Surviving As A Cannon Fodder

CHAPTER 30

"Addie. How have you been?" Angelica asked awkwardly.

She had completely forgotten that Adaleide Nortan had sent her a letter informing her of her visit. Her best friend did not have the greatest temper and to be caught by her meant bad news.

From the looks of it, Adelaide had been lying in wait to catch her red-handed. She was sitting on an armchair dressed in a nightgown with a shawl draped around her shoulder without any lights on and a not-so-happy expression.

"Do you have any sense of time?" shot back Adaleide fuming with anger. 

She turned on the lights to the room.

"It's good to see you too" Angelica dropped down the hands she had raised unconsciously. 

She was reminded of the one time she was caught and almost had her license suspended for rash driving.

'My mom would have killed me if I had been arrested'

"Are you even listening to me?" Adelaide got up and walked up to Angelica.

"I thought you were coming on the 18th?"

"I did. Today is the 19th"

"Haha. Today is the 19th ah?" Angelica laughed awkwardly scratching her cheek.

"You forgot didn't you?"

"All that temper is for ruining your scarlet beauty, Addie. Did you wait up to catch me?" Angelica said as she massaged the wrinkles between Adelaide's brows.

"Stop trying to evade my question"

"I'm sorry. I was out doing some... good stuff. You know some neighborhood service"

"At this time of the day. Can't you think of a better excuse?" Adelaide sighed but then noticed something on Angelica.

"Oh my goodness! Look at you"

"Is that... is that blood on your sleeves?" She gasped, dumbfounded.

"Oh, this"

There were bloodstains on her sleeves. 

"Uhh..."

It must have spilled on her from all the punching she was doing earlier. But Adelaide on the other hand was not a fan of violence. If she lets this go on, Addie will wake up the entire household.

Angelica's brain worked to its full capacity under her watchful eye. But was only able to come up with a lame excuse.

"This is just... tomato sauce?"

"Why are ying me that?"

To wrap things up, Angelica hugged Adelaide and started rubbing her hair.

"Let go of me!"

"There you go. There you go. Don't need to be soo fierce"

For her, it was like consoling a wild cat. Angelica continued rubbing Addie's hair until she snapped. She pushed away Angelica's hands and stormed out of the room.

"This will not be the end of this!"

"See you at breakfast Addie"

Six hours later.

Angelica, Clive, Julian, and Lorenz were gathered in Lorenz's office. They were discussing the Lancel bandits and the Moore's. Julian briefed on the events of the day.

"The capital has been notified. We should be hearing from them from any time now"

"So long story short. All the bandits have been cleared up. They won't be 'banding' anytime soon if you get what I mean" Angelica elbowed Clive.

"Stop that An-An"

"What about the Moore's? Have you received any news about them?" Lorenz asked taking off his reading glasses.

"There have been no unusual movements since yesterday's arrest. They seem to be laying low for the time being" answered, Clive.

"Any results from the interrogation?" Lorenz turned towards Julian, while tapping his fingers on his desk.

"They confessed to slave trafficking and robbery. Besides that, they were in no shape to talk" said Julian eyeing Angelica

"Weak. If they are planning on doing bad things they need to be man enough to handle the repercussions. They were bound to be beaten up one day or another" shrugged Angelica

"And whose fault is that?"

"Clive's"

"Why me?"

"Because you're the one who is standing the closest to me"

"What kind of reasoning is that?" Clive shook his head dejected.

"Stop" Lorenz stood up from his chair and walked towards his bickering children.

"Clive, Continue the interrogations till they confess to Moore's association. Julian, increase border security along the east. And Angelica..."

"Good job"

"Always a pleasure daddy"

Angelica hugged her father and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"But you're still grounded for sneaking out without permission"

"What? But I have plans for today with Addie" Angelica pleaded with droopy eyes in an effort to convince her father., 

"Maybe we can come to an understanding?"

"Fine. I'll postpone it till Lady Norton leaves. But you're still grounded"

"Yay!" Angelica exclaimed.

"See you later Daddy"

She skipped out of the room after planting another kiss on her father's cheek, leaving the other two dumbfounded.

"Father, you let her get away all the time" Clive complained.

Lorenz on the other hand had a smile plastered to his face. It has been a while since his daughter tried to appease him. He even considered being strict all the time so that his An-An would try to please him.

"It's alright. Let her have her fun" He replied looking in the direction she disappeared with a warm look.