As I walked back to the building, I spotted Belle waiting by the entrance, tapping her foot impatiently. Sir Roswell stood nearby, his usual calm demeanor unchanged as he observed the street.
"You're late! What happened to those stuff?" Belle exclaimed, eyeing the dirtied book covers in my hands.
"Are you alright, young lord?" Sir Roswell asked with a concerned look.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied casually. "I just went to the bookstore. Something happened, and that's why they got a bit messy."
Belle rolled her eyes but quickly brightened. "Well, we're done here, and I got a piece of cake for you!" She held out a small, wrapped package.
I took the cake with a grin. "Thanks, Belle."
Just as we turned to leave, Mary appeared from another room, her dress swaying gently as she approached.
"You're leaving already?" she asked.
"Yeah, we got the order. Besides, it's getting dark, and Mother will be mad if we're late," Belle said.
Mary nodded with understanding. "Alright then. See you at your party, Lucian," she said, her tone warm as she glanced at me.
"See you then," I replied warmly.
With that, we said our goodbyes and stepped outside. The cool evening air carried a hint of winter as we climbed into the carriage and began our journey home. The sound of hooves on the cobblestone roads filled the quiet as Belle and I sat in comfortable silence.
...
While we were in the carriage, Belle glanced over at me, her eyes catching the golden glow of the lantern hanging above us, as I read one of the books I'd just bought.
"What are you reading?" She asked, leaning closer with a curious look to the cover.
"About history," I replied, while turning the page.
She wrinkled her brows, taking a bite of cake. "B-Boring. That's for grown-up stuff; yo-you should be having fun and meet other people."
"You should be the one reading books," I retorted, not bothering to look up. "You know you're going to enroll in the academy this year."
She swallowed her bite, then replied with a huff, "Hmph, I'll study when I'm in the academy."
Though Belle seemed carefree about the topic, it was a serious matter. At the age of ten, everyone is required to take a test and attend the academy for at least two years to determine their qualified for the Awakening Ceremony.
Belle suddenly changed the topic. "What do you think about Mary? Isn't she beautiful?" she asked, her tone teasing as a sly grin spread across her face.
I paused reading, glancing up to tease her. "Yeah, she's prettier than you."
She pouted and said with annoyance, "You're mean! Give me back my cake."
I chuckled. "Just telling the truth."
"So you like her then? She's also smart and rich, like you." Belle probed with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
I shook my head. "Not interested. Besides, we're still young." Relationships aren't exactly on my list of priorities right now, I thought to myself.
Belle sighed dramatically. "You're weird, Lucy," she muttered, turning her attention to the window. The dark landscape of Linberg stretched out before us, dotted with the faint glow of lanterns from passing houses and shops.
We settled into a comfortable silence after that, the soothing sounds of the carriage rolling along filling the air as Belle leaned against the seat, lost in thought, and I resumed reading.
...
As we returned home, I headed to my room to change and put away the things I had brought. Meanwhile, Belle went to Mother to share the details of our day. After putting everything in its place, I decided to visit my father's office. As I approached, the door opened, and a familiar man with brown hair and a mustache stepped out. His expression was tense, though he managed a polite smile when he saw me.
"Good evening, Lucian," he greeted warmly.
"Good evening, Mr. George," I replied with a nod. "I met your daughter earlier. She seems to be doing well," I added, hoping to lighten the mood.
He chuckled softly, though the worry didn't leave his eyes. "Really? I've been concerned about her—"
I smiled reassuringly but noted the strain in his voice. "I'm sure everything will work out, Mr. George."
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded again. "Ah, yes, just a few matters to handle," he said before adding, "I'll see you at your party, young lord."
"Of course. I know you're busy. I'll see you then," I replied as he hurried off, his pace brisk.
Once he was gone, I stepped into my father's office. He was seated at his desk, engrossed in the stack of documents before him.
"Belle mentioned that you also want to train with Tyrion," he said without looking up, his tone direct.
"Yes, Father!" I exclaimed, unable to hide my excitement.
He finally looked up, a small smile on his face. "At your age, it won't be easy, but you're my son. You'll manage." He chuckled, the sound filling the room.
Before I could respond, curiosity got the better of me. "By the way, Father, I noticed Mr. George seemed a bit worried earlier. Is everything alright?"
My father's expression grew serious. "One of our ships was plundered again. Criminal activity in the region has been escalating. As of today, I've decided to lead the investigation personally and requested the church to send agents for support."
"Do you think it's the work of a large organization?" I asked, intrigued.
He handed me a report without hesitation. "No, this seems more like the work of a smaller crew. But read it and tell me your thoughts."
I skimmed the report, jotting down a few notes as I went. "I agree with you, Father. It doesn't seem like a major operation. Perhaps deploying the church's agents as planned would be the best course. Their expertise will not only handle the situation but also act as a deterrent to others."
He smiled, clearly pleased. "Exactly. That's the plan. As for the other crimes, we're still piecing together the details."
Our conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. A maid entered and bowed slightly. "I apologize for the interruption, my lord. Lady Arian has requested the young master's presence."
Father grinned knowingly. "You'd better go. We can continue this tomorrow. You know how your mother gets."
I sighed, knowing he was right. "Goodnight, Father," I said, grabbing the report before leaving the room.
...
We walked through the hallway of the household as the maid led me toward where my mother was. As we reached the door, she knocked lightly before pushing it open.
The moment I stepped inside, my mother rushed toward me with an expression of pure delight, her emerald eyes sparkling.
"How's my Lucy!" she exclaimed, wrapping me in a warm, almost suffocating embrace. "You've been locked away in that room for so long! I'm starting to regret letting you use it."
"I-I'm okay, Mother," I stammered. "I'm sorry about that, W-what can I do for you?" I said while trying to free myself from her embrace.
Her face lit up with a wide grin. "Really? You mean it?"
I instantly regretted my words. "W-wait, I—"
Before I could react, she grabbed my arm and dragged me across the room with surprising strength. "Perfect! Come here, my Lucy."
We stopped in front of a large vanity cluttered with suits, ties, and fabrics of all colors and textures.
"Sit," she commanded, her tone gentle but leaving no room for argument. She began fitting various suits on me, treating me like a dress-up doll.
"Are you excited for your party? The preparations are almost complete, and many people are coming!" she asked while sorting through the various clothes.
"I'm not sure," I replied hesitantly.
She paused and gave me a soft, reassuring smile. "You don't need to worry, Lucy. Just enjoy the evening. Besides," her smile turned mischievous, "no one would dare mess with you."
"Alright." I nodded hesitantly. She's kind, but you don't want to make her angry. Even my father is afraid when she's truly upset.
"Try this and that one," she said, holding a crisp white shirt with long sleeves. She began helping me into it, humming a cheerful tune all the while. "You've grown so much."
"For the finishing touch," she added, pulling out a black waistcoat with intricate dark patterns and tying a red silk tie around my neck. "There," she said, stepping back to examine her work. I turned to look at the mirror. The white shirt and black waistcoat were tailored perfectly to fit my frame, while the red tie added a pop of color.
"I like it," I replied, straightening the collar a bit.
Her eyes sparkled with satisfaction. "Really? Oh, I knew it would suit you!" she said, clasping her hands together, then hugged me again.
We spent a while chatting as she continued to adjust minor details while telling stories about the guests who would be attending. Eventually, I excused myself and headed toward the old room to review the report Father had given me.