Lord Blackwood Promised Me Death — Chapter 2

SERVANTS AREN'T ALLOWED IN THE ANNEX.

AND I DOUBT YOU'RE GOING TO CLAIM YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT...

WHO PUT YOU UP TO THIS?

ANSWER ME.

WHICH SIDE SENT YOU INTO THE ANNEX?

OPTION ONE, THE DUCHY.

OPTION TWO, HIS HIGHNESS LEON.

OR-

HAH,

YOU THINK SOME CHEAP LITTLE TRICK WILL FOOL ME...

I'M SURE...

I USED TO HATE THAT SOUND.

MY BELOVED...

MAY ALL THAT I AM

BELONG TO YOU.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR PAIN.

MY BELOVED...

MY... BELOVED...

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?

...AH,

I ASKED WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PULL.

...YOUNG MASTER.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA... HOW LONG I'VE SEARCHED FOR THAT MUSIC BOX.

YOU CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.

THAT'S HOW PRECIOUS IT IS TO ME.

PLEASE, LET ME HAVE IT.

IT BELONGS TO ME.

UNBELIEVABLE.

IT BELONGS TO YOU?

I PAID A FAIR PRICE FOR THAT THING.

LISTEN CAREFULLY, YOU CRAZY GIRL.

NO MATTER WHAT YOU OFFER ME, MONEY, YOUR BODY, OR ANYTHING ELSE...

I HAVE NO INTENTION OF GIVING YOU THAT MUSIC BOX.

OBSESSION IS A TERRIFYING THING.

ONCE YOU'RE CONSUMED BY A SINGLE GOAL, EVERYTHING ELSE BECOMES NOTHING MORE THAN A MEANS TO ACHIEVE IT.

EVEN IF THAT MEANS EXPLOITING SOMEONE ELSE'S WEAKNESS.

I TOLD YOU, I DON'T WANT THIS!

WILLIAM...

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO MARRY ME... IT DOESN'T MATTER.

IT'S NOT LIKE I HAVE TO CONSIDER YOUR FEELINGS, RIGHT?

BESIDES, ARE THERE EVEN ANY LADIES LEFT WHO DARE TRY TO TAKE A PLACE BY YOUR SIDE?

PERHAPS I NEED TO MAKE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE...

UGH, SERIOUSLY.

LET ME SAY IT AGAIN, YOUR HIGHNESS, IVRILLIAN BLANSTEIN.

EVERYTHING YOU DO, EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.

EVERY SINGLE BIT OF IT MAKES ME SICK.

PLEASE,

GET OUT OF MY LIFE.

THE MAN BEFORE ME

WAS NOTHING LIKE THE WONDERFUL WILLIAM BLACKWOOD THE MAIDS COULDN'T STOP RAVING ABOUT.

THE FACT THAT THAT SIR BLACKWOOD WAS TRAPPED IN AN ENGAGEMENT HE DIDN'T EVEN WANT...

MEANT I...

I...

I'LL BE YOUR LOVER, YOUNG MASTER.

COULD USE IT TO MY ADVANTAGE.

I SAW EVERYTHING.

YOUR CONVERSATION WITH HER HIGHNESS IN THE GARDEN.

...HAH.

BWAHAHAHA!

SO WHAT? THE CAPITAL HAS A WHOLE CARRIAGEFUL OF STUNNING BEAUTIES.

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I'D CHOOSE YOU TO PLAY MY LOVER?

ESPECIALLY SOMEONE AS UNHINGED AS YOU-

I'M OFFERING TO HELP YOU BREAK OFF YOUR ENGAGEMENT.

IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT MUSIC BOX.

...WHAT?

YOUNG MASTER.

...I USED TO BELONG TO THE *GENTRY.

*Gentry: A property-owning social class without n oble status but permitted to bear a family coat of arms.

I'VE RECEIVED ALL THE NECESSARY EDUCATION.

PLEASE WORK.

I COULD ACCOMPANY YOU TO A BALL RIGHT NOW, AND NO ONE WOULD BAT AN EYE.

PLEASE...

AND I'M NOT AFRAID OF PRINCESS IVRILLIAN.

HEY, YOU...

THAT MUSIC BOX...

YOUNG MASTER!!

WHY ARE YOU HERE? HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE CROWN PRINCE HAS ARRIVED...

OH, RIO.

...ARE YOU HURT?

I'M NOT HURT, AND IT'S NOT MY BLOOD.

THIS SERVANT APPARENTLY LOST HER WAY.

...INTO THE ANNEX, SIR?

RIO, ESCORT HER OUTSIDE.

MAKE SURE SHE DOESN'T WANDER OFF AGAIN.

TAKE HER TO MY ROOM.

YOU MEAN...

AS FOR OUR CONVERSATION,

WE'LL FINISH IT AFTER THE PARTY.

WELL THEN, RIO. I'M COUNTING ON YOU.

—!

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

AS YOU KNOW, I'M THE GUEST OF HONOR AT TONIGHT'S PARTY, SO I'M A LITTLE BUSY.

WELL THEN,

SWEET DREAMS.