The Baroness Misbehaves
Chapter 231: More Hands

Chapter 231: More Hands

Everyone had moved from Monica’s room to the Main Hall of the palatial building where Napoleon waited for them. He was sitting on the bejeweled chair of his royal seat, his eyes shifting from one family to the other while Osvaldo stood behind him, and he let out a sigh, as though he had expected this day to come.

"What is the issue?"

Monica’s Father bowed his head in greeting, but the disapproving look on his face barely flinched. Monica still stood beside Madeline and Cassian, looking ready to support them in case her Father had some sort of objection against their presence.

"Sire, you are more than aware of the rules relating to Whitebrige civilians forming alliances with someone who doesn’t have the blood of Whitebridge running through their veins. Your late Father made this rule clear."

"But I am the new ruler and I can decide to change the rules. The man you speak of is six feets below the ground." Napoleon responded bluntly, "if you haven’t put it up to notice, that same rule is the reason why we haven’t created that barrier spell. If my Father wasn’t demanding of your sister to choose between Whitebrige and the man she loved, we wouldn’t be in this critical mess."

Napoleon’s audible tone was loud and clear, and Monica’s Aunt also stepped forward with a bow of her head. "Not the rules, sire, her Mother was just blinded by mortal love to not realize the right decision."

Saying this, she casted Madeline a disapproving glare, but Cassian blocked Madeline’s gaze with his palm. Shifting her attention to Cassian, his warning glare sent a cold chill down the woman’s spine, and when she felt intimidated, she immediately looked elsewhere.

Madeline looked up at Cassian whose eyes had softened, and she half-smiled at him before looking at the reason why her Mother never introduced her Family to her.

Her Mother was dead, the least respect they could offer to her late mother is not speak of her faults when they aren’t even any valid faults.

"Humans are a distraction." Monica’s Father added. "I have no problem with my sister’s daughter, but I would hate to see another one of my family get driven down the wrong path due to mortal love."

"Mortal love, immortal love, those are not my concern, my concern is getting the city’s capital back together, and she’s the only one capable of doing it."

"Yesterday’s meeting, is she the solution you kept talking about?" Monica’s Father pointed at Madeline, remembering how Napoleon had spoken about finding a solution that would get rid of the darkness in Whitebridge city’s capital.

"She’s the daughter of the late Fae, as the daughter, she’s the only one capable of creating the barrier, and while she’s here, I want no further complaints regarding this matter. I’ve made my decision, she will stay with her husband, and she will create the barrier."

The finality in his tone made Osvaldo smile secretly, feeling proud of his older brother. Maya, who had kept quiet all through the argument, constantly stole glances at Osvaldo who was in complete agreement with his brother, and whenever he looked at her out of coincidence, Maya couldn’t refrain herself from going red under his gaze, and she immediately looked down at her feet.

Monica also looked excited at Napoleon’s decision. He might be grumpy and impatient, but he surely knows when it is time to take important decisions into his own hands, just like what he did today, and his actions made Madeline see that there really is some good in him.

Napoleon rose from his seat and exited the hall with his armored men. Osvaldo followed behind, recalling he had to disclose Monica’s issue to Napoleon, but he was immediately stopped by Maya who stood in front of him.

He was baffled at first, but after seeing it was the famous pretty Maya, he smiled as usual, with the same friendliness in his eyes.

"Is there something you want me to assist you with? Lady Maya?" He asked in a cool tone that reminded her of the sweet coolness during November twilight, and her eyes twinkled.

"No...I... I mean.... Yes, yes there is." Maya felt like slapping herself for stammering in front of Osvaldo, but how can she concentrate when she was staring right at his handsome face, and into those pretty hazel eyes.

Her heart felt like it’d burst any minute.

"The thing is I... I wanted to thank you for being there for my sister. She really looks up to you." Out of the hundred things Maya wanted to say, this was the only sentence that could leave her mouth, and her heart jumped when he gave her head a pat.

"I’m flattered." He responded, "but I have to take my leave now. Napoleon and I have something important to talk about."

"Before you go," she stopped him once again. "There will be an annual event taking place at the heart of Whitebridge city’s capital tonight, I was hoping you’d....."

"If only I could, but I’ll be busy helping our guests. Madeline and her husband will need help in building her powers. Unfortunately, I have no time for social interactions."

"Then can we help her together?"

"What?" Osvaldo didn’t seem to get it, and Maya quickly changed her statement. "I’m a Fae, I can easily assist my.... Niece, give her important details on how she can make her powers work. I can be useful."

"But I don’t want you to miss your...."

"It’s not a problem!" She quickly cut Osvaldo off. The reason why she even brought that idea was so she could get a chance to spend some time with him, but since he spends most of his time with her newfound niece, then why not make use of the great opportunity?

"Please let me come with you tonight?" She blinked innocently, and Osvaldo remained mute for a second before he finally gave in.

"Since you insist, I have no problem."

"Osvaldo!" Napoleon called for his brother, reminding Osvaldo that he was supposed to be with him.

"I have to go now, see you tonight." With that lingering smile on his lips, he walked past her, exiting through the door.

Maya watched him leave with butterflies swirling in her stomach, and all of a sudden, she couldn’t wait for tonight to reach.

Cassian, Maya and Madeline who witnessed the scene blinked in surprise, and Monica rolled her eyes.

"My sister has taken a great liking to Osvaldo for a long time, but she’s not willing to accept that he doesn’t feel the same way for her. Getting his attention has been fruitless for her." Monica explained to Cas and Maddie, feeling quite sorry for her sister.

"He’s turning a blind eye to all the greenlights." Cassian muttered before erasing it from his mind.

"Anyway, Lily." Calling her name, little Lily showed up in their midst, startling Monica who hid behind Madeline, but neither Cassian or Lily seemed bothered as he crouched to her level.

"I’ve got another job for you, see if you can track anyone with a resemblance to Jeremy in Whitebridge. Can you do that?"

Lily said nothing for a few seconds, then she nodded her head.

"Good girl, report to me if you notice anything suspicious. And don’t get too close."

Nodding her head once again, she vanished from their sight, and Monica could finally breathe.

"Was that a.....???"

"Ghost? Yeah, but she’s harmless." Cassian sighed. "I guess we’ll need more hands in uncovering the mastermind’s hideout, when are those three going to get here?"