Struggling as a Villain

Chapter 18: Chapter 17- Escape

The moment Lilia noticed her master being taken away by none other than one of the finest and oldest workers, she knew she had to tread carefully.

She was weaker than Albert and she knew that, that's why she didn't resort to confrontation when she didn't have any support. Not only that would result in futility, Albert might as well kill her—the sole person who knows his whereabouts.

Lilia didn't care about her life, however, if she made any rash decisions, her master might get into a dangerous position.

She wordlessly followed the butler rather than informing anyone since that would have been foolishness.

The place where the traitor brought her young master was a long closed mill in the eastern side of the city. This side was mostly allotted for the people who earn enough to afford three times of food. The houses here are built by the administration that's why the residences aren't that well developed. Naturally, in the less developed areas, there weren't many security guards surveilling as well.

'The perfect side of the town to commit the crime.' Albert had kept Richard inside a sac and draped him over his shoulder.

Lilia was frustrated at how he was treating her young master but she had enough perseverance to not just suddenly reveal her presence.

Finally, just as she expected, the butler came to a halt before the abandoned mill which had been empty for the past ten years. It was said that whoever tried running a business in the building, always ended up losing everything. That's why, this building was infamous for being cursed.

Lilia was hiding behind a house and keeping an eye on him.

"----!!!"

Suddenly Albert turned to look in the same direction where she was hiding—panicking her as she barely hid herself from his gaze.

Her heart throbbed painfully as sweat trickled down her head. She waited for a moment before slowly changing the sides to peek at him once again—only to find there was no one standing there anymore.

"Huh?" Lilia got out of her hiding and looked around to find where he could have gone. She used Detection to search for them but nothing came under the range of her perception.

A frown marred her face as she decided to look inside the building for once...however, after she entered a sudden nauseous feeling struck her and she fell to her knees.

"Ugh..." Her heart rapidly paced up and her ether seemed to have grown weaker. Her eyes trembled and her vision became blurry.

'What...is...this...' Under the constant assault of the strange sensation, she wasn't able to withhold her consciousness. And soon, the girl fainted.

**********

"Ah!" The next time her eyes parted, she found herself chained in a cell.

She couldn't discern how he sensed her escape. She didn't make any noise and never tried to use Ether. Then how...

"Ah...!" She suddenly realised. The cuffs were the artefact that alerted the butler!

"That's right Princess, you guessed it right. Everything inside here is under my surveillance." A thin smirk extended his disgusting mouth as the butler stepped forward.

Lilia's expression turned frosty as she got into a stance. She knew, even with her magic, she couldn't defeat him. However, she couldn't just surrender. Her master's life was on line.

She had to-

"Huh?" Suddenly Lilia frowned and turned towards the lobby from where Albert arrived.

Albert also frowned upon hearing the creaking sound arriving from behind.

He cautiously turned to look at his behind and his eyes parted wide to the point his glasses came off.

*Screch*

The previously dark lobby was slowly getting illuminated. The rays of live flame extended its wings further and the figure of a person came into view.

With his whole body enveloped in the blaze, he slowly advanced. Nothing was visible beneath the layers of flames....except for that.

That malicious smile which Richard wore despite his whole body in the embrace of roaring flames.

"Y-Young master..." Lilia's eyes moistened as she couldn't believe what her eyes were gazing at.

On the other side, Albert staggered on his feet and began to back off...only to crash against someone and jump on his feet to look at the person.

And the moment his eyes landed on the person, his shock amplified,

"M-M-My lady...."

*********

A/N:- Oh welp...double hell.

Drop some PS. I got a contract, hehe~