Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Sunlight bathed the estate, its rays seeping through the dense branches of trees that stood as tall as the manor itself. The long rainy season was over.
"I heard her ladyship brought home a child. Did you see?"
The servants carried the long-overdue laundry to the river that flowed along the eastern side of the manor. Rhythmical splashing filled the air as they scrubbed at sheets, tablecloths, and clothes.
"I did, but it was hard to tell if it was a boy or a girl. The child has short hair and dresses like a boy, but seems much too pretty."
"Really? I heard that the child was the marquis's illegitimate son. Why would her ladyship bring him here? I don't understand."
The servant who was stepping on the neatly folded sheets in the water clicked her tongue to express her dismay and said, "Keep this between us, but Lord Kieran has an incurable disease. Just imagine how the other nobles would look down on House Bale if they found out. She's doing all of this to send a message. Should tragedy befall Lord Kieran, House Bale will remain strong in the hands of another healthy heir."
The other servants exclaimed as they nodded at the plausible claim before quickly losing interest in the topic and returning to their chores.
Then, when they noticed Betty walking along with Lia in the distance, all heads turned to look. They were curious to see the rumored child. Was it really a boy? Was it really the marquis's offspring?
"Oh, my."
"Is it really a boy?"
"My word. He does resemble Lord Kieran."
They exclaimed unwittingly upon seeing the child. Beautiful honey blond hair. Emerald eyes. Even from afar, it was clear the marquis's blood pulsed through his veins.
Lia stared straight ahead as she walked. Never once did her gaze wander as they walked towards Kieran's apartments past the rose garden, which had been decorated to the marchioness's tastes. The servants tittered at the child's stoic manner before quickly resuming their chores. Since it became meaningless to debate the child's identity, they racked their brains for a different topic to discuss.
***
Lia spent ten days in her room. She ate the food that Betty brought her and slept until her back hurt. During that time, the only outsider she met was the marchioness's personal hair stylist. He sat Lia down to trim her ragged hair while he spoke to her in his soft, lilting voice.
She had of course tried to run away, but when she saw the endless redwood-line road leading out of the manor, she lost her will to go on. She knew it would be foolish to even try.
Will her ladyship really let me return to my mother if I behave?
"Are we there yet, ma'am?"
Betty smiled proudly at hearing Lia's question and pointed towards something beyond the extravagant fountain in front of them.
"We're almost there. Your lessons will be held in Lord Kieran's apartments, so you must memorize your way there."
"This place is too…"
Big. Lia stopped herself from finishing her sentence and looked up at the manor bustling with activity.
"I'm sure you will like Master Theodore, my lord," said Betty, her voice filled with happiness. "He taught Lord Kieran at the Academy, but he retired last year due to health reasons."
Ever since Lia had been given a new name, Betty had begun to address Lia in a more formal tone. Lia had asked her to stop, but Betty, who could be quite stubborn, had simply ignored Lia's request.
"But I don't know how to read or even count, ma'am."
"My lord! You should address me as 'Betty', not 'ma'am.'"
Lia still found it quite difficult to speak informally and bit her lips at her remarks.
"Excuse me, ma'am…"
"My lord, you are now a Bale, the son of Marquis Gilliard Bale. You must learn to carry yourself as a highborn."
"But I still find so many things difficult."
Lia lowered her head as she walked with Betty. She felt the refreshing air, a luxury that was only granted in the winter, brush against her cheeks. It was incomparable to the wretched odors of Louver.
Betty looked up at the clear blue sky. "The marquis will be returning soon. I heard his business in the North ended well. I'm sure that when he sees you, he will be very pleased."
She looked happy, but Lia didn't feel the same way. The large stone fountain—the pride of the marquis's manor—and the rose garden with the angel statue all intimidated her. They passed the marchioness's treasured lavender field and arrived at Kieran's apartments.
Bang!
The blast of a gunshot rang through the garden, and a flock of birds burst into flight. Frozen in place, Lia couldn't even let out a scream. Soon, she heard another gunshot. Lia turned her stiff neck, and her eyes grew wide. Standing there was Kieran, who had his ears covered like her, and a boy who looked to be around the same age as him. His crystal blue eyes, visible beneath the black hair hanging over his brows, captivated her. He had an air of maturity despite his young age; Lia couldn't help but stare.
The boy had fired the gun. He stood a bit taller than Kieran, and his sharp features contrasted with Kieran's softness. He was handsome yet intimidating.
The newcomer smirked and handed his rifle to the servants. As he rolled up his sleeves, he turned to look at Lia.
"Lius!" Kieran called out happily.
Bewildered, Lia bowed her head to Kieran as Betty did. Before she could react, Kieran pulled her into a hug.
"You've finally left your room, Lius. I was so worried about you!"
"Oh, well…"
Lia wasn't sure if she should introduce herself as Lia or Lius.
"Claude. This is my little brother I told you about. Camellius Bale."
Kieran chose the answer for her, and Lia felt foolish for worrying. Camellius Bale. As she ducked to escape Kieran's embrace, Claude stepped toward her. He had a dignified gait, and his footsteps echoed in a light but solemn way. His blue eyes were piercing.
To Lia, he looked like an angel with black wings.
"You two look alike."
Claude calmly removed his gloves and drank the beverage the attendant brought him. Then, he picked up another gun, a pistol with a fancier design than the one from before. He turned around and signaled Lia and Kieran to cover their ears.
"Your ears," he mouthed.
Lia seemed in a trance as she covered her ears all the while staring at him.
Perhaps he felt her gaze. The boy's lips curled up into a slight grin as he closed one eye, aimed for the tree, and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The sharp smell of gunpowder overpowered the subtle scent of lavender. Past the thin ribbon of smoke, she could see his elegant profile. Lia thought that this place was filled with beautiful, lovely, yet dangerous things.
***
"I take it you are not fazed by your brother's sudden appearance."
Surprised by the question, Kieran, who had been choosing a gun for the hunt, straightened his back and turned around.
Claude del Ihar. He was the young lord of House Ihar, the rulers of the North, and his mother, Jasmine pon Ihar, was the emperor's younger sister.
His facial features were sharp, with black hair that was unique to the North and blue eyes inherited from his royal bloodline. Despite his young age, he was the object of fancy by many ladies in high society.
The beautiful ruler of the North.
"My brother?"
"You were definitely cut from the same cloth."
Kieran looked at Claude's straight face. His eyes, as cold as glaciers, were captivating. He gave off an effortless air of dignity, and the way he spoke could be viewed as arrogant; however, it was all due to the great power of House Ihar, the house the aristocrats of Cayen viewed as the noblest of them all.
"Why should I be bothered by my brother, Claude?"
Claude's eyes met Kieran's as he answered with a cryptic smile. A slight wrinkle formed across his forehead.
"Because he's evidence of deceit."
His voice was low and elegant, yet sharp. Kieran touched the pistol engraved with an eagle, the symbol of House Ihar, and smiled.
"Deceit demands a price, my lord. My brother, Lius, has already sacrificed a lot to pay for it."
Kieran intentionally spoke to him in a formal manner. The answer, wise beyond the boy's years, piqued Claude's interest.
"Sometimes you sound like an old man who has lived a full life, Kieran."
"An old man?" Kieran said with a chuckle, "Claude, surely you jest."
Claude quietly assessed Kieran. While on the whole, he resembled his father, Marquis Gilliard Bale, his lips resembled that of the cold marchioness. He acted as if he saw through everything, but Kieran Bale rarely revealed how he truly felt.
Camellius, whom Claude had only seen in passing, was different. Aside from their honey blond hair and green eyes, Kieran's younger brother was nothing like him.
Claude knew that Camellius Bale was an imposter. For the supposed son of the marquis, the boy possessed none of his father's unique furtive aura. But Claude decided not to pay Camellius any mind and convinced himself that his young age was the reason for his less masculine appearance.
On the other hand, this beggar child would have surely starved to death long ago had it not been for his resemblance to the marquis.
The marchioness's plan was obvious to him now.
You have invested a lot of effort in an imposter, Lady Bale.
With a beverage in his hand, he headed towards the window facing the lavender garden. There, the imposter stood facing a man. Lius stood courteously with his hands together, and the man, flustered by his behavior, bowed deeply. It was like watching a scene of comedy.
With unkempt hair covering his ears, the boy looked around in embarrassment with his round green eyes before fixing them on Claude.
Claude stared back at Lius's peculiar face as he took a sip of his beverage. The bittersweet taste of herbs filled his mouth.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone