Chapter 18: Roaring Golden Lion (3)

"Oh, no no no," Desmond spoke between chuckles. "How could I encroach? You two have your fun. I only came to say hello and was wondering if Grandpa Bowan was free. I know that his birthday is coming up soon, so I prepared a little something for him."

A complicated feeling swelled up within Rosemary's chest. Of those in this family, Desmond had always been the kindest to her, even before her talent was revealed. However, her grandfather detested everything to do with the Joseph family. These days, old man Bowan could hardly spare more than a few words to his own daughter, not that the Joseph family Mistress visited her aging father very often to begin with.

The old man's disdain for the family extended to Desmond as well. Though the eldest son tried to ingratiate himself from time to time, calling Bowan Grandpa, it didn't work out in his favor. Still, that didn't stop him from trying.

After a moment, Rosemary's eyes lit up. This was the perfect excuse, no? She hadn't seen her grandfather in almost three months, having been under lock and key by her mother. If it was Desmond who took her, though, she just might be able to skirt around her mother's rules.

"I can go with you!" Rosemary offered. "Even if he's still being cranky, I'll pass on the gift for you."

"Really? Good, good." Desmond smiled. "We can go tomorrow. I still have some things to handle tonight. I'll let you ladies do your thing."

Desmond took a long puff of his cigar and waved goodbye, leaving without much reluctancy. Outside of his first look toward Sofia, he hadn't ended up speaking a word to her. It could be said he was a man practiced in such things, he had already realized that Sofia wasn't very interested. Forcing her wouldn't work, the ideal would be if she changed her mind on her own.

"Some friend you are!" Sofia hissed.

Even after waiting a while for Desmond to get out of earshot, there was no telling with Mythical Masters. She didn't want to take a chance with being overheard.

Rosemary giggle in response. "I'm just trying to help!"

"Who asked for your help!? My parents are already harassing me enough about it and all they saw was him smile at me from across a ballroom!"

"Alright, alright, I give. I beg for a humble apology."

Sofia snorted, her little nose upturning. "You can go on your little 'thank you' dinner with Ryker alone, then."

"Hey!"

"What? I'm just 'trying to help'."

The two girls bantered and giggled, letting the hours of the day wane. They knew that with the Quota Check coming up, they wouldn't have many more days like this one. At least they could enjoy these last few days of leisure.

This had been Rosemary's thoughts. Naïve and wistful, maybe. But, 20-20 hindsight was a remarkable thing. She couldn't have possibly known at that moment that on the next day, she would have sunk to her knees before her grandfather's smithy, watching his corpse being carried out.

She couldn't hear the consoling words Desmond tried to speak. Her ears were filled with rushing blood and the hollow beat of her heart. She wasn't sure if she remembered to breathe or if her body had entered a state of autopilot. Everything flew by her at an agonizing slow pace, her thoughts having turned to mush.

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There was only a single realization that stuck with her. Through the sea of mental soup, deep within those murky, viscous and slow waters, there was the understanding that she had missed the final moments of her grandfather. He had died here… Alone.

"I want this shop cornered off! Not a single soul will be allowed inside to desecrate the resting place of my youngest sister's grandfather! Anyone daring to encroach on this will be an enemy of the Joseph family!"

Desmond drew a clear line, barking out his orders in a far harsher tone than he usually used with his guards. But, no one felt he was being inappropriate.

"Send a messenger to inform my stepmother. We will hold a funeral in a week."

The guard procession set off to complete Desmond's orders.

Desmond took off his coat, wrapping it around Rosemary's shoulders and helping her to stand. A light sigh left his lips when Rosemary didn't react to his actions in the slightest.

The death of a small blacksmith was just a blip in the chaos of Smoke Tower City. The number who were affected were small and the number who cared were even fewer. Maybe the only one truly hurt was Rosemary herself.

That said, there was one other individual who seemed to take notice.

On the metal tiled roof of a smoke billowing factory, Ryker leaned against a hot, trembling chimney column. He had a single knee pulled to his chest and a gaze that seemed to cross the entire city toward a familiar smithy.

Ryker rested a forearm on his bent knee, a bottle of liquor swaying between his fingers. His expression was apathetic and distant even as the small mirror reflected the scene of several kilometers away. But, he still tipped his wrist over, allowing the pungent brown liquid to drizzle against the metal roof.

"I'm not a good person, old man. But, I'm not a liar. The words I spoke that day, I will fulfill them."

Ryker brought the bottle to his lips, taking a long swig.

The image on the small mirror shifted. An unknown distance away, a long procession with uniform flags whipping about in the wind steadily made their way toward Smoke Tower City.

Large, hulking beasts the size of carriages protected them from all around, even the coach drivers maintaining an air of haughtiness that was impossible to miss. It felt like they didn't just own the roads they traveled upon, but even the earth the roads were built upon.

The flags danced, the image of a roaring golden lion embroidered onto a crimson fabric painting a striking image.

Ryker watched this with indifference, sipping at his booze without a care.

'It's about damn time.'

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