Chapter 6: Nasty Mouth

An awkward silence took place between the two. Hansel's lips parted, but no sound came out.

"See?" Velvetiana's tone sharpened. "You won't so just listen to me if you want to keep your job."

Her smile was razor-thin but she didn't think she was being shameless or unreasonable. She only knew that she had to be practical when it mattered.

"Technically, we're both peasants scraping for every penny we can get. I bet you earn a monthly wage from some wealthy household, but I'm just a penniless bumpkin with nothing but a rich man's bastard title. You're calling me 'my lady' but we both know that you're better off than I am. So do me a favor, Mr. Butler."

Hansel's gaze lifted, and for a fleeting moment, the man thought he had seen a chipmunk childishly puffing its glowing white cheeks. Hansel's brow furrowed, but before he could answer, Velvetiana's expression softened.

He blinked.

Her clear, dewy eyes—sharp and knowing—stared straight at his swollen face.

"Also… I know I'm rough around the edges, but I don't condone bullying other people," she muttered while glimpsing at him resolutely. 

"So, please don't think like I'm about to torture you whenever I raise my voice. I don't know much about etiquette. Whereas my attitude is brash and assertive, I bet it was far from an ideal noble kind you might've been serving until recently."

Her eyes drifted toward the bruise at the corner of his mouth and felt a tinge of guilt tugging her heartstring.

Hansel remained still and quietly listened. Thus, the girl continued.

"And yeah, I have a nasty mouth but I'm not the kind of person who enjoys hurting people," she reiterated.

For a moment, she almost felt the need to apologize. Almost.

"So, you know... What I'm trying to say is, sorry for slapping you earlier. I was upset by what you said. You probably deserved it, but still…"

Velvetiana cleared her throat and tried not to sound as though she was just nagging.

"That one slap was more than enough, so you didn't have to waste your strength beating yourself up over it as if seeing you in pain would make me happy. Well, I don't!"

Hansel's eyes widened slightly there was confusion within and something he couldn't name.

A flicker of surprise ghosted across his normally placid features. His mouth parted as if to speak but nothing came out.

For a minute, the usual barrier in his gaze slipped, replaced by something else but it was only there for a fleeting moment.

Feeling the heavy heat under his stare, Velvetiana shifted.

"Wha… What?" she stammered like a flustered bee and didn't know what to say either.

The troubled lass puffed her cheeks and went silent for a minute.

Did she run her mouth too much and say something wrong again? Goddamn, she was just trying to make amends here!

Velvetiana inwardly chastised herself.

She was determined to leave the bad vibes that happened in this place and start on a positive note since this man was also the first person, she got acquainted with from the Corvinus family.

'Dad always says that I must be good and not make enemies 'cause he won't be there. Especially the ones taking care of my food and necessities if I don't want to die early. It's better to apologize early and I did. So, what's his deal?'

"What I'm saying is, next time, don't punish yourself. I'm sure it's painful when you hit yourself so fiercely. When things don't go your way, all you have to do is admit you're sorry if you know you made a mistake or hurt someone else's feelings. Don't be hard on yourself!"

Velvetiana managed to croak and shove something in his palms.

"I-It's slightly crumpled because I keep them in my pocket but it's still usable," her cheeks burned faintly pink.

'Ahh, it looks like a wadded shit,' she sobbed silently without tears feeling somewhat ashamed.

As she had expected, the man furrowed his thick brows, barely recognizing it as a band-aid in flimsy childish packaging, if not for her hinting it. Hansel's gaze lingered a moment, longer than he would usually commit before his usual calm mask returned.

Hansel blinked down at it and at the tickets, clearly trying to decide if this situation was beneath him or just painfully typical.

Accidentally, their gaze collided. His deep, onyx orbs glinted under the harsh airport lighting.

Velvetiana's breath hitched. Her cheeks warmed with an indescribable feeling, mostly disconcerted.

What the hell was that look?!

Was he angry or what? If he didn't like it, then just give it back!

Velvetiana bought that with her own hard-earned money—money scraped together from selling bottles and metal scraps. Every single piece was worth the tetanus she miraculously avoided while digging through the junkyard.

She's carrying out a good deed, just why is he staring at her as if she robbed his ancestor's grave?!

'Is this my cue to walk out? He looks scary! At least say something!' the girl could only cry injustice inside as she try to push away the random images of a 'silent psychopath' that whittled her weary mind.

Ah, this is insane.

Finally, recalling how nasty his mouth could be, Velvetiana didn't give him time to say anything to foil the 'improving' atmosphere. She spun on her heel so fast it nearly gave her whiplash.

"W-Well, I'm just making suggestions!" she nervously barked.

"T-That's all. Now go before the flight takes off! You'll have to pay me for those wasted tickets if you fail to get my money back, I'm telling you!"

She urged him toward the information desk like a puppy shoving a stubborn bone. Hansel's mouth twitched but he didn't really try to voice a protest. His bruised lips pressed into a thin line as he swallowed whatever words were sitting on his tongue.

Then, with his usual guarded smile, he gave a flawless bow.

"Then I… shall see what I can do, my lady." His tone was smooth, measured—but Velvetiana wasn't blind to the quiet reluctance beneath it. "Please wait for me inside."

"Umh… Ye-yeah! Of course!"

Velvetiana huffed and stomped toward the gate without looking back.

Behind her, Hansel stood there for a moment longer, still holding the crumpled tickets and the vibrant Sanrio-themed band-aid. His dark eyes lingered on her retreating figure before recovered, his usual polite expression falling back into place.

The man exhaled heavily as though repressing something within him and turned away.

«⁘⁘⁘⁘⁘⁘»

"So? Did you see her?"

An eager voice of a man crackled through the line, met with nothing but a bored hum in response.

"Why are you calling again? I'm hanging up!" 

"What? Wait, tell more! Damn. You lucky bastard. I should've gone too, even if Father flings me into an early grave," he grumbled, but his tone immediately sharpened with excitement.

The guy in the dark hoodie could practically see the other's eyes lighting up as he pressed. Not that he's interested.

"Well? How was it? Does she have fangs? Red eyes? Come on, spill it! What does Dodo look like?"

"Her?" Pierre's previously dull eyes gleamed like bloodied rubies as a vivid image flashed in his mind—a feisty little kitten and a fair, delicate neck begging to be marked.

"I'm not sure, should I go back and check her out? She doesn't look bad."

Slowly, he licked the corner of his lips and flashed a wickedly seductive smile sharp enough to impregnate on sight.

"W-What?! Hey, Pierre, you motherfucker!" The man dangerously shouted from the background. "I didn't ask you to go there to hit on my—"

"Tch, this loud guy." Pierre pulled away the speaker and clucked his tongue in discontent. This is why he hates talking with this barbaric fellow. Every time he does, it jeopardizes his hearing.

He rolled his eyes and bluntly interrupted, "Why are you making so much fuss? Did you get blue balled this morning? Man, jerk off before calling. Don't blow your pent-up frustration on me."

"..."

The line went entirely silent.

"Pierre Winterblood, you're a disgusting piece of shit. You know that?" 

"Oh, is that not it? Geez, my bad. Do forgive me now, young master Lucan." Pierre put forth sarcastically before adding fuel to the fire. "Wait, should I call you brother-in-law now? Not that I would mind. Your sister looks very tasty—"

BLAG!

A loud crash erupted from the other end, followed by a haunting beep that cut the call dead.

"Tsk, he flipped too quickly. How boring!" Pierre snickered as though he had seen it coming.