The Butler's Princess

Chapter 7: Adrift

(P/N)...
He chuckled sinisterly as he peered down at me. My soon to be brother in law quickly grabbed me and put a hand over my mouth to keep me quiet. I struggled to break free of his grasp this time. I couldn't move. He had me pinned to his chest, facing away from him. "You are quite the naughty girl sneaking out here past your bedtime." He taunted, saying so as if I were a disobedient little child.

I felt him sniff my hair and touch my bare shoulders. I shivered and stood there in shock and fear. I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I tried to scream. But when I did, (P/N) wrapped a hand around my neck, choking me. "Shh!" He hissed. I thought I was going to die, I thought he was going to ruin me.

However, just before he could tighten his grip, I heard a deep growl from behind us. Immediately, (P/N) loosened his grip on my neck before he was lifted off of the ground violently. As he was lifted, he reflexively let go of me and I was sent stumbling backwards into the water.

I opened my eyes after a moment and looked up at the moonlight shining down on me through the surface. I reached out as I struggled to swim to the surface with my nightgown dragging me down. Suddenly a hand reached out to me from the outside of the lake. I paddled as high as I could till I managed to grab ahold of it. The hand pulled me out of the water and I was hoisted out of the lake by a set of familiar arms. I sputtered and coughed, feeling woozy from the lack of oxygen and overexposure to water in my lungs.

"(Y/N)?! Are you alright?" I heard. When I opened my eyes, there was a familiar pair of ruby red ones shining and staring right back at me. It was Sebastian. He had a forlorn and worried look on his face as he looked at me. "S-Sebastian? What are you d-doing here? What h-hap-ppened?" I asked, confused. He smiled in relief.

"Goodness, you frightened me for a moment my dear. I was the one who wrote that note. However that young man that keeps staring at you must have followed me and saw what I did and taken advantage of my attempt to meet with you privately. When I emerged from my tree perch, I saw him mistreating you with such disrespect and inappropriate behavior. At that moment I couldn't hold myself back, however that caused me to unintentionally harm you as well. I let him off with a fair warning and pulled you out of the water." Sebastian explained.

I nodded and smiled before hugging him. "Th-thank you S-Sebastian." I said as I stood there shaking like a leaf. Sebastian quickly picked up his tailcoat jacket and draped it over me before scooping me up once more. "My, you are chilled to the bone (Y/N). We must get you inside and warmed up before you become ill."

I nodded in agreement and Sebastian snuck me back inside and got me warmed up and dried off before I fell asleep.