Hush Money

Elle clenched her fist. Would it be a bad idea to punch him and run away?

"Should we go in?" Magnus then uttered, almost stopping her heartbeat from the shock as he pointed to the dungeon.

She shook her head, "No! Of course not!"

"Then you should give me something in exchange of keeping your secret a quiet. Something like a hush money," Magnus unclasped his hand and offered it in front of her.

Elle stared at his hands and felt as if she was being blessed but at the same time trapped, "I don't have money…"

"I know," Magnus smiled wider, "But you could give me something else that isn't money."

"I… don't have anything," Elle wasn't rich and she didn't have anything in her possession as her house was entirely burned down. But she has to shush this man! "Why do I have to give you something."

"Because I won't shush? You do know I could simply do this—" Magnus turned around and looked at one of the soldier, his lips slowly opened to raise his voice like an impending doom.

"Here!" Elle didn't know what else she could do and in urgency, she took the ends of her hair and stuffed it to Magnus's hands.

Magnus tightened his grasp and for the first time appeared so dumbfounded. "Hair."

With her eyes squeezed tightly, Elle reasoned, "I usually sell them for money, because it's of a unique color, I think you can sell them for good amount of money."

"Attached to your head?" Magnus wondered if this mean she allowed him to sell her head as well.

"Well I have to cut it," Elle didn't feel any attachment to her hair but she doubted this would be enough to sway the man.

"Pfft," Magnus let out a small laugh that became even louder as he threw his head backward, "Hahahah! Many people have sold me many things, but this is the first time someone sold me their hair."

Elle watched as the man seemed to be sincere of laughing now. Earlier he appeared to be smiling merely out of happiness of seeing someone suffer but now, he really seemed like he enjoyed laughing.

"Fine, these are mine," Magnus tugged the end of her pink hair slightly. "Don't you sell it to anyone else."

"So you will keep it a secret?" Elle's golden eyes sparkled.

"I will think about it but today I won't say it to anyone else," he promised but Elle wasn't satisfied.

She didn't want anyone to find out who she is, especially when the man holding the secret seemed to be loose mouthed by his whim.

"What else would make the secret stay with you forever?"

"If I die?" Magnus grinned, "Although I doubt there is anyone who could make that come true for you."

"I wouldn't want to kill you in the first place," Did she look like a murderer?

"Will you really keep it a secret?" She had no choice but to trust the man but at least she would like to have his words for it.

Magnus nodded his head and twirled his finger around her hair, "I'm not one who will break my own words so you can be at ease but there would be time when I would need something more than your hair to keep your secret a hush."

Elle gulped, she could tell from his words that this wouldn't be the last time they will meet each other.. and his request will only get worse…. What unluckiness have she

"Lord Magnus!" Santos's voice rang between them. Elle exhaled out in relieve the breaths she didn't know she had held against her chest.

Magnus turned his eyes and stared back at Santoz the werewolf. His body was much bigger than Magnus but he seemed smaller in front of the Lord. Magnus appeared to be studying them down, noting the human man beside Santoz who was much smaller then all of them.

"I wasn't aware you would be making a surprise visit," Santoz remarked.

"I was thinking on rewarding you," Magnus looked at the werewolf. "You were the one who caught the culprit and that is very praiseworthy."

"Thank you, milord. It will always be my job to make sure that the justice are brought," Santoz said to be humble but everyone could see the excitement on his eyes for being praised.

Elle who saw how Santoz was so polite to Magnus tilted her head. They did call him "lord" "lord" but what was his rank in the nobility? Santoz seemed to be very proud of being recognize by him, then is he someone from a very high caste?

…no way, surely, she convinced herself in her head.

If he was really someone from a higher rank, he wouldn't have asked her to pay him hush money for keeping secrets!

Magnus could see how the cogs in Elle's head begin to reel and enjoyed it quite well with a smile. He then turned his eyes slowly at Count Arthur, "And I think it is my first time seeing you. Your name?"

"Arthur Vernon, Lord Magnus. It is our first time of meeting each other, I am very honored for this chance," Count Arthur gave a deep bow, placing one hand around his chest to show his sincerity. But he appeared to be on toes as Elle was standing right behind Magnus. "Is there something wrong with my daughter?"

"Daughter?" Magnus questioned the fact with his scarlet eyes to Elle.

Estelle nodded her head, confirming it before the man would feel offended and spill the secret.

"Oh you don't seem to know, Lord Magnus," said Santoz and he briefly gave the story, "Estelle here is the long lost daughter of Count Arthur. They finally meet after two decades, isn't that just so touching?"

Magnus chuckled and hummed, "Indeed it is, family love is always touching," Yet Elle could see the man didn't mean his words.

Seeing the frown on Count Arthur, Magnus widened his smile, "Don't worry, Mr. Vernon. I didn't touch a single strand on her head. You seem as if I have touched your precious jewel."

"My apologies," Count Arthur said for his facial expression, "I just feel worried that she might offend you, especially since Elle hadn't interact much with the outside world."

"No worries, her manners are perfect and I also enjoy conversing with her, she is one of the first people who could make laugh," Magnus eyed Elle carefully, finding her eyes that appeared to be filled with so much emotion rather adorable and passionate. "It's nice meeting you again then, Miss Elle. I haven't told you but you have a great name."

Elle could only see his praise as superficial especially after he threatened her, "It is a pleasure to meet you as well."

"This man is the one who I have told you before, Miss Elle," Knight Santoz quickly introduced. "The one and only, our new Lord of Raindawn, Lord Magnus!"

Elle's smile that was high so she could appear polite at once disappeared. Her jaw was opened wide that her pink lips were left in a gape.

This man… is the Lord?! The— the same one who govern the entire Raindawn?!

Elle's lips tremble as she learned that out of anyone in Raindawn who could find her identity, it was the Lord himself who uncovered her secret identity!

What was with her luck?!

Before Elle could snap from her shock, all of a sudden Magnus bent forward. Their face became closer and she could smell the fragrant minty scent coming from the Lord, his voice smoothly brushed against her skin and it felt ice cold, "You have something under your sleeve."

Elle lifted her face to him, looking confused but when she touched her sleeve she did feel a paper stuffed inside her sleeve. While thinking when this paper were pushed to her sleeve, she recalled that Grandpa John was the one who had touched her hand, meaning he could be the only one to put the paper inside!