Odalisque - Chapter 192

It was dark, but the train station was bright.

Finding a person in the bustle of the train station, which rivaled that of a marketplace, seemed a bit improbable. Demus dismounted and stared at the crowded turnstiles. A conductor was loudly announcing that the train was delayed.

The conductor’s face was sweaty as he dealt with the complaining crowd. However, there was nothing he could do. It was none other than Demus who had caused the train delay.

“This way, sir.”

One of his men led Demus to a small storage room at one end of the station. As he pushed open the door, the musty odor and dust in the air caused him to catch his breath.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

A sharp voice came from inside. It was Camille, looking furious and protesting to the men surrounding him.

Shouting at them, his eyes widened as he spotted Demus entering the storage room.

“Marquis of Dietrion?”

Demus turned to one of his men in front of Camille.

“Did he say anything?”

“Forgive me, sir.”

Demus didn’t expect Camille to open his mouth so easily. He looked back at Camille with a cold face. Camille looked at him in disbelief and then burst out laughing.

“I never thought I’d get to get to know you, Marquis, in this way.”

“I fear I have no intention of getting to know you.”

“What kind of disrespect is this? Even for you, Marquis of Dietrion, it’s not appropriate to treat a person—”

“Camille Eleanor.”

Camille, who spoke loudly and unabashedly, paused.

“Where did you smuggle her off to?”

“I don’t know what the heck you’re talking about…”

“My Lord!”

Behind Demus, his aides rushed in. They had been off doing other things and had only just arrived. Just then, Demus ordered,

“Search all of the trains.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Check the ticketing records as well.”

“Understood.”

Roman and Charles scurried away. Adolf, the only one remaining, stood next to Demus, his face rigid.

“I’ve reached out to the House of Eleanor, and we should hear back from them sometime tomorrow at the latest.”

Camille’s face contorted as he watched the scene unfold before him.

“Excuse me!”

“The reason I am not pulling out my gun right now is not because I’m afraid of the House of Eleanor.”

Demus pulled the wrist of his gloves taut.

Ever since Liv had given these gloves to him, he’d often tugged at them for no reason in this manner, a makeshift gesture when Liv wasn’t around. These gloves were a piece of Liv’s heart that he could see and touch.

“It’s just the procedure gets complicated if you get hurt here. I don’t want to waste time on something unnecessary.”

Camille became speechless and looked at Demus. In the dim light of the fire, the room was pitch black, yet Demus’ face was exceptionally cold and stoic.

The man’s statuesque beauty was further rendered unreal by the shabby background.

“I’ll just ask you one thing. I should warn you beforehand that depending on your answer, the dispute between our houses could be settled quite easily.”

Demus’ face, which had seemed to maintain a semblance of sanity all this time, started to crack.

“Did she ask you, or was it your idle nosiness?”

His fierce gaze was like a monster guarding the gates of hell.

Camille found it hard to speak at such a sight. His face, which had been tinged with vague hostility, was now laced with bewilderment.

“You…”

“Cut the chatter and answer the question.”

Pursing his lips, Camille pushed back his confusion and pulled up the corners of his mouth to smile.

“So this is how you treat— Ugh!”

Camille made a sarcastic remark and Demus immediately seized him by the collar. His grip was so strong that Camille’s face reddened as he was unable to breath properly.

Regardless, Camille didn’t stop with his sarcastic speech.

“Don’t you know… How stressed she is because of the… Ugh…”

“The name Eleanor won’t save your limbs, so know your place.”

“… Did you tell her too? To know her place?”

Camille, who had been watching Demus’ face up close due to being held on the collar, seemed to notice the slightest furrowing of Demus’ brows. The corners of Camille’s mouth twisted even more tightly than before.

“I am happy that I could help her in this way.”

[You’re a great collector, so I’m sure you’ll quickly find something of value, my Lord.]

“Marquis, you’re too late.”

[Though regrettably, it wasn’t me.]

Upon seeing the satisfied smile on Camille’s face, Demus couldn’t hold back his anger.

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