IN THE CAGE

125. TO BE FREE

...ACE pov's...

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"Honestly, if it's about my other bodyguards, I'll turn a blind eye to what's going on right now." Margot says across the table. He who always looks antique in the black dress is now sitting face to face with me who, by the way, just about to eat dinner.

I work all day and I don't have enough time to rest. Eating-at least-is something I should earn as a reward for my hard work today.

However, even when eating, I still have to hear complaints from outside.

Not that I hate Margot, but if she keeps whining about all these trivial situations, I might stop caring about her.

"Ace," Margot called me again. Like I'm deaf.

I looked up lazily. There was no need for me to speak up to convey how disturbed I was over his existence. I just sat there, staring at him. Give him a non-verbal warning.

"Listen, I know you're tired, you have a lot of work and Evan, too" Margot continued.

Goddamnit! Being a pest has its limits! Why is he bothering me in the morning?

"Ace, at least listen to me first." Margot persistent. "Vera, she's been kidnapped by Evan."

"I know," I responded. Where I might not know.

"Carcel must have passed on the details to you, because of that..."

"No."

"Eh, what?"

I put my knife and fork on the table, my appetite has evaporated somewhere. "Evan called me first" I replied.

On the same night that Evan kidnapped Vera, Evan had informed me. Showing it to me was like Vera was a big catch. How arrogant.

[See who I caught here, do you know him?]

I would shed tears if the figure in her hand was a person who meant something to me, but Vera, that girl was only worth something in my eyes when she showed her usefulness. More than that, I do not feel I take full responsibility for the existence of my bodyguards, be it Vera or the others. Their safety and security is their responsibility.

"So the fucker called you first, huh? What does he want?"

"Nothing.." I said. "Evan doesn't want anything."

"Lantas, why did he send that information. Did he deliberately challenge our family?"

"That's no secret that needs to get you on the blackboard again, Mar. We and the Caspian family are hostile now. Each side will use means to bring each other down, blatantly as well as behind." Because of this as well, I think discussing Vera is a time-wasting act.

"I know, but..., what was the purpose of sending that message? Just showing off?"

"Show dominance, what else?" I responded while leaning on the bench. To be honest, I started getting sleepy from hearing too much nonsense.

"Tsk..., does this mean that he wants us to attack him first?"

Margot had to stop using her brain because the way she thought started hurting me.

"It's just bullshit." I'm lazy. I didn't want to discuss this topic anymore, so I stood up. I need to rest up for a more serious job tomorrow.

"Ace, we can attack him first. Why do we have to wait?"

Haaaah~

"Should I teach you every aspect of my plan, Mar?" I propped up one hand on the table, eyes staring at Margot who was still insisting on contributing her folly.

"Your plan-no, our plan is to destroy Evan. We can do it now, anytime. You don't have to play tight and soft."

Being aggressive and winning is easy, but I don't want to lose the most important thing. I haven't erased Fawn's loyalty to Anggara, I haven't managed to conquer Fawn completely. Aggressive actions will only show Fawn that I am the same black figure as all of them. Well, that doesn't mean I'm not the same, but I need to point out the faintest differences there. The difference that could make Fawn turn her head only at me.

"Killing Evan isn't hard, Mar. I can do it now without having to make any effort."

"Then, what are you waiting for?"

"You don't need to know." I cut the topic down to there. I'm really tired. I have no intention of explaining my strategy one by one to Margot. He is too ambitious and passionate to think smart. Too sentimental to be able to see all the planning that I have followed beautifully. He did not understand art when his head was only filled with war.

"What about Vera?"

"Are you going to let it rot there? You know.., we can ask Fawn for help to save him."

"Don't do anything stupid" I'm telling you. "If you do that, Mar."

"What's your real problem?" Margot stood up. Looks like my threats are keeping him. He retraced towards me with a face implying anger.

I looked back at him, keeping him at his limits. "Don't think just because I've been kind to you, and you're a few years old to me, you can step over the line I've made, Margaret. I remind you, I'm the leader here. You have no right to question my decision."

"I don't think you like your position. You hate your position and curse that legacy." Margot developed a mocking grin over my warning. It was as if my words were a joke in his eyes.

"Just like, I'm the one in your rotten brain that's changed."

"So? How does it feel to lick your own spit?"

"For a Hunter, you let me down for not being able to tell the difference between innovating and arbitrarily being hypocritical." I touched Margot's pitch-black mane, twisting it slowly along my fingers before striking it firmly.

"But after much thought, it's no wonder you've become so disappointing. If you're just a little smarter, I probably don't need to stay here and handle your stupidity."

...----------------...

Talking to Margot was pretty draining of my emotions, to be honest.

I don't know why after all these years of living in this house, it hasn't changed in the least. At first, I thought I could be a little nice to her because she was in a state of mourning. However, after a few years had passed, he was still a fool.

He kept teasing me, crossing his boundaries and luring my anger at him. Did he think, just because I didn't want to see his brain explode and splatter in front of my face, he could control me like his puppet?

The old me might have stayed here because of his grudge, because I did not want to prolong the problems that had already occurred in our family, I still cherish him as the last brother and family figure I had.

Although I am tormented here, tormented by the thought of having to live and live a task that I do not want because again, only I am capable of carrying out that task. My life has been like a curse, to the point that I feel that slaughtering all the powerful families will be my way out of the misery.

But.., I managed to get out of that black circle of thought. I managed to find my motivation amidst the interest in life that had already plummeted to the ground. I managed to find the most important thing for me to the stage I remembered again why I, of all people, was elected in this position. There is no one better than me.

If I want to protect, have whatever I want, get freedom. I will be the leader in this black world.

"I've tried so hard" I muttered without realizing.

I've been trying so hard. That might be true.

Since I've been trying so hard for my freedom, I won't let anyone else stand in my way. I will not let anyone limit me and set me up to do the things I want and will do.

Be it the bloodthirsty Margot, or Evan who just wants to be the best in her parents' eyes...

I'll get what I want most, absolute freedom and Fawnia.

Oh, Fawnia.

Even if it means having to destroy a lot of people in the process.

Even if it means I'm gonna hurt him.

"Now, Vera. Good job."

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