CHAPTER 144: ALWAYS HER NEVER HIS PRIDE

Rhane closed his eyes tiredly when Jenna left the hall in anger. He had clearly told the woman to never act on her own for no reason and let him handle it no matter what.

During the hunting, Rhane had been ambushed by the seven men that were supposed to hunt with them. They weren’t skilled, just had more manpower than he did. It wasn’t difficult for Rhane to subdue them and be on his way. All he did was leave one fatally injured so others would have something to worry about.

It was all part of Gerald’s theatrics and Nikolai’s plot, and he wasn’t going to fall for it, Rhane had told himself. Even when he did return, he didn’t tell a soul what happened—a warning for the men.

And everything was working perfectly well. Gerald had acclaimed that he saved the men from a beast. Rhane had laughed it off; at least the young man was not just miserable, he had the skills of a dignified, pathetic liar.

It all was going to be over soon anyway, but not until Nikolai got involved. Being that the council were weak in mind, a feast for a man like Nikolai. And all it took was minutes to get them to change their minds.

Rhane was about to get the men to confess what had actually happened, when Jenna sparked without warning.

"What about Rhane?!" she had growled like a mother bear fiercely protecting her cub.

Rhane closed his eyes tiredly, rubbing his forehead. He knew he should have made his warning clearer and not when she was swimming in desire. He should have tied her up somewhere rather than believe Jenna heard him. If it wasn’t her stubbornness that had lured him to her in the first place. What would a little girl be doing near a pond without her parents if it wasn’t danger she was trying to court?

"Did she just insult us?" one of the deliberative council members asked.

Yes she did, and you all deserve worse. Rhane scowled. Putting down his weapons, he fastened his boots. If he was being honest, he loved that Jenna was a force to be reckoned with. She didn’t back down even when pushed to the wall. That was Jenna’s charm, but at the moment, the charm needed taming.

"We cannot let her get away with insulting the entire council, we have to do something about it."

This caught Rhane’s attention; he paused and listened.

Gerald stood up tall when he heard that Jenna would be punished. He walked over to the leader of the council. As far as Rhane could see, "I did know about all of this... Je—" he gulped, "The woman is not easy to handle, you see, this is worse than the things she does."

Master Brown stepped forward, rubbing his palm. "I’m sure she didn’t mean any of that... I will go ahead and speak to her."

"As if," Nikolai exhaled, "We both know Jenna would never listen to you, friend. All you have to do is let her get punished so that she would never do such again. This is the best way to train a woman before it’s too late. Else this marriage won’t be the second she would abandon."

Brown dropped his hand to his side, his shoulder dropped. "Do you think I failed to train her properly?"

"It’s hard to believe, but it’s not something a little punishment cannot fix," Nikolai turned to look at Rhane. "And to think that she was doing all of this to protect one man... all I can say is we make a very clever decision and get rid of the influence."

Rhane raised his brows; this time he walked forward with a smirk. "Ah yes, influence—that sacred excuse. Nothing like trampling on a man’s effort while pretending it’s all just fair play. If this is what we’re calling honor, then we may as well let Gerald win by popularity vote." He cast Gerald a glance and shook his head.

"And the paltry excuse of an ambush might hold water— if it had been staged by a man capable of thought."

Gerald pointed at Rhane, "W-what are you trying to say?"

"Something you’d never understand even if it was etched before your eyes," Rhane turned to the council. "Let us proceed with the drinking contest as suggested. I shall have my point struck, as appeal, that Jenna’s slight be overlooked."

Gerald sneered, "Would that be able to wipe her actions off the surface of the earth?"

"It’d be enough, because I say so," Rhane replied. "Except you have something to tell the council about the attack in the woods. I’d be waiting."

Nikolai shot a warning glare at Gerald to have him shut up. Then he turned to Rhane. "You two are my sons... well, I agree with that, and also Rhane’s points can be given to Gerald since he is the hero of the day... that can make up for Jenna’s actions."

Brown rubbed his neck, his eyes on Rhane. His daughter was almost going to be punished, but only one man stood up for her, ready to lose whatever he had. Brown had never tried to look at Rhane as a human; he’d only seen him as someone beneath him. A filth and servant. It even embarrassed him to have his daughter being fought for by a man like him.

Yet in this moment, his only focus was to protect Jenna and not his pride. If he was being honest, the young man whom he saw as a runt was far better in the affairs that concerned Jenna. Had he judged wrong, or was the man growing on him? Brown questioned himself.

"Brown, what do you say?" Nikolai broke the man’s thoughts.

Clearing his throat, Brown nodded. "Well... if the man says he’d give up his point, then it should be enough," his voice lowered, so did his gaze when they met Rhane’s own.

"I deserve it for saving a man," Gerald insisted, going to stand next to Brown. "I’ll make sure I take care of your daughter this time."

Brown smiled, one that didn’t reach his eyes. His eyes followed Rhane, who was tying a piece of cloth around his bleeding arm.

"So that solves it. The men will go inside and get ready for the drinking contest, while we clear the mountain for the trial of veil," the leader of the council announced. "With Gerald as winner of hunting and followed by Hart."

Gerald couldn’t hide the smug look on his face; he picked up a spear from the weapons set. "I would have gotten something bigger than that... if I wasn’t saving them."

Hart walked past him, shoving Gerald intentionally. "You should learn never to gloat over another man’s win." When his eyes met with Nikolai and Brown, he bowed and left.

Rhane, who had already left after the announcement, was intercepted by Percy.

"Your arm is bleeding, what about your... this is bad..." Percy panicked, not sure how to begin with taking care of Rhane.

Rhane noticed Jenna ahead, chewing her nails and pacing back and forth. He loved the dress on her so much that he wanted it off after they’d danced or something. Turning his step to go to her, someone grabbed Rhane’s shoulder.

"Rhane," Brown cleared his throat, "I would love a conversation with you, let’s go." He pulled Rhane with him.