A Maggot [2]

"What kind of person is she?! Doesn't she know that men's testicles are the most sensitive part of their bodies? It's a man's treasure!" one of Fulgran's bodyguards exclaimed, his tone full of irritation.

"I know, that's why I kicked it right on target," Rebecca sneered, rolling her eyes dismissively.

Standing outside Raymond's family house were two bodyguards, Rebecca, Fulgran, and Raymond's mother, Rowena. They all had different expressions on their faces as the commotion unfolded, drawing attention from passersby. Word of the disturbance quickly reached Rudy, and in turn, Raymond.

Rebecca had a stalker, a 17-year-old boy named Fulgran, the only son of the squad commander of the special unit. Despite his prosperous background, Rebecca couldn't care less. When Fulgran tried to grab her and make her follow him, she immediately slapped him and kicked him where it hurt.

"I've known you've been following me for years," Rebecca snapped, glaring at Fulgran. "I didn't mind because I know only cowards hide in the shadows."

Rowena was visibly agitated by the situation, her expression showing both concern and disdain towards Fulgran's actions. How could a man behave so disrespectfully? Such behavior was utterly unacceptable, especially from someone in a position of authority.

"Consider yourself lucky that young Master Fulgran took an interest in you, you foolish woman! Show respect, or face the consequences!" another one of Fulgran's bodyguards bellowed, his voice carrying across the tense atmosphere.

"Rebecca, you are indeed a lovely lady, but you seem unaware of your own value. It's clear that you should have accepted my advances to avoid this predicament," Fulgran spoke with an air of arrogance, mimicking the demeanor of a nobleman.

"Wow... your audacity is truly astounding. Before you make such claims, make sure you're not the one who's been stalking me for almost four years! How pathetic!" Rebecca shot back, her words laced with sarcasm and disgust.

The onlookers were taken aback by this unexpected turn of events, their curiosity piqued by the unfolding drama.

Fulgran, meanwhile, felt a wave of shame wash over him. The gazes of those around him held a mix of disbelief and judgment, a reaction he was not accustomed to. At the very least, he hoped to salvage some respect in the eyes of the spectators.

Rebecca was undeniably stunning, with captivating eyes, fair skin, and delicate lips that added to her allure. Her slender figure was impossible to overlook.

Despite her beauty, she refused to use it to entice or manipulate men. She rejected those who sought her only for her appearance, finding such shallow advances repulsive.

"You...! You'll regret this! You should have listened to me and followed my lead. But you've made your choice!" Fulgran turned away, signaling his bodyguards to retreat to his carriage.

"Oh, absolutely! I can hardly contain my regret. What could a mere boy achieve without his parents' influence!" Rebecca retorted with biting sarcasm as Fulgran's carriage departed.

Inside the carriage, Fulgran seethed with rage. He clenched his fists, caught off guard by Rebecca's response. He had admired her from a distance for years and finally worked up the courage to express his feelings.

Yet, his approach had been so distasteful that instead of being swayed, Rebecca scorned him. Her attitude stoked his frustration, causing any previous admiration to fade into resentment. His inflated sense of self-worth demanded retribution for anyone who dared challenge it.

With clenched teeth, Fulgran departed from the lower district of the village and returned to his own.

Meanwhile, Raymond arrived at their house's front door. He observed his mother and Rebecca engaged in conversation, and in the distance, he noticed a carriage leaving their district.

"You handled that well, Rebecca. Despite his status, your response was admirable. We mustn't allow anyone to disrespect our dignity," Rowena praised her daughter, her face radiant with pride.

"I'm aware, Mother. I should've given him a swift kick before he left," Rebecca quipped, followed by a chuckle.

However, moments later, the cheerfulness faded from Rowena's expression as she expressed concern, "Let's hope this doesn't escalate. He was the one at fault, and despite his family's influence, I hoped people would be on our side."

"Don't worry, Mother. Everything will be fine," Raymond interjected, catching their attention.

"Raymond, why are you home so soon?" Rowena inquired.

Raymond grinned, responding, "I heard about Rebecca's altercation with the squad commander's son. Word traveled fast; Father was informed while we were training."

"I understand, Mother. I won't dwell on it," Raymond assured Rowena.

'Of course, it won't escalate; it's already a massive issue. But I won't let it slide. Not now, not when I have the upper hand. That fool, he made a grave mistake by targeting my family,' Raymond thought, a smirk playing on his lips as they entered their home. 

***

"His name was Fulgran, right?" Raymond murmured to himself as he sat in his room, contemplating the recent events. In his recollection, the expected outcome was for Fulgran to approach Rebecca and coerce her into... "mating" with him.

However, Fulgran's words weren't as direct; he simply stated, "I wish to be your mate."

Raymond couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of those words. What a fool indeed.

During the altercation, Rebecca had delivered a harsh blow to Fulgran's ego, quite literally. Despite his protests, she had swiftly subdued him using the combat techniques she had learned from her father, a seasoned hunter.

It was surprising to witness the squad commander's son display such weakness, but today, Rebecca had chosen to merely reprimand Fulgran lightly. Perhaps it was due to his altered behavior, which in turn had led to a calmer response from Rebecca.

"Hm... I cannot predict the future plot accurately, but what the memories serve now is information about the people and their traits. The flow had slightly changed..."

He was the same person who would attack Anna and Arthur. Which was why dealing with him would settle the score before it happened.