritted teeth, not minding the consequences of her actions.

Brock did not answer her but turned her around to face him. Her heart was palpitating as she wondered what he had in mind.

He would not hurt her in a place filled with people? She thought, but her hope was short-lived when she saw the men bow their heads as if they would lose it if they dared disobey this man.

She felt his breath on her collarbone as he brought his lips closer to her as if wanting to kiss her. Jess struggled to get out of his grip, but one word from him made her still.
Use this to protect yourself if anyone dares try anything stupid with you.

Jess was shocked at his words. She looked at her hands and found that he had slipped a small dagger masked by a flower handkerchief into her hands.

I will collect it back from you when I return, he said.

This unsettled Jess and made her skeptical. Was he not riding with her to Magros Epic? She thought.

Seeing her shivering, Brock took off his coat and covered Jess with it.

She was surprised that a man willing to sell off his kingdom for some coin could be this thoughtful. She wondered what made him toe such paths of destruction.

I love your gown. It is beautiful, Brock complimented.

Jess blinked at the unexpected compliment and opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out of her vocal cords.

Thank you, my friend gave it to me for the occasion, she explained.

What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I explaining myself to a traitor who wants to take advantage of me? Jess scolded herself.

Brock helped Jess into the carriage. Her eyes scanned the interiors, which left her in awe of the design. It was her first time riding a carriage made for royalty and the upper class, and it felt like she was in heaven.

From the corner of her eyes, she noticed the man about to close the door and shouted-

Wait, are you not riding with me to the diner? She asked, puzzled at her own words.

Brock chuckled and shook his head.

Are you missing me already? He teased.

Jess rolled her eyes and chided herself for her behavior. If he is not riding with her, it would be much easier for her to escape from there and return home.

I won't be able to join you, but one of my assistants will accompany you to keep you company so you do not get bored and lonely.

His words displeased Jess as it meant that a bodyguard would be assigned to monitor her, which changed everything she had in mind.

I do not need any company. I want to go home, Jess blurted out without thinking.

Patience, patience is a virtue in this new world you have stumbled upon, Brock said before closing the door to the carriage.

Jess looked at the window and saw that the carriage was already moving and that Brock was on a horse riding behind them while the others were in a different carriage tailing along.

She looked outside to see the trees that passed by one after another. The sky was pitch black, but the carriage had a fixed lantern that illuminated the area outside, as did the other carriages behind them.

She thought of jumping out from the carriage but changed her mind as it was moving too fast, and the men tailing behind her would notice her jump and catch her before she could even make it far from the road. She opted to wait patiently for the perfect opportunity to escape.