The Beast and The Swallow

At the sound of her father's voice, primal fear welled in Lorelei's chest. The skin on her back began to burn and itch as if remembering the bite of the cane from all those years ago. Her hand instinctively looked for Noah's palm, and only when she felt the firm grip of his fingers did she allow herself to breathe. Throwing a glance at her husband, she could see his face straining and a deep crevasse digging between his brows.

Returning her gaze to her father, Lorelei felt her fear slowly subsiding, replaced by repulsion and anger. His bloated face, dyed red by fury and marred by excess drinking, was distorted like a melting wax mask. Spittle glistened in the corner of his mouth, and his little beetle-like eyes were about to fly out of their sockets. The mass of flesh that constituted his body quaked and undulated with every movement. When she was young, his imposing stature and loud bellowing voice had frightened her, but now, he looked no more dangerous than a screeching pig.

She exhaled, calming her racing heart. Next to her, Anuk gave out a whimper, her little hand clutching Lorelei's skirt. Kai immediately stood up, shielding his sister with his body, and Jessup did the same with Shana. Milly hurried around the table, leaving as much space as possible between herself and the fuming nobleman. Completely still like frozen in time, everyone awaited their lieges' reactions with bated breath.

Noah lifted his hand, and the servants released the panting Count Orten. Swaying slightly, her father took a step forward, pointing a trembling, sausage finger at them.

"You bastards!" he screamed, spittle flying everywhere. "Where is she? Where is my daughter?"

"Calm down, Count," Noah spoke in a low tone, but to Lorelei's ear, his voice was devoid of his usual calmness. She could feel cold sweat on his palm, and his fingers convulsed for a moment before he continued. "Your daughter is fine-"

"Don't try bullshitting me! I don't give a crap about the bitch next to you. Where is Pricilla?"

"Enough!" Noah sprang up, and Lorelei followed suit, supporting his elbow. "Insult my wife one more time, and I'll kill you!"

"For a bitch-born whore you are threatening the Emperor's Lord of the Coin?" Her father spat on the floor and glared at them wildly.

"You are just a Lord of the Coin," hissed Noah and stepped before the Count, sizing him up with a burning gaze. "Getting rid of you would be leaning the fat of bureaucracy by a ton, you inept pig."

"You-"

"Stop it!" Lorelei rushed forward and held Noah's arm, who was just about to grab her father by the collar. "There is no need for all this. Pricilla is recuperating on Widow Island. Father should go visit-"

"You've sent my child to a nunnery?!" Instead of calming down, Count Orten seemed even more furious. "After locking her up in a pest-infested wreckage, now this! How are you treating the imperial envois? Why wasn't she brought to the castle? What are you hiding?"

Noah froze in place. A vein popped on his jaw and began pulsating, yet no word came from his mouth. Lorelei noticed his eyes turning glassy and distant and knew very well where his mind had wandered off. She stroked his hand, but he flinched and ripped it free from her grip.

Witnessing Noah's silence, Count Orten became emboldened. He waved his finger before their faces and screeched:

"You've harmed and neglected my child, you basterds!"

"Father, calm yourself!"

Lorelei braved one more steptoward him, but the count roughly pushed her to the side. Luckily, Noah was fast enough to catch her. All the while, Count Orten continued screaming.

"And you, lowlife?" His bloodshot eyes stabbed Lorelei. "Instead of taking care of your sister, what are you doing, you ungrateful shrew? Playing the noble lady. Fraternizing with some lowly savages! But why am I surprised? Dregs pile together. You bi… gh-ghl!"

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Her father's screams died into a string of gurgling as Noah's hands dug into his neck. The servants rushed to separate them, but a single glare from their lord stopped them dead in their tracks. Noah's fingers disappeared completely beneath the pallid folds of his target's chins, followed by his palms, as if he was fighting to wring out an enormous cheesecloth. The count began flailing and hitting his arms, but it had no more success than beating on iron pols. Soon, his features acquired a purplish tint.

This finally brought Lorelei out of her stupor and prompted her to act. She hugged Noah and whispered softly in his ear:

"Let him go. He isn't worth it. You are better than this."

Taking in a sharp breath, Noah blinked and then abruptly opened his grip.

Wheezing like punctured bellows, Count Orten tumbled backward, falling in the arms of the petrified servants. A moment later, however, he tore himself free.

"Murder!" Her father rasped, but his scream quickly gained volume. "The Duke of Norden dare attack an imperial envoy! A high noble of the Empire! That's treason! I'll report to His Highness! I'll petition the White Brothers! All you wild beasts need to be culled!"

Pat!

The resounding slap made everyone freeze. Lorelei rubbed her palm, staring her father straight in the eye.

"The imperial tax collector has acted indulgent and frivolous." Her voice was eery. "His inebriation, in combination with the worry for his daughter's well being, have clouded his mind."

"Y-You hit me!?" stammered her father, touching his burning cheek.

"The Lord of the Coin has insulted an imperial prince and his household," continued Lorelei without breaking eye contact. "He has laid his hand on the Duchess of Norden, harming her and prompting the Duke to retaliate."

"What nonsense are you spouting, you…?"

Before he could finish, Lorelei pulled up her sleeve, revealing a deep bruise on her forearm.

"I know you never liked me, father, but to use my poor sister as an excuse to break my arm and accuse my husband of treason?" Lorelei dabbed the corner of her eye. "I can't believe it. Your mind has to be clouded by insanity."

"You… I just pushed you!" Count Orten motioned to grab her, but all of a sudden, several shining blades found their way to various parts of his body.

"Pulling a knife on a guest might be a breach of protocol," stated Jessup coldly, pressing his dagger in her father's belly, "but it is a squire's duty to protect his household."

"The imperial envoy acted in malice first," added one of the knights, his sword tapping on the count's shoulder. "We were ordered to ignore the lord's rowdy behaviour due to his status, but we can not allow our lieges to come to harm."

"Should the Emperor demand it, we will offer our lives to repay this insult." A gray-clad Shadow pressed her dagger into Orten's neck. "However, I believe that, according to Limerian law, insulting, not to mention harming, members of the imperial family is punishable by death."

"W-Wha… What?" Her father glared at them, not daring to move a muscle.

"Everyone!" Lorelei dabbed her eyes again. "Thank you for protecting me and the Duke. But I am sure my father has just had a nervous breakdown. He does carry unimaginable weight on his shoulders, after all."

Someone snorted. Lorelei ignored it and turned to Noah.

"My lord, please, spare my dear father's life."

Noah grabbed her hand, sizing up her bruise. His gaze screamed murder, but he gently lifted her palm to his lips and gave it a kiss.

"At your wishes, my dear." He then turned to his aides. "The Count has suffered a fit of madness. Escort him to Widow Island and guard him until the arrival of my imperial brother."

"Yes, Your Highness!" came the chorus reply. A couple of strong knights grabbed the stunned Count Orten and dragged him out before he could come to his senses.

The moment the door closed behind them, Lorelei leaned heavily on Noah's shoulder.

"That was intense!" she sighed.

"Sit down." Noah guided her to a chair where the two were immediately surrounded by Milly, Jessup, and the children, who all looked at her pale-faced. Noah rolled up her sleeve, revealing her bruise. "I should have broken that pig's neck!"

"And dirty your hands with something like him? I told you, he isn't worth the hassle."

"He hurt you! What better reason than that?!"

"You mean this?" Lorelei pointed at her arm and suddenly laughed. "I'm not a fragile damsel to break from a single push."

"But then…?"

"Well, you can't compare the force of a push to a carriage breaking mid-travel." She gave him a peck on the forehead and savored his stunned expression.