[Thyse funds bandits: Raid on the earl's mansion, a failed attempt...]
"..."
Luke did imagine something like this will be on today's issue, but the headlines are just... brutal. the publishing company belongs to a noble, so there's that but, 'Empire Times' editor really did not censor the criticism against the lowborn.
'The writer certainly did not mince words, no doubt it was the work of someone from the faction against which Hidan belongs.'
indirect trash talk was never his forte but he knows it when he sees it. Luke threw away the newspaper on his bed and tried to recall what happened yesterday.
He knows he was not drunk enough to forget what happened. He doesn't even remember when he got home.
This is, without a doubt, his personal chamber. But how is that possible, wasn't he just at the party few moments ago?
His body ache with the deep sleep he just had. The sun was up. Looking at the clock, he felt odd. He knows he never sleeps this late.
Then he sensed a presence, sounds of footsteps followed behind the door.
"Anne, are you there?"
"Yes, young master."
he felt less alarmed. The maid was waiting outside his door, carrying a hot beverage and a lite breakfast on a tray.
he let in after changing from his casual wear.
moments later, Anne noticed Luke lost in thought as he sipped into his morning coffee.
"Would you like another cup, young master?"
she didn't receive a reply. Anne had woken up earlier that morning to make that coffee for Luke. Ordinarily she would receive appreciation or at least a small talk from him. Luke was acting differently that day, and she was the first to notice.
"young master?"
Nothing again.
whatever he had on his mind must be something important. Now she's even more curious. The whole reason she woke up early was to ask him of yesterday's events. The whole estate was talking since morning how there was an attack. Even though the servants didn't have a clear picture of everything, they had a way with travelling gossip.
After some time, she decided to try asking him louder.
"young master?"
"hm, yeah, sorry, i was lost in thought."
"Yes, I saw that. Is something bothering you? perhaps something you'd like to share."
Luke caught her noticing the newspaper. Obviously, he realised, she would know too and probably wanted to know what actually happened.
looking at her, as he placed the glass on the table, he took a small sigh before he explained everything that happened last night to her. Well, at least he told her the parts that he remembered.
while did so, Luke felt a part relieved and part confused. even he wasn't sure what happened after that incident. though he did remember he went up the terrace to take a breath.
Although that conversation lasted longer than he thought, Luke remembered why he felt so easy to talk to her about things that worry him.
Anne has been taking care of him as long as he could recall. She was the closest thing he had to a family from a young age. Almost like an older sister, Anne has stood by his side during difficult times.
while some might think differently, they were, in that sense, good friends. perhaps the only friend he has in that house.
"And you're certain you don't remember what happened after that?"
Anne looked worried as she asked him that.
"I'm afraid so. All I know is that I'm waking up in my room like usual. Strange right?"
Luke laughed it off, perhaps it was something else in those delicacies he had that made him forgetful of that night. Whatever the reason, he felt okay with it.
'My only regret is that I didn't forget everything, even the fact that I went there with my mother.'
"Do you know the time I got home?"
"Yes. It was around midnight. There wasn't anything odd, though. Lady Nova was there with you, the other servants brought you to your chambers. and you soon went to sleep."
"Really? you saw me walking into here."
"Yes. You fell asleep right after that."
"..."
Anne couldn't shake off that dread she felt at that moment. She almost never saw Luke like that--not even when he got drunk.
"Maybe I'm worrying too much," he said. "It's probably nothing important, I will know when mother scolds me about that. It's nothing new anyway."
"If you say so, young master."
***
Later that day, around noon, Luke received a surprise summons from his mother. Even if he saw it coming, he wasn't at least a bit prepared, both mentally and emotionally. There is something about his mother that always keeps him on edge. Perhaps it is because he hates to see that rejection in her eyes, or that he couldn't digest the fact that she doesn't love him like her other children.
Again, it all comes down to him. Him being a failure by society's standards have hurt him greatly in all these years. While Luke didn't care what the world thought of him, Nova did. and the only part that hurt was her.
knock. knock.
"mother. it's me."
Luke stood outside his fathers study chambers.
"Yes. come in."
Ever since his father and an older brother stayed in the capital for certain important matters, Nova sterling has been managing all the official affairs of the dukedom.
When he entered he felt like he was in an official's office. Normally this place would be buried in paperwork and attendants furiously writing replies and letters waiting for her approval.
'Then again, I was never allowed to visit here often, so what do I know?'
The place was more orderly than he thought. His mother was reading over some papers on what Luke imagined to be reviewing accounts of estate.
"Take a seat," she said, putting aside the books.
The Chambers was a large room with a large couch in the centre and shelves of books on all three sides. The view beside him came from the series of aesthetic windows, serfs tending the garden.
Luke sat opposite to the table, but didn't dare to speak before her. He needed to attend his regular duties after this, so he needed to keep this brief as possible, for both of them.
"There are few matters I need you to attend to."
This might be the longest conversation they had in a while.
"Okay."
She put down her reading glasses and held her hands together. Now, Luke was certain that this was something serious.
"First, about what happened yesterday, do you have anything to say to me?"
There it was, an awkward moment. It wouldn't be a problem if he remembered what happened. good or bad, he could've confessed and get this over with.
"Actualy... i wanted to talk about that as well."
"and?"
"And I'm sorry for the way I was when the attack happened… and I know you wanted me to socialise more with other guests."
"what? No. That's not what I wanted to hear."
"hm?"
"It's what you did after that incident. I want to know why you did it? Of course, granted, they were common filth that amounted less to nothing, but still. Why did you kill them like that?"
"what?"
"It's good that we were able to censor today's issue. Otherwise do you have any idea what trouble we would be in. You went too far. Even if everyone else in that place approved it, I did not like it. I specifically told you to not take attention to yourself."
Luke's eyes widened. He was not ready to hear that. What were they talking about?
"Wait, wait, hold on."
It felt like he's missing something important here. Did something else happen yesterday outside his knowledge?
'Kill? censor what? me? '
"I'm sorry... mother. I think I'm missing something here. I have a hazy memory of yesterday's events. Can you please tell me exactly what happened?"
That changed the look in her eyes. That was the second time she was caught off guard by him.
"Really? Are you serious?"
It was also the first time Luke saw his mother like that. Surprised, not scary, but genuinely confused by him.
"Yes. I'm serious."
***
Last night.
"Who are you?"
The man stepped into Luke's view. in the terrace, out of the dark filled night, the moonlight illuminated a strange figure that came into his vision.
"Me? oh, sorry, where are my manners? People call me in different names in different times. But for you, it's Dante."
The stranger offered Luke a handshake. He seemed overly friendly to someone who just met him.
The man appeared to be the same age as him. same height, similar build. The only thing that differentiated them was the looks. For one, he was strikingly more handsome than him, blonde hair, red eyes--almost like a prince, they were in different leagues in every way.
They're the complete opposite of each other.
'I did hear the royal family has crimson eyes... Is that it? but the capital is very far, why is he all the way out here?'
Even though Luke was given a blessed physique of a noble, however, he had his mind. He would have most certainly known if a royal prince is coming here.
"Okay. I'm Luke from the sterling house."
"Yes. I know."
That caught him bewildered.
"you know me?"
"...Yes. very much so."
Dante smiled. And Luke could not help but wonder what that meant.
By the time Luke realises what he walked into, what that particular encounter between them meant, it will already be too late.
===