A Wearisome, Confused Jumble

Clement stepped out of the front gates. Roaming the town was her goal today and classes weren't listed inside. 

The cold air of December stung her cheeks so she pulled her scarf up closer to her face. Instead of wearing a formal dress, she decided on just a casual white shirt with a pair of black jeans. 

An overlong cloak was draped upon her shoulder as she walked down the tracks created for vehicles. There was a long way to go until she reached the main town. 

Her brown knee high boots thumped heavily against the soft ground, crunching in the snow. Humming, she took the chance to look around and noticed a white blanket of snow covering the trees surrounding and ground. 

She breathed in deeply, enjoying the tranquility winter had offered and pretty flowers that blossom over the frozen sidewalk. The smell of damp pine trees made the air feel fresh and clean. 

She allowed herself a brief moment of serenity as she walked along the frozen pavement. It was early in the morning as the sun had yet to completely wake up, only shyly peeking through the horizon. 

But she could hear the ruckus caused by the townspeople, echoing quite loudly towards where she stood. 

'It is so peaceful,' Clement thought. 'As if there was never a purge before.' 

Years ago, the town was a recurring nightmare. Clement could still vividly remember everything. Mornings were haunted by screams of terror and the nights by the fear and the constant worry of not being able to see the next daylight. 

Lately, the world had gotten a lot more boring. But quite frankly, she didn't care at all. Peace was nice. She wouldn't trade peace over anything. 

The sun was rising steadily. A little longer, the population at large would wake up. 

Time to leave. 

The day was going to start, not just for her, but all-- 

"MY LADY!" 

Clement groaned under her breath. 'That fast?' 

This beta was starting to get better and better at predicting her moves that it was hard for her to evade him. Best get moving, the muscle of her legs tensed as she started to jog before running into the morning air. 

"My Lady! You can't keep sneaking out of class like this!" 

Clement had picked up her pace and was running now, enjoying the cold wind piercing deep into her exposed skin. Hearing the soft thumps of footsteps, she knew the beta was chasing after her. 

'Goodness, damn boy needed to stop taking his job so seriously.'

It's not like she needs any protection. She could defend herself well. In fact, he was the one in danger. 

There was another reason why he was here. 

Hiring a Beta bodyguard was just an excuse, a cover. 

Clement skidded to a stop, huffing as she panted for air. 

"He doesn't know…" She mumbled. 

Even Zion didn't exactly know what hidden agenda her father had or the sudden obsession he had in studying Beta. 

And this boy right here, not knowing anything, was just trying to do his goddamn job, which he shouldn't. 

Of course it annoyed her. 

Every time she saw him, she didn't know what to feel, which emotion she should project towards him. Pity? Sympathy? Or anger? 

Well, she had been feeling anger though. 

Clement twirled around and waited for the Beta to catch up to her as she crossed her arms, her index finger tapping irregularly against her arm. 

Patiently, she waited for him to reach her. He was panting heavily, bent over the waist. "My Lady, please head back…" 

She eyed him critically. She bit the inside of her cheek as something heavy settled inside her heart. 

Clueless. He knew nothing. 

How pathetic. 

"Beta." She called out. 

"Y--yes, My Lady?" 

"Have you ever gone to a cathedral?" 

XXX

Jian Yu was in a bad mood the whole day, however none of it was shown on his face. He had mastered the ultimate poker face that if there was a contest for the best poker face, no one would have achieved the first place but him. 

But then again, why was he in a bad mood in the first place? 

He had gone home without even getting a glimpse of those two idiots; the middle-aged Alpha and that Omega that always seemed to go through turbulent adolescence, not even their silhouette could be seen. 

And now… 

Lady Clement was being a brat, again. Skipping classes and all. Not that he cared, she could do anything without even finishing her degree, with her father backing her up in anything. She could do whatever she wanted. 

Just say the word and old daddy would come running to rescue. 

And… 

What kind of question was that? 

He had totally no idea why they were heading towards the cathedral at all. 

"Whatever had you been doing since yesterday to be in such a mood, Beta?" Lady Clement asked in undisguised wonder as they rattled through the crowded Zariya streets. 

'Says the woman who had him running after her very early in the morning,' Jian Yu twitched his eyebrows. 

Jian Yu breathed out heavily, creating puffs of cloud surrounding his mouth. He was about to give a short version of his story last night when a loud shriek interrupted him. 

"A murder?!" 

Judging by the loudness, the woman attempted to keep her voice in but to no avail. A few old ladies, Omega women, were hudding close as they tried to gossip, baskets of vegetables and laundry left forgotten on the ground. 

"Yes, yesterday, a female Omega was murdered." 

Several heads nodded. "Gutted and a slit throat. Barbarous." 

"Left to rot by the Cathedral," Another woman quipped in. 

"How fiendish." 

"Horrifying. The police haven't found the culprit yet." 

"What? Oh good Lord, I will have to keep my doors locked." 

They all nodded and proceeded to pick up their baskets and went separate ways, they never missed the chance to spread the news while going back home. 

"Near the Cathedral?" Clement frowned. "Hey, Beta! Let's go!" 

She had picked up her pace before Jian Yu could say anything, making him run after her once again. 

'Omega? It can't be… Zion wouldn't do that.'