Chapter 225: His Worth
The situation outside was unchanged unless one counted the scratches and spit stains on the captured Duke. He didn't look up or react to the shaming in any way until the crowd had somewhat calmed down. Then he raised his head just enough to stare at the tent. An unholy glitter entered his muddy brown eyes when it remained unmoved for too long. The hands behind his back clenched.
"Where are you looking?" Frey's slap turned his face sideways and a red patch formed on his cheek.
Instead of retaliating, the Duke licked his cracked lips and used the new head position to stare around his temporary holder, again at the tent.
"Hey!" Agitated, Frey reached out, about to grab the hair of the kneeling man and make him notice him. He deserved a response for all the years of torture and forced service. Yet, something made him hesitate, and he only huffed. "Why do I feel like the bad guy now? No fun. It should be different."
Frey could see the exact moment when the tent opened. Not because he turned around, but because the Duke suddenly straightened, his shoulders moving back and head lifting to stare up. An inkling of a smile even crossed his lips. Frey glowered and kicked the guy's leg. Even that went unnoticed, so he had no choice but to stand aside.
Nathaniel stepped out first. Anyone could see his protectiveness as he first surveyed the surroundings before reaching inside the tent and supporting his wife outside. Despite the dirty camp and wearing only one shoe, Katherine looked elegant and confident as she stood in front of the crowd. Only an inkling of guilt curved her brows when she recognized some of the younger faces, then she turned all her attention to the cause of the commotion. Ethan's and her eyes met, and his lit up in expectation. She wrinkled her nose and clicked her tongue. "You should not be so conceited."
Ignoring his growing grin, she turned to the crowd. "I know, there are many among you who want to see this guy dead. Believe me, I feel the same. Yet I am also concerned about the future. All who were helpless in his hands, all of you, are young. I do not want to stain your hands with blood. He is not worth your sacrifice. We can bring him to fall together without ruining your future. Please have faith."
She swept her gaze over the crowd, the disbelieving, troubled, and angry faces, and saw that some of them slowly turned to a pondering expression. But it was not enough. Frey still stared at her with indignance. She took a deep breath and tightened her grip around Nathaniel's arm. "You may think you are brave in wanting to kill him. You are not. It is fear and hate that cause that need. If you are truly brave, you can face that fear and really make him pay - pay in ways that benefit you. What do you get if he is dead? I'll tell you: Its emptiness. Nothing but pursuers on your heels and the knowledge that he, at least, can't hurt you anymore. You can get better things if he is kept alive. You can suck his money dry like a leech, and use him as leverage for your freedom. If that's still not enough, I will dispose of him afterward."
Her chin raised, she displayed confidence in her words, though it had failed once already. Nobody but Ethan, Nathaniel, and her needed to know about this. When she thought the words had sunk deep enough, she lowered her voice and defenses, showing the children her sincerity. "Please just promise me one thing: you will not raise the blade yourselves. He... is not worth your future. Believe me."
Silence reigned after this long speech. The children leaned from one leg to the other, held their heads lowered, or fiddled with their fingers. Some looked like they were about to cry, while others looked happy.
"I promise," a small girl finally squeaked. It was the one that had kicked Ethan first. She wore a simple blue dress, and two messy pigtails stood on the sides of her head. Now she ran over to Katherine and tugged on the hem of her shirt. "I promise! I believe you the most! I told them all you would come back!"
"Lily!" Katherine suddenly burst into tears, surprising everyone. She fell to her knees and hugged the little girl. "I'm - I'm so sorry for leaving! I won't do that again."
"There, there. Don't cry. You here now. I'm good. Don't cry." With questioning eyes, the whole camp watched as Lily went on her tiptoes to pat Katherine's head. The soon-to-be princess sniffled and pressed the girl to her bosom as if she was her own long-lost child. Soon after, they heard feet tapping as another child ran over and threw himself on Katherine's back.
"I mift you, Kafrin!" he exclaimed through his tooth gap. Then another child followed, and another. They climbed all over her. Between her tears, Katherine started laughing.
Frey scratched the back of his neck, feeling embarrassed by the behavior of his almost-siblings. "Enough! Give her some space to breathe."
Grinning like a fool, Katherine stuck her head out of the mass of bodies and opened her arms wide. "Come here, come here. Let's hug!"
"No!" Noticing that his reply was too harsh, Frey blushed and looked away. "I won't! Hug them all you want but not me! I'm all grown up, I don't need - urgh!"
Another body slammed against his middle and almost made him fall. But he could not stay mad when he looked down and saw Lily's adorable grin. "Let's hug, brother, let's hug!"
Exasperated, he ruffled his hair. "Uhhh. Fine, fine. Let's hu-hug..."
With strength stemming from her excitement, Lily pulled the unwilling Frey right to the middle of the group. On the way, the prisoner's chain landed back in Nathaniel's hand.
Starting with the first child, Nathaniel had somewhat distanced himself from the commotion and watched with a smile that, if one looked closer, was not completely happy.
Though he didn't care much about these children, he wondered if it would be like this with his child as well. Katherine in the midst, and him looking on. Yet, before he could fully fathom the feeling flooding him, Katherine struggled out of the knot of limbs and threw her arms around his waist. A moist kiss landed on his cheek.
"Don't look so lonely," she mumbled near his ear and rubbed her face affectionately into his shoulder - or maybe she just cleaned away the tears and snot, how his brain supplied sarcastically.
He pulled her in nonetheless and dropped a kiss on the crown of her head. "It was a good speech for not training even once."
"Well, most of it was the truth." Over his shoulder, she glared at the man the whole speech was about, just to find his eyes set on her again. Goosebumps rose on her skin, and she softly pushed Nathaniel away.
Each step firmer than the next, she went over to the prisoner and looked down at his humiliated figure. The bright, blistered red around the metal coating the left chest area made her smirk. She leaned down so that her words would be heard above the ongoing free hugs party in the background. "I will make sure that nobody has to be afraid of you anymore. They will all get back the life they deserve, and even better lives than that!"
The brown eyes looking back at her were full of amusement. "You never said that you feared me, Kitty. But it's kinda sweet of you. The cat can't forget the owner fully, huh? Even if it tries to replace it."
His eyes wandered to Nathaniel, but Katherine shifted her body to block the view.
"Don't you dare try anything funny!"
He chuckled. "My hands are bound. What can I do?"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Freakzilla
Freakzilla Everyone just ignors Ethan - well deserved ;)
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone