Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
The sound of the horse's hooves hitting the ground was like a never-ending beating of drums that signaled the arrival of the upcoming main event.
This was the only chance Nikola and Asher had of proving his innocence. Asher wanted to live his life with no regrets and freely while Nikola wanted to protect her son's future, happiness, and reputation within the family. Different drive, but the same objective.
Nikola and Asher perfectly maintained a noble expression despite the nervousness that was slowly growing within them. Archer, on the other hand, had his usual mysterious smile plastered on his expression. He had no real reason as to why feel nervous over the upcoming war. Archer had already seriously guessed what conclusion his master would arrive at. That butler's guesses where never wrong.
Seeing his calm expression, Nikola raised her chin and narrowed her eyes at Archer. "Would it kill you to try and act worried or anxious?"
With a straight back and raised chin, Nikola let out an intimidatingly arrogant aura. Her long, red hair cascaded past her back and perfectly framed her sharp facial features. The image would've been perfect if not for Asher trying to comb through the tough knots in her hair by her side.
"Ow! Asher, dear, please be more gentle. Mommy can't handle such excruciating pain," Nikola grimaced and whined while stomping her foot against the carriage floor, causing Asher to frown.
"It's your fault that you didn't prepare yourself beforehand."
"It isn't my fault! I had to prepare what I need to say to Lord Zacharia to prove that you are not involved with that wicked group!"
"You could've at least called a maid to detangle your hair while you prepared yourself!"
Archer's eyebrow twitched as he struggled to maintain his composure. Thankfully, the years he spent training to become a butler hadn't failed him yet. The pair of mother and son kept on annoyingly bickering non-stop. So this is where Asher got his stubbornness from...
"Young Master Asher, why don't we leave Her Grace's hair as it is? It is a perfect representation of who Her Grace is as a person."
Asher stared seriously at his mother's flaming red hair before staring back at Archer. "Wild and unruly. Got it."
"Who told you I'm wild and unruly?!"
Nikola turned her body to completely face her son. Her eyebrows were furrowed angrily and her lips arched into a frown. However, her emerald green eyes betrayed her disgruntled expression as the gleaming orbs shone in a playful light.
Feeling more at ease with his mother than ever before, Asher mischievously played along. He hmphed before giving Archer a sidelong glance. "It was what Archer implied. I only said it aloud."
The mother and son then giggled to themselves while stealing glances towards the silver-haired butler. If they couldn't erase all anxiousness from their mind, then they might as well joke around to lighten up the atmosphere!
The comb that was used to brush Nikola's hair had been long forgotten by Asher. Detangling his mother's hair was a fool's objective, anyways. Now, he busied his hands by petting Pithos' soft, black fur.
Archer, fed up with their childish attitudes, narrowed his eyes towards Asher while still maintaining his cold and mysterious smile.
"Young Master Asher, instead of admonishing Her Grace, why don't you put your clothes back on?" Snickering, Archer held up a pair of brown dressing shoes and a dark brown coat. In Asher's eyes, both articles of clothing were not only uncomfortable, but they were also unnecessary.
Confronted by Archer's ridiculing stare, Asher could only pout and glare at him. "What you chose for today is too uncomfortable. The shoes are so tight that my toes don't have any space to breathe!"
To prove his point, Asher raised his leg towards Archer. Wiggling his toes, he said, "Tight shoes are unnecessary. I can walk with my socks just fine."
Archer sighed at Asher's reply while Nikola giggled softly. When will the poor butler be free of this young master's lazy and uncaring attitude?
Finally, the three were able to reach Zacharia's secluded manor with no major incidents. Archer was the first person to get out of the carriage. He helped Nikola down before staring at the underdressed Asher. Asher frowned while staring at the pebbled ground. Couldn't this manor be less, I don't know, pebble-y? He didn't want to step over all those tiny, sharp rocks...
"Young Master Asher, it is best to put on your shoes and coat."
Asher reluctantly agreed, wincing as he struggled to put on his tight shoes. After about a minute or so, Archer had begun leading them inside the manor.
Everything looked exactly the same as when Pithos and Archer last visited this place. The furniture and decorations had been left untouched. If anything, it was slightly dustier than before. The manor was cold, quiet, and dark. It was as if nobody had ever lived here.
Reaching a closed, mahogany door, Archer knocked before speaking; "Lord Zacharia, I have brought Her Grace and," Archer glanced at Asher. "Young Master Asher."
Archer didn't immediately receive a reply and they were left standing outside the room. Under normal circumstances, this action would've been considered rude. However, no one felt that this action was rude. If anything, they were slightly relieved and thankful that they had a few seconds to collect themselves.
Nikola was patiently waiting outside the room alongside the others, never feeling any sort of pressure or anxiety now that she was about to see Zacharia. She already respected Lord Zacharia since the first day she gazed upon him. The young boy had left a lasting impression on her. Pithos and Archer, on the other hand, shared similar feelings. They were scared shitless!
"Come in."
The sight that greeted Asher was unexpected. In front of him sat a young boy that was older than him by just a few years. The boy possessed raven hair that barely reached his shoulders and a striking androgynous face. With his face and physique, he could easily pass off as either a highly attractive male or female! His pair of obsidian orbs held unfathomable depth, making Asher shudder. Why would such a young person have such a gaze? Asher didn't know whether to feel fear or admiration. How could such a young person exude such powerful nobleness?
The boy's complexion was like a doll. Beautifully fair and free from any blemish. Had the boy never received any Vitamin D?
Archer silently snickered at his own joke. He was only sure of one thing: he couldn't dare offend this young man. Everything about him was unnerving. From the way he looked to the way he gazed at them with those cold eyes of his. He was just too... perfect. Everything about him was perfect. Too perfect.
Immediately after entering, Nikola politely bowed in greeting while smiling at Zacharia. Her smile alone was enough to bring light and warmth into the cold and desolate room.
"Greetings, Lord Zacharia. Have you been well?"
Ah, so that was his name. Zacharia. The name suited him perfectly.
"I've been well. I would love to share pleasantries but," Zacharia smirked while gazing towards Asher, making him frown. That evil smirk really doesn't suit him in the slightest. "I'd rather go straight to the point. Nikola Pierce, Asher Pierce, the time has come."
"You either prove his innocence or he won't be able to leave this place."
Nikola's gaze turned serious at the heavy implication. She dug her hand into her dress's pocket and took out several sheets of paper. Some of which was evidence and some of which was what she had previously prepared to say once meeting Zacharia.
"Lord Zacharia, as you already know, a note was found in the Pierce Manor that clearly stated how Asher would soon be in the dark group's grasp," Nikola said while Zacharia nodded. A servant dressed in all black suddenly appeared behind Zacharia and handed him a piece of paper that was then placed on the table.
Zacharia then gazed towards Asher, making chills run down his spine. "Of course I do. This is the key evidence that supports my theory that, in one way or another, Asher Pierce is or will be involved with the dark group."
Asher's mother nodded solemnly, her red hair covering her face from view as she glared towards the note. This made Asher unconsciously hold her hair back to not let her hair obstruct her view, an action that was noticed by Zacharia. "Then you must also know the reason why he was being targeted. A negligent father, an arrogant brother, a brother coerced into doing his father's bidding, and an ignorant mother."
"The situation that's been happening within our family isn't new. It has been going on since Asher was just a young boy up until now. This makes him the perfect victim for those types of people to use and manipulate," Nikola said with a frown while turning her head to look at Asher who was still holding onto her hair. This made her smile as a wave of conviction washed over her.
Nikola couldn't confidently state that she was a good mother. She deeply loved all of her children, no matter how arrogant or distant they have become. She also still held onto hope that her husband will change his views on how he should treat their children. These thoughts and the love she felt towards them made her blind; blind enough to ignore what her youngest son was going through and instead spoil him whenever possible to make up for the lack of love in his life.
"I will not only be telling you about how Asher isn't deeply involved with that group but also how he never had any intention to do so."
But no more. If Nikola wants to change, if she wants her family to change, she needs to set up an example. Teach her husband to value and cherish the different abilities their sons possess and how to be a responsible father. Teach her oldest son on how arrogance is a deadly poison (and most probably knock him down a few pegs). Teach her middle child how to express himself without fear (let's be honest, she would be the perfect teacher for this). And most importantly, find out what her faults are and teach herself how to become a better mother for all of her children.
Nikola's sudden change in her way of thinking deeply affected her in ways that she has yet to notice. Her very being shone in a way that had been long lost throughout her years in marriage and motherhood. Her 'prim and proper' posture had relaxed into one that displayed her confidence and wild charm while still possessing some nobleness. The face that had learned to smile like a noble lady in order to protect herself has melted away and revealed a dazzling smile.
Everyone present could feel how her state of mind improved. Asher, in particular, couldn't help but sniffle softly as his eyes reddened. When was the last time he saw his mother so happy?
"Firstly, I sent my elite guards to investigate the person behind the note. I had first suspected that it was a servant's doing, however, the handwriting found in the note matched with Duke Acker's handwriting."
Stating this, Nikola placed a paper on the table right beside the note. It was clearly seen how both handwritings were the same. The culprit didn't even try to change his handwriting at all!
Then, Nikola placed a small pile of documents detailing the duke's movements as early as a few months ago.
"Duke Acker has been in and out of our estate for the last few months. He has been trying to force us to sell him part of our lands for unknown reasons."
"In one of his visits, he was seen approaching my son. Prior to their 'impromptu' meeting, the duke and Asher had never been in contact. Meaning that Duke Acker had approached him with the dark group in mind," Nikola said before exhaling shakily. Her strong hands that were gripping the table turned pale.
"My elite guards were unable to find out what they were talking about. Asher was seen physically refusing him by pushing him away before leaving in a rush. The duke kept coming to our estate for the negotiation while secretly observing Asher."
Nikola took out another stack of papers detailing the dates that the duke had visited the Pierce Estate. She then raised her gaze to stare into Zacharia's eyes. She saw his undisguised admiration, and this made her smile before turning to look at Asher.
Straightening her back, she stared seriously towards Asher. Right now, she wasn't Asher's mother. She was the head of the Pierce family.
"Asher, as a mother, I know that you aren't deeply involved in this matter. However, to gain Lord Zacharia's trust, I must question you as the head of the Pierce family."
Hearing her words, Asher took a step back and nodded. It was a lie to say that he wasn't nervous. He knew that he had previously evaded all contact with that group. He even took drastic measures to ensure the safety of his family's secrets.
Asher spoke, his soft voice revealing his anxiousness; "That day, the duke had come to speak with me. He took me someplace secluded to ensure no one was listening."
The young boy breathed in before closing his eyes, trying to remember what they had spoken about. "He told me about the dark group. Their name is the Rising Faeries."
Zacharia's eyes brightened while hearing what Asher said. He had been waiting for so long to receive any kind of information regarding the Rising Faeries.
Nikola's eyes hardened. This was crucial information. "What else, Asher?"
"They planned something big. Something to create chaos."
"D-did he tell you why? When? What is the reason behind this group?" Asked Zacharia, his smooth voice breaking in expectation.
Asher nodded, his eyes still closed. Trying to remember the memory, Asher was able to notice a strange fogginess in the memory itself. It prevented him from fully remembering everything that was said.
"He did. But everything is getting kind of foggy..." Asher said as his lips arched into a frown. His eyebrows furrowed while he strained himself to remember.
"The duke said that the chaos they will create will serve as a distraction. As for the day-"
"Asher, stop!" Nikola suddenly yelled desperately, worry clearly etched into her voice. Asher abruptly opened his eyes and he noticed how the room had gotten brighter. It was bright enough to cause him to narrow his eyes as his head began to pound.
A single trail of blood flowed from Asher's nose. Asher's pale face was now dusted with a bright red color as his eyes began to unfocus. He stumbled a bit where he stood, causing Pithos to jump from his arms and meow at him in worry. Zacharia stared at him with surprise and slight suspicion while the others expressed their worries with their gaze.
Wiping off the blood from his nose, he beamed and said; "It's all right. I just suddenly remembered something strange."
"That man, Duke Acker, he had a weird smell. I asked him about it. Do you know what he said?"
Asher giggled uncontrollably while stumbling towards Zacharia, appearing as if he was drunk. He held onto Zacharia's arms and he said; "He told me he sprinkled some forgetory before we started speaking. It was a unique scent..."
Then, as soon as the blue-eyes boy stopped speaking, he fell unconscious in Zacharias' arms.