Chapter 4: Gareth
Breakfast continued peacefully, with Guinivere's occasional chatter and a discussion between Aurelion and Gareth.
Only Vespera and Neo sat there eating silently.
Vespera wasn't one for small talk in the first place, whereas Neo had many thoughts brewing in his head. The two of them focused on their meals to the end.
Neo cut into his toast, the feeling of his etiquette lessons settling into his movement like a second skin as he began to eat like Nazareth once more.
It was stifling.
He really missed the Modern Word.
"-And what of you, Nazareth?"
The cold voice of Gareth was sharp and clear as it directed itself to the oldest Odum.
Neo's head snapped up in surprise.
He wasn't paying attention to the conversation between his father and brother.
Sapphire eyes narrowed--looking as judgemental as Neo remembered, although he knows his father doesn't mean to--and with a sigh, Gareth asked him again.
"How is your study so far?"
How is his study?
He couldn't help but grimace. Second-year of Senior High at the academy was when he became particularly mad and twisted. He wasted most of his time scheming against his brother. His grades were the worst, and they certainly didn't get any better in his third year. How in the world did he even manage to graduate--oh yeah.
He died the day before the ceremony...
Letting out a small breath, Neo decided to be honest.
It's not like he can lie. Quarterly reports are sent home every season and his current work ethic really is terrible.
"Not good. I promise I'll raise them up as soon as I can."
There was a brief pause, and if his father's face wasn't already ice-cold, he would have thought the man had frozen in befuddlement.
However, soon enough his expression became one of admonishment and he sternly spoke.
"The school year has started long ago, Nazareth. I do not expect much from you as you are not my heir,"
Neo smiled uncomfortably. That's right. He wasn't the heir. In the past, it was this fact that drove him to insanity. Now, however, he is glad to hear this.
His father is an awkward man. He spoke awkwardly and talked bluntly. This is his assurance to Neo that he won't have to bear the responsibilities of an heir--his own way of conveying to him that he can live peacefully off the fortunes of the Odum Family as one of its members and abstain from any noble duties.
He tries, but Nazareth didn't see those attempts.
He saw a man who believed he was a stain of his past and decidedly entrapped him in a house so that he wouldn't turn out to be a disgrace.
In reality, though, his father worries.
He worries a lot and is more of a hen than anyone would like to believe.
"-but do not forget that you are an Odum. We do not let our studies fall to the point where we must raise them. Nazareth, are you listening? This is serious. We are talking about your future."
His father scolds him.
It is familiar, to hear him rattle on.
"Yes, father. I understand." Neo can only smile helplessly, his mind falling back into wistfulness.
He had a good life in the Modern World, but that life came with regrets of the past.
And now, here he is. Once more reliving the first lifetime.
Nothing has happened yet. Everything is still so peaceful.
---
Gareth observes his oldest son from the corner of his eye.
Nazareth had appeared to breakfast with his hair cut to his ears and a docile manner to match.
He never paid much attention to this illegitimate child, not that he had much time to pay attention any of his children. The Emperor has always kept him busy with work, so most of his information regarding his children comes second-hand from the servants.
Aurelion and Guinivere were raised from infancy and are used to the duties of the aristocracy. They understand the undertones of affections in this household and are similar in personality to him and his wife.
This is the main reason why he has never had any trouble with the two.
However, his eldest has always been an anomaly.
It is amazing how no one ever wonders as to why the Odum has never had more than a son and a daughter. The mistake of his youth brought about consequences in the form of that bastard son, and even now, it is his greatest regret.
He regretted not knowing of that child on the streets who was five minutes away from doing something that would imprison him to a life of debt.
That child, who was left to wander for who knows how long? Who learned nothing but the deceptions of a brothel house, broken by the dredge of society.
Gareth knew that bringing a seven-year-old child from the streets of the Red Light District would cause a scandal, but Nazareth was his child.
He didn't know how it was possible for him to sire him, as everyone knows that an Odum Duke is only capable of having two children per generation.
Nazareth is more of a miracle than anything else. An unexpected miracle, but nonetheless, a miracle.
Some in the court have deemed him to be an ominous sign, but one look from Gareth promptly shut them up.
Gareth wasn't oblivious to the schemes of his eldest son. He even knows of the one-sided rivalry between Nazareth and Aurelion.
Aurelion and Guinivere were easy to take care of. They are very similar to him and his wife.
Nazareth, though, is different. Whereas Aurelion and Guinivere were cold and icy, Nazareth burned with emotions and acted on his own feelings and heart. Those are very good qualities, if not for the fact that he endangers his younger brother on a weekly basis.
Gareth knows Nazareth is capable of good, he just needed guidance.
Ethics. Nazareth needed to understand ethics.
So when his eldest son comes to breakfast looking as innocent as a lamb, he isn't sure whether to be wary or relieved.
He was most certainly not expecting such a demure response coming out of Nazareth's mouth after he lectured him.
Even more so, he did not expect the smile on his son's face.
From the expressions on Vespera, Guinivere, and Aurelion's faces, they didn't expect this response either.
For the second time that morning, Nazareth has brought silence to the table, and no one knows if that's good or not.
He makes brief eye contact with his wife.
She raises a brow, but ignores him soon after, leaving him to wade in this pool of parenthood.
What does he say now? Nazareth is usually not this obedient.
Does he continue to lecture?
Or wait. No. His son might hate him even more if he did that.
Since it's going so well, should he stop the conversation here?
"Father...?"
He is brought out from his confusion when Nazareth calls for him. He gathered his bearings once more.
"As I was saying, do make sure that your studies are taken care of immediately. If I don't see any improvements soon, there will be consequences." He finishes off sharply.
Vespera gives him a look.
---
Neo complies with everything his father tells him with a nod.
His father lies. His 'consequences' consists of three things.
Confinement, food, and ethics.
Being confined inside his bedroom with food, water, and ethics-related books was what his father considers to be punishment.
Neo should know. He holds the title of the number one Scummy Troublemaker of Noble Academy. It is almost a monthly ritual for him to be placed in confinement.
Aurelion and Guinivere aren't prone to making trouble.
In fact, his father and stepmother have never once made a punishment system until he arrived at the manor.
His father was a soft man behind the glacial cold of his face.
If his stepmother was the one doing the disciplining, she would make him run laps around the manor grounds...
He was a little shit.
---
For Gareth, it was disconcerting seeing Nazareth acting so... good? Nice? Perhaps his teenage rebellion is finally over.
He takes another quick peek, expecting the boy to grow angry at his words, but he remains unusually calm.
Perhaps he can take this chance to start another conversation?
"Oh, yes, and Nazareth." He says to him again, as if he had forgotten.
To his surprise, his son raises his head and directly makes eye contact.
Gareth is suddenly lost for words since he usually never comes this far in speaking to his eldest. His mind automatically thinks up a familiar topic.
"Those 'companions' of yours seem to be one of the primary reasons as to why your grade is falling. Do see to it that you rid yourself of them immediately."
He clamps his mouth shut and remains silent.
It is better to end the conversation right here.
Before he messes up even more.
---
Neo was confused. He had friends?
Oh, wait.
Now that he thought about it, there was that group of people he used to hang out with at this time. They were the sons of shady noble families who he had taken advantage of. Using his connections with them, he had sent people after Aurelion constantly.
God, he was an asshole.
His father had warned him last time when he had found out about his companions as well, but he didn't care.
This time around, he will listen.
Aurelion stood from his chair.
"I will be leaving first."
Gareth nodded, giving permission for his son to be dismissed.
Then, Guinivere also stood up. She walks over to Gareth and gives him a kiss on the cheek.
"I need to go as well, father. Anna and Mary have invited me for tea."
"Yes. Have fun."
And she was also dismissed.
The dining table now only has Neo, Gareth, and Vespera left.
It was still very awkward, so Neo finished his coffee and nodded to father.
"Have a good day." He tells the two adults quietly and stands up to leave.
"Wait," Gareth stops him.
Neo pauses. "Yes, father?"
Gareth inspected this child with a contemplating look. There was a war in his head as if he wasn't sure why he stopped him. The strangeness of Nazareth gave him mixed feelings.
With these swirling thoughts in his head, Gareth finally said, "Nevermind." Prompting that he had given up comprehending the situation. With great effort, he forced out three words, "Enjoy your day."
Neo stares at this man with renewed recognition. And then he gives a very small and subtle smile.
"I will. Come, Rainier."
Rainier seemingly materializes out of nowhere, standing behind Neo like the ever Capable Servant.
"Yes, Young Master Nazareth."
The servant and master pair leaves.
---
Alone at the dining table with his wife, Gareth orders the servants to clear up the plates.
"Gareth,"
Vespera suddenly speaks, sending shivers down everyone's spine. Her voice, chillier than his own and unexciting as ever, spoke for the second time that day.
Vespera never makes it a habit to speak much, but when she does make the effort, it reaffirms the reason as to why Gareth had wanted to marry her in the first place.
"Good try, but I've seen better attempts."
Her monotonous voice showed that she wasn't very impressed.
And then she went back to drinking her earl grey tea, an amused smile suddenly appearing ever so slightly on her face.
Gareth doesn't ask her why this is. She has met her daily quota of words today.
Resignedly, he stares at the door.
---
Neo and Rainier stood at the entrance of the manor.
"Young Master, would you like me to prepare us a carriage."
"Yes. Thank you, Rainier."
The casual 'thanks' had some of the servants passing by and the guards standing at attention looking at the master-servant pair with bewilderment.
Rainier stepped away to call for a coach.
Now left alone, Neo stood there with an air of awkward energy.
He put his hand inside his pocket and felt some of the servants peeking at him.
Feeling even more strange, he removed his hands from his pockets and placed them behind him.
There. A natural stance.
Unbeknownst to him, the multitude of gazes seemingly increased with suspicion.
After all, Young Master Nazareth could be carrying a weapon for all they knew.
He has done that on multiple occasions.
Better to be safe than sorry if he happens to be holding a knife. He has habitually stabbed the coach drivers if he didn't like them at first glance...
A carriage with the Odum emblem arrived in front of the entrance.
The driver stepped off and courteously bowed.
"Where would the Young Master like to go today?"
"St. Achillas Cemetery."
His mummy's final resting ground.
Alouysia Webbers lived and died as a commoner. She was only twenty when she had Nazareth and tried her damn hardest to raise her son as best as she could. In the Red Light District, she was the most well-known prostitute and it took quite a large fee to even have her serve tea. When she died of illness at the age of twenty-seven, Nazareth was devastated. It was her death that started him on the path of madness.
Gareth had come after she died and arranged her funeral and burial. Placing her in the best cemetery in town--for commoners, of course--was already a big favor. If she were any other whore, she would have been cremated and forgotten, her ashes scattered to the four winds to be fertilizer for some farms.
Neo boarded the carriage and sat down. Rainier took a seat at the front with the carriage driver.
"Let's go."
---
The drive to the cemetery was quiet. Neo observed the scenic outside the carriage with a newfound interest.
If he were to compare the Modern World to this one, he would say that this world is far less advanced, technologically and socially. For one, the internet doesn't exist and medical science is still seen as the devil's work by the Church.
The lack of technological advancement, however, can be made up with magic engineering. There are healers and magic engineers who use subtle magic that is approved by the Church.
For example, night pearls, which are the equivalent of a light bulb, require the combination of electric talismans drawn by magic engineers and a mixture of fluorescent fluids made by alchemists.
The social classes of this world are also more prominent and instilled into the people. The government is still a monarchy with power. The nobility class is above everyone, the commoners work, and the people of the slums do whatever they can to survive.
This is the age where humans teeter between being civilized and wild.
Gas-powered vehicles also don't exist. Coaches are popular with the aristocracy, but horse-riding is also a common sight.
A majority of things he has taken for granted in Modern Society would now take time and patience since the development of this world strays from the one he's grown used to.
Neo sighs a little as thinks of this. He really misses his cellular device.
"Young Master,"
Rainier called out to him from the front of the carriage.
"Yes?"
"We are arriving in town soon. Is there anything you might need before we arrive at our destination?"
Neo thought for a moment.
He's dressed nicely for a visit to a cemetery. Rainier's with him. There's a carriage ready to take him to and fro.
What else does he need?
He looks down at his empty hands.
Oh.
"Stop by a flower shop first. I want to buy a bouquet."
The carriage enters the town. It drew a lot of attention from the common people due to the Odum emblem.
Soon enough, the carriage arrived in front of the first flower shop the carriage driver could spot.
Rainier stepped off first and went to help Neo out of the carriage. The fact that he did this with ease despite the blindfold on his face was very impressive.
After being helped from the carriage, Neo found himself standing in front of a flower-covered building. Flowers decorated the little shop and displays of arrangements encompassed the storefront with colorful bouquets. A sign was placed at the front of the shop, with the words 'Graham Florist.'
Neo paused when he saw it.
The name sounded somewhat familiar, although he wasn't sure why this is.
He opened the door and stepped into the shop.
The bell at the door rings.
"Welcome to Graham Florist. How may I help you?"
A gentle voice rang through the store.
Neo stood at the entrance, looking in wonder. Behind him, Rainier also stopped. The two of them looked around, trying to find where the voice is coming from.
"Over here!"
Their eyes turned toward the source of the voice.
A giant arrangement of gardenias came within their line of sight.
A plant spirit, perhaps?
But then, the arrangement lowered, and finally, they could see the person behind it.
Neo was somewhat shaken. It is hard to forget the face of this person. He had tormented him for an entire year.
With soft brown hair messily tied into a small ponytail and placid grey eyes, the boy had a smile on his face, small and subtle, but charming at the same time. Neo noticed he was slightly taller than him, perhaps by an inch.
You can barely tell he's a year younger than him.
The boy is Sutton Graham, the commoner who Nazareth kidnapped and nearly murdered.
---
Step 4. Patiently sit and wait while your father observes you with a keen eye and finishes evaluating your unusual behavior. You may also accidentally meet someone who, in the past, almost became a victim of your attempted-murder-plot. If so, please proceed with caution and play it cool.
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