015

Blackwell Mansion, Capital City Linfield–Eldoria.

The vast estate of the Blackwell compound was eerily quiet. Servants on duty rose at dawn, swiftly cleaning the remnants of the celebration. Amid their brisk movements, Sebastian ascended the grand staircase, a tray of tea and sandwiches balanced expertly in his hands.

At the master’s bedroom door, he knocked. “Master Lucian, I’ve brought you a snack.” Sebastian announced.

“Enter.” Lucian’s voice came from inside.

Sebastian stepped inside, setting the tray on the nightstand. Lucian emerged from the walk-in closet, buttoning his coffee vest over his white shirt.

“You should rest, you haven’t had much sleep.” Sebastian urged, his tone laced with concern.

“I cannot sleep.” Lucian admitted, his voice low. “The pills are becoming ineffective. Alcohol helps, but the children will worry.”

“This could all be avoided if you heed the doctor’s advice, but you are far more stubborn than your parents combined. I’m glad the young master inherited lady Grace’s mellow temperament.”

Lucian chuckled. “You called a mischievous woman mellow?”

“Childlike, full of life, and yes, mellow.” Sebastian replied, his expression softening. “Her beauty gave her an almost ethereal appeal, like a lunari. Sometimes, when I look at that child, I see her.”

“I don’t.” Lucian stated. “Grace was Grace and Sarang is Sarang.” He slipped on his jacket.

“You know all of this can be avoided if–”

“Call the doctor for stronger medication and opioids.”

Sebastian attempted to protest when the door creaked open.

“Is everything alright, Father?” Nathaniel asked, flicking his gaze between the two men.

“Eavesdropping is a bad habit,” Lucian remarked, settling into a chair. “It breeds misunderstanding.”

“You don’t look well. You would feel better if you stopped drinking. You’re not in your prime anymore.”

“I’m in my golden years.”

“Almost, Master.” Sebastian quipped, earning a glare from Lucian. “His health will improve when he listens to the doctor.”

“Listen to Sebastian.” Nathaniel added.

“Yes, listen to me, sir.”

Lucian sipped his tea and asked. "What do you want son?”

“It can wait until you feel better. In private.” Nathaniel replied, glancing pointedly at Sebastian. He bowed to his father and left the room.

Sebastian refilled Lucian’s cup and folded his arms behind his back. “I may not understand your reasons, but I won’t bury another master. I want to die before you Master Lucian even if I must take drastic measures.”

He bowed deeply and exited, leaving Lucian alone.

Nathaniel wandered through the mansion in search of Sarang, but the omega was nowhere to be found. A servant mentioned seeing him at the servant quarters, far from the main house. Following the lead, Nathaniel smiled as he spotted Sarang at the playground, surrounded by children.

Sarang sat on a swinging bench, a book in hand, his voice animated as he read aloud to the captivated children seated on the grass. The children giggled and gasped at his expressive narration.

“And that is why crows are black and cannot speak. The end.” Sarang closed the book, and the children gleefully surrounded him, firing off a mix of important and ridiculous questions like “Why he was so pale?” or “Are horses were unicorns with broken horns?” or “How to feed birds to befriend them?"

“I have a question.” Nathaniel interjected with a playful grin. “How can I steal our lovely storyteller?”

“No!” The children protested, clinging to Sarang, who blushed.

“He’s going to read us another story!” The youngest of the eight children declared.

“Children! It’s time for lunch!” A maid called.

Nathaniel crouched to the youngest, holding out a coin. “Is one silver good?”

She eyed him shrewdly, then counted everyone. “Make it nine, and you can have him.”

“Gretel!” Sarang gasped, mortified, as the child grinned mischievously.

Laughing, Nathaniel handed over nine silver coins.

“Thank you, Mister.” Gretel said and handed a coin to everyone, including Sarang. “Get yourself something nice and expensive.” She said cheekily.

As the children scampered off to the maid, Sarang turned to Nathan, his expression smug “I’m not giving you my coin.”

Nathaniel burst into laughter. “I like that small one. She’s funny.”

“She’s adorable. and playful. A day doesn’t pass without her father yelling her name. She would say, ‘Every time something happens, papa’s always shouting. Gretel do this, Gretel did that, Gretel sit, Gretel, ladies don’t do that–I’m six! Not a lady!’”

They laughed as Nathan pulled Sarang into a warm embrace. He leaned closer, whispering against Sarang’s ear, “I hope our children will as assertive as her, like you.” He pressed a kiss to Sarang’s lips.

“We’re in public.” Sarang murmured, glancing around nervously.

“They’ll know about our engagement soon enough.” Nathan took his hand, searching for the ring.

“It’s here.” Sarang tugged the chain from beneath his shirt, exposing the ring.

“Soon, you won’t have to hide it.”

“Have you spoken with master? What did he say?”

Nathan shook his head, “I haven’t told him. Father isn’t feeling well.”

Sarang’s brows furrowed with concern, “What is wrong with him? Is it serious?”

“He doesn’t look bright, but he’s not bedridden. Sebastian watching him closely, and we’ve been pleading with him for years to stop drinking.”

“I worry for him. Perhaps I should–”

“He will be fine. Father is always fine. I just pray it’s nothing serious. Nathan interrupted, rubbing Sarang’s shoulders reassuringly “It’s been a while since we’ve been in Linfield.”

“It has. Everything looks beautiful.”

"Shall we explore the capital?”

“Now?” Sarang asked and Nathan nodded.

“You’re not busy?”

Sarang smiled, slipping his arm through Nathaniel’s. “I’m not busy. Let’s go.”

Linfield, the capital of Eldoria, was an enormous city of pristine streets and elegantly dressed citizens who moved about without fear or caution. To visitors, the city appeared devoid of poverty, a model of wealth and order. But the truth was far grimmer. The poor were relegated to slums on the city's outskirts, hidden from the public eye unless they had business beyond their domes

The structure was discriminatory. While all were Eldorians, there was no sense of unity beyond their class. Sarang vividly remembered the first time he had witnessed a public beating of a pickpocketing child from the slums. If not for Sebastian’s intervention, the child would have lost a limb—or worse, his life. That incident had starkly reminded Sarang of his own fortune, because as twisted as it sounded, in some ways, slaves had it easier, provided their masters weren’t malicious.