Amid lifted the delicate teacup from the table with grace. He savored the aroma wafting from its contents before taking a slow, measured sip. The Viscount watched on, the seconds seeming to stretch into minutes as he awaited Amid’s next words.
“If you doubt that I am speculating,” Amid said, setting the teacup back on the table. “I am willing to share more with you.”
The Viscount inclined his head, a silent query in his gaze.
“Are you asking how I know all of this?” Amid continued, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Well, it all started with an incident at the mansion the Viscount so despises.” He leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “I know everything. If you were just speculating, you wouldn’t be able to put it into words so confidently.”
The Viscount’s expression hardened as Amid spoke, every word hitting home with the weight of truth. “They kicked out all the servants who knew about precognitive dreams,” Amid said, his voice calm and even. “All except for those who had served the family for over ten years. Because those servants were believed to be loyal to the Viscount’s family.”
The Viscount listened, rigid with tension, as Amid continued. “And among those who had served the family for over a decade, there was someone who had a close connection to the Leon family from a young age.” He raised the teacup once more, a twinkle in his eye, before taking another slow sip.
A whirlwind of thoughts swirled in Viscount Arlen’s mind. Did the Duke of Leon have a hand in his family’s affairs? Had Amid known about the precognitive dreams for long? And why was he bringing it up now? Did he covet it?
Amid’s voice cut through the Viscount’s musings. “Don’t overthink it. There will be no answer anyway.”
It was impossible for Viscount Arlen to keep pace with the Duke of Leon’s vast network of information. No matter how hard he tried, he would always be under the influence of the Duke, who held sway over the social and aristocratic circles of the capital. Viscount Arlen, driven by a thirst for power and honor, was well aware of this.
Amid raised two fingers. “There are only two things the Viscount needs to remember,” he said. “I’ve heard that the Viscount’s finances have been unstable lately, but the Duke of Leon can offer full support. In return, Leon wants the ability of precognition.”
Amid’s laughter was laced with a hint of threat. “It won’t be any fun if you refuse, now will it?”
* * *
Aden received a call from the Acid Company and headed towards Ilyin’s room. He felt it was not his place to make the decision alone. He had the power to send people away, but he didn’t want to act so insensitively.
Most importantly, the warm region was not a suitable place for his delicate wife. A place that should have been a haven from the harsh winter, was now a cruel and merciless environment for her.
Aden gritted his teeth, anger etched on his face. He was glad that his wife was comfortable in her winter surroundings, but he couldn’t help feeling anger towards those who had made the sun so unforgiving.
“Ilyin, are you there?” Etra’s voice called out as she opened the door. Ilyin approached with a relaxed demeanor, as if speaking with the maids at Del Rose.
“Are you done?” Ilyin asked with a chuckle. “Or did you come to ask for help?”
Aden knew that every time Ilyin helped, it would lighten her workload, but he was reluctant to burden her with his problems. Even when he was in a hurry, he didn’t want to see her work suffer.
Ilyin was a person who couldn’t bear to watch the suffering of the inhabitants of Biflten, let alone any of the four families. It was not necessary for her to know about the cold, harsh circumstances of winter.
“Yes, I’m done,” Aden said. “But I received a call from the warm region.”
“Were you in touch?” asked Ilyin.
“Yes,” said Aden as he extended his hand to her, “If you’re not busy, would you like to go to the office together?”
Ilyin blinked in surprise, but she had no reason to decline time with him. She eagerly took his hand and wrapped a thick shawl around her neck. Etra, who was about to follow, caught Aden’s gaze and stopped, remaining silent.
“I’ll be back,” said Ilyin with a small bow as she left the room with Aden.
Amid lifted the delicate teacup from the table with grace. He savored the aroma wafting from its contents before taking a slow, measured sip. The Viscount watched on, the seconds seeming to stretch into minutes as he awaited Amid’s next words.
“If you doubt that I am speculating,” Amid said, setting the teacup back on the table. “I am willing to share more with you.”
The Viscount inclined his head, a silent query in his gaze.
“Are you asking how I know all of this?” Amid continued, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Well, it all started with an incident at the mansion the Viscount so despises.” He leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “I know everything. If you were just speculating, you wouldn’t be able to put it into words so confidently.”
The Viscount’s expression hardened as Amid spoke, every word hitting home with the weight of truth. “They kicked out all the servants who knew about precognitive dreams,” Amid said, his voice calm and even. “All except for those who had served the family for over ten years. Because those servants were believed to be loyal to the Viscount’s family.”
The Viscount listened, rigid with tension, as Amid continued. “And among those who had served the family for over a decade, there was someone who had a close connection to the Leon family from a young age.” He raised the teacup once more, a twinkle in his eye, before taking another slow sip.
A whirlwind of thoughts swirled in Viscount Arlen’s mind. Did the Duke of Leon have a hand in his family’s affairs? Had Amid known about the precognitive dreams for long? And why was he bringing it up now? Did he covet it?
Amid’s voice cut through the Viscount’s musings. “Don’t overthink it. There will be no answer anyway.”
It was impossible for Viscount Arlen to keep pace with the Duke of Leon’s vast network of information. No matter how hard he tried, he would always be under the influence of the Duke, who held sway over the social and aristocratic circles of the capital. Viscount Arlen, driven by a thirst for power and honor, was well aware of this.
Amid raised two fingers. “There are only two things the Viscount needs to remember,” he said. “I’ve heard that the Viscount’s finances have been unstable lately, but the Duke of Leon can offer full support. In return, Leon wants the ability of precognition.”
Amid’s laughter was laced with a hint of threat. “It won’t be any fun if you refuse, now will it?”
* * *
Aden received a call from the Acid Company and headed towards Ilyin’s room. He felt it was not his place to make the decision alone. He had the power to send people away, but he didn’t want to act so insensitively.
Most importantly, the warm region was not a suitable place for his delicate wife. A place that should have been a haven from the harsh winter, was now a cruel and merciless environment for her.
Aden gritted his teeth, anger etched on his face. He was glad that his wife was comfortable in her winter surroundings, but he couldn’t help feeling anger towards those who had made the sun so unforgiving.
“Ilyin, are you there?” Etra’s voice called out as she opened the door. Ilyin approached with a relaxed demeanor, as if speaking with the maids at Del Rose.
“Are you done?” Ilyin asked with a chuckle. “Or did you come to ask for help?”
Aden knew that every time Ilyin helped, it would lighten her workload, but he was reluctant to burden her with his problems. Even when he was in a hurry, he didn’t want to see her work suffer.
Ilyin was a person who couldn’t bear to watch the suffering of the inhabitants of Biflten, let alone any of the four families. It was not necessary for her to know about the cold, harsh circumstances of winter.
“Yes, I’m done,” Aden said. “But I received a call from the warm region.”
“Were you in touch?” asked Ilyin.
“Yes,” said Aden as he extended his hand to her, “If you’re not busy, would you like to go to the office together?”
Ilyin blinked in surprise, but she had no reason to decline time with him. She eagerly took his hand and wrapped a thick shawl around her neck. Etra, who was about to follow, caught Aden’s gaze and stopped, remaining silent.
“I’ll be back,” said Ilyin with a small bow as she left the room with Aden.
