[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/BIFC1B7.png[/img][/center][color=#F5EEF8]
[color=9BBB82]Time: [/color] 9pm
[color=9BBB82]Location:[/color] Castle Wall
[color=9BBB82]Attire: [/color][url=i.imgur.com/KkiqKCi.png]Here[/url]
[color=9BBB82]Hair: [/color][url=i.imgur.com/1NtC8xB.png]Here[/url][/color]
[center][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/466021461174386714/977730500103909456/UfpuO82.png[/img][/center]

[color=lavender][color=0072bc]“Kill yourself.”[/color]

Halfway up the staircase to go look at her loot, Persephone halted with shock. What the hell? She frowned and pressed herself against the wall as she crept up slowly. Was that... Was that Count Calbert? As she listened more, the man soon announced he had been [i]joking[/i]? What kind of sick joke was that? Puzzled, torn, and now curious, Persephone listened to this disturbing conversation in shock. Questions raced through her mind. The more she listened, the more disturbed she became. Her heart began racing a mile a minute. If she left now, she wouldn’t have anything to use against him. She needed to leave… She shouldn’t be here, yet the idea of doing what she shouldn't was too appealing to ignore. 

Soon enough her questions were answered. He was mad at her for leaving her house with Lorenzo and coming to the ball? What was the problem with Lorenzo leaving his house? Why was he obsessed with these two? Shouldn’t he be worried about his daughters? This man needed to sort out his priorities! Persephone flinched at his phrase, “he’s not your father,” and felt secondhand embarrassment. She grimaced and tiptoed down the steps backwards. The way he twisted Charlotte’s words and gaslighted her made her cheeks flush. How dare he say that? How sick was this man? It didn’t seem as if he had any limits. She shook her head, bit her lip, and forced herself to continue moving down the staircase. 

Persephone was halfway down the steps and aware of the conversation when it came to a disturbing end. His gentle tone, mixed with the malice from earlier, sickened her. How dare he try to be kind and sweet now? Disgusting. These nobles were roaches. His power went to his head and she briefly wondered how he had a wife. Did his wife have the same sickening attitude? No wonder his one daughter never left her stupid home until now. 

Persephone went to take out a piece of bread to munch on while she listened when she heard loud footsteps. Horror crashed over her like a wave and she abruptly ran down the steps, her bread stuffed safely in her mouth. [color=9BBB82][i]No, not the bread![/i][/color] This was too delicious to lose. She raced over the steps, tripping slightly in this [i]disgusting[/i] dress, and over to a tree. Persephone abruptly began climbing it and hid inside of it. She quietly munched on her bread as she waited to see if she had been spotted. She hadn’t been as quiet as she normally was, but at least she had her speed. Persephone held her breath and began to quietly tear at the ends of her dress to make it easier for her to run and climb in. Then she stuffed some of the bread back into her bag while awaiting the next set of events. 

After a moment, the sound of moving branches filled the air. Then the sound of munching. [color=0072bc]”You know,”[/color] Count Calbert said in between bites as he seated himself more comfortably on the thick, sturdy branch behind her, [color=0072bc]”I wasn’t certain I could climb a tree like I used to, but it was almost muscle memory. Used to love this as a boy.”[/color]

The sudden noises nearly caused Persephone to fall out of the tree. She jumped and rolled sideways and quickly grabbed onto the next branch and hung onto it for dear life. She pulled herself up onto it and stared with bewilderment and astonishment. Then her gaze slowly moved to the bread he had [i]stolen[/i] from her. Her gaze moved back to him and for a moment, felt fury rise inside of her. Never had she wanted a man dead so much in her life. Voices began to fill the air but she didn’t see any. For a moment she was silent, then a nasty smile crossed her face.

[color=9BBB82]”I didn’t know you were smart enough to climb trees. I think you surpassed expectations. Shouldn’t you have a cane? A big one to stick up your old ass.”[/color] She knocked the bread out of his mouth and stood upon the branch. With precise agility and grace, she jumped onto a higher branch and stared down at him.

Calbert rose on the branch, his height managing to bring them eye to eye. [color=0072bc]”You have a lot of gusto, young lady.”[/color] At first his tone sounded complementary and he even displayed his winning smile. [color=0072bc]” Especially for one so impoverished she has to steal food.”[/color]His eyes narrowed but the smile remained as he mused,[color=0072bc]”I wonder what the punishment for stealing from a royal castle would be. [i]Certainly death, yes?[/i]”[/color]

Perspehone watched him rise to her level and raised an eyebrow. His tone went from flattery to cruelty in one fell swoop. She narrowed her gaze at his comments and felt her heart skip a beat. A brief pause and then she started laughing to cover it up. Death for stealing food? He [i]did[/i] have King Dumbass on his side. She scowled at him but didn’t let her gaze falter from him. [color=9BBB82]”Egotistical [i]and[/i] unhinged,”[/color] She started to giggle, [color=9BBB82]”I haven’t done anything but exist and you’re threatening me like you’re threatening poor Lady Vikena. You’re on a roll to make enemies tonight aren’t you?”[/color] As her anger began to rise, so did the noise behind her. She glanced around as if being spoken to and kept an eye on him while also listening. 
 
He smirked at her as she giggled, letting her ramble on. Calbert inspected her actions, noting every single one mentally like a hawk. If he thought anything of them, it wasn’t visible in his expression. [color=0072bc][i]Unhinged, indeed.[/i][/color]  

[color=0072bc]“Stealing from the King is a crime punishable by death by law. No threats here as long as we can come to an agreement.”[/color] Calbert said smoothly.  [color=0072bc]“Nonetheless you have opened the door to the reason I am here. “[/color]He leaned in and grabbed her by the scruff as he sneered through gritted teeth, [color=0072bc]“I am not a fan of those who eavesdrop. Not that someone of your pathetic status would know the law nor any manners.”[/color]

His smirk at her giggle only made her regret her actions. She felt him studying her like a hawk, so she mirrored it. His comments irked her though and she began to scowl deeper and deeper. However, she didn’t look as scared as he might expect her to feel. She opened her mouth to respond when he grabbed her by the scruff. Wide-eyed, she inhaled and nearly lost her footing, and listened to him threaten her now. It was possible he could push like he threatened Lady Vikena, and nobody would know or care. Persephone glanced at the ground and noticed they were at least ten feet into the air and she wasn’t exactly a cat. There was a pause, and then she spat in his face so he’d release her as she quickly climbed down without a word. 

Calbert angrily wiped his face and said down to her in a low voice: [color=0072bc]”You’ll keep your mouth shut. I’ll find out if you say anything. If you do, I will not rest until you hang from a noose along with that wretched fool Kazumin.”[/color] He knew she was a meaningless nobody, but he liked to take extra precautions. Even rats needed to be trapped. 

The anger in his face was enough for her to smirk at. Unfortunately, the smirk fell when he called out Kazumin’s name. She paused, mid branch, her eyes wide with surprise and terror, but ignored him as she climbed down. Not giving him a response was the best thing she could do and would hopefully piss him off even more. She jumped once she was close enough and moved to hide behind the castle walls in a bush and waited for him to pass by. He eventually climbed down the tree and disappeared from view. Persephone waited for him to leave to let out a shaky breath and wipe a tear from her eyes. How had she landed herself in this position? Anger and fear rushed through her and she gritted her teeth. 

[color=9BBB82][i]Kazumin is not wretched or a fool.[/i][/color] 

Persephone waited a few moments, which felt like an eternity to her. Making sure he was gone, she slowly began to head back to her horse, Buttercup, to go back home. [/color]