The Butterfly Caught in the Spider's Web (Alois Trancy x OC)

Insolent

Arabella hurried over to Hannah and adjusted her to lie against the wall. As she was doing this, she could practically feel the disapproving stares from her father. Arabella's trembling hands wiped at her dress as if to rid herself of the feeling that the maid's death was in her hands. Turning around, she noticed Alois glancing at her over his shoulder, a slight smile on his face. He took a short swig of his new drink as he reclined against his comfortable chair.

"Do not pay much attention to her. Hannah is prone to faking fits in order to gain some attention," Alois said as he cupped his cheek in his palm.

At his words, rage boiled inside of Arabella, whose head snapped to look at him.

"This is not how you treat a human being, Trancy. Can you not understand that her life may be at risk?" Arabella exclaimed as she took a few strides toward the blond-haired boy. Her words only caused him to slightly giggle, which caused blood to rush to her cheeks. In a moment, Arabella raised her hand in the blink of an eye.

As quickly as she had raised her hand, the butler–Arabella recalled his name to be Claude–had appeared behind her and wrapped his long fingers around her wrist. The very strength of his hand was enough to permanently halt her attempted slap. Arabella let out a soft sigh as she glanced behind her shoulder at the butler, who still held an emotionless look on his face.

In the corner of her eye, the girl could notice three identical butlers heading toward Hannah's fallen body. They gathered around her body and lifted her from the wooden floors.

As soon as Hannah had been carried out of the dining room, Claude released Arabella's wrist, and the girl let it fall to her side limply. In moments, Mason had risen to his feet and advanced toward his daughter.

"Daughter, do you not realize how your rash actions might have affected every present issue?" he openly berated Arabella, who was still staring after the butler. "You insolent girl!"

"Mason, please do not-" started Emilia as she reached over to wrap her fingers around his bicep.

Despite his wife's ministrations, Mason did not seem to hear her and stared threateningly at the fifteen-year-old. With a quick snap of his fingers, he motioned for his daughter to follow after him. At this, Arabella gulped and lowered her eyes to the floor. As soon as she began to follow after him, the family heard Alois begin to giggle.

"I am the master of this manor. Am I not?" Alois exclaimed as his lips turned up in a grin.

Mason glanced at the much younger boy over his shoulder before hesitantly answering, "Yes, I do suppose that you are. Why do you mention such things?"

"Since I am your host, that does not mean that you can freely waltz around my manor."

"I am merely trying to educate my child in privacy. These are matters that do not concern you, Earl Trancy," Mason replied as he finally turned around to face the boy. "Since you are the master of the house, I would not stand for you to be treated so harshly by one of your guests."

"I can take her somewhere private, and we shall settle this. After all, these are matters that focus on the two of you. I do not intend to sound rude, but you certainly do not belong in this situation," Alois responded as he took another sip. His blue eyes flicked over to land on Arabella, who was glaring daggers at him. A soft giggle escaped his lips as he suddenly jumped up from his chair and walked over to where the two of them were standing. His fingers wrapped around Arabella's wrist before he began to pull her out of the dining room.

"No. I can assure you that there is no real need to do so," Arabella tried, trying her very best to smile at him.

"There is certainly a reason to do so. If you did not notice, you could have hit me." Alois continued to walk and lead the girl away from her parents. 

As soon as the two of them had ventured outside of the dining room, Arabella delivered a swift pop to his wrist. Almost immediately, the Earl turned back to stare at Arabella, his eyes filled with irritation.

"Oh, come now! I am trying my very best-" he started, which only enraged the girl further.

"What in Heaven's name are you trying to do?" she suddenly shot back, her lips forming a frown. "If your goal is to make me regret our parents matching me up with you, you are certainly succeeding in that endeavor."

Alois' lips fell as he stared blankly at the girl. In the blink of an eye, his face arranged itself into an expression of festering anger. 

"I am well aware of the punishments that men like him dole out. However, I am beginning to rethink my decision to prevent that from happening to you. If you continue to show such disrespect to anything that I try to do, I will not be as gracious to my future bride," he spat out as he let go of her arm. "Now, care to explain to me why you are such a bloody brat?" 

"A brat?" Arabella repeated as her hands curled into fists. "Well, that is certainly hypocritical of you to say, Trancy. Have you ever once thought to stop and listen to the words that leave your massive mouth?" 

"Enough!" 

The hallway was filled with silence as Arabella's posture straightened in response. She met his icy blue stare as she stood her ground against him. She only flinched when Alois' hand raised impulsively. Closing her eyes and turning her head to the side, the girl prepared herself to be slapped by Alois. 

However, this attack was never delivered, which caused the girl to tentatively open one eye to peek out. She found herself alone in the hallway, and once she turned around to check behind herself, she found that Alois was scurrying away. 

A great sigh of relief left Arabella as she relaxed her posture and glanced around the hallway. Curiosity gained control of her as she began to venture further into the unfamiliar sections of the mansion.