The Devil's Betrothed
Chapter 605: You Are Better When You Are Mute

Chapter 605: You Are Better When You Are Mute

At the Ahrens’, Erin enjoyed a morning meal before stepping out of her residence. She immediately noticed a familiar figure standing by the door, resuming his role as her bodyguard. She looked at him, a light smirk playing on her lips. He returned her gaze with his usual cold, quiet demeanor and bowed to her.

Without a word, Erin climbed into her carriage while Luke mounted his horse to lead the way. They traveled to her father’s residence to bid farewell to Luis and his daughter. Upon arrival, Luke opened the carriage door for Erin, who stepped out gracefully.

As she moved towards the entrance, she instructed, "Follow me inside," and proceeded ahead.

Luke obediently followed, entering the drawing room where the Ahrens were conversing with the Mortimers. At the sight of Luis, his fists clenched but he heard Erin who was walking a step ahead of him.

"You are at Ahrens. You need to learn to control your anger."

Luke relaxed his hands and continued to walk calmly.

"...Apologies for the inconvenience caused last night," Walys was saying to Luis.

"It was nothing. Perhaps we were mistaken. All those lamps must have been extinguished by the wind."

"We are still investigating whether someone attempted to intrude on the guest mansion. If that’s the case, the culprit will be punished severely."

Erin greeted Luis and his daughter before taking a seat. "Did you have a good sleep, Grace?" she asked.

"Yes. It was indeed refreshing, and I feel completely rejuvenated."

"That’s great to hear. No wonder you look even prettier than yesterday."

"Thank you. Father told me you came to burn some essence in my chamber to help me sleep well."

"Yes, but you should thank my mother instead; it was her idea to care for you," Erin said, glancing at her mother. "Isn’t that right?"

Lady Ahren smiled, knowing her daughter was using her name for something she had done on her own. As a mother, she knew her daughter well. "Of course. As our guest, it’s my duty to take care of young ones."

"Thank you, Lady Ahren," Grace replied.

"I hope you are feeling better, Lady Erin," Luis said. "Last night you seemed quite frightened."

"Thank you, Lord Mortimer. I am alright now. I tend to feel scared in the dark," Erin replied meekly. "That’s why I’m keeping my bodyguard with me at all times until I feel completely safe."

Luis glanced at Luke, who stood expressionless behind Erin, a few steps away. Luis’ gaze lingered on the bodyguard for a moment before turning back to Erin. "Good. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Young women like you and Grace need to be well-protected."

Luke observed Erin, noting how she portrayed herself as delicate and feeble. If only these people knew her true nature. She was a master of deception, capable of committing crimes and escaping suspicion with ease.

His attention then shifted to Luis, his enemy. The desire to kill him right then and there surged within him, but he had to swallow his anger.

Luis turned to Erin’s father, "Walys, my son will be arriving in the coming days. Yesterday, Lady Erin mentioned she was looking forward to meeting Adam. I was thinking about arranging Adam’s stay at the Ahrens’. What do you think?"

Walys glanced at his daughter, who forced a smile before turning to Luis. "Of course. We would be delighted to host the Young Lord of the North-East."

Erin averted her gaze, avoiding her father’s eyes, but her glance met her brother’s questioning look. She offered no response.

"Erin, Euron, Lord Mortimer is leaving," their father’s voice drew their attention back.

The siblings stood up and followed the guests and their parents out, with Luke trailing behind.

"What was that about?" Euron asked in a low voice. Luke, following behind, could hear their conversation.

"There was a situation," she whispered.

"That situation might lead to you becoming the daughter-in-law of Mortimer family."

"Don’t scare me."

"Don’t ask for my help when it happens."

"Brother, you can’t leave your sister to fend for herself."

"You take care of the mess you create."

"So mean."

As they reached outside, unaware of what her father and Luis were discussing, they heard Luis’s cheerful voice.

"Adam and Erin will make a good pair."

Erin’s eyes widened. "Seems like I really have put myself in a pickle."

Walys chuckled softly. "Let’s see what our kids think. If they find each other likable, then what can we do?"

"True. Let them meet first."

Erin clenched her fists while Euron whispered back to her, "All the best."

Once Luis left, Walys looked at his daughter, making her shrink in place, wanting to hide behind her brother. He said nothing and walked away.

"Did I just make Father angry?" she asked Euron.

"Among us four, Father cherishes you the most. How must he feel when his cherished daughter shows interest in a family he doesn’t hold in high regard?" Euron replied. "Such matters between two high noble families can be tricky. You cannot just go and straightaway say no to them on face. It might hurt other family’s ego and create unwanted conflicts."

Erin watched her father’s retreating back, feeling like she had let him down.

Feeling sad, she returned to her residence. Luke opened the carriage door for her and noticed her sad face, which showed a tinge of anger upon seeing him.

"My Lady, what will you do when that young Lord Mortimer shows up? Will you marry him?" Bree asked while following her toward the residence.

"In his dreams. I will never marry anyone from that family, not to mention that eyesore of a northeast territory. I’d rather remain unmarried than go to the northeast. I would always stay somewhere close to my family, even if I have to marry a fool."

She stopped and turned to look back at Luke. She was angry and needed to vent it on someone.

Facing him, she said, "If not for you, I would not have said something I shouldn’t have."

Luke simply looked back at her. "No one can make someone say anything unless they intend to."

Erin glared at him. "You mean I want to marry that Adam Mortimer?"

"Looks like it." His tone was firm, his expression unchanged.

"You. I should have left you to rot behind those bars."

"It’s not too late yet."

"You are infuriating."

"Thanks for the praise."

Her anger grew. "You never say a word. Why are you talking so much today?"

His gaze observed her red face, especially the tip of her tiny nose that had turned red. He decided not to argue with her. "Apologies, my lady."

"That’s more like it. You’re better when you’re mute," she said and walked away, entering the residence.

Luke watched her go inside, then scanned the surroundings to spot his people working around and resumed his work as a bodyguard. Tonight he had to meet his people again. Until then, he would stay updated about Luis while stationed at the Ahrens.