The Scarlet Paladin-Chapter 96: Post-Show

After the performance, Myrtle could not stop praising the young performer. She gushed over him behind the stage. Toni smiled widely with a bouquet gifted to him by his host. Both the nobles and common women enjoyed his performance, and to top it off, he received a level up.

He decided to check on that later. Right now, he was focused on thanking his audience. After Myrtle reluctantly shuffled to the side, a line of women came up to thank him. Maeve stood by, on guard for anyone who might be affected by his blessing.

After letting her son revel in the post-show attention, Alice beckoned for Toni to wrap it up. She was tired and wanted a bath. Her age only froze for her external image. Inside, she was getting up there. Something she hadn't really noticed until recently.

"Oh! I do have a request of Lady Lloyd." Toni said, scanning for the woman. She was being fanned by Casseus while sitting on the opposite side of the room, obscured by the crowd of women. Toni clasped his hands together and spoke to the group, "I apologize for cutting this short, may I speak with her in private?"

The women, almost entranced, nodded enthusiastically before shuffling out of the room. It took nearly five minutes for them all to leave, but they did. Myrtle was on her feet now, Casseus still fanning her, while Lilith appeared beside her.

"Ah! Lady Lloyd! Is it okay if I borrow your butler? I seemed to have worked up a sweat and need some assistance bathing." Toni said, putting on a cutesy show for the Lady. Alice held back her grimace at the obvious lust in their host's eye. For some reason, she still felt incredibly bothered by her.

"Uh, why yes. I can have a butler sent to meet you there." Myrtle said after clearing her throat.

"Hmm, I would prefer if it were someone I already knew..." Toni said, continuing the show. He tilted his head and pretended to think for a moment. "Oh! Casseus! Do you mind if Casseus attends to me?"

Toni noticed a shift in Lilith's demeanor from the corner of his eye. She crossed her arms and had an obvious scowl. Before she could speak, Myrtle responded. "Why of course. I'll have him sent-"

"My Lady. A moment?" Lilith interrupted her. A silence fell over the room. Maeve found it odd that a Lady like Myrtle would let her captain interrupt her. Seems her old friend has more sway than she realized.

The two shuffled off and whispered to one another. Toni did his best to decipher what they were saying, but couldn't. Myrtle with her ever-gilded expression, smiling softly, and Lilith with her arms folded, one gloved finger tapping rhythmically against her bicep. Her lips moved with practiced subtlety, but her eyes flicked to Casseus.

Toni watched the boy, still fanning his Lady, freeze for a moment. Only a brief moment before resuming his fanning. Toni was studying the boy when Myrtle waved her hand.

"Toni... Captain Lilith here is concerned. Casseus, if you will, stand here." She pointed before her, and he dutifully moved to position. She reached for the boy's collar, and Toni noticed another subtle flinch. She pulled back the collar and showed off his bruising. "You might get the wrong idea about these..."

None of the three expected her to show them that. Toni was stunned for a moment before the woman continued in a noble, practiced manner. "You see, I have quite a few butlers who are underage... Tragic stories... They were found by my guard being held captive or trying to be sold..."

Toni nodded, finally recovering. Still somewhat shocked at the display.

Myrtle released the boy's collar and patted his back. This time, Casseus didn't react. To Toni, it only seemed like his eyes dimmed. "These boys were taken from their homes by ruthless savages, and I made it my mission to return them to their families. The butlers employed here are ones who lost their families or could not be found." Her gaze moved over to Alice, trying to appeal to her maternal instincts.

"That's... very noble of you," Toni said, shifting in his stance. He thought his next words over carefully. "I-I can't even imagine what you must have gone through, Casseus..."

"Yes. Almost all the boys here are like this. Carrying the scars of their torment..." Myrtle said in a voice that seemed practiced to Toni.

"Um, then I understand if you'd prefer him not to attend to-" Toni began to say, but Myrtle held up her hand.

"Nonsense. He'll meet you down there within the hour. Just wanted to inform you before seeing them..." She said. She let the silence engulf the group before clapping her hands together. "Enough of that. Casseus, are you up for it?"

Casseus bowed and spoke. "Yes, my Lady."

"Good. Have Beau replace you for the night and prepare the bath for our guest. He deserves a reward after that performance." She said enthusiastically. Toni wanted to believe the woman was genuine, but the subtle glances she took of him seemed off. Even compared to others, her gaze seemed... predatory. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

"You're too kind," Toni said with a smile and a practiced curtsy.

Myrtle bowed before Toni and returned his smile. "Now, I must return to my room. I hope I see you before the end of the night. But, just in case. I hope you have a good night." She turned and left. Casseus and Lilith followed her out, leaving the trio in silence.

They waited for the footsteps to disappear before speaking. "Are you buying it?" Maeve broke the silence.

"I... I want to." Toni admitted with a sigh. "I want to believe nothing sinister is going on... But the way Casseus reacts to her touch or even her presence... Something is off."

"Mmm, must be the spin she tells other nobles," Alice added. She was rubbing her chin in thought. "It seemed so weird, having these boys being shown off so brazenly..."

"Fuck. Lilith looked ready to explode when you asked for him. Her nostrils still flare when she gets angry." Maeve said with a sigh.

"Oh? You know her?" Alice asked, tilting her head. Maeve just nodded.

"Enough to know her tells... spill it." Alice prodded.

Maeve pursed her lips and crossed her arms. "Fine. But on the way back to your room." She said defiantly.

Alice grinned and held out her hand for her son, beckoning him to join them. The trio left the backstage room and headed towards the west wing while Maeve spoke.

"We went to the academy together, same year and class. Started off as rivals. Then became friends. After leaving for our assignments, we lost touch." Maeve did her best to summarize their history.

"Oh, come on. There's obviously more!" Alice teased. "That's not enough to know her tells! That's something a wife would know."

"That's it."

"Sure it is," Alice said, clearly enjoying herself. "I'm sure Daisy would know."

Maeve paused at the mention of her wife's name. She scrunched her face, then let out a long sigh. "Do not bring this up to my wife."

"And why not?" Alice said, squeezing Toni's hand tightly. The boy giggled at the back and forth.

"She... does not like Lilith," Maeve admitted. She kept her eyes closed as she admitted something she thought she'd only tell her wife. "We... used to date."

"That makes more sense. Explains the distance too." Alice said, continuing on towards their room. Toni was pulled alongside her as their knight followed.

"That came after," Maeve muttered. She immediately regretted saying it.

"Oh! That's the juicy bit!" Alice said, glancing back towards her retainer. "You have to tell me now."

"It's complicated, Alice," Mave said, gaining her composure again. "Daisy was never the jealous type, so it's not because we dated..."

The smile faded from Alice's face as she noticed Maeve's tone become more serious. It was true, Daisy had even told Maeve that she understood needing comfort while on assignment. Daisy just cared that she returned in one piece to her and their daughter. "Are you going to be okay? Did meeting her stir up old feelings?"

Maeve nodded slowly. "Somewhat. She changed after her first assignment. The friend I had... she didn't come back. I searched for her in every conversation, every look. But she was gone. What returned was someone colder. Calculating. She spoke about people like they were tools. Stepping stones. It was like her compassion had been carved out."

Alice offered her other hand to her retainer. Maeve took it and grasped it tightly. "She admitted that she was only visiting me because of my Lady's influence... that set Daisy off and I haven't spoken to her since..."

"Damn... now I feel like an ass," Alice admitted. "Thought it was some puppy love..."

"It was. But our friendship was real." Maeve said as they reached their door. "That's enough of that. Toni, I'll accompany you to the bath and stand guard." She opened the door for the two, and they funneled in.

"Sorry for bringing it up," Alice said, patting her arm.

"Don't be. I'll need to face her at some point during this visit." Maeve said.