"Welcome to the wonderful world of jealousy, he thought. For the price of admission, you get a splitting headache, a nearly irresistible urge to commit murder, and an inferiority complex. Yippee."
― J.R. Ward, Dark Lover
The art exhibit came with Canary and Agustin arm in arm. The same for Tearina and Shimon. Canary couldn't help but notice the whispers from the other nobles. "How did she manage to woe the duke"? "What does the duke see in her"? One comment that made her turn her head. "Wasn't she recently chasing after the young master Wolf"? She turned her head surprised by this, her eyes meeting a familiar brown pair of eyes.
They were Stellans. His eyes read what are you doing with him. The same very look that had made Canary think he shared the same feelings as her. Why was he looking this way? More than curiosity as it did in the past it annoyed Canary. All of that worried looking for nothing. If Stellan was that worried he would have done something.
Instead he had rejected Canary and went on with her sister's engagement ball. Little did Canary think these were not the eyes of a worried person. But the eyes of a jealous man. You see the Wolf family had a bad habit of doing what you call a pull and push on women who they fancied or wanted something from. Stellan's father had done it to his mother. He did not fancy her but wanted part of her family business. His wife was the only child and a girl.
Though Stellan did somewhat fancy Canary and his father knew this he instructed Stellan on the pull and push method. Make her fall in love deeply with you that way she cannot leave and her fortune will stay in our family. These exact words. His mother was blinded by love but the Canary who was used to rejection her love for Stellan went away with his rejection.
And so Stellan was jealous and seethed with anger. Was Canary's love for me nought? Was she playing me for a fool who goes and marries another man after professing your love for someone else? Nevertheless a man who had threatened your beloved's family. Jealous that Agustin who had placed the flower crown on Canary's lap had gotten her afterall. Its all everyone talked about in the social scene. That it was no surprise that Agustin and Canary were getting married; he had placed the flower crown on her lap. He thought within himself that he shouldn't have listened to his father. Not all women were like his mother. The more he thought the more Stellan got angrier.
He squeezed the wine glass that was in his hand. Glaring at the couple. Canary who was staring at him squinted in confusion."Carrie". Agustin called. Canary did not answer, distracted by Stellan who was putting on this evil look. He followed her eyes and landed his on Stellan who had made eye contact with him.
Stellan, prideful and seething with anger, cleared his throat and set his glass down and began to walk over to them. "Stellan"? His mother called. "Where are you going"? Stellan smiled a fake smile and patted her hand. "I'm going to talk to the soon to be weds". He said. Lady Wolf quickly glanced back as she had glanced over to Agustin and Canary. "Why"? She whispered. "Mother Duke Abarca has gotten what he wants; he is no longer a threat to us". He said, shaking her hand off of him.
He made his way over to them. He could feel rage in every step that he took. As he drew closer to them he had no smile on his face. None at all the young lord that everyone had deemed as cheerful and nice had an expression on his face that did not seem possible. Agustin had stepped in front of Canary, distancing her from Stellan who suddenly put a smile on his face.
"What's this"? Stellan asked. "I wonder"? Agustin said. "Already protecting your love from men"? Stellan said staring at Canary who had pushed Agustin aside. "What are you doing". Canary asked. "A young wolf suddenly appeared I simply wanted to protect you you never know what will happen with animals". Agustin said turning his back on Stellan.
Canary and Agustin began to bicker with each other leaving Stellan feeling like he was some type of stalker or passerby. This annoyed him even further and he cleared his throat very loudly, gaining their attention. "In your own little world aren't you". Stellan chuckled. "Congraulations on the engagement". Stelan said. Although he had this look on his face that Canary couldn't quite grasp on whether he was being sincere with saying this.
But Agustin knew his intentions."Yes". Agustin said, pulling Canary a bit closer to him. "Maybe we'll see you at the wedding". Agustin said putting the knife a little deeper.Stellan's look turned sour and now Canary could somewhat read his expression. But only after the words were exchanged with him and Agustin. "Agustin". Canary said quietly.
Agustin nodded to Canary's stop. And sighed. "We hope to see you and your family-". He said, glancing over at his worried mother. "At the wedding"."We shall take our leave now". Canary said with a nervous smile pulling Agustin away. But Stellan not wanting to stop the so-called bickering and knife stabbing. "Yes, we shall see". "By the way has the emperor called for you two yet"? Agustin and Canary stopped in their tracks. Agustin's jaw clinched from annoyance.
In both Agustin's and Shimon's mind no one could beat them at their wittiness or any political or academic debate. Instead they had to go for a low blow and bring up the emperor when they lost. Both the emperor, Agustin, and Shimon held each other in check. But when the emperor was insecure of a man that he was. Called them sometimes for no reason at all but just to showcase that he was emperor. Shimon and Agustin had no choice since he was the emperor to heed his call.
"What is he talking about-"? Canary asked grabbing Agustin from turning around. Her grip was not tight so he turned around anyways and began walking towards Stellan who was surprised and took a step back the closer he got. Everyone began to stop what they were doing to stare. Some whispering about what was going on. Canary was trying to keep up with Agustin's steps that were quick and long. He walked up on Stellan. Stellan was never this close to Agustin and realized that he towered above him making Stellan look up to him. This angered Stellan even more and he took a step backwards so he wouldn't have to look up at him. "I'm sorry Lord Wolf I didn't quite catch that". Agustin said.
"I'm surprised that the EMPEROR-". Stellan sneered and spoke loudly. "Didn't call for the two of you yet"! He said his eyes were narrowed and he stared sharply at Agustin who looked down at him literally. His eyes were fierce and like a wolf's looking at their prey. He put his hands in his pockets and lightly tapped his foot on the ground.
Wondering what he should do with this little cub of a boy. Whether he should treat him like the other nobles like a true heir of house Wolf…or treat him like the child he was coddled by his mom and pop. He smirked looking at Stellan like a killer whale would play with their prey and sighed. "No no no the emperor hasn't called for us yet thank you for reminding me of that by the way all the time to get Canary ready for his audience". "But uh-". Agustin patted and started cleaning invisible specks off of Stelan's garment.
Stellan hadn't realized that Agustin had closed the gap between them two. He was unable to move backwards or change the expression of horror on his face. He just simply stared at Agustin. Who seemed so scarily calm and angry at the same time. You would have never noticed unless you were this close to Agustin's face. He patted him on his shoulder with an eerie smile. "Speaking of reminders that just reminded me I never did apologize to you about threatening your family".
"Do I"? Agustin tightened his grip on Stellan's shoulder causing him to shuttered and a cold chill went down his spine. "Right"? "I am so sorry I did that to you Lord Wolf". Agustin put his head to the side like Stellan was a child he was trying to make understand. "Tell your father". He said looking up at his father and mother that was walking towards them. "That I'm sorry also I must've scared your poor mother". "Lord Abarca". Lord Wolf Stellan's father somewhat yelled and removed his hand from Agustin's hand from Stellan's shoulder. Stellan let out a little yelp and had a grimace look on his face. "Count Wolf". Agustin grinned. "Pleasure to see both you and the countess this evening I was just telling your son how sorry I was for my actions the other day". Agustin's eyes diverted back to Stellan again.
"Would'nt want anything like that to happen again would we"? "Samuel". The countess whispered and grabbed his arm. Samuel Wolf who was the count now thought that he had a strong backing just because he decided to side with the emperor. He wasn't fazed which intrigued Agustin more and gave him all the evidence he needed to know that hewas now on the emperor's side. Count Wolf wouldn't dare look him in the eye. was now looking him directly in his eye. With his chest puffed up at Agustin.
Agustin stared him down waiting for his eyes to divert with this awful silence and tension between the two. A knife that could cut it. Canary didn't know what to do and just stared back and forth between the two wondering when to step in or not. "You forget your place Count". Agustin said. "Think not because you're on the emperor's side that you can go against me-". "You or your son". "Samuel"! The countess shouted pulling him away from Agustin. "Stop this at once"! She shouted again.
"Auggy"! Shimon said, walking over to them with Tearina. The Wolf family bowed and Shimon raised their hand to ease them. "Shimon just the person I was looking for". Agusitn said smiling. "Were you really"? Shimon said with a raised eyebrow. "Come to congratulate my best friend on his upcoming wedding"? Shimon asked. "Yes your highness". All three of them said.
Agustin nodded. "Yes that seems to be the case though our dear Wolf boy is worried on how the emperor might handle this". Agustin said putting on this fake sad face. "Is he now"? Shimon chuckled and annoyed chuckle. "Well Stellan Wolf was it if you are so worried I'll be sure to ask my faehr to include us both when he calls our lovely soon to be weds in for an audience". The countess sobbed upon hearing leaving Stellan to drive her away from any looking eyes. "Thank you your highness for your kind generosity". Samuel said. "May I please be excuse to go check up on my wife"? "Aww really I wanted to talk to you more lord Wolf".
A sense of dread washed over Samuel's eyes. And upon seeing this Agustin and Shimon glanced at each other with a sneer. "I'm just making plan with you Lord Wolf on to your wife and boy now". Shimon said cheerfully.
"Let us be going now". Shimon whispered to the three of them. They silently and quickly let the art exhibit. With Canary still worried about what was said earlier she tugged on the hem of Agustin's sleeve who was distracted and lost in his thoughts on what just happened. "What did he mean by that". Canary whispered as they walked out. Agustin sighed. "I'll explain it to you when we are in private". He answered.