Chapter 12 - Protector

In all honesty, Mallory despised him. And for good reason. He was the epitome of cruel.

Forcing her to watch him flirt and engage with other women, whether she was watching or wasn't didn't matter. He enjoyed watching the other noble ladies ridicule her.

The reason for this was that his engagement to her was a supposed gift, but he found it insulting. It wasn't that she was plain that made him scoff at her, but the rumours that circled her about her potential lack of royal blood.

He saw her as a stain.

And Mallory. Poor Mallory. The small twelve year old child who was thrusted at a cruel tyrant by her own mother didn't understand why he hated her. Her long visits to his castle was spent being locked up, even hit at times.

So she also grew to hate him. And never really visited him, unless he sent a carriage for her and when that happened she would sit in it. Silently crying away at the fact she had to leave Edmund behind to stay at the tyrants home. She was no better really, but that didn't change the fact that Raphael Harlow was truly a cruel man.

He stared at me with surprised eyes, not the cruel snide glances the novel had made clear of, but then again, Mallory was only a child right now.

"Are you okay? Have you lost your mother?" He furrowed his brows in concern.

I couldn't move, nor answer. My mouth just gapped and my heart beat pounded against my chest.

"You look so pale? This is worrisome", he leaned down, looking at me with an uncharacteristic concerned face. The moment he lifted his hand to feel my temperature I jumped back in shock.

He blinked at my reaction. Taken aback for a moment before he started to look flustered.

"I'm not a bad person", he insisted moving closer towards me, this only made me step back until my back hit the door.

S-Stay away!

I shut my eyes, anticipating a slap or a sharp hair pull. But instead nothing happened. Not for a long while.

He was just staring at me, looking mostly confused.

"That's strange? Most kids like me.", he pouted at me childishly, "you don't like this big brother? Why? Am I scarwy?"

What the hell is going on? What...?

He had started to speak with a lisp and made fake paws next to his face and then as I gazed at his face I realised something. He didn't have any sign of stubble or a face that was cleanly shaved. His jaw was narrow and so were his shoulders. He was young.

He hasn't gone to war yet...

I relaxed all at once. Still slightly wary, but much lax compared to earlier.

"I just need to stay here, until the people outside leave", I answered back, trying to seem cold.

I got the opposite reaction.

"Woah! You speak so well for someone so young! Are you playing hide and seek? You can hide here since I'm also hiding as well" he gave me a grin. One that made it seem like the future him was just a lie.

No. Don't get swayed so soon!

"No. I want food", it wouldn't hurt for him to know the truth.

"Oh, so you're hungry? Come here there's plenty of snacks on the table here" he held his arms out as if to say, 'I'll carry you', but I ignored his attempt and moved right towards the table and there, like he said, was a table full of savouries and sweets.

The scent of sandwiches of thin beef slices, mustard and lettuce. There were other types, but my eyes were glued to the sight of tender meat. My mouth started to water on its own.

No- No! He's dangerous don't let him fool you!

But, when I turned to the supposed psychopath, he just gave me a welcoming smile. And gestured for me to sit on the sofa. My legs had moved on their own. Hands had started to reach on their own, regardless of my mental warnings .

I had started digging in immediately, not holding back at all.

The beef was delicious, soft bread complimenting it beautifully.

Mmmmm... blissfully I shut my eyes to savour the taste.

"Haha", gentle laughter interrupted my bliss, making me turn to Raphael with curious eyes. He started to laugh harder when he caught sight of my face. Holding his stomach as he reached for his front pocket and pulled out his handkerchief.

He started to gentle pat it around my mouth to my surprise, staining it with so much mustard I gasped in horror.

Oh god... I can't even eat food properly...

"I'm sorry, you have such a cute dress I don't want you to stain it", he gave me a smile that could steal the heart of many women.

"Thank you..."

"Such a polite one", he continued to giggle.

As I munched away I recalled what he said earlier.

"Who are you hiding from?" I asked after I finished the sandwich and quite frankly was full.

He flinched at my question, eyes widening at me while I waited patiently. In a flustered manner he turned away from me.

"My family, I guess", he answered with a pained smile.

"Why?"

"Eh..- they don't like me very much you see. My mother isn't"- his words were cut off the moment the door opened and mother entered to my horror. It was so sudden I didn't have a chance to escape.

"Second son of Harlow, what might you be?-" she caught her words in her throat the moment she caught sight of me. Her eyes widened in shock and then quickly morphed to anger. "It seems my daughter has troubled you", she silently said as she approached me, the smell of wine came from her and that's when I noticed the instability in her eyes.

"No, of course not", his words of denial were unheard as the raging beast came closer.

"M-Mother?" I shakily said.

This was it... her hand raised the moment she got close, coming down as always.

I shut my eyes awaiting the painful blow, but instead I heard mother scream.

"Who?!"

As if I saw a flash of darkness, before me was a cloaked figure, smaller than my mother, with midnight long black hair floating behind them. They firmly held back mother's hand mid-way through attack.

"Don't hit the princess", a voice that was definitely that of a child, but somehow felt as competent as fathers.

"Who are you? Leave my house!" Mother shouted, attacking with her free hand, but he caught that as well.

"I can't allow you to hit the princess. That is my duty. The duty of Ruby Raizen".

R-Ruby Raizen?

As if timed, he glanced back at me, staring at me with his cobalt blue eye.

My breath hitched.

What was going on today?