Chapter 354 No Escape for the Baron

Suzuka tilted her head, a playful smile tugging at her lips as she took a slow step forward, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor.

 "You flatter me, my lord," she said, her tone dripping with charm, though her sharp gaze betrayed something deeper.

The Baron motioned toward a plush, velvet chair near the fire. 

"Please, sit. Relax. There’s no rush tonight. I want to savor every moment of your company."

Suzuka didn’t immediately obey. Instead, she slowly approached the chair, her movements graceful yet deliberate, each step seeming to echo with unspoken authority. She rested her hand lightly on the chair’s back but remained standing, her eyes never leaving the Baron’s.

"You’ve gone to such trouble for me," she said, her voice smooth as silk but carrying an undercurrent of something sharper. 

"Such a warm welcome. I can only imagine what else you have planned for tonight."

The Baron chuckled, a bit nervously, as he poured two glasses of wine from a decanter on the nearby table. His hand trembled slightly, betraying the intensity of his gaze and the allure he felt.

 "Oh, I have many plans," he said, offering her a glass.

 "But first, let us toast. To beauty, to fate… and to an unforgettable evening."

Suzuka accepted the glass, but instead of drinking, she twirled the stem between her fingers, her smile never wavering. 

"Oh, I can promise you evening that you won't forget.

Meanwhile, in the grand hall, Olivia was distracting the two guards. Her words were laced with charm and a touch of flirtation as she swirled the drink in her hand.

"Oh, come on, boys, surely you must know how to have a little fun too," Olivia teased as she bent slightly closer, allowing her full figure to be seen, the gentle sway of her dress swishing with every little gesture.

 They exchanged glances, then one of them cleared his throat.

 "Well, miss, you’re quite the sight. But I must say, the Baron is with the lady inside. We should really keep our post..."

The other guard snickered, "Heh! Screw the Baron, he's having fun. Won't even notice us gone. We can check on him in a while. We need fun too."

Olivia’s eyes sparkled as she leaned closer. 

"Oh, now that's more like it. Let’s have a bit of fun while we can," she purred, brushing her hand over the edge of his sleeve. The guard, now fully entranced, reluctantly smiled and shifted his stance.

Meanwhile, Isaac, who had been lingering in the background, saw his chance. He slipped past the distracted guards, making his way up the stairs unnoticed. His heart raced in his chest as he approached the hallway that led to the Baron’s chambers. He could hear the soft murmurs of Olivia and the guards fading behind him.

Back in the Baron’s chambers, Suzuka stood poised before him. The Baron’s eyes continued to roam over her, still struck by the sheer beauty she presented. 

Baron’s mouth continued to spout flattery, each compliment falling from his lips like a heavy, intoxicated breath.

 "My gods… You’re… beyond words, truly. A woman like you… I thought I had seen it all, but nothing can compare to your beauty. Your eyes… your skin… your grace."

Suzuka let him ramble, letting him drown in his own admiration, but her patience was wearing thin. She leaned forward slightly and pushed Baron down on his bed, her voice a quiet whisper.

 "I got you now, Mister Baron. You’re not running away now. You were a bad, bad boy and a little bit of punishment is in order."

The Baron’s eyes widened with a mix of excitement and confusion as he misinterpreted her words. 

"Oh, I like rough women. You don’t have to worry, my dear. I’m not the kind to run from you. No, no, I prefer a woman with spirit." He laughed, as though the misunderstanding was somehow charming.

 "Oh, but I’m not the one you’re running from, now, are you?" 

 The Baron, still under the illusion that this was all playful banter, failed to grasp the full weight of her statement.

Her gaze locked with his, eyes unblinking, and she watched as the realization started to creep into his expression. 

"There’s someone who wants to meet you. How about Isaac? Does that name ring any bells?"

The Baron’s face went pale, his self-assurance suddenly faltering.

 "Isaac…?" His voice trembled slightly, the name striking a chord somewhere deep within him. 

"Wait, you’re not—"

 "I’m not the one you need to worry about right now. Isaac is someone you’ve crossed paths with before, someone who’s been waiting for this moment. And now, you’re going to face the consequences of your actions."

As Suzuka spoke, the room seemed to grow colder, and the Baron’s earlier confidence seemed to evaporate in an instant. His heart rate quickened, and the weight of her words pressed down on him like a heavy iron chain. He wasn’t sure what was happening, but one thing was certain: Suzuka was not the person he thought she was. She wasn’t a damsel to spend the night with. 

 The Baron’s eyes darted frantically around the room as his panicked whispers turned into desperate shouts.

 "No. No!" he stammered, his voice rising with every word.

 "It can’t be… Isaac is here?! I need to go... get off me! Now! Guards! Guards!"

His cries were met with deafening silence. His guards were nowhere to be heard. Unbeknownst to the Baron, they were occupied, distracted by Olivia’s cunning charm downstairs.

Suzuka lay over him, as she firmly pinned him down on the luxurious, oversized bed. Her hands were like iron, effortlessly keeping him restrained as he thrashed beneath her. His face was twisted with a mix of anger, fear, and disbelief.

She leaned down, her lips close to his ear, and her voice dropped to a chilling whisper, "No one’s coming to save you, Baron. Stop struggling and wasting your breath. You’re not going anywhere."

His voice, now tinged with desperation, rose again.

 "Do you even know who you’re dealing with? I am a high nobleman! You’re messing with powers you cannot even comprehend. Let me go this instant, or you’ll regret it. I’ll make sure of it!"

Suzuka’s laughter rang out, sharp and mocking, filling the room like an ominous melody. She shook her head, her golden eyes gleaming with amusement. 

"Oh, spare me your pompous titles and empty threats. Do you think I care about your so-called ‘authority’? That I’ll tremble at your status? Please, Baron, you’re just making this more entertaining for me."

Realizing that his blustering threats were getting him nowhere, the Baron’s demeanor shifted. His tone softened, turning pitiful and pleading as he abandoned his pride.

 "Wait… wait!" he stammered, his voice cracking. 

"Let’s not do anything rash. I… I can help you! Yes, that’s it. I can offer you money—more money than you’ve ever dreamed of. Or perhaps favors? You must want something. Everyone does."

Suzuka tilted her head, her smile widening as she regarded his words. She allowed a beat of silence to hang in the air before responding.

 "Money? Oh, how generous of you, Baron. Throwing coins at your problems, like always. But let me tell you something—there’s nothing you can offer me that I can’t already take for myself."

The Baron’s face crumpled, and his once-arrogant confidence was now entirely replaced by fear. His voice dropped to a whisper, almost inaudible. 

"Please… I'm not talking about pocket change I have on me. I’ll make it worth your while. Whatever you want—just name it. How about 50 gold coins? All you need to do is let me go. Simple, easy money!"

Suzuka’s laughter came again, this time softer but no less chilling. She leaned closer, her yellow eyes locking with his as her voice turned into a deadly whisper.

 "Anything I want? 50 gold coins? Oh, Baron… you're making it hard for me. All I want is for you to face the consequences of your actions but with such generosity I am faltering. Hmmm, what to do...? How about 100 gold coins and we have a deal?"

The Baron’s face lit up with a flicker of hope as Suzuka’s words registered. He clung to the lifeline she appeared to be offering, his earlier arrogance replaced entirely by desperation.

"Yes! Yes, 100 gold coins! I can do that. Absolutely. Consider it done!" His voice was trembling, but there was a newfound eagerness in his tone.

He licked his lips nervously, his mind racing as he sought to secure his escape. 

"I’ll have the money sent to you immediately. No delays, I promise! Or—better yet—there’s a safe right here in this room. I can open it for you right now! It’s filled with more than 100 gold coins, plenty more. Just… just let me go, and it’s all yours."

His eyes darted toward the ornate cabinet in the corner, as though willing Suzuka to take her gaze off him for even a moment. 

"I’ll even throw in jewels—priceless ones! Whatever you want. Just… let’s keep this between us, alright? No need to involve anyone else, right? We can handle this like… civilized people."

Despite his feigned composure, the sweat on his brow and the quiver in his voice betrayed his growing panic. 

"Please… I’m a reasonable man. Let’s be reasonable about this!"

Suzuka’s lips curled into a smile, wide and unsettling, her sharp, pointy teeth glinting in the dim light of the room. Her eyes, once a striking gold-yellow, began to shift, glowing with a burning crimson hue that seemed to pierce through the Baron’s very soul. Her presence, already imposing, now carried an aura that felt almost beastly—like a predator toying with its prey.

“Oh, Baron. You’re such a charmer when you’re desperate. A safe filled with treasures? Gold and jewels, you say? My, my, how could I possibly resist such an offer?” she purred, her voice as sweet as honey laced with venom, though her wide, cat-like grin betrayed a far more sinister intent. 

She tilted her head slowly, almost like a predator deciding how much longer to play with its meal. Her glowing red eyes never left his, and the wicked smile on her face widened just a bit more as she tapped her chin in an exaggerated show of thought.

“Alright, Baron. You’ve convinced me. I’ll let you go... but only after you show me this magnificent safe and hand over every last coin and gem inside. And don’t even think about trying anything clever, or this deal might turn sour very quickly.”