"Please.. stop.."
Jolting yourself awake, it's been the same for the past three days, and it's been three days since you have last seen William.
After the encounter at Earl Grey's manor, you're getting this nightmare, a nightmare where he assaulted you. And remembering all of that, you feel disgusted.
Wiping the sweat that rolls down on your neck, you ruffle your hair in frustration. Closing your eyes as you put your face on your palm. You can't help but to worry over William.
That man didn't even bother to visit you, but then again, he's not responsible to visit you. But..
"He could just visit me with no reasons at all." You blurted out, cheeks heating up at that thought.
Ever since.. you don't know where and when it starts, but you've been acting differently lately. You keep saying you hate his guts but after he saved you three days ago, you suddenly change but it's not just three days ago.
Because it's already been a long time ago.
Maybe after you met William, a day or week after that.
And you keep denying it everytime.
Because you can't put your emotions in your job. It's not exactly a job though, but in order to complete the task that you put yourself upon.. emotions and feelings shouldn't get involved in it.
And you just remembered the plan. You lay back on your bed, your hair sprawled behind you as your eyes stare at the ceiling. A sigh left your lips, looking to your side, you suddenly got another vision.
It was you, crying while being strangled by the Earl. Your eyes widen as it look at you, eyes red from all the crying and your hands went up to your neck. Your neck was sore from all the yelling and from the strangling from days ago.
There was a visible mark of hands on your neck.
"HELP!" Yourself shout at you, closing your eyes tightly, sweat rolling down your face as some strands of your hair sticks to your face, your breathing breath is ragged, chest heaving up and down.
A shaky breathe left your lips, slowly fluttering your eyes open, you stare blankly at the ceiling of your room. The rays of the sun going through your window and hitting on your body that lay tiredly on the bed.
"Why is it haunting me?"
. . .
The wheels of the carousel hitting the rough ground makes a thudding sound, the sound of horse's footsteps and the chatter of people on the street, and other carriages pass your ears. Eyes staring outside the window of the carriage, you slightly push the curtain to the side, getting a better view of the street that a lot of people pass by.
Your body slightly move as the horse run over a rough surface, the coachman stare at you from the small window behind him, he raise his hand to slightly lift his hat up.
"I apologize madam."
"It's fine."
Once again, you go back at staring at the people. It became a hobby of yours to observe everyone's behavior, your eyes squinting at something you would find unpleasant to you, your brows would quirk up when you find something that is of interest to you.
You're also easily read by people, not everyone though, but only a few. And one of the few is William. The oh Great William James Moriarty, that is also known by his alter ego as The Lord of Crimes.
Just remembering his name and the image of his face that flashes in your mind made you frown as your cheeks were becoming esoterically hot for some reason. You just sigh and brush it off, looking back at the window.
"Oh."
It seems like something once again caught your attention when the carriage stop as well as your gaze stop at someone. Your head tilting to the side, eyes vaguely squinting as a smile form on your lips.
The coachman opened the door for you and you nodded in gratitude before exiting the carriage, you can feel his eyes on you as you took a step away from the carriage.
"Thank you for the ride," turning your face to look at the old man, you gave him a sweet smile that made him flinch and the hair in his nape standing up. "Fred."
Leaving the 'old man' and the carriage, you entered the shop, it was a tailoring shop. You were ask by your dearest mother to pick up some fabrics as well as the suit that your younger brother asked for the shop to made for him.
You just agreed to his request whilst a lot of tick marks forming on your forehead and a frown forming on your face but your brother just beam at you and hugging you before leaving the manor.
'Ignorance is such a bliss.'
The bell of the shop ring once you open the door, signalling the owner that a new costumer had arrived. Your eyes wander around the shop, staring at the fabrics that are neatly folded on the shelves, the carpeted floor, and your eyes landed on the man who you assume the owner as he flashes you a smile and put down the pinking shears on the glass counter.
You halted on your tracks, flashing him a smile and stare at the man that he was previously talking to before he decides to cut it off to greet you.
The tailor approach you, bending his body slightly to greet you, someone who is clearly someone with higher status than him and to the man on the counter.
"It's a pleasure to have you in my store Lady Verlice." You just smile in return, he fixed his posture. "I'm Jericho Kelley. I've already met your mother, Lady Marianne and your brother, Lord Kaizer." He spoke using a tone of politeness and a hint of gentleness in it, he radiates uncle vibes.
Removing your glove on your right hand, you raise your hand and stare at Jericho, he nodded at you and you stare at the shelves that contains different fabric. You trace your finger on the wooden shelf before touching the fabric, you hum, feeling the smooth and fine texture of the fabric that your finger had lay upon on.
From your peripheral vision, you saw Jericho talking to the man once again before excusing himself to get the suit that your brother had requested.
"It's unusual to see someone with a high status to be in here." The man spoke, you stop your movement and brushing off your fingertips before putting your gloves back on. You twirl around, your eyes squinting at the man as you slowly fix your gloves. "And a noble who wants to have their clothes made in this.. low class tailor shop." Once again, the man hum, leaning on the counter, staring at you.
His piercing yellow eyes focus on you, you reciprocate the gaze, hardening your eyes at him, almost like glaring daggers at his entire existence. To say, he felt shivers run down his spine as he feel your sharp gaze at him, and feeling that you want to cease his existence on Earth.
"I know you." Your tone changing, contrasting the look in your eyes. A smile form on your lips but your eyes didn't change. "You're a media mogul." You claim, pointing your index finger up. "What was your name again?" Humming to yourself, putting the index finger on your chin, thinking.
"Charles... Augus.. Augustus.." the man was irk to look at you, you seem like mocking him. "Mulberry?" Tilting your head to the side, acting all innocent but you were toying him, a smirk wants to burst on your lips as you watch his face morph into an annoyed one.
"It's Charles August MILVERTON, Lady.. Verlice."
♡︎༄,'; ALSEPHINA'S NOTE:
RUSSIAN ROULETTE! who did you think it was? perhaps.. did you guys thought of...
Sherlock? Hmm?