The hooves of horses can be heard from miles away, knights who wore stain armors and swords that become rusty because of blood are marching their way to the Emsworth Dukedom.
Fatigue is visible to their faces, the crowds who were cheering before are now quiet and only silently staring at the soldiers.
They whispered through the crowd while the others look with pity.
They already sense that something must have happened in the North Border as the Legion Knights are always early to do go back from their expedition but not this time.
Worry seems to be rising in the townspeople.
The Duke immediately notice the stares and quickly say words that will boost the people's morale and divert their attention from the tired knights.
The Duke stopped and gallantly spoke words of encouragement.
"The Monsters in the North are already subdued and killed. My people, you don't need to worry as the Legion Knights did their every might to finish the enemy."
The voice of the Duke awakens the Knight's faces as well as the anxious townspeople.
"My people, do what you always do. Celebrate the Knights victory. They are the pride of our Kingdom!"
Loud cheering and clapping were soon become the music of the street.
The people begin to shout at the top of their lungs.
The Dukes' speech was honorable and full of pride to his Knights.
His men salute their commander that always bring the morale back when everyone is tired and losing their spirit.
The Duke, their commander was and will always be the only one who they can trust their life with.
The Light Legion silently swore their loyalty again to their shining Duke — the Duke of Emsworth, Keene Aldafurus von Emsworth.
***
The Maids in the manor are all busy with tidying up the whole place — cleaning the hall, preparing the food, doing the household chores, polishing the ceramics, dusting the paintings, arranging the flowers, and so forth.
I can say that it was chaotic.
I didn't know that we had a lot of maids and butlers in this mansion.
It's because the only ones I know are the head old butler Jede and my busty maid Sheila.
It's funny, really!
I was in my usual place, the library when my maid Sheila knocked on the big wooden doors. Knock... knock...
"My Lady, the young master said that you should be with him to greet the Duke."
The voice of Sheila rings on the other side of the door.
I didn't answer what she said, I want to pretend that I didn't hear anything or maybe pretend that I'm not here...
-
"Lady Evelyn...? I know you're there... Please, the young master said that you need to head to the front of the house to greet the Duke and the Knights with him."
Sheilas' voice was pleading with all its might. She knows that her Lady doesn't want to interact anymore with her so-called 'family'.
A loud 'thud' that came from closing a thick book can be heard inside the library and soon Evelyn opens the door.
-
I really don't want to associate myself anymore with those two if possible.
The only thing that I can get from going there is the stares of people who see me as a nuisance and a spoiled brat.
If possible I would prefer it if they forget about me and let me live peacefully.
Alas...
I can't even do that. Having my own will is not even an option in this house.
'I swear! If I know this is going to happen again... I would have the wish to become an orphan... ha...ha... Silly me, I can't even decide what will happen to my life!"
I close the thick book that I was reading and slowly walk to the library's' door.
The voice of Sheila was quivering and anxious that I can't remain the silent treatment anymore.
Sheila looks at me with shining eyes that seem to be saying 'thank god... she opens the door.'
Well, I always make myself clear that when I use the library, no one should disturb me.
Welp! That's only applicable for the Emsworth employee, I can't do much if it's my sick brother! Or the bastard Father.
I silently followed my maid through the hallways that will lead to the front of the mansion where I and my brother Allan will greet my fathers' return.
"I didn't even want to greet him." I simply mumbled to myself.
I tighten my grip to my dress when I saw a familiar shadow that was standing in the middle on the vast front lawn.
He's shining silver hair flutters in the air. His long legs proportion to his body was now looking more like an adult as time goes by.
I stared at him and my thoughts wandered.
'He's becoming a young man... the novel will start when the day I and the Crown Prince will get engaged. I don't have much time huh...'
The young man that I was staring at when I stopped my tracks slowly look back and found me looking in dazed.
"You...! What are you doing?! Stop being dumb and come here already!"
I was awakened with the cold voice that's ringing in my ears.
His words slowly absorbed by my mind and I internally curse the bastards' son!
I compose myself and swallow the words that want to escape and will make my life a living hell if I say it.
I approach the 8th grader kid who's pretending to be the Matured Young Master of the Emsworth.
I greeted him politely and never again look at him. I waited patiently to the sound of horses approaching the mansions entrance gate.
Soon, knights were entering one by one with faces full of vigor and pride that was never seen when they entered the premises. But because of the Dukes' speech, their liveliness was brought back by the Dukes' who uplift their morale.
Evelyn and Allan stood side by side and greeted the knights who accompanied their father in exterminating the monsters in the North Border.
"Welcome Back Father..." the two said in unison. Both doing their respective curtsy.
The Duke only nodded and look at his child's faces. He looks at Allan first and then when he looked at me, a shiver ran down my spine.
The duke was looking at me again with that familiar stone-cold face.
I tried to be brave and hide my trembling hands by biting my tongue inside my mouth. It was effective.
I raise my eyes to slowly look at the Dukes' face and there I saw a glint of hatred.
My heart sank and I heard a small laugh beside me. Allan was blatantly looking at me with disgust.
"Ha... Do you still think that father will look at you with warm eyes?! You're delusional!" He whispers in my ear while his face was showing amusement by the events and my face that now become like a crumpled sheet.
I folded my hands until the nails slowly pierced the flesh.
I loosen the grip in my hands, raise my head and look at the two without fear and show my poker face and I laughed in my mind.
'Haha... What am I really expecting...? this is the kind of life that I have since the beginning. I should be numb now but why...?! Hahaha!!! I must be secretly hoping, how foolish!'
I slowly inhale and I smile meaningfully to both of them.