Chapter 46 Her accomplice

"How could you let him take her?" he asked and Cooper swallowed hard without knowing what to say.

"I pay you to make sure that things go as I want in my absence," he said and he lowered his head. "You should pray that I find her unharmed without a single scratch."

With that, he walked back to the carriage that had brought him and gave instructions to the coachman before getting inside and it drove off.

Lucas who had been hiding behind a large tree came out the instant he saw that the Duke's carriage had left.

He had waited for Hazel in the spot they agreed for almost three hours and he finally decided to come and check what was taking her so long. He didn't want to believe that she got a change of mind and that too she didn't inform him.

Catching sight of the butler who was walking towards the manor, his steps increased and he called," Excuse me sir."

Cooper turned on hearing a voice and he frowned on seeing the farmiliar boy.

Lucas ran to him and on reaching, he quickly offered a bow then said" Good afternoon sir."

"Good afternoon. How can I help you?"

"Uh, I am requesting to speak to Hazel Winston, she works here. My name is Lucas Easton," he introduced politely.

He noticed how he was still huffing for air, as if he had been running," Ms Winston is not here." "Really? When did she leave?" he asked.

"I don't know about that but she's not here and it will be best if you leave young man," he said.

"But, are you really sure that she's not here? I need to talk to her. It's really urgent please."

"I told you to leave already. The person you're looking for is not here," he said and walked inside the manor. Lucas remained behind confused. He wasn't seeing any servants to ask if Hazel was here. Thinking about it, could it be that she had gone to the place they had agreed? But how come that he didn't find her?

In the end, he decided to go back or else she might be waiting for him.

Hazel sat in the dark cold cell with her back leaning against the wall as she folded her legs. She didn't want to think about her destination the moment she steps out of here.

The slave establishment consisted of all sorts of evils that could ever happen to a person. She wondered if the Duke was going to believe that she stole the jewelry. Thinking about it, she realized that it was impossible for someone to believe in her innocence given that she was planning on leaving Hollowvale. She wondered who could have done something like this to her.

She doubted she will ever be set free because given the state she was in with the Duke, he might decide to let her rot here and in the end, she will get sold to the slave establishment.

Just when she thought that she was going to start a new life. Her eyes widened when she remembered Lucas. He must have waited for her. She just hoped he left and didn't check for her at the manor because she feared that he might end up being arrested too, calling him her accomplice.

She leaned her head against the wall and closed her eyes before a tear rolled down her cheek.

Making way to the magistrate's office, Raven was in no mood for chitchatting.

"Where's she?" he asked. The magistrate looked up from his document to see the Duke. He immediately got up from his desk and walked around the table. He bowed before saying," I'm glad you're here your grace." "Where's she?" he asked again.

"Oh, you mean the thief? She is in my custody," he spoke. "I need to see her," he spoke.

"Right away your grace," he said and he picked a key from the heap before looking at him and said," Follow me your grace."

They walked out of the office and went to the back where the cells were located. He was still keeping his cool waiting to see the state in which she was.

They walked past a number of cells until they reached one and he stood before it.

"Here she is," he spoke looking at him and Raven moved closer. Looking inside, it was pitch black and he couldn't see anything.

"I want to see her," he said and he nodded before placing the key in the lock.

Before opening the door, he said," I haven't punished her yet because your butler told me to wait for you." When he didn't reply, he laughed and said," It's just that, I don't want you to think that I don't do my job well. You just have to give me the word and I see to it that she doesn't steal ever again."

"Will you open the door?" he asked in a low voice, already impatient. "Sure," he said and opened the door then stepped inside.

Spotting the girl curled in the corner, he walked to her and stepped on her fingers with his shoe, and she woke up wincing in pain.

"This is not an inn for you to sleep," he said before bending and got her arm then forcefully made her stand up. "Your master is here to see you," he spoke and the little sleep Hazel was left with vanished in an instant.

The Duke was here? He pulled her outside until he took her to stand in front of the Duke.

Hazel squinted her eyes to get used to the light that she was not yet accustomed to. Her vision was blurry at first until she saw him clearly, standing before her. She lowered her eyes immediately in shame when she remembered why she was here.

Raven on the other hand was glad to see that she was fine with no wounds or bruises.

Looking at the magistrate, he said," I am taking her with me." Hazel raised her eyes to look at him surprisingly when he said that.