The Baroness Misbehaves
Chapter 209: Meeting The County Council (2)

Chapter 209: Meeting The County Council (2)

Stepping through the shimmering portal, Madeline could feel a quick sense of unexplainable rush of energy and excitement wash over her from head to toe. The swirling vortex of colors that surrounded them for a split second vanished, and the next thing they felt was their feet on a solid ground, the evening sky already darkening into the night.

When they emerged, they found themselves inside the midst of a grand building that looked no different from a towering palace, leaving Madeline’s pupils to dilate for a split second. The interior of the building had ornate columns lining the hallway with chandeliers illuminating the corridor

Each corner of the room had been lit up with candles that stood tall on a candleholder, their lights burning brightly and giving warmth to the explicit hallway. Madeline’s arm went up around that of Cassian’s, holding him in order to ease her mind that she wasn’t alone here. She was only starting to feel a little uncertain about following the unknown man here, but unfortunately, there was no turning back.

"This way." The man with the copper-brown hair led them through the path without saying anything else. The man who seemed older and held a lantern earlier, bowed his head to the fellow and took a turn down a different hallway, leaving the couple stuck with the young man who led them through the corridor.

Madeline on the hand had questions that needed tons of answers, but she was unsure of how she would begin since they had only met this man who just kept walking. When she stole a peek at Cassian’s face to guess his thoughts, his expression was uncertain, more like someone who doubted this whole thing like her.

"Cas."

"This better be worth it." He muttered, making Madeline aware of his insecurities.

As they walked through the hallway, they soon arrived at a set of doors that were guarded by two armored men. The copper-brown haired man spoke in an unfamiliar language to the two bodyguards, and after exchanging words using their language, the door was opened, and the three of them stepped inside.

In the massive chamber beyond, they were met by the sight of a man sitting in a vast bath. He lounged languidly, his eyes closed and his skin glistening from the steamy air that created a light fog in the chamber. He had been pondering on his thoughts, lost in his own world till he heard the door to his bathing chamber open, and that made his brows knit in displeasure, like someone who hated to be disrupted during his alone time.

Opening his eyes, he turned his head to their direction as they entered, revealing his face to his two confused beings whose gaze traveled around the room before settling on the man in a huge bathtub.

Madeline’s mouth nearly dropped at the striking sight of the man. His face was explicitly defined and chiseled, and with a high cheek bone that lent him a rugged masculine edge. As he lay back on the tub, his damp honey-blonde hair clung to his forehead in waves, framing his face in a tousled Halo that only added to his allure as he switched position to get a better view of his guest.

His hazel eyes immediately locked gaze with that of Madeline who could barely blink, and he tilted his head slightly at her, as if asking what she was staring at.

Cassian had to cover his wife’s eyes when he noticed she was starting to stare a little too much at the half-naked stranger in a bath. The guy with the copper-brown hair moved forward to the bath, and he sat at the edge of it, keeping his gaze locked on the two beings he had brought in.

"Do not fret." His gentle tone tried to sound as assuring as possible, he wasn’t a fool to not have guessed their insecurities, and it was just his luck that they had willingly agreed to follow him here.

"Brother." He turned to look at his brother whose eyes finally met his, "she’s the one we’ve been waiting for, do you believe me now?"

"What are your names?" The one seated inside the tub asked, but Cassian sighed in response.

"The main question is, how do you know our names?" To be honest, he was still bothered about that, "we’ve only just stopped our carriage, and the next thing we hear is that guy calling our names like he’s seen us from a novel or something."

Cassian clearly had no time for introductions, but his tone remained polite and attention-worthy. "We want to speak with the county council, that’s why we’re here. Since you brought us here, that has to mean either you or him is the county council of Whitebrige if I’m not mistaken?"

"Yes, he is." The one who had brought them here answered, "allow me to introduce myself, I’m Osvaldo, a white seer, someone who sees and predicts the good things of the future? Yes, that’s me, and this here is my brother, Napoleon."

Osvaldo went further to introduce his brother who hasn’t taken his eyes off Madeline yet, "he’s the county council of Whitebrige, and he runs this city."

Madeline took their introduction into proper understanding, and now that he had introduced himself as well as his brother, Madeline was starting to notice the resemblance in their facial appearances. Osvaldo had the warmer and gentle kind of appearance while Napoleon gave off an eerie atmosphere that wrapped around him like a shield, his expression was impassive, and a smile barely cracked on his lips.

"We’re..."

"Madeline and Cassian." Osvaldo answered for her, "you’re the daughter of the late Baron from Carmarthen, your mother was a fae in Whitebridge but left many years ago to reside with the humans, and her one little mistake has brought doom to the people of Carmarthen. Whitebrige is also facing it’s calamity, and you’re here to figure out how and why strange things keep happening to you, am I right or wrong?"

Madeline grew speechless, and Osvaldo shifted his attention to Cassian. "You’re Lord Cassian, first son from the Albrecht family, you’ve been blessed with the ability to see Ghost’s from your childhood and share a special connection with a little ghost named Lily. You are known for your good-looks, which isn’t a lie." Osvaldo complimented his charms. "You’re infamous for your job, and that has led you to become a half-vampire, a pity I must say."

"Wait, I’m not the first child." Cassian corrected Osvaldo, "you’re wrong there."

Osvaldo only smiled, "you’ve always been the first child of your father, you just don’t know about it. No one knows actually." Osvaldo chuckled lightly, and that led to Cas’s suspicion growing.

"What are you--"

"Osvaldo gets a bit ahead of himself, pays less attention to the things he says." Napoleon shut his brother a glare, and Osvaldo quickly bowed his head in apology.

"Forgive me, My Lord." He looked up and also apologized to Madeline and Cassian. "Sometimes I can’t control the things I see."

"You both know my Mother?" Madeline asked, taking a step forward. Her eyes were fixed on Napoleon who made an attempt to stand up from his bath, but that led Cassian to quickly take a step forward and cover Madeline’s eyes for the second time, pulling the silly woman against him as her back connected with his front.

"Forgive my wife’s manner, she can’t tell when it’s necessary to look away." The displeasure in his tone made Madeline aware of the fact that his words were subjected to her, and she didn’t dare meet his gaze because she knew he was probably giving her the death stares.

"I love this type of couples." Osvaldo added heartily before looking at his brother who was putting on his fancy robe.

"I only brought you to see them, they must be tired so I shall arrange somewhere comfortable for them to stay in till you’re ready to speak with them."

When Napoleon gave no objections, Osvaldo looked at the couple and beckoned them to follow him out so Napoleon could get himself settled.