NOVEL WEB Chapter 4- Waiting
Catherine was given a one-piece frock that reached her knees and was of floral design.
She couldn't smell any scent on the clothes other than the detergent fragrance which helped her feel a little clean and relieved.
She left her wet underwear in the bathroom since it was soaked and wished she could return to the bathroom to wash it.
'Ughh....it's so difficult...' Having her hands tied with the artifact cuffs was a real hassle. She couldn't move her arms freely which restricted her movements while wearing the dress.
Catherine spread the dress on the floor before standing in the gap of the neck. Pinching the dress neck in between her toes she took a deep breath before kicking her leg upwards.
"Hmm!" Fortunately, she didn't have to play catch for long since her head hooped inside the circle and the sleeveless dress finally covered her birthday suit.
However, now the problem is,
"....how am I going to pull that zipper? " From the base of her neck to the middle of her back, there was a zipper in the shape of 'V'.
Her pale white skin was in full exposure without even any obstruction of her bra strap.
'Ugh....is he deliberately trying to humiliate me?' Catherine couldn't help grumbling as she thought of some method to zip it up.
....however, to no avail
In the end, "....can you help me with this?"
Entering the kitchen where Blake stood, she asked with her eyes drawn towards the ground and a frustrated look contouring her face.
She didn't hear a word from Blake but he indeed moved.
Walking behind her, he held the dress from near the base of the zipper before pulling the zipper slowly. He halted midway before lifting her hair and asking,
"Should I tie them up for you?"
"....if you may." She was near-dead embarrassed now.
It felt like she was nothing but a child being taken care of by Blake. So humiliating!
Regardless of her inner turmoil, Blake used an artifact that he brought out of somewhere, to dry up her hair and carefully braid them using some hair clips he had.
Catherine calmed down a little after he began tying up her hair when suddenly his voice echoed in her ears,
"I am sorry for what you had to face today. I would have unlocked you but unrestrained, you will lock me up."
"Undoubtedly." There was no point in lying. The moment Catherine gets her magic back she would use Divine Shackles and lock Blake in a room until the contract period doesn't reach its maturity.
Blake chuckled before he patted lightly on her shoulder and said, "Here, done." He flipped her braided hair on her shoulder to let her see his skills.
"Hmm?! That's pretty neat." Catherine couldn't help exclaiming as she saw her hair so beautifully braided with beautiful small white flower clips keeping her hair tied together.
"Thanks. Now please sit down; I will prepare the breakfast."
Catherine, dazedly, nodded before sat down as he instructed.
She had never seen her hair in such a beautiful form, which kept her attention on it for a long five minutes.
Suddenly, the delicious fragrance of something juicy and spicy reached her nose—waking her up from the daze.
Catherine raised her brows and asked, "You know how to cook?"
"I live alone, my lady. I can't have readymade meals every day you know." His back faced her as he responded in a casual tone while stirring something in the pot.
Catherine knew that Blake was a weird person since in the Academy he always remained alone but even at his mansion? She thought he must have maids here.
"You are so rich. Why not hire a cook?" Catherine had nothing better to do as such she asked nonchalantly.
"Hmm~Well, my reputation isn't good as such, no one wants to work for me even if I pay more than average."
Taking a pause, he added, "Well, my wealth would soon exhaust away as well, so it's better to be self-reliant for everything."
Catherine was startled hearing that as she reflexively asked, "You are getting bankrupt?"
Blake has one of the leading businesses in glass-made products and his trading company deals with many kingdoms across the continent. In the Academy, he is easily the richest student and has wealth equivalent to a Count.
For someone to suddenly get bankrupt?
However, Catherine's assumption was shot down as Blake informed her,
"My company won't go bankrupt rather I would have to resign."
"Resign? Aren't you the owner of the company?"
"Yes, I am but the company doesn't run solely by me. The member of the council decides everything by voting and after what I have done, they either would ask me to leave or everyone might abandon me."
Catherine finally understood what he meant.
....since he kidnapped her, the Holy Maiden, he would be brought down from his status as the owner and has to let go of everything he has achieved to this point.
For someone who was a victim here, Catherine should have been feeling elated that Blake would be brought to shambles because of his heinous act....but why was she feeling troubled in her heart?
Why was she feeling so complicated about this?
"Why do you seem so uncaring toward it? Isn't money and fame your weakness and strength?"
Blake didn't have a promising talent and no unnatural material art training to back his lack of supernatural skill. However, the fact he was admitted to such a renowned Academy, signifies that he has invested a huge amount to get himself a seat here.
And for someone whose wealth has always been his best resource, Blake didn't seem much shaken up at all.
In response to her query, Blake turned to look at her and said, "The moment I decided to kidnap you, I was prepared for everything. So no point in wailing now."
******
After having breakfast with Catherine, which she liked a lot, Blake returned to his room and sat down at the study table.
Catherine accepted his suggestion to rest in the guest bedroom rather than the floor and he even gave her a small buzzer that would notify him if she wanted something.
Although she was suspicious of the buzzer she took it and walked away.
"A trying-hard Catherine is adorable." Remembering how she was trying to not let her real emotions come out while she ate the food, made him chuckle.
As shown in the game, her character is really simple and transparent. If you do something bad to her or the people around her, she will get all angry and grumpy. However, some kind gesture and sweet words would be enough to win her forgiveness.
That's why, her status now looked like this,
[Forgiveness from:
1. Catherine Riverdale: 15/100]
It has been less than twenty-four hours since he transmigrated into this world and he has already gained a bit of her forgiveness.
Not a bad start.
Blake has been really careful of his actions around her since he has noticed the forgiveness meter goes both ways. When he took her to the bathroom and stripped her, the forgiveness meter went from ten to eight instantly.
'I wish I could get it to fifty before the contract duration ends. Having the air element in hand, I might be able to withstand the Protagonist's wrath...'
Blake sighed as he leaned back on his chair and dozed off.
*******
Outside the barrier, a group of more than thirty people was gathered and a single young man could be seen currently standing apart from the crowd.
He has fiery red hair flowing down his neck and reaching his shoulders. Red flaming eyes can make one shudder in the fear of getting burned by them. Broad shoulders and thick arms. The young man, despite being only sixteen years old, extruded a very domineering and mature charm. However, currently, no one could dare admire his looks.
The aura he was radiating was simply suffocating. His sharp fangs peeked out of his lips as the young man glared toward the mansion where his friend had been taken captive.
"There is no point standing here, Carl. Until the barrier doesn't lift, you cannot enter inside or Catherine's life would be in danger."
A beautiful short black-haired girl suggested as she worriedly gazed at Carl. He has been standing here since last night without rest.
However, Carl doesn't have any motive to move an inch away until the barrier doesn't fade out and he rescues Catherine.
"When the time comes Char, don't try to stop me. I am going to kill Blake."
The girl's eyes turned cold at that before she uttered, "Believe me, Carl, I would be the last person to stop you from killing him."
From afar it was tough to discern who hated Blake more between the two.
However, there was something certain about the two, and that was their wish to kill Blake.
******
A/N:- Shineeeeei!