Their disguise that night seemed utterly pointless — there was not a single suspicious movement from anyone entering or leaving the tavern.
After Louis paid for their meal, the two of them stepped out. As they walked toward the carriage that had been waiting in the shadows beyond the stables, Spencer suddenly turned his head toward a small shed standing beside the horse barn.
Louis, who had been walking ahead, paused when he noticed his cousin had stopped and was staring intently at the shed. With a furrowed brow, he asked,
"What is it?"
Then, with a teasing smile creeping onto his lips, Louis added,
"Did you see a ghost or something?"
Spencer turned slightly toward Louis with a look of utter annoyance — clearly not in the mood. He gave him a brief side-eye before directing his attention back to the shed, his gaze sharp, as if something had unsettled him.
"I feel like… there's something in that shed," he muttered, still fixated on the dark silhouette.
"It's probably just your imagination," Louis replied, though his voice trembled slightly. His eyes darted nervously around the area, and he instinctively inched closer to Spencer. "Don't mess with me, man… If there really is a ghost, I'm out of here. You're on your own."
"Coward," Spencer scoffed, throwing him a sharp glare. "No wonder your dick never gets hard."
Louis froze, stunned — and just a little hurt.
Your damn sharp tongue, bastard, he cursed internally, knowing better than to say it out loud. With Spencer, one wrong word could get your tongue cut out for real.
Without a word, Spencer extended his hand toward Louis.
"Give me the torch," he said curtly, referring to the flame-lit torch Louis was holding.
"What for?" Louis asked under his breath, but handed it over anyway.
Spencer didn't answer. He walked toward the small shed with deliberate, unflinching steps. The creak of old wood echoed softly as he pushed the half-closed door open. The flickering firelight cast long, shaky shadows across the narrow, dusty space.
That's when he saw it. A figure — lying on the floor. Motionless. Unclear whether unconscious… or dead.
Spencer narrowed his eyes, jaw clenched.
Who the hell is this?
"Shit!" Louis gasped behind him, nearly stumbling back in surprise.
"There's someone in there, Spencer!"
"I know," Spencer replied flatly, not even glancing at him. "No need to scream."
Without a shred of hesitation, he approached the body.
He lowered the torch, letting the firelight illuminate the stranger's face more clearly.
Louis peeked from behind him, and his breath caught the moment he saw it.
"Wait… is that a woman? She's beautiful…" he thought to himself, momentarily lost in awe. Even with visible bruises on her face and pale lips, the beauty was undeniable — haunting, fragile, ethereal.
"Who is this person…? And how did she end up here?" Spencer wondered, suspicion beginning to stir in his gut.
He stood upright again and turned away from the shed, ready to leave — but Louis's voice stopped him.
"Oi. Where are you going?"
"Home," Spencer replied coldly, not even turning his head.
Are you serious? Where the hell is this guy's brain?
Louis sighed, clearly frustrated.
"We can't just leave her here. What if something happens to her?" he asked, eyes still locked on the unconscious figure.
Spencer's reply came as he kept walking.
"Not my problem."
Louis stood there, mouth slightly open.
This guy's insane, he muttered inwardly.
Spencer had already climbed into the carriage when he heard the sound of footsteps behind him. He didn't need to look — he knew who it was. Louis.
But his eyes did squint slightly when he saw what Louis was doing — carrying the stranger's limp body into the carriage.
Spencer said nothing, just shot him a brief glance — one filled with silent scorn.
You really think I'm going to help? Dream on.
Louis caught that look, but chose to ignore it.
"If you're not gonna help, just shut up," he muttered, gently laying the figure on the seat beside him.
And with that, the carriage pulled away —Heading straight for Spencer's grand estate. Unaware of the storm that was about to begin.