Faster, Impossible

It was early in the morning and a car was already waiting for them to leave for the clinic where the daughter of the Beltrán family was hospitalized. At the door, three people were about to leave.

- I leave the care of the house to you, Charles.

- Yes, sir.

- How is Emily?

- She doesn't seem to be awake yet.

- ...I see...just let her know when we're coming, I don't want her trying to leave in her present condition.

- Understood, sir.

That trip lasted about four hours, time enough for his appearance.

More than an hour had passed when a car parked outside the mansion. The head butler was alerted and quickly went to see who it was.

The morning mist and the grounds away from the hustle and bustle of the vehicles made it seem like a scene of mystery as they exited the mansion and drove through the outside garden to the grates.

A group of three men approached the grating gate asking who it was. Only two men got out of the waiting car.

- Good morning, I apologize for my sudden visit, I am Eduardo Valladares, eldest son of Count Erick Valladares. - answered a man of about 27 years old, who had slightly wavy brown hair and an elegant bearing as if he were an experienced gentleman.

With a gentle smile and a gentle look, the man spoke.

- I would like to speak with Count Beltran, it is a private and urgent matter.

- No, excuse me, but the Count is absent for the moment, we ask him to return and we will let you know when he returns.

Although the refusal was evident, that gallant man insisted.

- I know that Miss Emily Gutierrez is here ... her two servants, Rita and Noria told me ... I would like to talk to her.

The servants were somewhat astonished to hear that confession.

- You... What is your relationship with her? - asked a butler who had appeared behind the other three servants.

Trying to deny it was useless, since mentioning those servants was enough evidence for the man to know the truth.

- I am an old friend of hers ... when I lived in Zaragoza we both knew each other since we were children. Only about five years ago I went on a trip ... then I found out what happened ...

The four butlers looked at each other with some doubt and disbelief. However, an old butler who had been left in charge of the house appeared with two others behind him.

- Oh, it's you, Charles! - exclaimed the man who stood on the other side of the bars.

- It's been a while, young Edward. What brings you here?

- It's Emily; I know she's here ... I'd like to come in and see her, at least for a few minutes, please.

- ...

The butler hesitated.

"What should I do ... should I just tell her to go away? But I don't think it's right for a servant to dismiss a nobleman like that ... Why did those two tell you about the lady? Rather, why did the master contact those two servants to come here...? Maybe I should follow the same plan as the master ... I remember that young Edward and Miss Emily were good friends long ago ... maybe he can recover a little if he has company."

Being supported by the opinion of one of the other butlers who came with him, the butler accepted the male's admission.

Two hours later, the two maids from the Gutierrez house came to visit as well.

Ignoring the order, Aren and Glen were taken by the servants to the guest rooms to rest.

- Hey ... I think I should go, I left my bags at an inn. - Glen commented.

- Don't worry, we will fetch your luggage; just tell us where you were staying. - said a butler.

- ... Ha ha ... no ... no problem. - Glen declined the offer.

The married couple and the butler were left alone and engaged in a delicate conversation.

- Charles, why did you let him in? - asked Count Beltran.

- I thought it was for the best; for a servant to throw out the son of an earl who is of the same rank as you would be seen as an offense ... in the present situation you find yourself in with him, I just thought he would make trouble for the press.

Roger sighed.

- ... You know well that I have no desire to have relations with Erick's family, especially his wife's family, but I understand your point.

- I apologize for my actions, sir. But as young Eduardo mentions, he has been out of the country for five years; he may not be aware of what is happening now.

- Yes ... I'd like to believe that too, but in the meantime we have to be careful ...

- I understand.

- On the other hand, someone go and stop Melissa from doing something crazy ... currently she is somewhat ... unhinged ...?

- ¿?

Still all gathered in that room of the establishment belonging to the Valdelomar group, they had all seen the files saved on the USB stick stolen from the former head of the DIS in Luesia, Vicent.

However, everyone's faces were not of concern, but of certain uncomfortable smiles of surprise.

- This looks like...

- Yeah, I hear you... that guy sure is unpredictable.

- Don't you all feel like we're playing in the palm of his hand?

- Yeah... I think so...

 On the Smart TV on the wall in the living room, you could see a sort of comic miniature of Vincent mentioning the following:

I will only share you so far my information, use it well. I expect good results from you.

- Turn off that thing that is giving me headaches. - commented Victoria.

Having turned off the TV, everyone began to plan.

- Okay, so what do we do ... Is this information relevant or is it just junk? - said Eric.

- I don't think it's fake... What do you think, Alexander? - asked Lorenz.

- ... Knowing him, the information must be genuine, but we might be stepping into the lion's den if we were to use it.

Everyone was silent.

- It would be like playing with the devil, huh? - Lois commented.

- We have no choice, plus I've already contacted a contact who will give me a chance to talk to Princess Lisbeth. For some reason the princess has been intrigued to hear from us..." clarified Lorenz.

Everyone was surprised by the early opportunity.

- What, by when?

- Within the hour.

Everyone was surprised for the second time.

- Will it be a simple call or a video call?

- No, it will be us going to see her ... at the royal castle.

Everyone was surprised for the third time.

- Hey... When were you planning to tell us this? Who of us are going? - Eric said.

- We're all going ... and I was planning to tell you now ...

Lorenz's cool reply made it clear to everyone that it was useless to ask any more questions.

- If so, then what are we waiting for? - asked Lirio.

Everyone got up wearily and prepared to leave.

Taking strong steps towards the terrace of the Beltrán mansion, which was at the back where it was a little difficult to hear the entrance or exit of the cars, Melissa was walking until two maids held her back, preventing her from reaching her destination.

- Hey! What are you doing?! Let go of me!

One of the butlers entered the scene.

- Excuse us, young mistress, but, by your father's orders, we cannot let you leave. We ask you to return to your room to rest. Remember that you have just been discharged from the hospital.

Although aware of this, the young woman spoke.

- Aren, Glen! What are you waiting for?! Help me! ...

Before Melissa could continue speaking, she realized that the pair was not there. No, they hadn't even followed her. The disappointment and frustration on the woman's face was evident.

Lying on his bed, Aren silently stared at the ceiling the same way he had done yesterday.

"So ... I'm still alive ... ... So much is currently happening to me that I think I deserve a vacation, and that's only been about two months at most since I left that castle."

While still looking at the ceiling, the young man seemed to be deep in thought for several minutes.

"How do I go about regaining my power? I don't wish to use that cursed stone...but the way things are going I think it's necessary to regain my strength."

A voice interrupted the young man's thoughts.

"If you care so much, why don't you just absorb that stone or very well you can go back to that castle and regain some of your power." said a woman's voice in the young man's mind.

"¡¿?!"

"What are you surprised about, what I told you or what I spoke to you about now?"

The atmosphere grew tense.

"You are ... that woman from yesterday, aren't you?" asked Aren.

" ... Maybe."

"You were also the one responsible for seeing to it that we didn't have any severe injuries, weren't you?"

" ... Probably."

"I see. Now tell me ... what did you mean by regaining some of my power?"

A silence in the young man's mind came after the question.

"...Hey, are you there?"

"Go back to where you woke up, find the coffin you came out of and rest in it ... I'll just tell you that ... until then, see you ..."

The atmosphere returned to its calm along with a sigh from the young man.

- So... back, huh?

Suddenly, someone was heard knocking on the door of the room.

- ¿?

As the door opened without permission, the young man lowered his gaze towards the entrance; what he saw was going to serve him well from now on: not to keep a woman waiting.

The silhouette of Glen being grabbed by the collar and the menacing figure of the count's daughter with a somewhat disturbing smile made the intentions of the sudden visitor clear.

Aren leaned his head back on the bed looking up at the ceiling again.

- Come to think of it ... came to visit? - Aren muttered.

Having just finished a light snack, the atmosphere on that terrace was uncomfortable.

- So, what do you say, Emily? - asked the visitor.

- ...

The young woman did not answer and just put her cup of tea on the table.

- Miss, I think you should reconsider your situation and think about young master Eduardo's proposal. - said Rita, one of the young lady's maids.

- ...

- I think it would be better to give you time to think about it. We will retire for now. - commented the other maid, Noria.

- ...

 The three visitors were silent until the sad woman spoke.

- Eduardo, is your father aware of this? - asked Emily softly.

- Don't worry about that, I will convince him today; I just need your answer.

- ... If our families were supportive, wouldn't it be problematic for you that I have not yet obtained the title of marquise?

- As I mentioned before, the Valladares family will give you all the protection, security and resources you need; only in return we hope that in the future we can strengthen the bonds between us, as it happened when your father was here.

 The young woman's insecurity was gently melted by those words.

- In this way you will avoid worrying your uncle, Count Beltran, and you will be able to contact Duchess Sofia more safely; but, above all, you know that this, despite the years, I do it because I really care about you, Emily.

With each sweet word, Edward seemed to convince the young woman's heart while the two maidservants seemed confident that their young mistress would accept the offer.

Reaching out his two hands, the young man placed them on Emily's hands as if signaling his genuine and transparent affection for her.

The young woman seemed on the verge of accepting the offer as she saw those manly hands holding her. Opening her lips, she was about to utter her acceptance of the proposal; however, in a moment, the memory of a person came to her mind.

A man with black hair and scarlet eyes, with an elegant bearing and a serious but kindly look. Memory recalled that night in the hotel in Zaragoza where the putrefied and severed body of Emily, who only moaned for death, was touched with extreme delicacy by the warm hands of a man who did not reject her appearance.

With selfless love, that hand made her sleep in hope that the next day she would see the reward of her faith manifested in her fully restored body.

The young woman knew well that she wished she could rest on someone's back; however, it was not just anyone, but the one who had saved her.

That fleeting memory in her mind recalling the long hair of her helper transformed into a real image passing through her eyes that was seen behind the man who held her hands.

As if it were similar to the flow of a waterfall, from the top of Edward's head, the contents of a cup of tea were poured out without warning, leaving the nobleman's suit wet and ruined.

Everyone was shocked and bewildered, who would dare to do such a wrong to the son of an earl?

Behind the young man was the silhouette of a woman holding a cup upside down.

- Oh, sorry about that, it wasn't intentional.

- Don't worry, just be careful next time. - replied the son of Count Valladares as he turned to see who it was.

- Please, let me make it up to you, how about if I let you explain to me how a man can break up with his crush with just a WhatsApp chat, right, Eduardo? - Melissa said with a threatening smile.

- H-Hello... it's been a while, Melissa.

Before I could say anything else, the sound of the chair dragging was heard in the middle of everyone. Like a breeze, the quickness shown by the sad young woman was changed into relief as she ran towards that male in the white shirt and black pants.

For him it may have been only a day, but for her it was as if it had been weeks of waiting.

- Where did you go?! They told me you were at a clinic today! Is that true?! - exclaimed Emily who grabbed Aren's arms tightly and Aren was impressed.

Melissa, Eduardo, Rita, Noria and Glen were even more surprised to see the reaction of the young heiress of the Marquis Gutierrez with that attractive young man who had suddenly appeared.

The tears on Emily's face began to appear and, although she wanted to rest her head on the young man's chest, she refrained from doing so in front of everyone.

Aren understood this; however, it was more the compassion he felt for her than appearances in front of others; therefore, with one of his hands, he gently took the head of the sad young man and rested it on his chest as if it were a daughter.

This tender act, rather than surprising in a bad way, was expressed as a symbol of brotherly love; no one said or did anything against that embrace.