In a green field behind a huge mansion. An outdoor party was going on. A lot of men and women dressed in fancy clothes stood or sat in groups around fancy tables. Each of them held in their hands gold designed cups with expensive wine which were being passed around by waiters. Laughter filled the field. In a corner of the party, a very beautiful woman dressed in a black gown sat alone staring at the starry sky in which two moons hung. Her long hair was white and tied behind her head in a loose bun but even tied, strands of her long hair Cascaded down her neck and her dress. She looked like a painting. Poeple around her kept sneaking glances. Soon she opened her mouth and a beautiful sound came out as she recited a simple poem.
"Twinkle twinkle little star,
How I wonder ...
...'where' you are"
Poeple close to her could not help but marvel at the sight.
"Beautiful poem Lady Anna. Though it would have meant nothing if it wasn't my lady herself that sang it."
The white haired lady removed her gaze from the sky and turned it towards the man that had just spoken.
Standing across her table was a man in a fancy black suit, holding a cup of wine with a confident smile on his face. He had a neat beard underneath his chin and an also neatly shaved moustache. He looked like a man in his early thirties but in the cosmos, looks can be deceiving. Species and races that can live for hundreds of years are as the stars in the sky. Even humans are not bound by the limitations of age anymore.
The man, seeing her look at him placed his wine on the table and stretched his palm towards her, bowing slightly. "Mr Sullivan" the man introduced himself.
This gesture was usually followed by the lady placing her hand in the man's palm, who then kisses it. It was a form of greeting among high-class individuals like themselves.
The man stood there staring at her until an aged voice interrupted.
"I'm sorry Mr. Sullivan but M'lady does not accept these... forms of greetings".
Sullivan could hear the mummurs and giggles from the other people in the party. He looked at the source of the voice and saw a fairly aged man in a black waist coat, white shirt and black trousers. He stood in a straight posture behind the beautiful lady. He also had white hair but it was obvious his was from old age. It is was obvious who this man was, a butler.
The corners of Sullivan's mouth twitched as an annoyed look flashed across his face before completely disappearing replaced by his smile.
"Oh forgive me Lady Anna, I did not realise that our cultures were so different. On my planet, this gesture is widely known". Sullivan said as he retrieved his hand.
" Mr Sullivan, Please kindly refrain from calling the lady Annabelle by that name as she's the lady of a house. Please refer to her as Lady Star-Heart. Calling her by a Nickname may cause misunderstandings and may give people the impression that you're closer than you actually are". The old butler said again. Sullivan frowned at the butler. 'This butler is getting on my nerves already'
"Lady of a house? But It's widely known that the lady Anna... belle is not married yet" Sullivan said with mild annoyance.
Lady of a house is a term used to describe married women, wives or ladies that already belonged to a family. It's a form of address for ladies that should not be courted, mostly to avoid scandals as most already have husbands or are betrothed to someone. The old butler answered again with his gentle voice. "Lady Annabelle is Matriarch of the Star-heart family"
Sullivan frowned again, Annabelle had not even spoken to him since he got here. She had let her butler do all the talking. He followed her gaze and looked at the sky too.
'The family elders asked me to develop a good relationship with her. Apparently the house she represents is highly respected. Also their are some rumours about her having 'weird' children and she's the Mistress?. She looks so young. Seeing as no one approached her, either she's a fearful lady of they're just scared to meet her. I'll take my chances.' Sullivan thought to himself.
"The 3 moons of Multimdor are a splendid sight indeed, perfect for kindred spirits to share the night together, don't you think Lady Annabelle." The old butler had a slight frown on his face as he looked at Sullivan. Even the poeple close to them had begun to get disgusted.
'He's not even trying to hid his intentions any longer. If this gets out the lady's reputation might be affected.'
"If you're free, I'll like to invite you to my mansion just a few buildings from here. Perhaps we could watch the moons together."
"Sorry Mr Sullivan but m'lady would not be-"
"A mere butler shouldn't be interrupting. I was speaking to your Lady."
"Smith... Speaks for me. Insulting him is insulting me." A little voice sounded breaking the tension that was building. Annabelle looked at the black haired man infront of her.
"I am the lady of a house mr Sullivan, and I have children. Treat me accordingly. Inviting me to your house is not appropriate. Leave. " She said flatly.
"Lady Annabelle you're still so young and beautiful, besides your so called children are widely known as... Problematic- "
Boom!
A sudden pressure landed on the open field. Sullivan quickly grabbed the table to prevent himself from falling, spilling his wine in the process. He looked at Lady Annabelle and though her beautiful face still held no emotions, Sullivan felt that her eyes were like a predator looking at prey. He staggered backwards, then he noticed. The pressure wasn't coming from her. Behind Lady Annabelle stood the old butler unmoving, his hands were folded behind his back but his silence made Sullivan feel like he was looking at something he shouldn't. He quickly averted his gaze and looked around, he was the only one been affected by the sudden pressure. Everyone in the party were now looking at him.
"Eh?" The pressure died down instantly as a playful voice entered Sullivan's ears. Everyone turned to look at the source of the sound.
Hovering above the field, bathed in moonlight was a tall young man in a black double-breasted suit, black trousers and equally black shoes. He had his two hands in his pockets as he looked down on the poeple with an amused smile on his face. His eyes darted around as if looking for something before settling on the beautiful white haired lady. The smile on his face widen instantly.
Swoosh!
"M'lady?"
Sullivan's hairs stood on end as he heard a voice beside him. He quickly turned around as a shocking sight met him. The young man in the sky moments ago was now on one knee in front of Lady Annabelle, his black and white hair flailing in the wind. He had his palm stretched out to her, the same way Sullivan had done.
Sullivan's eyes almost dropped out of their sockets as lady Annabelle gently placed her hand in the young man's palm.
"You have such beautiful hands m'lady." The young man said in a dramatic way as he placed his other hand on hers but did not kiss it.
The entire field had gone silent. The young man turned his head to the staring crowd and flashed a smile. "Hah. Don't mind me. You can continue with what you were doing."
"What are doing here Luther?" Annabelle's voice sounded.
"You sound like you don't want me here"
"Tch..."
The smile on Luther's face grew. He bowed his head placing the fair lady's hand on his forehead as he began another round of dramatic action.
"Hah.. Even my own mother doesn't want me anymore. It's over. I should just die"
"Young Master, we're at a public event. Please mind your character." Smith the old butler said helplessly.
"Eh? Old Smith is here too?"
"Nice to see you again too, young Master"
Sullivan could not believe his eyes. 'He is her son?' he thought.
Truly he had heard rumours about Lady Annabelle having children but with how fair and young the lady looked, he had thought they were false rumours. Even his comment about her children being problematic was just him trying to play along with her, or so he thought.
Sullivan stared at the back of the young man who was now rubbing Lady Annabelle's hand on his cheek while shedding 'fake' tears.
'He is her son? This handsome young man? the rumours were not just rumours? Shit!. How is she still this young, if she already has a son this old.'
"Lady Annabelle!!" A huge man shouted as he walked across the field towards the party. The man was wrapped in expensive clothing and jewelry. Behind were guards and servants it was obvious he was someone important.
Mummurs started in the crowd again. "It's the duke" "Why is the Duke here?"
"Duke? Duke!" Luther looked up and shouted back to the man that was approaching. "Oh? Is that Luther? Hahaha long time no see."
Luther walked to the man, pulling him into a hug and slapping his back.
"Dukie!! Haha"
Slap! Slap! Slap!
The mouth of everyone in the party including the guards twitched.
The young man was literally hitting the Lord of the city, yet the Duke kept smiling. And Dukie? Did he just give the Duke a pet name? Sullivan was the even more sure, this man was not ordinarily.
"Lady Star-Heart, you never told me Luther would come with you."
"He didn't. He just showed up." She said without looking at him.
"Isn't she behaving a little rude to the Duke?"
"She didn't even look at him." "She must come from a high ranking family "
"The butler said she's the lady of a house".
"A house even higher than the Duke?"
"He called her Lady Star-Heart. It can't be that Star-Heart right?"
"How can there be two Star-Hearts"
"What Star-Heart? Oh shit, those Star-Heart? No way. It can't be. Does that mean that guy is also from 'that' family? Why would someone from 'that' family come here?"
The whispers and mummurs from the crown intensified Sullivan's fears.
Luther moved closer to the he Duke and whispered in his ear.
"She's pouting because I haven't visited her in a while."
"Tsk"
Annabelle clicked her tongue.
"Oh I almost forgot. Why is my mother getting harassed in your party?"
The emphasis on the 'your party' was apparent.
A frown appeared on the Duke's face. "Harassed?" He looked around before his eye stopped on Sullivan.
"Your Excellency, i-i can assure you this is a misunderstanding. I noticed lady Annabelle's interest in the moons and just wanted t- "ki
Something flashed across the Duke's face, shock? Fear? Anger?
"Lady Annabelle? Did you just refer to Lady Star-Heart by her firstname? Utter disrespect!!"
Sullivan was stunned, 'Why is the Duke so angry over how a lady of a house was been addressed. Wait, is there something between them? Do they have an affair? Hold on, Since the Duke got here, he never addressed her by her firstname!'
"Someone get him out of here!!" The duke roared.
"Duke Amaran. This is an open event. People are allowed to hold conversations freely, but you chasing this young man out for talking to that lady, it may generate... bad rumours that would affect your reputation. Is she by chance your mistress?" Everyone looked at the fat man who had just spoken. Normally these words would have made the Duke very annoyed as his integrity was being challenged but everyone were surprised as a look of panic flashed across the Duke's face.
"Luther wai-"
'Boom!'
Luther appeared in front of the fat man who had just spoken, he grabbed his collar and lifted him effortlessly above the ground. He had a blank look on his face. "Even if the Duke became a god, he still wouldn't be worthy of my mother. Mind your words" Those words were arrogant? Yes, but no one could say he was wrong. Even the Duke, everyone in the party subconsciously agreed with him.
"Luther."
"Yeeees!!"
Boom!
Once again Luther was back on one knee in front of Lady Annabelle with a smile on his face, his earlier expression vanishing.
As if bathed in cold water everyone fell out of their daze. Without needing anyone to tell them, they all scattered in different directions.
The Duke turned to Annabelle.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
"I don't go to this sort of gatherings but I made an exception because of you, Amaran. Tell me what's so important that I had to come get it myself?"
"The family head called."
Luther who was busy playing with Annabelle's hand stopped.
"Gramps?"
Duke Amaran looked at Luther and nodded.
"He's coming out of seclusion."
------------
"My body aches, I need sleep."
A white haired man with dark circles and blood shot eyes, a clear sign of lacking sleep, stood in front of a shop.
"I really need sleep." Lukas stared at his reflection in the glass of the fashion shop. He put his hand in his pocket pulling out a gold-rimmed glasses and putting it on. He looked around taking in his environment. He was standing on the sidewalk of a busy street. High tech Cars and bikes zoomed past. The sidewalk was mildly crowded with people and robots going back and forth on hover boards. Across the sky snaking between tall, high-rise buildings and floating bridges was a glowing train. On the side of the train, typed in huge Letters were the words "Hub Train - the 21st"