A MAZE OF GREED

It had been more than three days, and Ruth did not hear anything from Florence. Ruth smirked, thinking she had learned her lesson. At least now Ruth had one thing less to worry about.

Now the next thing on her priority list was Edwin. She had noticed that he was constantly on the verge since their fight. He snapped at anybody for any trivial reasons.

The servants and maids were wary of going near him. He had thrown two servants from their job for nuisance mistakes. He wore a deep frown all the time that made him look more intimidating.

He was walking and talking about danger that nobody wanted to play with.

Ruth was concerned more for Thea. As Edwin's head maid, her head was constantly on the platter with the sword of his anger constantly dangling above her.

Contrary to Ruth's expectations and Thea's personality, she was very calm about all this.

Ruth even asked her once. "Thea, are you sure you are fine with the way he barks at you like a street dog?"

She saw Thea frowning Ruth's comparison to Edwin. "He is going through a rough patch, Ruth. And as his loyal servants, we all need to stand by him and make things easy for him rather than bringing in our personal egos and make things more complicated for him."

Ruth could not help but see a meaningful taunt in her words. After that, Ruth avoided talking about him with anyone.

Ruth was in a corridor speaking with Ida. They were discussing the random topics when they paused after hearing a commotion around.

"What is going on?" Ruth asked her.

They both looked around. Their eyes halted when they saw Edwin and a man at his feet. Lester was silently standing a step beside Edwin with a face void of any emotions.

"Let's see. Come on." Ida took her hand, and they both hurried to the stairs.

Climbing down the stairs, they stopped a few feet away from the men.

"Master... Master please Master! Have some mercy on me, please!" The man cried at Edwin's feet.

"What is all this?" Ruth asked in a whisper.

She saw Ida's brows scrunched up in confusion. "I do not know." She whispered absentmindedly while her brain tried deciphering the situation.

Ruth covered her mouth in shock when Edwin kicked the man in his left shoulder. The marks of his dirty shoes printed on the man's shirt as he fell on his back.

Ruth saw Edwin stalking towards him with a look of killing on his face.

What was wrong with him?

Ruth's face scrunched up in sympathy for the man when Edwin put his same leg on the man's chest. They saw his veins pop out. She was sure that he was applying great pressure with his leg.

"Mercy? You know that I do not know about that word! You had one thing to do... only one! And yet you handled with such carelessness that may cost me more than your tiny brain can imagine!"

Edwin's voice fell like a thunderous storm.

"I beg your forgiveness Master. Please! I made a mistake but please think about my family. I have small kids!" The man cried, bearing the pain.

"Kids? Did you think about them when you kept repeating the same mistake? What kind of a father you are? I do not think your kids needs a father like you!" Edwin glared down at the man.

If Ruth was shocked before, then she was flabbergasted by his words now. How could he say such a thing about someone?!!

Ruth did not know what mistake that poor man had committed, but from the past two experiences, she considered that it must be some trivial thing. But this blue-eyed monster had to overreact for some weird reason.

Lester caught Ruth and Ida standing there. Ida and his eyes met, and a silent conversation passed between them that Ruth had no idea of.

Ruth could not stand and see this injustice. She was about to take a step ahead, but Ida held her elbow securely.

"Ida!"

Ida only shook her head with a serious face.

And when Ruth saw Ida turning her focus again on that man, she could see the same anger in her eyes as Edwin. What was wrong with her now?

"Master, please! Aaahhh...."

The man screamed in agony when Edwin kicked him again in his gut. The man's eyes watered as he howled in pain.

"Lord Lester... p-please. Call Lord A-augustus, please!" The man then tried with Lester.

Ruth waited for at least Lester to have some humanity, but she was again gifted by the disappointment when he slapped the man across his face.

"What is going on here?" Ruth heard Lord Augustus's stern voice and her head snapped in its direction to see him walking along with Theodora.

Edwin's blazing eyes met with Lord Augustus's grey ones, and the tension in the air suddenly becomes palpable.

Theodora had her face set in a mould. She cast a sideways glance to Ruth, then with a smirk, she turned her attention back to her enraged nephew and her husband.

It was good that Ruth was witnessing this dark side of Edwin. Perhaps it would help in keeping her away from Edwin, Theodora thought.

"L-lord Augustus... please save me from him! Please!" The relief washed over the man when he saw Lord Augustus.

Augustus passed a cursory glance at the man before bringing his attention back to his nephew, who did not miss a single chance to create a scene for the world to enjoy.

"What is going on here?", Augustus asked.

"Why do not you ask that to your loyal guard?!" Edwin spat.

Ruth noticed the appearance of frustration in his voice along with anger after he saw Lord Augustus.

Augustus crossed his hands behind his back as he subtly glanced around to see a small crowd of servants- both humans and werewolves- gathered around to watch them.

He exhaled a hot breath before saying, "We can discuss this matter in my office."

Ruth saw Lester pulling the corner of his lips in disapproval. But Edwin he was still fuming in anger.

"There is nothing to discuss because I have already decided his punishment!" Edwin declared.

Augustus narrowed his eyes at him in a challenge. "And what is it?"

"He must be locked up in the dungeons for seven years!"

"No... no please!" The man pleaded on the ground.

Augustus's jaw ticked, his lips twitched. "Are not you going too far, Edwin?!!"

Edwin took an intimidating step ahead that did not affect Lord Augustus at all. "I should have done that before... uncle!"

"You can not punish a person who is appointed by me," Augustus argued, still maintaining his calm posture. Although, all he wanted to do at that moment was let his wolf out and challenge Edwin for a decisive fight.

But he knew that it would not work until the people who loved Walter sided with Edwin.

"I do not give a shit about that! I can and I will do what I think is necessary. And nobody... I mean NOBODY can stop me from it. I dare!" Edwin suppressed his wolf, who could feel the challenge of another wolf.

Even in that riled upstate, Edwin was aware of his circumstances. There were people, and people tend to pick sides. He did not want that split up in his family.

"EDWIN!"

That was the first time Ruth had heard Lord Augustus rumbling so loudly and dangerously. For a second, she was scared.

But then she looked at Edwin, who stood unmoving and unfiltered by his uncle's outburst. Lady Theodora had a displeased look on her face but that was not only because of the situation but also because Edwin was trying to ascertain his authority over her husband and thus also on her.

And with Ruth's presence, Theodora felt more vulnerable and embarrassed by the situation.

"Rees!" Edwin called loudly.

Ruth saw Rees hurrying to his master.

"Throw him in the dungeons. He will see his next daylight only after seven years! And that... is MY ORDER!"

Edwin walked away from them, leaving behind raging Augustus, embarrassed Theodora and confused Ruth. Rees picked up the man by his collar.

But the man held Augustus's hand as a last try to save his life. Augustus glared at Rees.

Ruth expected Rees to match his glare, but he did not. He kept his face calm and pulled the man's hand from Augustus's. After bowing his head once, he dragged the man out of there.

But Ruth noticed that there was no hint of respect in Rees's bow. He did that like he was only supposed to do that, and he did not mean it.

She saw Theodora following Lord Augustus as he stomped out of there, trying to gulp the insult.

Ruth had many doubts. This was the first-ever tense interaction in this family that she had seen except the tensions between Elsie and Eloise.

She saw Lester's eyes already trained on her. From a distance, Lester could see wheels running in Ruth's head.. And he sighed after figuring out that they were not running in the right direction.