Chapter 10 - NINE - THE SUBJECT

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THE SUBJECT

"Good morning, my ladies! May I have your attention, please?"

A spark of wariness sprouted inside me as the smoldering greeting, yet oddly somewhat cold voice boomed around the hall, successfully gaining everyone's undivided attention.

"Who's he?" I asked about the man on top of the spiral staircase, literally looking down at us.

Lucas got up from his seat and faced the source of the voice, bowing with his arms to his side. I glanced around the hall and saw those like Lucas doing the same thing, standing upright afterward.

"At ease, gentlemen."

As the newly-arrived man said those with an inviting smile, Lucas eventually came to stand by my side like a sentinel, looking somewhat tensed.

"Allow me to introduce myself," the man continued as he descended from the stairs, along with another man─I presumed another aide─behind. "My name is Victor Ferreira, the manager of Esotera Court Hotel."

He's the manager?

"Our management sincerely thanking you all for accepting our invitation, and for that, we organized a small welcome party this evening. I sincerely hope that everyone will come. It would be a pleasure to have you all at tonight's event. In case you've got questions, please don't hesitate to approach me, or if not, your designated aides." He paused, looking at each and everyone in the room.

"We delegated each one of you a professional aide. Your aide will also be your constant companion and guide throughout your three-month stay here. Whatever you need, just ask them and they will do so. Am I right, Aamir?" he asked, pertaining to the man in a ponytail with headphones on earlier, now standing with sleepy eyes beside the beautiful lady in pixie haircut and black fierce eyes who had approached me earlier.

"Right."

Victor, the manager, smiled meaningfully at Aamir. "I hope so."

"That would be all, my beautiful ladies. Enjoy the rest of your day and we will see each other again this evening. So long!"

"WHAT'S UP WITH that manager?"

Lucas, who was petting Dundee sitting between us, paused for a while to look up. "What do you mean, milady?"

I tried not to frown with his last word, but based on the amused glow in his eyes, I knew I still did.

"You guys seem so tensed back there when he came. What's the deal?"

"He's the person in charge of this place and our superior. It's a normal thing to get tensed when your boss is around, right?" he said shaking Dundee's paw, who in return seemed to be grinning 'yes' at him.

"Is that so?"

He nodded, petting the dog once again.

I puckered my lips, watching the seaside view to my left passed by in the blur of trees as the cart we're riding for few minutes took a right curve. "Where are we going, anyway?"

Lucas flashed a smile and returned his attention to the dog. "You'll see in a bit, milady."

"Lucas," I called out after a while.

"Yes, milady?" His gaze was still fixated on Dundee who was grinning with satisfaction as he continued scratching the back of the dog's ears.

I gulped, trying to muster the courage so I could voice out the thought bugging me since this morning. "I'll be eternally grateful if you could just f-forget what happened earlier this morning," I said pertaining to the breakdown I had where he got to see me completely messed up.

His hands petting Dundee halted, shoulders tensing up in the process.

I found myself biting my bottom lip as I've waited for his response.

"It's not that I don't appreciate what you did," I rambled when he remained silent. "I don't mean to offend your kind gestures. I'm extremely grateful," Liar! "that you were there to calm me down─"

"It's alright, milady," he softly said. He lifted his gaze, coyly smiling. "I understand. There's no need to explain yourself."

That was more than enough to shut me up. A surge of guilt rushed in my system, hitting and crushing the protective wall of reasoning I built for quite a while. I was so sure I built it strong and firm, but hearing those earnest words from him was like a humongous destructive ball wrecking every part of it to pieces, making it look like a mere joke ever recorded in the history of mankind's lies.

Now, guilt is killing me.

All I just wanted to happen was for him to forget what he saw. I didn't want him to see me as a walking emotional ticking bomb who was ready to self-destruct any time that something or someone triggered me so. I just . . . I simply didn't want him to look at me with pity. I didn't want it.

I don't want him to see me weak.

For a while, I just watched him play with the dog until the cart was finally pulled over by a fancy-looking milk-white establishment. Beyond the glass door front, a cursive Linus Touch was there. On either side of the glass door's front were show windows; the left side display had three mannequins togged up in the most elegant gowns I've ever seen so far in my life, while the right side . . . uh . . . I could see few people seated by tables or counters, sipping coffees and eating cakes.

Wait. Was that a café?

"Yes, milady."

My eyes searched for Lucas. "Huh?"

"That side is a café," he said glancing on the right side of the establishment.

I eyed him suspiciously. "Did you just read my mind?"

"As much as I want to, milady, but I didn't. You just happened to speak your thoughts out loud."

I get off the cart, following him with Dundee. "Really, Lucas . . . if you happen to read my mind, you'd be totally crept out." I laughed, shaking my head.

You might get lost in its darkness. I wanted to add but decided against it.

Thankful that he didn't make further comment, I asked again as we walked towards the entrance, "Care to tell what we're doing here?"

He pushed one side of the glass door open. A clang of a bell sounded, his free hand urging me to come inside. And so I did. "To get you a dress for this night's event, milady."

Did I just hear him right?

I turned to him, an eyebrow raised. "But there's a lot of dresses in my room's closet. It's just a simple welcome party, Lucas."

Lucas was about to speak out when a voice suddenly came out of nowhere behind. "Well, well. That won't do, darling. You should indulge yourself more with fancy dresses as long as you live. A lady like you must."

Turning around, I found a man in long white sleeves with a red boa around his neck, a fit glittery purple pants, and black shiny shoes. I blinked my eyes, fixating it on his smiling face. Because of that, I couldn't help but notice his light purple eyeshadow and nude lipstick.

"Done checking me out, darling?"

Words seemed to roll so melodiously─almost girlish─on his tongue.

"I'm . . . I'm sorry."

He chuckled modestly, a hand covering his mouth. "Now, now. I can't blame you for admiring my gorgeousness, darling. I'm one of a kind, so I understand."

Conceited.

His cat-like eyes darted behind me. And I swore above, his eyes just sparkled in delight. "Oh, if it isn't my darling Lucas!" He squealed. "How are you, my dear, dear darling boy!"

I have to step aside when the fancy man giddily skipped his way through the front door, almost forgetting me, where an uncomfortable-looking-yet-still-smiling Lucas was. The fancy man slithered his arms to Lucas's right arm as long as he reached him.

"You've been gone for so long here! Where have you been? I've missed you so much!"

Dundee, on the other hand, wandered around, randomly sniffing the potted plants on either side of a white door across us, and eventually decided to settle on the leader couch just by the right side of the white door.

Lucas forced a smile─a first time─as he gently removed the fancy man's arms to his and took one step away. "I've been out for long, indeed. I'm glad to see you again, Linus."

I almost scoffed. Glad, huh? You seemed ready to take off anytime you get a chance.

The fancy man, whom Lucas called Linus, looking visibly delighted, made a sudden lurched at Lucas' place while saying how much he missed him.

Everything that happened next passed by like a slow-motion with me being dragged behind Lucas, and Linus . . . Well . . .

"How cruel of you, my darling Lucas! I just want to embrace you so dearly!" Linus cried out like a kid, flailing his hands to either side while his forehead was being held by Lucas an arm-length away from him.

"I suggest you refrain from doing so, Linus. I'm with milady, you see?"

Linus peeked behind Lucas, looking at me with scrutiny, and then pouted like a kid. "So you will just discard me 'cause you found someone else, huh? How cruel! I hate you already!"

The scene before me was too hilarious that I couldn't help myself anymore from bursting out of laughter. But it wasn't long live when I had realized that I've been stared at in the weirdest way possible by the two.

"I'm sorry," I apologized, clearing my throat.

Linus sighed audibly, flicking Lucas's hands-off on his forehead as he glared at my aide, who immediately removed his hand, and then sauntered in my direction.

"Now, now. Tell me what do you get me here, my darling Lucas," he said, eyeing me up and down, arms crossed.

"A welcome party for the guests, Linus."

Linus, seemed to be in deep thought, hummed in understanding. "Okay!" He suddenly beamed, startling me. "Leave this creature to me!"

Creature? Do I look like Smiggle?

"Now come along, darling!"

"A SIMPLE WELCOME party, huh?" I scoffed, gazing around the grand hall filled with more or less forty people clad in their most striking and elegant formal suits and gowns. "Does the manager even know what the definition of the word simple is? Should I google it for him?"

Lucas chuckled beside me at my exasperated remarks but made no further comment at all.

Taking a quick look at the corner of my eye, I couldn't help but praise him in my mind on how dashing he was in his renaissance butler suit. I could hardly believe that this fine-looking specimen was merely an aide to someone like me. I shook my head, directing my attention to the untouched glass of red wine in my hand, and then back to his silvery-white hair.

"Is your hair color natural?" I started, shrugging a shoulder. "Pardon me for asking. Just curious."

His brows quirked up. "It is, milady."

Astounded, I looked up to his hair, and then back to his smiling face again. "Really? You didn't dye it?"

"Yes, milady. I've been born with this hair color along with my skin and eyes. I have Oculocutaneous Albinism Type One-B, you see?"

My mouth formed an "o" as I marveled at the thought. "Wow. And here I thought you were just a fan of KPOP star or some anime character with such shade of hair."

"Anime?"

"Yes," I affirmed, chortling at his perplexed expression. "You haven't watched one?"

"I'm afraid I haven't, milady. My apologies."

I laughed inwardly. "Well, I guess I just found someone to watch those with."

I held up my hand with three fingers up.

He arched his brow at this. "What are you doing, milady?"

"How many fingers up?"

"Three, obviously."

"You can see me well?"

His forehead furrowed. "I perfectly do."

"Just checking since vision isn't one of the strongest suit of most with your case," I explained, smiling softly. "Hoping I didn't offend you."

He chuckled. "You did not, milady. It's not really a problem with OCA1B type."

"That's a relief 'coz you seriously need to watch over me carefully."

I laughed shallowly at that.

"By the way, milady . . ."

Still laughing in my mind, I looked up, smiling.

"You look exceptionally beautiful tonight in your dress," he said with what seemed to be pride in his usual warm smile.

A strong gust of wind seemed to blow away the smile on my face; heat started to creep on my cheeks, replacing it. For a split second, I was left dumbfounded unable to say anything in return until I finally collected my scattered wits.

"F-Flattery will do you no good," I said, guzzling the glass of wine and gave it to the roaming servant with a tray of alcohols.

Grateful for not saying anything, I stared at my reflection against the ceiling to floor glass window by my far left side.

"Too much," I whispered, pertaining to the simple yet long dark-blue elegant silk gown, embroidered with large roses from the mid-portion all the way down to the hem. Its back part was a butterfly-like rose-patterned lace that covers the upper portion, exposing a decent part of my lower back. Linus did a good job of tucking my hair into a bun with few loose strands of hair on either side of my face.

I was just utterly thankful that he didn't turn me into a Pennywise looked-alike after all that I-stole-his-darling-Lucas talks back there in his salon. His light make-up on me was a great relief.

I glanced around, noticing the newly arrived group of men and women by the wide entrance of the hall. Another wave of people. I wonder when this would end.

The welcome party was way too much for a simple gathering contrary to what the manager told us earlier. Apparently, Webster's definition of the word 'simple' was far beyond the manager's perception. What more if he said grand?

That would be a terrifying thought to ponder.

"Hola! Mind if we share a table with you?"

Across us, a gorgeous lady in a free-flowing Greek-inspired lavender dress, stood, holding a tray full of different kinds of food served on the buffet table. I looked at it wide-eyed then back to her. She was a heavy eater without any trace of doubt. Wasn't she the one who waved at me at the dining hall earlier?

"Uh . . . S-Sure."

"Great!" She beamed, then looked over her shoulders, shouting; "Mort! Over here!"

A frowning man with two full trays of desserts approached the table. He looked like he was on the verge of reprimanding her due to the unreadable frown etched on his face. "How many times should I tell you to control your binge eating, Lady Sumire?"

And I was right.

He placed the trays on the table and pulled her a chair where she sat right away. "It's not good for your health."

The lady chuckled heartily, pointing a fork with a fillet to the frowning man. "You really need to loosen up, Mort. Seriously, that behavior of yours will make you age in no time."

"And that appetite of yours will get you fat in no time."

The lady's jaw dropped. "Fuyukai desu! How rude!"

The two continued to bicker for a while until the still frowning man diverted his gaze on us. He seemed taken aback for a fraction of a second before he cleared his throat, composing himself. He must have thought that they were only the ones occupying the table.

"A pleasant evening, Lady Celestine. I apologize if you have to witness such improper display of behavior," he said in an almost same polite manner as Lucas. "I hope you don't mind."

He knew my name? Should I not be surprised anymore?

I shot him a small undecided smile. "Don't worry. It's nothing."

He nodded curtly, taking the seat next to the lady he was arguing with who eventually started taunting him.

"Wow, Mort! You're so polite to her. Have you hit your head somewhere? 'Coz seriously, you're creeping me out," the lady butted in, making a shivering gesture. "Doom's day must be close."

The frowning man attempted to counter, but only to be cut off again.

Poor, Mort.

"So!" She beamed with a cheeky smile. "It's nice to finally have you here in one piece, Celestine. I'm Sumire. Sumi is fine. And this," she pointed the fork to the frowning man, "is my rude aide, Mortisse. You can call him Mort. He doesn't mind, I'm telling you."

Mort tried to comment, but Sumire was too quick to cut him off. "Don't worry though, despite his unpleasant display of behavior, he could surprisingly behave himself when the need arises. And that's mainly the reason why I love events like this." She leaned a bit forward and whispered, "I'm free for quite a few hours from his never-ending lecture. I'm telling you, he's very skilled at it. I often wonder why he wasn't born female, 'cause he surely passed the criteria if ever." Shrugging her shoulders, she sat back properly and continued to dig in.

I sat there not sure how to react to that. Beside me, Lucas tittered which earned a deadly glare from Mort. I could tell the latter was itching to say something to the former but decided not to, anyway. These two must be friends.

I grinned at the thought, but it quickly vanished as my mind replayed Sumire's words. "What do you mean by that finally part?"

Sumire swallowed the food in her mouth first. "The 'finally have you here in one piece' part?"

I nodded. At the corner of my eyes, I saw Lucas connected his eyes to Mort, seemingly having a silent conversation. Mort grimly nodded. Lucas shifted to his seat and stood to my side.

"Omo!" Her eyes flickered to Lucas. "You didn't tell her?"

Lucas offered me his right white-gloved hand. "Milady, if you may, I would like to ta─"

I raised a hand, gesturing him to stop. "Tell me what, Sumire?"

Sumire's gaze shifted from mine to Lucas. Putting down the fork and knife in her hands, she reached out for the glass of wine, and greedily emptied its content. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Tell. Me. What?" I repeated the question with gritted teeth; stressing each word with so much intensity. I almost didn't recognize the cold hard tone of my voice.

Sumire muttered something I didn't understand. Her mouth parted. This time I clearly heard what she'd said. "Damn honesty."

"Lady Sumire, I believe─"

Mort was cut off by her again.

"That you were a subject to a failed assassination months ago."

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