Chapter 47: Ball (2)
As they heard those words they turned their heads to their left where they saw an incredible scenario.
Nestled by a vast forest, the grand villa commanded attention with its ornate architecture and towering spires. The focal point, however, was the expansive lake, a mesmerizing expanse mirroring the azure sky and stretching as far as the eye could see. The ancient trees of the forest added an enchanting touch, their whispers of times past blending with the invigorating scent of pine.
Seeing that scenario Asher said, "It's as incredible as the first time we saw it, right?"
Lily and Izek agree with him. That villa belongs to the Esterius family, and when they were children their family used to spend some vacations in that villa, where they would venture in the forest and swim on the immense lake.
After a few more minutes on the carriage, they finally arrived. Now standing at the mansion entrance they were greeted by Cedric, the butler who was in charge of greeting and announcing the nobles.
"Hello, sir Asherion, sir Izekiel, and miss Liliane"
"Don't need all that Cedric, tell me, no one arrived before us, right?"
When the butler nodded Asher felt defeated, "The Illiade family arrived 15 minutes earlier, I let them in, they are on the second floor"
Hearing that it's the Illiade family Asher looked fine again, "That prick is already here?"
Cedric tried to advise that Asher shouldn't speak about the Illiade family like that, but he didn't care.
"So, how about we go meet our cousins?"
After saying that Asher entered the villa accompanied by Lily and then Izek, Cedric stayed behind.
The villa welcomed them with breathtaking beauty. Upon entry, a vast hall unfolded before them, adorned with a stunning white marble floor that, bathed in the golden glow of a chandelier, emanated an ethereal radiance. At the hall's far end, Izek's gaze was drawn to a grand door beckoning to the outside space, adorned with myriad decorations for the ball. But they didn't go there, they went upstairs.
Walking on the second floor it didn't take too much for them to finally find where the Illiade family was. In an open room a young man is sitting quietly drinking tea.
The young man possessed a striking handsomeness, accentuated by his disheveled platinum hair and captivating golden eyes. His attire, reminiscent of Asher's, featured a distinctive twist, instead of the traditional black, he wore a resplendent white ensemble. The outfit, adorned with subtle touches of blue and gold. And the flowing cape draped gracefully on his shoulder, and two golden earrings, one in each ear.
August Julian Illiade, the heir to the illustrious Illiade house, is also the maternal cousin of the three siblings.
As soon as Asher saw the young man he said, "You know that the host is supposed to arrive first in the ball he's hosting?"
The young man opened a smile and answered, "Not my fault that you are so slow"
Asher approached him and they greeted each other with a shake of hands, "It's been some time, you left Sanctum some years ago, didn't even waited for me"
"Once again, it's not my fault that you enrolled late in the academy and didn't even complete all five years"
Asher shrugged, "You know me, that academy bores me, and I miss my family"
August then turned his attention to Lily, and went to greet her, "Hello Liliane, It's been some time, how's aunt?"
"She's fine, although very busy, you can imagine why"
August nodded, "I can, my father is also in the capital so the duties of the territory fall unto me, the heir, and I'm not fooling around like someone else"
Asher pretended he didn't hear that, and then went towards Izek, "Izekiel, how have you been? It's been such a long time"
"Never been better, and where's your sister?"
August laughed awkwardly, "I don't know, she said she would explore the place and then disappeared"
Izek scoffed, "She hasn't changed huh?"
August shook his head. And then their conversation was interrupted when a female servant knocked the door informing Asher that the guests had arrived. So Asher left to greet them, and Lily accompanied him saying that someone needed to keep an eye on him.
As the two left, Izek and August sat at the table, and Izek asked, "Aren't you supposed to be down there as well?"
As the heir of Illiade he's the representative of the family in this event, many nobles of the new generation would want to meet August.
'He's probably the most important noble that will attend this event, that if we exclude Asher and whoever comes from the royal family'
"I want to stay here in peace as much as I can, you have no idea how tiresome is this kind of event is for me"
Izek indeed doesn't know, "I see, sucks for you"
Then August poured a bit of tea for him, "So, what brings you here? I'm pretty sure that only Asher needed to come"
Asking that his whole demeanor changed, Izek noticed it.
'He's tone changed… what he's up to?'
"Nothing much, you know only wanted to take a fresh air out of Roselim"
August chuckled, "You did change since the last time I saw you, back then you were much more… how can I say it, blunt and crude, never caring about anything at all"
Izek smirked arrogantly, "You also changed, you were much more of a reserved person, and never tried to interrogate me, must be tough be the heir"
August sighed, "You caught me, sorry, it became a habit, it seems I can't hold properly conversations anymore without searching for information"
'he's tone changed, but I feel I shouldn't trust him yet'
"I wonder what you could want from the disgrace of the Esterius house, you must be in a quiet situation, is the princess giving you that much problem?" Izek asked.
And that triggered a reaction from August, he laughed, "You really are something, we always knew, you have talent for politics, you had everything to be the head of Esterius, a shame you didn't awakened"
Izek smirked, 'It was worth spending some time learning Celo, he doesn't feel my aura'
Izek spent many hours studying and practicing Celo since his mother told him about it, and it was worth it.
"And now you're even trying to sweet talk me, let's just be honest cousin, what do you want?"
August finished his tea before answering, "I didn't wanted much, I'm just playing a little, if you were naive I would gain some information, if not, I had fun, and I'll admit you amused me"
Izek scoffed, "So all of this was just a joke?"
He nodded, "Yeah, as you said, you are the disgrace of your family, is not worth spending much time trying to take something from you, I'm hoping you are not offended by my words"
Izek answered bluntly, "I don't mind, we are not even that close, you can offend as much as you want, but since you had the fun you wanted, I'm leaving"
Saying that Izek raised from the chair and started making his eyes to the door. But August's words made him stop, "Can I just ask one last question?"
Izek turned around to stare at him, in silence, so August then revealed, "Izekiel, do you know anything about the Guardians?"
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