"Fortunately, Dad warned whoever the punishers not to strike our face. It is our valuable asset, you know." Maxillary said grinning as he tugged his brother's hair that was covering the half of his face to the side.
Maxillary could now clearly see Maxwell's pale face as he started to pant.
"There is no doubt that you will end up in this state. I apologize for not taking care of you, Brother." Maxillary said sarcastically as he remembered what their older Brother Amo told him when they were in Maxlein's room.
Maxillary was delighted on his brother's punishment and taking Maxwell's silence for granted.
They had been used in cruelties and extremities that such things already became normal to them as normal as they breathe, just like drinking poisons as if they were just drinking water and medicine, and being beaten as if they were just taking a hot bath.
Right after the three Ducal Houses were established, the three families had became known as monsters of the Empire. Used in committing hideous acts behind their beatiful facades, their atrocities had grown and still growing that they had become psychos to everyone's eyes.
But during the war, the three Ducal Houses had greatly contributed to the Empire's glory that their enormity was suddenly forgotten after the war.
Maxillary predicted that it would take at least a day or two for Maxwell before he gets better without taking any medications nor antidotes to dispel the poison from his body.
Maxwell lifted his head and stared at his older brother.
"Has Maxine woken up?" Maxwell asked after his silence. It was Maxillary's turn to fell on silence because of what his brother asked. They were staring at each other.
Maxwell was trying to read his brother's thoughts while vacillating what to tell his brother for he did not want Maxwell to blame himself on what happened.
You see, Maxillary still care about Maxwell.
Maxillary believed that what had happened was not Maxwell's entire fault. The only fault Maxwell had on the incident was not locking the door.
It was also Maxineirah's fault for meddling to other's business.
She literally sticked her nose on Maxwell's business that was why both of his siblings were in that state.
Maxillary gritted his teeth. If he were his brothers, he would ignore her and would not give Maxine any spare chance to meddle with his business.
"I do not think she would wake up any time this day." Maxillary replied unsure.
He did not ever hated Maxine but he never liked her so much either.
Not only Maxine but everyone had always been neutral for him because he had been always thorough with his own business.
Maxillary would never let anyone break his wall.
It had been 3 days since Maxine fell ill. Everyone in the House has these bags under their eyes.
Duke Maximus became colder and they could tell that on the past 3 days, he had been merciless.
His Grace did not left Maxine on those 3 days and took his works in his daughter's room. The Butler could not stop his Master because he just received a glare when he tried to.
The Magicians from the Magic Tower already removed the poison on Maxine's body but her complexion did not get any better. It was only the poison that they managed to extract but the effects had already spread and it became an internal problem.
Maxine looked so pale, she was panting so heavily and her sweat did not stopped. Those 3 effects had been continuing day and night for over three days in a row.
Everyone could not get any proper sleep not because of Maxine but because of the frightening mood of the Duke. They kept coming in and out from the room every hour just to check on Maxine.
Gifts from the nobles had been arriving since they first heard that Maxine fell ill, they did not know that it was from poison and all they knew it was because of her frail body against the cold.
Sincere gifts and gifts to take advantage were being sent from different Houses that it already made a room full just for the gifts alone.
"Duke, a letter has arrived from Duchy House of Gabriela." Heinrich said holding the letter in a tray, measuring the mood of his Lord.
Maximus immediately frowned after reading the letter sent by his 'friend'.
Out of irritation, he crumpled the paper and threw it from his seat to the window as if it was just nothing.
"Duke!" the Butler called in surprised.
'That bastard really know how to piss me off.' Maximus thought in a gritted teeth.
The letter says that he was requesting for an enter in their Estate with his son, Grenchant.
He said that his son wants to 'visit his bedridden playmate'.
Just by thinking that Maxineirah would have a friend from Gabrielas who was just like his father, Maximus could not help but to clench his teeth in ire.
How dare Gabriela try to coax Maxine using his own son? Just by being Maxine's playmate already have a deep meaning for Maximus - tho there was really nothing to be wary in the letter.
'Gabriela, that f*cktard was trying to wed his son to Maxine!' his thoughts here were full of exaggerations and possessiveness.
It was a friendly letter and yet, His Grace were thinking that Gabrielas were taking advantage on his daughter.
The crumpled paper that was thrown out of the window fell on someone's head while walking.
"Ah!" Maximo reacted in shock and caressed his head, he then looked at the crumpled paper in the ground. "What was that?" he whispered to his self before bending over and picking it up due to curiousity.
That he should not have done.
After reading the letter, he froze, smiling while his whole body was shivering from anger. Maxlein and Maximillian who found him in that state was confused.
Maximillian took the letter from Maximo's hands and read it while Maxlein was peeking behind him.
"What-" Maxlein was about to curse but after he saw his brother Millian's grim face, his voice immediately backed out.
Their mood was flaring as if they were ready to crush someone's head. Maxillary together with Maxwell who already recovered from the punishment and only have a little nauseous remaining came over after seeing their brothers.
"What is with them?" Maxwell asked Maxlein in a whisper while Maxillary took the almost crumpled paper again from Brother Millian's hands and read what made his 3 brothers like that.
Maxlein told Maxwell what was on the letter with exaggeration.
They all trudge together and went on Maxineirah's room where their father could be found to complain.
They all had the same thoughts as their father's.
All the servants they passed quivered on the sight, it was as if a mad army were ready to murder if they saw someone blocking their path.
"DAD!" they all shouted in chorus and slammed the door open, forgetting that their sister inside the room was a patient.
The Butler who was standing beside the Duke and servants inside the room to assist Maxine jumped in shock.
The Young Lords who intruded the room immediately shut their mouths and backed away after the Duke looked at them with an obvious furious face as if saying, 'You. Are. Too. Loud. Maybe. I. Should. Slit. Your. Throats.'
The maids almost cried and fainted in shock because of the presences in the room, thinking that this may be their last day.
The Butler who pitied the servants dismissed them.
"Uhm... Duke? I think it is best to talk with you sons in the drawing room." Heinrich suggested.
He also want His Grace to step out the room because he had been keeping his self confined in Maxine's room for 3 days. He was worried that the Duke may fall ill when Maxineirah recovers but Maximus shot him a glare.
"Have no worries, Duke. I will guard her Ladyship." Heinrich reassured as if he knows what worries the Duke.
Maximus sighed and stood up to lead his sons in the drawing room, not knowing that his sons would be talking about his-so-called-friend, Gabriela and his son.
Just after a minute the Lords were gone, a maid rushed in the room.
"Where is His Grace?" the maid asked with a pant.
"Huh? They just left. What made you rushed like that? Do you not know that-" Heinrich could not finished his nagging when the maid butted in, "Duke Gabriela and his son are in the front gate!" she informed that startled the Butler.
"Could you repeat that?"
"Ugh! You are growing too old Sir Heinrich. I said, Duke Gabriela and his son are here!" the maid looks irritated. She feels great distressed right now.
"Hey! Watch your words you impudent child."
"Whatever! Just come down to see them yourself."
"You even have the nerve to command this old man."
"I am just saying." the maid shrugged.
"Are you not going to shut your big mouth? Should I fire you, huh?"
"Here, I am going to shut it."
The Butler hurriedly came down with the maid to greet the visitors, completely forgot that there was no one to watch over Maxine.
"The Duke is in the drawing room with his son. Send a word." the Butler commanded the maid before going out.
The servants and some Knights immediately stood aside the road to welcome the other Ducal House in a short span of time of preparing.
Heinrich fixed his self to look more presentable since he had no time to change his clothes.