Authors note: Hello lovies! Sorry about the delay but I'm a student who has to do mortal things in school. But here is chapter seven ;)

Antoinette saw her foster-daughter fumbling with her hands as they sat in one of the grander lounges of the opera house and waited for her husband to be to appear. Her face wasn't happy and she knew that there was nothing she could do to stop this injustice.

"The vicomte de Chagny" one of the maids said and bowed before taking her leave. Antoinette and Christine rose and were both utterly shocked when they saw who was entering.

Erik's eyes found Christine's the second he stepped in and held her gaze as he bowed before the two women. Christine on the other hand was furious.

"What are you doing here?"

"I am sure that I was invited for tea" he said and smiled at their confusion.

"Mother, tell Monsieur Gautier that I am not at home" Christine said as she rose and took the tray with tea and croissants from the table and started making her way out of the lounge.

"Wait a minute, Christine! Monsieur, there must be a mistake, you see we are expecting Christine's fiancée to join us."

"Yes and here he is" Erik said and spread out his arms, referring to himself.

"What?" Christine said and frowned.

"Maybe it's time that I reveal my true self. I am Raoul the vicomte de Chagny, you fiancée."

Christine felt how her cheeks started to flush against her will.

"I don't believe you!"

"Well maybe you remember sending me this" he said and picked out a copy from one the books by Bernard de Guard. Erik smiled to himself when he saw how her eyes widened.

"I received this from you and on the back of the cover it says "To vicomte Raoul de Chagny with my hopes, Christine Daáe."

Christine felt how her entire body started to shake and before she knew it she dropped the entire tray which landed with a loud crash on the marbled floor.

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"Well I know that many young women have a hard time with arranged marriages sp I decided to keep my identity secret."

"Oh not all women are against arranged marriages" Madame Giry said with a chuckle but didn't see how Christine rolled her eyes and her face fell to the floor. Erik noticed how troubled she was and for the first time he actually cared.

"Of course I will never force my wife to do things she doesn't want to do, I know that Mademoiselle Daáe has a huge passion for music and art and if it she wants to continue with it during our marriage I won't hold her against her will."

This made Christine's face leave the floor and look up. He was serious, for the first time in weeks she felt a wave of happiness sweep through her. Was there a chance that she could actually me happy with this man?

They were suddenly interrupted when they heard the door open and Firmin and Andre along with a policeman entered. Fear took it's hold on Erik for a while but the men seemed to completely ignore the mask.

'Thanks for the Venetians' he thought to himself.

"Sorry about the intrusion but we're here to introduce chief inspector Ledoux, he comes from the best police departments of France, he and his men will be spread out across this opera house" Firmin said.

"Oh gentlemen may I introduce the vicomte de Chagny, Christine's fiancée."

"I say!" Firmin said, Erik could clearly see how the thought of money shone through his old eyes. "It's a pleasure beyond words, Monsieur le vicomte!"

"Likewise I'm sure" Erik responded. "And if it's not much trouble may I ask why you intend to stuff this building with policemen, gentlemen?" Ledoux stepped forward.

"To capture that fornicate creature who dares to call himself a man."

"The phantom?" Erik asked and raised his eyebrows more in amusement than anything else.

"Who else?" Christine mumbled.

Ledoux saw the book that Erik was still holding in his hands.

"Bernard de Guard, I see? Now that is someone who should be deprived of the name writer."

"What makes you say that?" Christine asked.

"A man that wants women to be educated and take part of the court and the university is simply mad."

"Why is that?" Christine said and felt how her blood started to boil with rage towards the police.

"Please, mademoiselle, if women should participate in the studies that goes on inside the walls of the university all the men's thoughts would be occupied with other things."

"Because they are too stupid to concentrate otherwise?" Christine asked.

"Christine!" Madame Giry scolded.

Erik smiled but saw how the eyes of the chief inspector started to point daggers at her.

"What I think my fiancée is trying to say simply is that there are women who would love to be educated as well" Erik said before Christine had time to open her mouth.

"Yes of course. Further more Bernard de Guard is another man that we are going to lay our hands on. This might upset you, Mademoiselle, but he is a plagiarist." Christine remained unmoved. "And as such he must be arrested as well as the true writer of his so called 'works' for toying with the minds of young women." This however made Christine's entire being freeze and Erik could see why.

"Not to worry, mademoiselle, my men are at his home as we speak. And now we will take our leave" he said and Andre and Firmin followed him.

The minute they had left Christine gave her excuses to Erik and told him and her foster-mother that she had to leave.

"Mademoiselle Daáe?" Erik asked her she stood by the door and took her cloak. "May I have the honour of accompanying you tomorrow at the masquerade here in the opera house?"

Christine nodded before she left.