As soon as Lincoln spoke, Tina sprang into action, effortlessly pulling them back one by one even before Eliza.could give the order. Renee, rope in hand, worked quickly. Her movements were swift and efficient. She tied them up securely and tossed them into the carriage without hesitation.
The carriage was much too cramped tofortably amodate everyone, forcing them to squeeze together precariously rather than
Ouch! Be careful!"
I assure you, I had nothing to do with
Your Grace, please have mercy! Lord Caleb and Lincoln are the guilty ones-we are innocent, I swear! The captured young men raised
cacophony of protests and howls.
us just to enjoy the
Who said it wasn''t your business? Lincoln snapped, his voice sharp and using. "You were instigating, urging us how!
Lincoln! How could you betray our trust like this?"
Well! You think you can stop me! I betrayed you, get over it!" Lincoln said.
Eliza''s expression turned icy as the shouts grew louder. "Renee," shemanded, "throw those two in as well." Caleb wouldn''t be scaping this situation either.
Panic red in Caleb''s eyes the moment he realized he was included. “Eliza, wait! Don''t touch me! I swear, I have nothing to do with this! Did you miss what Lincoln said? I wasn''t involved! I was dragged into this!"
Eliza fixed him with an icy stare. "Oh? Are you saying you
were tricked? What else happened?"
Caleb tried to defend himself, but Eliza cut him off with a raised hand. "Enough. Save it for your father, Dale."
Caleb paled and froor when his father was mentioned. "Wait! Please don''t tell him! Can''t you talk to me? Going to him is a cowardly thing to do!"
"You think you can get away with this? Eliza scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. "How naive."
She fixed her eyes on Lincoln. "Which alley were you going to ambush me in?"
Lincoln hesitated, his lips parting and closing silently. Eliza''s n was a mystery, leaving him with a growing dread.
Eliza didn''t hesitate. She snatched Tina''s sword and pressed it against 1. Ig''s forehead. Lincoln''s face went white is a sheet. "No, no!".
tead, turn left into the alley. You''ll find it behind the taverni- a stall-only area, so it''s usually deserted."
Eliza nodded in response Renee immediately steered the carriage towards the alley Lincoln had described,
alley Trach
With a shared look. Tina and Renee spir troublensker. The suurch of muffled
rze rolled
ever forget," she said coldly
her sleeves, and each grabbed
and blowsnding echiped through the alley
"log! Please stop
ne, you have to stone them??
ay! Jus please don''t hit ng
shry bad said no hang a4
Bound and helpless, Caleb and his gang swung from pleas for mercy to furious curses. "Eliza Stonor! You won''t get away with this! Just wait until my father hears about you hitting me!" Caleb yelled.
Lincoln didn''t dare make a sound, clenching his teeth as he silently endured the beating. Soon, the alley was filled with groans of battered bodies, each with bruised and swollen faces and blood streaming from their noses.
Tina focused her attacks on Caleb,nding heavy, relentless punches. What began as Caleb''s curses eventually became tearful pleas for
mercy.
Eliza watched calmly from the alley''s entrance, waiting until she decided they''d gone far enough. "Alright, that''s enough," she said casually. "No need to waste your energy on them."
Caleb and his friends clung to those few words. The beating had been so savage that they genuinely feared for their lives.
Eliza shot them a frigid look before disappearing down the alley. She nudged Lincoln with her foot. "Coming, or are you staying for more!" she asked tly.
Lincoln, lying still on the ground, winced at her words and scrambled to his feet. Tears and snot streamed down his face, his hand clutching his swollen cheek as he stammered, "I''m leaving! I''m leaving right now!"
Just as he bolted out of the alley, a foot mmed into his chest, sending him tumbling back inside.
Grant Fletcher burst into the alley, furious. "Lincoln! You spineless coward!" he roared. "How dare you help Caleb bully the Holy Lady! You''ll answer me for this!"
He looked around frantically, afraid for Eliza''s safety,
He stopped short, taking in the scene. "What... What h
happened here?"
went to Noganiul, so I never had a chance to deliver
gih 1 pranded you! It''s Bually ready! I was dyed, and then you
Suwe me burit, why not vi?t my re!..
He wondered why Caleb and his gang were left lying on the ground, looking utterly defeated.
Grant scanned the alley, bursting intoughter. "Wow, look at their faces! Did I miss a brawl? They''re so swollen.
"Grant!" Caleb hissed, his anger evident. "What''s so funny?"
Humiliated and enraged, Caleb and the group tried to scramble up and attack Grant, but he was too quick for them. Sensing their intentions, Grast swiftly retaliated, delivering a solid kick to each of them.
Eliza was speechless, thinking, "What on earth is he doing here?"
Eliza finally spoke up after Grant''s unexpected outburst of kicking, "Grant, what are you doin
doing here?"
When Grant heard Eliza''s voice, he practically bounced back to her side, his face beaming with excitement. "I heard they Were nning revenge, so I rushed over immediately!"
Eliza raised an eyebrow, thinking, "Wait, did someone tip Grant off? She nced back at the battered group on the ground, but none imed to be the informant
It wasnt just Caldi''s usual troublemakers-some were likely connected to Grant, though Caleb was probably oblivious.
li made serise, though
ven among wealthy young men, unspoken rules dictated social circles, Unless they were like Caleb or Grant, whose families were so powerful they didn''t need to please anyone
After handling the disruptive group. Eliza returned to her carriage, the only difference being an overly enthusiastic person nove following her
"Your Grace" Grant said, hurrying to