Chapter 50: Desire-I

Dark sorcerers killed her family, the hatred for the killers added when she heard them kidnapping people. Never in her entire life did she felt abhorrent to a person. "Please." Elise replied, her words form with resolution. "Please bring me with you. If I can help to prevent more people suffering from them, I would be more than glad to help."

Ian went to her, rubbing her head gently. "Good girl."

As Elise exited the study room of the Lord, she could feel her face blushing redder than ever. This is bad, she thought. She couldn't control her expression anymore in front of the Lord.

Then when the next day came, Elise exited the White's Mansion to see Cynthia and Austin standing near the Lord, discussing some things that had a connection to their matter. When they noticed Elise, Cynthia smiled gently and turned her face to drop off her smile. "Why do you have to bring her with you too, My Lord? It's dangerous in Marsforth." She reminded. Hearing his friend speaking out his feeling, Austin nodded in agreement.

"Sooner or later she would work in the Church." Ian started to have Maroon who stood beside him passing the fresh pair of black gloves for today. "I would rather teach her now what she should do as a church member while she is still under my wings rather than having her wounded by some wretched beings."

"Then, are you interested in her?" Austin added for Ian to lift his brows. "Of course. By interested I mean romantically as a woman and a man. I do not want to walk over my place so I'm speaking as Elise's friend and your friend, my lord. It's better not to let herself get attached to you before she couldn't tear herself away from you anymore."

Ian didn't reply to his words, his scarlet eyes stared at Austin before it shifted toward Elise.

Elise walked over to them, making sure her feeling would see through to her expression. "I'm sorry for being late, Master Ian."

"You're not late." Ian chuckled. "I was just earlier than the promised time." He stated and brushed his eyes toward his two aides, reminding them. "You two shouldn't be here now, don't you? Go now." Austin and Cynthia grumbled. They could never guess or read Ian's expression and thus when it comes to Elise, they can't help but worried of what the Lord wants to do with the girl. But worries are futile now, Elise is already an adult and it wasn't their place to stop her so the least they could do was to hop that Elise wouldn't fall for the Lord.

"We will go first, see you later Elise." Cynthia and Austin bid their good byes and were replied with a cheerful good byes from Elise.

After the two left with the carriage, when Elise saw there wasn't any ride for them, she showed a little confused expression. Curiously, she asked. "Pardon me, Master Ian, but will we be going by feet?"

Ian laughed heartedly at her innocent words. "The distance from Warine to Marshfoth isn't short my dear, of course we wouldn't be going there by feet unless you want to have your two legs tired out before reaching a quarter of the distance."

Elise mulled over her words, hoping to find a hole for her to disappear to. Because she had been thinking on how not to show her blatant feeling of love to the Lord, she forgot the rest of the matters and began to talk nonsense. Now she could only feel dumb for asking the question. Especially, she had just ask the question to the Lord himself!

"Then how would we travel to Marshforth?" She asked.

"Wait first. I have something to give you." He said, making Elise to turn her eyes upward in confusion. But then, she saw the Lord moving forward, bending his back to lower himself toward her and had his lips stopped at her forehead. Her hand froze, her entire body felt as though it had turned to an ice block. When she saw Ian parting his lips with his devilish grin, she heard him saying gently. "It's a protection so you wouldn't see the foul looking ghosts again. Well the my lady, could I have your hand and escort you there?" He spread his palm for her to take to.

She didn't know how much a person's face could blush to red but she knew that her cheeks was even redder than a tomato. The hand that he reached out, it was impossible for her to turn down his invitation. Her hand took his hand and red mists began to appear around Ian before it reached out to Elise. Seeing the mists looked almost alive, Elise stared at it with fascination but other than the deep red mist, Ian's crimson eyes that glowed slightly looked breathtaking.

"We'll go then, my lady." With a word, the red mists enveloped them in a blink of an eyes.

The next time Elise opened her eyes, she had arrived at a large mansion. She looked around, rubbing her eyes in disbelief. There was once when she accompanied Ian when he used his teleportation magic but she didn't quiet remember how it felt. Now that she experienced it again, she couldn't help but felt utterly amazed.

Ian tapped her shoulder to take her attention, his smile had warmth in it as he asked. "A smooth trip, isn't it?"

She nodded shyly. His smile was too much for her to handle without breaking to a wide smile. "It was very outstanding."

"Oh God! You've arrived?!" A voice exclaimed not far from them. When Elise turned her eyes, it was Alex who she remembered to have seen on the first day she also met Ian. "You should have knocked." He added his protest.

"How would I knock when I already came inside the building?" Ian asked sarcastically. "You still hadn't changed even if you get older."

"Thank you." Alex cued his hand for the maid who stood not that far from him disappear to the intersection of the hallway.

"That isn't a compliment." Ian took off the coat across his shoulders and placed it over Elise who had opened her hand timidly from the side. Following Ian's movement, Alex didn't missed Elise who was standing behind Ian. Just a glance at the bright burning hair, he immediately exclaimed in delight. "Well, well! Isn't this the young lady, Elise Scott? Do you perhaps remember who I am?"

"Yes." Elise smiled gently, although she met him briefly, she remembered him well as he was also one of the person who showed he kindness in her misfortune.

"Good evening Lord Ian. I've been waiting for you." A deep, husky voice resonant not far from the spot where they were talking from.