Trinity the last White Witch - Chapter 75

[Catherine’s POV]

Sitting in front of the dresser, I carefully applied powder and added rogue and color to my pale face. Charles would surely visit me again, and I wanted to look my best.

If only I could see my reflection, then I wouldn’t have to be so conscious about my appearance.

I wanted to let loose and not think about Emelia, for it upset me. I wanted to accept him even if it was just for show to get what I wanted.

It was a mutual cohabitation. He got to use me as Emelia’s replacement, and I got to use him for the things that I wanted.

Just like Trinity suggested.

I could only hope that I wouldn’t fall far too deep in this game that we were playing or else . . . it’d be harder to come back once I was broken again.

A loud ruckus flung my attention to the door. I heard Patricia, Mille, and Millie’s voices just outside, and Patricia didn’t have to raise her voice. I heard her perfectly fine.

“Why can’t I go in? I just wanted to see and say a few words to her,” said Patricia, voice laced in irritation.

“We’re sorry, Lady Patricia, but it’s Master Charles’s strict rule that no visitor is allowed inside Lady’s Catherine room.”

“I’m no stranger, and what’s wrong about a mistress visiting another mistress?”

This put me in a bad mood even though she was correct. But still, she didn’t have to put emphasis on the mistress word.

“And besides. I’m also tasked with protecting her. I’m not an idiot to do anything just right after Charles’s warning,” she rebuked.

Protecting? Charles’s warning? Did something happen outside that I was not aware of?

“Again, Master Charles’s orders are absolute. If Lady Patricia still insists then, please ask Mater Charles’s permission first.”

A snarl tore Patricia’s throat, and before she lost her patience and caused damage, I cut in.

“It’s fine,” I said, voice a little strained, “Let her in.”

There were a few minutes of silences outside before the heavy metal door creaked open and came in Patricia accompanied by Mille while Millie guarded the only entrance and exit outside.

This caused Patricia to roll her eyes. “Honestly, you’re being protected like a breakable doll. Aren’t you irritated that my Lord is treating you like you’re still human? You’re no longer a vulnerable mortal. You’re a vampire now.”

Of course, I didn’t like it. Who wanted to be restricted and confined in this tower?

But did I have a choice in the matter? Charles was the Master of this castle, and his every word must be obeyed. And now that he had finally agreed to some of my wants, I’d rather not put a strain on our newly found relationship.

“Is there something you want, Lady Patricia?” I asked, voice neither hot nor cold.

There was no point in being hostile to one another. Except for Charles, all the vampires in this castle already didn’t like me. No need to make my life difficult by inciting more hate towards me.

Patricia looked around my room. “Of course, my Lords would make your stay here more comfortable.”

There was anger and jealousy in her voice, and I ignored it.

“My Lord is gracious enough to make my stay here as comfortable as it was before.”

Patricia smirked. “Well, glad to know that you’re looking chirpy here while we clean up your mess.”

I looked at her, confused. “. . . My mess?”

“Oh please, don’t pretend that you didn’t know why my Lord locked you here in the first place.”

I didn’t know what she was talking about, and it showed on my face and voice. “This is my punishment for running away.”

Patricia stared at me for a moment before she doubled over in laughter. “Oh, I wish from the very bottom of my heart that my Lord would indeed punish you,” she said, voice thick with mockery. There was also something there, anguish . . .

“My Lord locked you here because you didn’t know any better and entered Lord Vein’s territory. He is known for taking an interest in the misery of others, and right now, he sets his eyes upon you to get to my Lord.

“The reason why you’re locked here is because my Lord is hiding you from Vein’s servants who are infiltrating our estate.”

“. . .” What?

“I guess you didn’t know? Why you’re locked in here, enjoying my Lord’s affection, living your life worried free, we were busting our asses to eliminate all of Lord Vein’s minions for you.”

“. . .” My heart hammered hard against my chest. Why didn’t Charles mention any of this to me? He did say that he locked me here because he was keeping me safe from Vein.

But I thought that he was just exaggerating. It was only a minute that I crossed paths with that pureblood kid, and there was no way that he would be interested in a woman who was dull as me.

But the reality was, it was serious if Vein was sending servants to look for me to get to Charles.

I shivered at the thought. Still, I refused to show it on my face as I faced Patricia. I could only hope that my voice stayed still and wouldn’t tremble too much.

“Why are you telling me this, Lady Patricia?”

Patricia’s faked smile dropped, and her expression turned menacing. “I just couldn’t stomach the thought that you’re blissfully living in here while we had to clean your mess. You already had my Lord’s affection and protection, but why must I be punished for something that you did.”

“. . . Punish?”

Patricia smirked, but I couldn’t find it in myself to be angry at her even if all her tone contained nothing but venom. Though her face was hard and cold, her blue eyes were shaking like tears would burst from them.

I actually felt pity and sad for her. She just wanted Charles’s affection.

We all are.

“Because of you, Charles’s demoted my rank back to being a servant. I am no longer his mistress, and I was stripped of any rights to join him in the table or bed. I could no longer visit him nor talk to him.”

Her expression crumpled as her voice broke, and she looked to the other side when a tear slid to her face.

“Patricia . . .” I attempted to get close to her, but she backed away.

Her ice-cold expression was back, and she looked at me with piercing eyes full of hate. “I hope you’re happy with one less competitor.”

She then turned and stormed out of the room.

“. . .”

I didn’t know what to say. My head was a jungle of emotions with no room for thoughts and ideas.

I flickered my attention on Mille when she was about to sneak away and take her leave.

“Is what she said true? Vein’s servants are snooping inside my Lord’s estate to look for me? And did Patricia really get punished?”

“. . .” There was silence, and I pressed on when Mille pressed her lips tight, refusing to answer me.

“Mille.”

“. . . It is best if you ask my Lord, my Lady. I’m just a servant working under my Lord’s command and don’t have any authorization to tell you these things without his approval.”

My heart dropped. “. . . You didn’t have to. I think I already know from your refusal to answer.”

. . .

. . .

Mille bowed and went out of the room.

As soon as I was alone, I sat weakly on the bed. There were too many things to process all at once, but I didn’t have the answer to all of them. Not once.

What got me worried the most was that Vein was after Charles through me all because I made a single mistake getting lost into his territory.

I couldn’t stop trembling. I was scared at the thought of what would happen if Vein did manage to get his hands on me. Though I possessed power now, far beyond my weak mortal body could ever do before, I was no matched with a pureblood.

And most importantly, I feared for Charles and what he would do for my sake. I felt it in his every stare and touch. He was obsessed with me even though it was misplaced.

And I feared that obsession would get him in trouble.

I knew the rules. Though I was locked in here, Mille and Millie became my tutors, and I continued my studies.

It was strictly forbidden to hurt or kill a pureblood. The punishment was death. Hunted by every vampire in the face of GrimHeart.

My heart constricted so much it hurt, and I felt weak just at the thought of Charles’s death.

My feelings for him were really complicated that I was starting to think that I genuinely loved him and not just because it was due to my imprinted feelings for my Master who turned me.

I took a deep breath and fell on the bed. I closed my eyes and covered them with my arm.

Why did everything become complicated?

I suddenly miss my life as a dull human, living my days in repeats.