RURO Chapter 31

Russian Roulette /̵͇̿̿/’̿’̿ ̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿̿

CHAPTER 31

Frederick removed the shard of glass from Tessa’s palm. The disinfectant he applied stung as much as it smelled sharp.

As he wrapped the bandage, Frederick glanced at Tessa and asked,

“But really, was there someone you were waiting for?”

“No, it’s not like that.”

“I ask because just being here with me seems to make you uneasy.”

Of course she was uneasy! Tessa wanted to shout that out. Just by coming into contact with her, Frederick had essentially increased his chances of ending up on Vicente’s radar.

After all, Tessa was someone under Vicente’s special watch.

If that lunatic found out that some unknown man had treated her injury, there was no way he’d let it slide.

Besides, Vicente could read Tessa’s thoughts.

Ah, maybe it would’ve been better if she hadn’t recognized who Frederick was.

It wasn’t like Frederick didn’t know all that. But he continued the conversation as casually as if none of it mattered, as if he was confident he wouldn’t get caught.

“Well, if you didn’t have a lover, that would actually be the strange part.”

“It’s not like that.”

The word “lover” struck a nerve, and Tessa shot back.

“I don’t have anything like a lover.”

“You sounded like you had a real ‘bastard’ in mind.”

“That was… I just made it up. I wanted to drive him away somehow.”

How much did he really know? Probably everything. If Alex had personally assigned him, then he’d be fully briefed.

He would definitely know that she was receiving guiding from Vicente.

If he was asking whether she was emotionally attached to Vicente, Tessa had every intention of denying it. She despised Vicente. Just thinking of his face still made her breath catch and her fingertips tremble.

Especially what had happened earlier that morning…

“So, there wasn’t actually someone you were waiting for, and yet you were upset enough to drink alone in a place like this.”

Having finished tending to her hand, Frederick smoothed over the bandage, tracing secret letters on her palm. ‘V?’ Was it because of Vicente?

He had apparently come to hear her story in one way or another.

“It’s just that… there’s someone I really care about. Not in a romantic way… I mean, as a friend.”

“Mm. Go on.”

“But recently something happened that would make that friend misunderstand. It wasn’t something I chose. It really wasn’t my intention. I just… wish they knew that. But there’s no way to tell them.”

“Then you just have to find a way to clear up the misunderstanding.”

“There are going to be a lot more things like this in the future. I won’t be able to explain every single one of them. I just want my friend to trust me. That’s all.”

If Frederick knew everything, then he would’ve more or less understood what Tessa was trying to say.

Tessa had no intention of giving her heart to Vicente.

What happened in bed… that wasn’t something she could choose. Alex surely knew that too. He must be managing countless Sentinels besides her.

But what Tessa wanted to make absolutely clear was that her loyalty to the Intelligence Agency hadn’t wavered a bit.

“Your friend will understand everything too. Don’t worry, Tessa.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

Please, make sure Alex hears that.

That I’m not going to change.

With that silent plea, Tessa gave Frederick’s hand a firm squeeze, then let go.

“You know, Tessa.”

It was uncertain whether he’d pass her message along. But Frederick did make her one promise.

“Whenever you’re feeling down, just come here. I’ll always be here.”

It was a promise not to leave her alone.

* * *

Tessa couldn’t afford to drag out the conversation with Frederick. For his own safety, she had to part ways with him as if they were complete strangers.

When she stepped out into the large hall, everyone was back to their own amusements, acting as though nothing had happened. Tessa decided it was time to leave the casino. It was getting late, and after calming herself down, her desire for reckless distraction had vanished.

Just as she began walking toward the exit, everything changed.

The atmosphere in the casino shifted in an instant. The hum of cheerful voices died down. Eyes began to turn in her direction.

No— they weren’t looking at her.

Tessa froze on the spot.

The ruler of the city had entered the casino with a cashmere coat draped over his shoulders. His indifferent gaze soon landed on her.

She didn’t know why, but instinctively, she felt that Vicente had come here looking for her. Her face turned pale before she could stop it. If he knew she was here, then hadn’t he probably realized Frederick was too?

“Tessa.”

Vicente came to a stop right in front of her. Tessa, forgetting even to bow her head, met his sharp smile, honed like a blade. Now the curious gazes shifted toward her. Who was this woman standing face-to-face with Vicente?

“What brings you to the casino?”

Tessa suddenly felt like a criminal being interrogated. Was he asking because he already knew? Even if he was, she couldn’t tell him the truth.

“You were kind enough to give me a break, so I dropped by while I was out.”

“I see.”

Tessa discreetly hid her injured hand in the folds of her skirt.

At least for now, she didn’t want him to find out. Not here.

Vicente, wearing gloves, reached out and idly toyed with the hem of her blouse.

“You dressed up nicely.”

“I was trying to clear my head…”

“Clear your head?”

His hand, which had been lingering near the ribbon, began to wander upward. Vicente took a step closer. The soft fabric of her blouse looked like it would tear with just the slightest force. Underneath, a slip modestly covered her chest, barely concealed by the translucent blouse.

“Did something upset you?”

He asked gently. At the same time, his fingers glided from her neck up to her cheek. Tessa trembled uncontrollably, helpless to stop it. Maybe he didn’t see it that way, but in Vicente’s eyes, she looked exactly how he liked.

Tessa often acted like a frightened little fawn in front of him. And every time she did, Vicente was more than satisfied. Even when he wasn’t thinking of anything in particular, that kind of face from her sparked his twisted desires.

His favorite moments were when Tessa Ambrose, the government’s loyal dog, cried helplessly because of him. She was trapped in a cage of his making, and he alone held the key to rattle her.

The satisfaction of holding her so completely in his grasp wasn’t bad at all. Sometimes, he wanted to squeeze her until she broke.

But today was different.

Tessa wasn’t trembling because of him. Not this time. The pitiful shaking came from something else. From someone else.

Vicente hadn’t come here to play games. He came to the casino to see her. And of course, he already knew she had met with an Intelligence Agency agent here.

At first—well. He hadn’t felt much about it.

Tessa was a valuable piece in the game, and the agency wouldn’t want to lose that piece. Watching them get nervous might even be amusing.

But seeing her tremble over some other agent right in front of him…

That wasn’t so pleasant.

Vicente grabbed Tessa by the back of her head and kissed her violently. The precious pawn clung to his arm, gasping for breath. She groaned in pain from how tightly he was gripping her hair.

He didn’t let go of her as he pulled away. Her lips were parted, flushed redder than before as she caught her breath.

His gaze as he looked down at her was no longer gentle. To worry about another man—right in front of him, no less, without knowing her place?

It was almost laughable. Almost.

If she had the energy to be worried about her colleague, maybe it was time to get some clarity.

“I thought you said you didn’t know how to play.”

His cold voice whispered at her ear.

“What were you planning to do if you got stripped clean, coming to a place like this all alone, Tessa?”