On the rugged mountain path, the old village head kept curiously glancing at me. The old village head, walked in front with Klent keeping him company with his non-stop chatter, followed by Sebastiene who was supporting me and Marionne followed behind us.
"So this Klaus Enin was actually here as a punishment?" Klent's asked in an undertone.
"It appears so sir- uhm.." The village head was stuck.
"Klent Mark Amihan." Klent gave out a pleasant smile. "Please call me Klent."
"Well, Sir Klent." The village head cough lightly as if to hide his embarrassment. "It appears as though it was punishment but I honestly think that the count and countess only did it for his own protection."
"Why is that?" Klent asked pushing a branch away so the village head could pass through with ease.
"It is because he had become the laughing stock of the people in the Royal capital." The village head sighed sadly. "Even the count had to leave his position because of all the rumors and mockery of those people. Even the lower ranked nobles mock them!"
I listened to their talk as we climbed up the mountain, and learned a lot of things. The countess used to be an inn receptionist in this village when the count visited as a mercenary. He fell in love with her and took her back to their estate to marry. Luckily, none of their families were against them and they were able to marry. The problem was that other nobles started to look down on the countess for being a village girl until the count was anointed to become the royal advisor. They had three children, two boys and the youngest was a girl. They were all considered to be geniuses by the teachers who taught them, especially Klaus, resulting in him being invited to be a royal advisor at the age of ten.
We arrived at a seemingly old, run down villa. The weed outside the house was already very long that it had already covered the stone path. The bushes and trees were left unkempt and untrimmed that the branches have died and fell onto the ground. There didn't appear to be any signs of life in it.
"Should we knock?" Klent asked when we reached the low metal gate.
"Do you think he will answer?" Marionne asked him flatly.
"No, but it would be very disrespectful if we just suddenly barge in, right?" Klent answered seemingly clueless to the sarcasm.
"Seb, open it." I pointed at the gate.
Sebastiene went forward and forcefully opened the gate which crumbled to the ground.
"Oops." Sebastiene smiled slyly.
I looked at the remnant of the gate and walked straight to the house.
Sebastiene wiped off the dust from the metal garden chairs and the table it surrounded outside the front door and we all sat there.
I was actually hoping that the noise we created at the gate will make the person come out but it appeared ineffective.
"Seb, Klent, go find this Klaus and drag him here." I ordered them, making the old village head's eyes grow wide.
"How dare he not welcome a Castellan properly?" I curled my lips.
"Yes, my lady." Sebastiene and Klent bowed before going off in different directions to look for the home owner.
Marionne looked at the two who walk away and then at me.
"Should I join the search, my lady?" She asked reluctantly.
"If you go, then who would be protecting me?" I asked coolly. "Do you want to leave me unprotected?"
Marionne's eyes slightly narrowed and she let out a sigh.
"I apologize, my lady. I forgot that my main job is to protect you." She bowed.
"No problem." I smiled at her.
A few minutes later a loud scream was heard followed by a thud. The village head looked towards the house worriedly.
Sebastiene and Klent came walking out of the house dragging something with light blue hair. It was wiggling and squirming on Sebastiene's hand as if wanting to get away from him. Klent was walking behind gracefully smiling coldly at the thing being dragged. I noticed that there was a red spot on his forehead as if he was hit by something or bumped it on a hard something.
Sebastiene unceremoniously threw the squirming blue thing in front of me.
"My lady, this is Lord Klaus Enin, the second son of House Enin." Sebastiene introduced with a smile as if he did not just drag the person out and threw him on the ground.
I looked at the person and raised my brow.
"Hello, Sir Klaus, I am Melody Castellan of House Castellan."