__________________

CHAPTER XX :

Cold Metal Pipe

__________________

【 3𝘳𝘥 𝘗𝘖𝘝 】

Y/N and Alice were watching television at the living room after breakfast, laughing together at comedy shows.

Alice was blushing, smiling

as she sits closer to Y/N.

As they enjoyed each other's company,

Lucius walked into the room.

Y/N : "Hey Lucius."

Lucius sat at the couch.

Lucius : "I heard about what happened with you and Rodez. I think it's best if you fire him."

Y/N : "Why?"

Lucius : "He's very clumsy. He keeps breaking things and spilling stuff.

Being a butler isn't suited to him."

Y/N : "He can learn to be better, Lucius. Besides, his family depends on him. He's the one financing his brother's study."

Lucius : "I know his intentions, but to keep a job you must be good at it."

Y/N : "Just tolerate

him, for once, Lucius"

Lucius sighed.

Lucius : "Do you know the story of Micheal III of the Byzantine Empire?"

Y/N : "No...?"

Lucius : "Micheal had a best friend, Basilius, who was a peasant. The two treated each other like brothers. When Micheal became the emperor of his empire, he treated Basilius with gifts and spoiled him. Even sending him to a prestigious school, eventually making him cultured and sophisticated. Micheal forgot that he's in a position of power, of importance, becoming naive and putting too much trust on friendships. Micheal even put Basilius on a position on the government. Basilius eventually became a parasite, receiving gifts and money as if he owned it and deserved it. Basilius later became the head of the army. He became ambitious and had his best friend Micheal assassinated. He proclaimed himself emperor after Micheal died, riding on his horse while carrying a long pike that had Michael's head on the end of it."

Y/N listened carefully, quickly realizing that Lucius is making a parallel comparison of Micheal to him.

Y/N : "I don't think that will happen. I treat them with respect and kindness. But I will never spoil them."

Lucius looked at Alice.

Lucius : "Are you sure?"

Y/N : "Ofcourse."

Lucius : "Fine, I'm just warning you, Y/N. Remember that Emma almost killed you, danger always lurks in positions

of power." Lucius warned.

Lucius : "I'll be going." He

said as he took his phone out.

Alice and Y/N watched

as Lucius leave the room.

Alice : "I'll use the bathroom, Y/N."

Alice lied to Y/N, she just

wanted to follow Lucius.

Y/N : "Alright."

Alice stood up and secretly followed Lucius in the halls. Lucius walked to the windows, looking outside as he called on his phone.

Alice was observing him from afar as she hid behind a wall. She saw that he was on his phone, but she couldn't hear or read what his mouth was saying.

Lucius : "Hello, Ressen?" Lucius

spoke to Ressen through the phone.

"Yes?" Ressen answered.

Lucius : "Kill Rodez. And

burn the letter aswell."

"I'll kill Rodez, but why?"

Lucius :

"I'm on it."

__________________

Outside the mansion, snow has started to gently fall, slowly covering the grass lawn of the mansion with white snow.

Inside the mansion, the ambience is relaxed. Some maids and butlers were cleaning around as others were relaxing on their rooms, finished with their duties.

Rodez was among those who had already finished their duties.

Which is why Ressen has made his way to the footsteps of Rodez's room.

Ressen knocked on the

door of Rodez's room.

The door opened.

Ressen : "Hello, Rodez."

Rodez : "Hey there."

Ressen : "I have something

to show you, at my house."

Rodez : "Really? What is it?"

Ressen : "There's a property I'm

trying to sell. If you help me

you'll get a large share.

Rodez : "Oh wow, I'm in. But why me?"

Ressen : "You look like you need some money. Meet me at my house later."

__________________

Outside, snow has now covered the

city. And everyone is now wearing

their winter clothing.

Inside the house of Ressen,

there are four man.

Three young men and Ressen himself. They were all at the living room.

Waiting.

Ressen was sitting at the couch,

infront of a lit chimney, feeling

the warm comfort it provides.

One of the man was standing

close to the chimney.

Ressen : "Can you burn this?" He told to the man as he handed a letter to him.

"What's this?" The man questioned.

Ressen : "Just a letter. Y/N's father handed it to me in the past. He told

me to give it to Y/N if he dies. But the

old bastard didn't know that I'm collaborating with Lucius. There's

no way I'll give that to Y/N."

"Can I read it?" The man asked.

Ressen : "Just burn it after."

The man opened the letter

and started reading it.

"Dear Y/N, it's me, your dad. If you're reading this I'm dead. I know you hate me. But that doesn't matter. I need you to understand this. Lucius will be after you. Fire him right away and move to a different place. Replace all of the staff. I also hired a bodyguard for you. Please, hire a bodyguard that uses a gun." The man read the letter with a quiet voice.

"Huh."

The man threw the letter

at the chimney, the white

paper slowly burned at the fire.

As the men inside the house waited

with anticipation, hearing the crisp crackling sounds of fire in the

chimney, they heard the doorbell.

Ressen : "That's him. Go hide."

He told the three man

The three man went to the kitchen which was next to the living room.

And then, they hid behind the walls.

One of the man took a metal pipe

which was prepared earlier,

just for this occasion.

Ressen went to door, opening it. Ressen saw Rodez, who was dressed in a thick jacket with layered clothing, prepared for the cold winter.

Rodez : "Hello."

Ressen : "Hello there. Come in."

Rodez entered his house.

Rodez : "Nice place." Rodez

looked around, seeing the

furnitures and the chimney.

Ressen : "Thanks." He said

as he locked the door.

Ressen : "Let's go to the kitchen. I have my papers for the property there."

Rodez : "Uh, alright?"

Ressen walked to the kitchen, Rodez followed him without much thought.

As Rodez stepped inside the kitchen,

one of the man hidden next to the

wall, who was carrying the metal pipe, smashed the metal pipe behind his head with tremendous force. Resulting into a loud sound of metal clashing.

The force made Rodez drop to the

ground, blood coming off the back

of his head.

At that moment, death was looming over his shoulders. He felt nothing but paralyzing anxiety all throughout his body.

And yet, with heavy breathing, and

with agonizing pain, he still tried to crawl away.

Ressen : "Get him!"

The three man and Ressen started beating Rodez mercilessly and

brutally. Rodez curled up in a ball

and did nothing but groan with

each hits he receives.

After a while, they finished beating him.

Rodez, who was still alive, breathed loudly for his life. His face and body covered in bruises, bathing on his own blood.

Rodez : "Why... I... Didn't do anything wrong..." He spoke barely and weakly, with heavy breaths in between his words.

Ressen laughed, as if a maniac.

Ressen : "Why do people think that whenever something bad happens to them it's because they did something wrong? Or they think that just because they are good it means that they can't be harmed? The world isn't a give and take system. It doesn't matter if you're good or bad,

Rodez coughed, his lungs pricking with pain, as if being pierced with countless needles.

As he coughed, blood

came off his mouth.

Ressen : "Augh, disgusting.

Just finish him off, guys."