Chapter 12: 12

Chapter 12 – Overwhelming Desire

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‘Basilion House’

That’s what people called the newly built townhouse in central Nowak. The mansion, grandiose and magnificent enough to be called after the mythical Sun King, has been busy and noisy for the past few days, with no chance for the lights to go out.

New house, new master, new servants.

Amid constant confusion and trial and error, there was an entity that held the balance firmly; the aide Grozhang Tureda. He was a secretary, a messenger, and an adviser that kept his Master’s side since he was a toddler.

On an afternoon, when the sun was setting, he knocked on the new Master’s door. He was in an urgency.

“Young Master, you must depart now. Change your clothes quickly.”

Behind Grozhang there was a white-haired old butler and a young starter maid. Each of them held a shirt, a belt, a jacket, and a basket.

Grozhang has been nervous all along. His Master had to arrive at the ‘Dimitri Club House’, where the charity bazaar was held, by 6 p.m. at the latest.

“The organizer, Sir Haleston, is one of Madam Meyer’s longtime friends and important investors. She will be extremely disappointed if you are late.”

The young maid stretched out his shirt as if rushing.

“Oh right, Young Master,”

Grozhang suddenly lowered his voice.

“A call came from the Reinen household.”

Hadius’ hand, which was undoing the buttons, hesitated.

“Young Lady Bianca is said to be returning home around the time of your graduation ceremony. They said the Saint-Burge Convent’s Bridal School is starting its vacation.”

Bianca Reinen.
Hearing the name of his former fiancée, Hadius had an unknown face.

In the meantime, the young maid started hurting his arm more and more. It hasn’t been long since the child started working, so he didn’t know how to do it.

Sweat flowed from his forehead. Unconsciously, he wiped the sweat with his shoulder.

Hadius was awakened by the sound of cloth brushing against him. Only then he noticed the boy behind him and put his hand inside the sleeve. And then he asked.

“What is your name?”

The child flinched at the sudden question.

“P-Pip.”
“Pip.”
“Yes.”
“How old are you?”
“… Twelve.”

“You are young.”
“S-Still, I am tall. To the point where I reach the Young Master’s shoulders…”

Pip, who muttered incoherently, turned pale and shut his mouth.
He was told that Hadius Meyer is a person whom you can’t read. According to the senior servant, that generous smile is just a disguise and, in reality, he is a very scary person.

“You can speak from now on. Don’t just wait.”

Not giving Pip a chance to answer, Hadius put the shirt on his arm.
After that, it progressed smoothly like a machine. Pip diligently buttoned him up and put on the vest.

After finishing his work, Pip took a step backwards and watched eagerly as the old butler tied the Master’s tie. The butler was also in charge of the belt and shoelaces.

After a while, Hadius was dressed in a perfect dinner suit, from the bow tie to the dress shoes. Starting from the shiny black hair, everything was reminiscent of a winter night.

Pip couldn’t take his eyes off of the perfect figure of the man, as if he wasn’t from this world.

Hadius has been groomed to be that way since birth. He has to be a person that evokes pride and a sense of awe from his outside appearance.

Thus, the look of admiration did not impress him. His heart was as hard as a rock and has not been beating for a long time.

***

When the successor of the Meyer family arrived at the clubhouse in the center of Nowak, the whole area became hectic.

The bazaar’s organizers, Count Haleston and his wife, exceptionally came to the front door to greet him.

Not only selected guests, but also reporters looking for gossip gathered like clouds in front of the young successor who will become the center of the high society.

Hadius was always polite and courteous at official meetings. Unlike his age, he was prudent and quiet and preferred to listen than to speak.

Caitlyn Meyer was looking at her son from a distance, with proud eyes. Hadius, surrounded by people since his entrance, slowly approached his mother.

“You’re here.”

The mother and son put their cheeks together and embraced affectionately, in front of everyone.

“I’m sorry for being late.”
“What are you saying? I forcibly called you here when you were busy.”

She smiled gently and placed her hand on her son’s shoulder. Hadius also smiled.

They exchanged disciplined smiles and wandered around the bazaar booths, side by side.

“Oh, what became of the meeting with that child? I thought you said you were going to meet with that Erndorf’s child in person.”
“Yes, I met her.”

A rhythmical voice that is neither too heavy nor too light.

“So, did you talk? About the breakup.”
“Yes.”

“Did she accept it obediently?”
“Nothing difficult happened for Mother to worry about. She also wanted to break up.”
“That’s a relief.”

Caitlyn lightly brushed off the dust that had adhered to her gloves.

“By the way, did you talk to her? About migrating to the New World.”
“I gave her a word but didn’t give any specific details. It gives the impression of kicking her out and stealing the place where she lived until now.”
“That’s right…”

Nodding her head, she dwelled on having boasted in front of Hannes and Assemblyman Richards that she would drive the child away to the New World and leave her there.

“But what if you go strong? Compensation, rewards, why are you making things so complicated? You even bought the land, just kick her out and get it over with…”

While muttering to herself, a document was handed to her.

“What is this? Breakup… Agreement?”
“We decided to discuss the matters concerning the breakup and leave it as a contract.”

The cool voice continued, not leaving time for Caitlyn to answer.

“She also agreed, and she will faithfully fulfill her duty as a fiancée before the breakup. She also said she would let the King see her following his command faithfully at the graduation ceremony. It won’t be too late to decide on the matter of moving to the New World after the breakup.”

What on earth is the problem?
He was asking, with a look as insensitive as a piece of paper. Caitlyn stared at her son blankly, then turned to the paper again.

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“A breakup agreement… That’s a good idea.”

Caitlyn mumbled and put the document in the envelope.

A group of people recognized them from afar and approached them with joyful faces. Caught in the crowd, the mother and son gradually moved away from each other as they shook hands and exchanged greetings.

As with all charity bazaars hosted by the nobility, each booth was lined with luxurious and rare items.

Gilded ornaments, ivory sculptures, antique books, and even small, crafted products. These are expensive and luxurious items that commoners can’t even dream of.

Of course, Hadius was not interested in anything.

Magic performances and card games for entertainment also failed to attract his attention. The Meyers is a great noble family that has accumulated wealth for several generations; and the withered boredom, with neither vanity nor desire for material things, is like a symbol of the family.

Hadius took a glass of champagne and stood under an ornate arabesque column. Concealing his boredom with a nice smile, he raised his hand welcomingly to the approaching people.

He was thinking of waiting for the right time to leave the event.
The ‘right time’ came when an elephant appeared in the middle of the hall. People clapped and cheered as the actor in a turban did a performance on top of the elephant.

Caitlyn called Hadius, who was about to leave.

“Are you leaving?”
“Yes.”
“Wait, before that, I have something to tell you. Just a minute.”

They headed to the balcony, with their shoulders side by side again.

The night was dark already, and dozens of bronze lamps were shining like stars, illuminating everywhere.

“Have you perhaps heard the story? About Bianca.”
“… Yes. I heard that she is returning to Nowak in time for the graduation ceremony.”
“Before that, we have to invent an occasion. So that you and Bianca can meet naturally. You know that Grand Duke Reinen is very upset, right?”
“Yes.”
“You should visit him sometime and say hello.”
“I will do that.”

At the brief responses, Caitlyn was speechless for a moment. Hadius looked down at his mother with a ‘Is there any problem?’ look on his face. Caitlyn blinked diligently. The rose-colored lips smiled softly again.

“You will be surprised when you see Bianca. You know when she was young, she was a little chubby and a tomboy. Thinking of acting like boys…”

Sighing, Caitlyn waved her hands.

“But now, she is completely different. What kind of magic did God use, that she became really beautiful? To the point it is exciting, even if she is the same woman.”
“I’m really curious about how she has changed.”

The moment Hadius replied, the balcony door burst open. Several ladies were laughing and walking towards the railing and looked happy when they recognized the mother and son.

“Oh? Prince Hadius? Even Mrs. Meyer…?”

Giving a polite greeting, Hadius took a step back so that his mother could chat with the women.

As he was looking through the venue without interest, his eyes suddenly hesitated somewhere beyond the podium. Having finished talking with the women, Caitlyn tilted her head towards her son.

“What’s wrong?”
“… It’s nothing.”

Caitlyn looked attentively at the place where her son’s gaze had been directed, with a suspicious look.

Perhaps he was looking at a woman?

At the venue, there were several young ladies so beautiful that they were mesmerizing. There was nothing strange about a 20-year-old young man, full of vitality, being captivated by women.
However, there was no woman at the place he was looking at. All she could see was a music box seller, yawning as if he were bored.

Well, that can’t be.

Hadius is an outright ascetic. As his mother, she thoroughly disciplined him to be like that. While she is satisfied with her son, who is not swayed by the slightest desire or emotion, she also feels weirdly anxious.

No, he has no interest in that country child.

Caitlyn blinked her eyes and let go of her nonsense.

“By the way, what are you going to do with the breakup agreement? When will you sign it?”
“I will do it as soon as possible.”
“Right, there’s nothing good about dragging it. You don’t know how a person’s mind will change. That child doesn’t seem to be greedy now, but…”

“I will take care of it, Mother.”

At that moment, when Caitlyn was taken aback, the door opened once again. When the elephant show was over, people with glowing faces poured out onto the balcony. They recognized the mother and son and greeted them as well.

“Then, I will go first.”

Hadius took the chance between the chaos and noise and escaped from the balcony.
The truth is, Caitlyn wasn’t completely wrong. He saw exactly one thing. The music box really caught Hadius’ attention.

Instead of heading straight to the exit, the gasping steps stopped in front of the display stand. The merchant rejoiced.

“This is an item that was dedicated to Pope Benedict III. It is made of the finest elmwood.”

He handed him the music box, proudly. Unlike just before, the strangely burning eyes were fixed on the rotating mechanism.

However, what he is really seeing is some ‘remembrance’ that the music box evokes.

A girl who was frowning heavily looking at the music box on the ivory stand, thinking if she could touch it once.

Her eyes, which were shining mischievously, quickly lost their light when she saw her fiancé suddenly appearing across the street.

She bowed her knees and head slightly to greet him politely.
However, there was only a cold indifference coming from her deep-blue eyes. Like a cheeky declaration to try it if you dare.

Maybe it was a natural reaction. Didn’t everyone, including himself, treat her like floating dust since the first dinner party?

Still, Hadius was displeased. He was dumbfounded.
What does she want? Did she think he would welcome her?

The child turned away, coldly, as if she had never been interested in the music box. It seemed like it was directed at him, so his mood got worse once again.

At the same time, he realized it. Why he suddenly suggested a music box to the Chamberlain, who was worrying about what to put on the decorative table two days ago.

Music boxes were one of the best luxury items among young noble ladies at that time. He thought it would be a perfect sight for a commoner child who is proud and has a high self-esteem.

After a while, Hadius made a servant play the music box.

Contrary to his expectations, just like now, a very sad tone came out of it. Thinking it was gloomy and ominous, he thought about ordering him to turn it off right away.

But at that moment, emotions appeared again in the eyes of the child, which had been dead in an achromatic color.

Is it sadness? Or is it sorrow? Maybe it’s hate or resentment. They had a mysterious, dark hue, and it seemed like she was facing Hadius.

The sorrow pierced his heart and aroused a cruel satisfaction.

Yes, he definitely enjoyed them.
The eyes that cannot control the emptiness at every dinner party.

“How is it? It will be a great honor if the person who will be the head of the Meyer family takes it.”

The merchant proudly lifted the item. An overwhelming desire grabbed the wooden box tightly.

Two days later, Beppy Dilson galloped his horse, excitedly, towards the zelkova forest. Next to him was a music box, gorgeously wrapped in silk.

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