Jane's Story

Chapter 7

- I'm sorry to interrupt you, ladies. But Count Krej is here.

Eliza froze at that news her shadow reported. Nohana narrowed her eyes in disgust while Jane looked at the two women with confusion and suspicion in her eyes. She asked, a hint of anger and disdain in her voice, while sitting straight in her bed.

- Who is that 'Count Krej'?

- It's me, peasant. Watch your tone when you say my name.

The one that answered was a fat man. He was dressed in a tight noble's outfit. So tight you could almost see him shining with the amount of oil he was letting out. A bulky man was following him; he had a full plate of armor on and a huge sword on his back. Jane immediately judged him useless. No real warrior would wear that kind of armor to wield that type of sword.

The fat man, Count Krej apparently, swept his gaze on the room, his eyes lighting up when he looked at Jane and his smile almost going around his head when he finally stopped on Eliza. His voice was filled with greed and lust, devouring Eliza's body with his stare.

- My dear princess. Why are you avoiding meeting me?

The moment Jane saw and felt that gaze, her hand had already grasped a dagger under her covers. Her eyes flashed red for a second, and she felt her arm freeze. Anna's voice echoed in her mind at that moment.

{ - No, Jane, look, I know that big guy isn't a threat. But I'm not sure it's a good idea to kill that count or whatever he is. I think it would put Eliza in a bad spot. }

Jane regained her spirit after that warning. She nodded imperceptibly and stored the dagger in her dimension once more. She focused her attention on Eliza and saw her trembling a little. She didn't know if it was from rage or disgust, but the redhead reached out and took her friend's hand in hers. The white-haired woman got startled at that movement and turned her head toward Jane for a few seconds. The redhead smiled at her friend. Count Krej was watching that exchange, and his smile thickened a bit.

Eliza took a deep breath and turned her gaze to the fat man. Her answer was dripping with disgust and hate.

- I'm not avoiding you, Count Krej. I'm sorry if it looked like that, but I had other pressing matters to attend to. Now, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?

- Well, it's to discuss our marriage, of course!

The room's temperature suddenly dropped a few degrees at that announcement. Nohana looked at Eliza with wonder in her eyes, a smile on her lips as she looked at Jane too. The redhead lifted an eyebrow, murder clearly written in her eyes.

{ - Okay, now you can—well, not with a dagger. Just use your fist; it'll be enough. Nobody should try to steal Eliza from us! }

Jane didn't even answer her friend but simply vanished from her spot. The next moment, the fat man was on the ground, Jane stepping on his stomach. The face of the man was already starting to swell from the little punch Jane gave him. Blinking in shock, the guard tried to take his sword from his scabbard, but Jane already had the tip of her white katana in front of his neck. He stopped, sweating in fear.

- So. 'Count Krej,' right? I think there's something you missed here. I'm pretty sure Eliza isn't interested in some sort of fat pig. The signs were pretty clear, no? And still, you invite yourself into her mansion and barge into a room without even having the decency of knocking on the door? Wow, I'm impressed. Did your parents teach you anything before they died of embarrassment looking at you? Or are they still alive but hiding because they can't stand you? Now here's what will happen: you will get the fuck out of this house, and engrave in your little pig brain: Eliza is mi—I mean, she is in my party and won't be available for a while. Got it?