Copper Town, D’Arc County.
Inside a luxurious estate with sprawling gardens and a central fountain, carriages stopped before the manor’s main gates.
Servants bowed and welcomed the manor’s masters.
Vincent and Vanessa walked side by side and entered.
"Would you like to have dinner or a bath, young master?"
A maid asked politely.
Vanessa was asked the same by another and she chose bathing.
"I’d like a bath too."
Being around corpses, he smelled like one.
The maid took him to his bedroom and prepared the bath.
The manor’s second floor had three bedrooms, each with toilets and baths attached.
At the end of the corridor was the maid room, also with an attached bath and toilet.
Other than a study, nothing else was present.
Vincent finished his bath and had dinner.
The sun went down while he was still at the dinner table, served with post dinner tea.
Seated opposite to him was Vanessa while at his sides were Anastasia and Leona.
Felicia sat beside Vanessa.
"M’lady, it’s time for the telegram." Felicia reminded.
Without turning, Vanessa said, "Bring me a pen and paper."
Her gaze fell on Vincent.
"Get your young master a set too."
"Thank you."
Vincent smiled lightly.
Although Vanessa was still cold to him and refused to call him brother, she wasn’t antagonizing or falling out unnecessarily.
The pen and paper arrived.
Anastasia and Leona calmly sipped tea while glancing at Vincent and Vanessa both.
Vincent picked the pen and began writing.
"Hello mom, I hope you had a lovely day.
If you didn’t, then don’t worry. I didn’t have one either.
Today was different than yesterday.
Today, everybody died.
Not our people, obviously.
The bandits who captured Silver Town killed themselves. I have no clue why.
Honestly, I don’t wanna bother finding it out.
Vanessa begs to differ regarding this. Me and her argued over this but it seems like I won the argument this time?
Anyway, she is probably a little annoyed by me.
This aside, why does she look at me like I’m younger by 5-6 years than her?
Can you please remind her we share the same birthday?
Also, the Royal Court summoned our house. Did you get the letter there too?
Can you please attend tomorrow morning’s session and delay them? I can answer for the inflated grain prices but rats are having a party at our grain storages again.
Enough about the news.
Let me tell you about myself.
I actually have a complaint.
You know, today when we were in Silver Town, I noticed Vanessa, Anastasia, Leona, and Felicia standing behind me.
There’s no problem with them standing.
The problem is, when they surrounded me, everything in my surroundings disappeared.
It’s not that I’m too short, it’s that they’re too tall.
Vanessa, Anastasia, and Leona are as tall as those knights damn.
Do you have any idea how to fix this? If not, can you please tell them not to surround me like that again?"
Vincent was on his last para when he felt Anastasia’s hand tap his shoulder.
"Young master, please also mention..."
Anastasia quietly whispered in his ears.
Vincent raised his eyebrows and said, "I won’t promise anything. If she agrees, good for you. If not, don’t blame me."
"There’s no problem." Anastasia nodded.
Vincent continued writing.
"Before I go, I have one last thing to ask.
Anastasia has some business in Aldorp and wishes to leave for the same. She doesn’t know when she can return. Will you approve her leave?
If you ask me, then..."
Vincent paused.
He contemplated for a moment.
Losing the regressor was definitely not strategic, but then he shook his head.
She must’ve found some treasure and probably wanted to level up.
It was better to let her run freely.
Vincent continued writing.
"...I think you can approve? I mean, as long as she doesn’t run away it should be fine right?
Anywho.
I hope you have a great evening.
Love you.
Your son,
Vincent."
The letter was handed to Anastasia who took it to the telegraph machine in the manor.
Felicia took Vanessa’s letter away.
The telegrams were soon sent.
...
D’Arc mansion, Capital.
The rain brought a chilling breeze through the window, making the curtains flutter.
Vivienne held a teacup in one hand and a report in another while Linda stayed behind.
The first report was from Felicia describing the situation around Vanessa.
It only had hints of Vincent’s movements.
The second report was from Vanessa herself.
Formal, professional, and to the point. She described what had transpired after she met Vincent and his behavior toward her.
’She isn’t as angry...’
Vivienne concluded from her letter.
She then had Vincent’s letter in hand.
She did not look at it, rather picked up the report by Anastasia first.
Linda noticed the subtle change.
"Madam doesn’t wish to read the young master’s letter?"
Vivienne sipped tea while reading Anastasia’s report.
"I can’t understand what this boy is saying without additional context. And... I can’t drink tea while reading either."
Linda covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
"Should I bring a literature teacher for the young master?"
"No."
Vivienne sipped tea and continued reading.
Linda smiled and went silent.
Vivienne eventually put her teacup down along with Anastasia’s report.
She picked Vincent’s letter.
Linda quietly replaced the teacup with another freshly brewed one.
As Vivienne began reading and saw the opening, it made the corner of her lips slightly curl.
The line after that,
"...everybody died..."
She paused.
Her lips pursed.
"Not our people, obviously."
"..."
Vivienne closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Linda..."
"Madam."
"...keep the search for a literature teacher going."
Linda bowed slightly.
"As you wish."
Vivienne continued reading.
She brushed past the bandits section and arrived at the Vanessa part.
"...won the argument..."
"...little annoyed by me."
"...look at me like I’m younger by 5-6 years..."
"...remind her we share the same birthday..."
Vivienne’s lips curled up again, almost into a proper smile.
She closed her eyes again to let the emotion linger.
’They’re bonding well.’
After a few seconds, she picked the letter again.
"...Royal Court..."
"...please attend tomorrow..."
Vivienne thought about this matter for a second.
’I can do as he asked but he’ll miss the opportunity to interact with high ranking nobles. It’s important for his growth. And...’
Vivienne lightly tapped her desk.
A small stack of reports appeared.
She picked them and began reading.
They were all the problems of D’Arc County and decisions Vincent made followed by the consequences.
’...he needs to tackle the consequences too. Hm...’
Vivienne read her son’s letter again.
"...delay..."
’He isn’t asking me to deal with it. That’s growth in itself. I don’t wish to rob him of his opportunity...’
Vivienne thought about it for another second longer.
She kept the thought in the back of her mind and decided to read the rest of the letter first.
"...complaint."
"...were in Silver Town..."
"...when they surrounded me, everything in my surroundings disappeared."
"...not that I’m too short..."
"...they’re too tall."
"...how to fix..."
"... tell them not to surround me..."
Vivienne: "..."
Despite reading other reports first, there was no context for this one.
Vivienne could not understand her son’s strange train of thoughts.
She put the letter down and picked the cup of hot tea and glanced at it.
"Linda... is it normal for Vincent to feel short?"
"...I... eh?"
"Did Madam say short?"
Linda stopped and contemplated what was just asked.
Vivienne put the teacup down and crossed her legs, possessing a serious expression.
"He just complained to me."
"It was about himself."
Linda blinked.
"I am not sure what Madam means."
"Come here and read."
Linda saw what Vincent wrote in his letter.
Her lips quivered and her shoulders trembled.
She didn’t speak and went back to her position.
Vivienne had a faint smile form on her face.
After a few seconds, Linda stopped smiling.
"Madam."
"Hm?"
"The young master’s behavior has changed drastically."
Vivienne’s smile faded.
She extended her hand out and grabbed the empty space.
A vial appeared in her hand.
"He’s changed for the better and I wouldn’t want him to revert. However..."
Vivienne placed the vial down on the table.
"It happened after the poisoning."
It thundered outside.
The flash brightened Vivienne and Linda’s faces.
The sound of rain and wind filled the room momentarily.
Linda clasped her hands in front of her and bowed.
"My apologies, we still haven’t found anything."
Vivienne lifted the vial and it disappeared.
"I haven’t either. Keep the search going."
"As Madam commands."
Vivienne took a sip of tea.
She grabbed Vincent’s letter and continued reading. The last segment remained.
"Anastasia... Aldorp... wishes to leave..."
Vivienne contemplated for a second.
She took a sip of tea again.
Clink.
"Have Vin return before dawn."
Linda bowed. "Anything else?"
"Anastasia and Leona are to accompany him."
"Understood."
Vivienne glanced at the last few lines of the letter.
"Anywho.
I hope you have a great evening.
Love you.
Your son,
Vincent."
Her brows eased.
The tension in the room somewhat settled.
Glancing at the last part with a slightly soft gaze, she continued,
"...If he doesn’t want to attend the court meeting, tell him mommy will take care of it and summon only Anastasia."
"Understood."
"Please excuse me then."
...
A/N: Much love to Daniel_Mangueira for the massage chair. You are the first person who gifted and kept sending powerstones!
I haven’t forgotten about you guys either:
Viadhivan_Ranata, Amelia_Gladhis, Kamala_Nadhia, Vanadhi_Lucia, SweetnessSaintess, and MrBan!
You guys kept commenting on every Chapter, thanking me and also expressing your opinions.
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Love you lots! :D
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