Chapter 12: Chapter 12: The Confrontation

It was supposed to be our first time ever meeting. But I could tell Frederick had somehow recognized me instantly. He had the same shaggy blonde hair and strapping body as described in the book. But his face, well it looked a bit out of place. As if he’d been transmuted from a different human and slapped together. I did my best to remain put together and not show any change in emotion, but I was surprised to see he didn’t do the same.

He looked completely disgusted for a minute before smiling and pointing between me and the chair by the window. “Were you the young lady I heard was just sitting here by the window?” he asked. He did sound quite charming.

“I was, but I… sorry I somehow seemed to have gotten beer spilled on me,” I replied.

I hadn’t meant for my voice to waver so much. I was not surprised to see him wrinkle his nose again. “That was actually not the first thing I noticed,” he replied.

I looked down from my dress to my hair sitting on my shoulder. I was tempted to ask what it was he was talking about but had no further desire to engage. “How did you end up here my lady?” he asked as he regained his composure.

“By carriage?” I replied.

“By carriage…” he groaned.

“I mean I was on the run from…” I started.

“From the Winklehaus’s?” he offered.

“Something like that,” I said.

He stared at me with a flat expression. “Well it was nice to meet you my lady,” he said.

I would have liked to ask why he seemed so disgusted by me. But I figured that was besides the point. He clearly had accepted he’d be rescuing me at some point. Assuming he knew the plot of course. I was supposed to curtsy or something and say something romantic. The Annalise of the books charmed everyone. But here i was with this fellow who seemed to be disgusted because of what, my face? I prayed it was the beer.

“And a pleasure to meet you,” I replied.

Before I could say anything further, I think we were both surprised to see the dark looming figure of Victor trudging back towards the inn. My brain didn’t even begin to fathom how he must have known I was already in here. In the original book there was a slight confrontation where Victor leads her back and Frederick watches with great trepidation. It’s the first time you get the sense the second male lead may come to her rescue, and well, become the first male lead.

Frederick saw Victor and very briefly met his eyes. It was as if something had immediately changed about the man. He turned to me and went to cup my face before grimacing and instead putting a hand around the swell of my back. I watched his eyes travel straight to my chest as he grinned. At least those still tickled the man’s fancy.

“My lady,” he said with a sudden rush of forced charm, “where are you off to next?”

I wasn’t sure what to say, “the castle?” I replied, what was the name of the castle. It wasn’t Victor’s castle. I mean it was, but it wasn’t called that. It had some kind of romantic thriller novel name that made it sound very cozy. Why could I name physicists and architecture and philosophers but not this?

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Victor threw open the door next to us and walked in like a hulking log of bad mood. He stood menacingly next to us as he practically growled at Frederick.

I felt Frederick pull me closer, “if you are in any danger my lady…” For the first time he actually brought his face close to mine. What was he even doing? I felt his lips go nearer to my ear to whisper, “call for me.”

I hadn’t meant to place my hands on his chest in a romantic way. After all I really just wanted to push him away. But the next thing I knew I was also accidentally groping Frederick’s pectoral muscles. I could hear Victor clear his throat from besides us as Frederick pulled back to stare at him. The book Frederick wasn’t supposed to know who Victor was to Annalise. Although I suppose he knew of the man. There had always been rumors about Victor’s… condition.

“Victor Clawsingburg?” Frederick said in surprise, “the Count of Chapatelle Manor? To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Duke,” Victor hissed.

Count was an interesting word. Usually in English speaking countries you’d go with “Earl.” I also wasn’t aware Victor was a Duke. In the realm of random royal hierarchies you’d go Duke, Marquess, then Earl/ Count. Sometimes Dukes had more power than Kings if they had more territory. Why had I always thought Victor just had the one castle? I had continued to go down my train of thought when I became distinctly aware that everyone was now staring at me.

Frederick looked very confused as I turned to Victor who seemed surprisingly… amused? He cracked a smile as Frederick mumbled a, “are you alright my lady?”

“Totally fine,” I replied, aware my face was now beat red.

“Yes she does that sometimes,” Victor replied.

“Oh? And you are so familiar as to know this?” Frederick replied.

“I’ve come to escort her back home,” Victor replied.

“I’m surprised you didn’t send a servant,” Frederick replied, “Duke. I’m also afraid I can’t let you take her ‘home’. From what I understand the Winklehaus’ are very adamant...”

Victor looked nonplussed, “we’re going to Castle Chapatelle.” His voice sounded flat. He grabbed my wrist to lightly pull me from Frederick.

“It’s alright,” I said trying to calm the both of them, “really. I’ll be safe, and I’ll go.”

Frederick’s eyes looked like daggers as I went to follow Victor towards the door. “So you’re taking her to even greater danger,” I heard him mumble.

I didn’t really have a chance to defend myself, or Victor. I was pulled back towards the carriage as Victor mumbled, “let’s just go.”

“Victor,” I stopped him as we got back fortunately didn’t find a fox waiting to drive us, “do I smell like beer?”

“No,” he replied.

“Does my hair look disgusting?” I continued.

“Are you about to lead me into a trap?” Victor said suddenly.

“What do you mean?” I replied.

“You don’t look fat, you don’t smell like beer, your hair is just fine,” he replied, “now let’s go before blonde idiot tries to do more than he’s supposed to.”

“I wasn’t going to ask if I was fat, I was going to ask if I was ugly,” I replied.

“I know you’re not unintelligent,” Victor said as he ushered me in, “if this is an attempt to fish for compliments… yes you’re very beautiful.”

“No it’s just that Frederick seemed disgusted by me,” I replied. I felt a bit bad for dismissing VIctor’s continued assurance that I looked ok, “I haven’t seen myself in a mirror in a while and it made me feel a bit self conscious.”

Victor sighed. For a moment I thought I could almost hear him mutter under his breath, “that man is always a problem…” But I realized his lips hadn’t even moved. “He seemed quite taken with you,” Victor replied, “I wouldn’t worry so much.”

I took my seat as Victor put his head in his hands beside me. “Why are you so upset?” I asked. I hadn’t meant to come across so harsh. He looked up at me with a raised eyebrow, “I mean are you upset with me? I don’t see why you would be. I assumed it was something related to your mysterious errand. Then I assumed it was Frederick. Look I mean to say is something troubling you my lord? And uh, sorry for rambling.”

Victor ran his hands through his hair as he sat back and stared at me, “ramble all you want Annalise. It’s a pleasant distraction.”

“From what?” I persisted.

He went to look out the window. “You seem to know a lot about the happenings of this world,” he replied, “I’d hazard a guess you may know what comes next.”

I felt my chest tighten. Victor knew about the next plot point as well. “You fear we’ll be attacked…” I said.

He shook his head, “I fear what I must do next in front of you.”

It was one of the first times he’d directly acknowledged the situation. I went to look out the window as I tried not to pester him further. In the books Annalise was horrified but there was some plausible deniability on Victor’s part. After all when she sees him attack the man like an animal she’s never quite sure it’s even Victor. But she continues to have her doubts. I wish I could have told him what I was really thinking… at this point I didn’t care if he was a blood sucker vampire duke lord. As long as he wasn’t going to eat me of course. But I was confused as to if he was actually a transplant in the story. I wanted to tell him but something in my throat seemed to continually stop me from doing so as we started along.

“Well thanks for telling me I’m beautiful,” I replied. He took my hand to kiss it without making eye contact. I didn’t have to hear his thoughts to know what he was thinking now. He wasn’t ready for what came next. And if he wasn’t ready, I knew I wasn’t about to be either.