Ernoul swiftly places his hands on Xarth to stop him from opening the door, "Ernoul, What are you doing?" Xarth asked as he was surprised by Ernoul's sudden movements. "Let me do the honors Hyung-nim, you shouldn't be the one opening and closing the door it just doesn't fit you." He replied with a wide grin on his face.
'What the hell is this brat talking about?' He was bewildered by Ernoul's response. Ernoul noticed Xarth's surprised face and just smiled even wider, 'Seriously, what wrong with this brat!?' that thought pass through his head as he watches Ernoul opening the door for him.
But before opening it, he looked back at Xarth and asked. "Hyung-nim do I have to knock?" Xarth crinkled his brows "Just!...open the door." He calmly replied since he doesn't want Ernoul to be wary of him.
*Creak
The two men inside the wide glamorous room flinched in surprise as they hear a door opening. Knowing that they have sternly told the head butler to not let anyone near or in that room considering what they were about to discuss.
They quickly shifted their gaze upon the entryway ready to scold the one who has interrupted a very important discussion. Lex quickly rushed to the door, he could see Wilfred accompanied by a man with bright red hair.
Lex looked over at Wilfred before thoroughly inspecting the man with red hair. "Who are you?" He asked while raising his brows.
Ernoul lowered his head and started introducing himself. "I'm Ernoul a training knight from the Count Barrows Household." He politely stated.
"A training knight?" Lex's eyes started to widen, "..!? Is Young master Xarth with you?!" As he frantically asked while shaking Ernoul's shoulders. Ernoul smiled gently at Lex and shortly replied. "Yes, I've brought him." Before turning his back away from him.
"Hyung-nim, just call out for me if there's any trouble, I'll be right here." He mentioned after stepping back away from Lex.
Xarth nodded his head and headed right into the glamorous room, he could see Lex smiling from one of his ears to the other delighted to see the Young master in front of him. "Young master Xarth!, I'm glad you made it! I was so worried." Lex immediately jumped Xarth and hugged him. "Sir Lex get off of me," he replied since Xarth, or specifically Lee Son doesn't like it when people start to cling to him without any particular reason. Lex heard that and immediately retracted his hands around Xarth's shoulders. "Sorry about that Young master Xarth, I'm just glad that you have arrived here safe and in one piece." He stated while visibly placing his hand on his heart since he was genuinely happy that Xarth has made it back to them unscratched. And he didn't want anything to happen to Xarth since he was the very person who had almost sacrificed himself earlier to stop the havoc from brewing into its fruition.
Zero leaped his way towards Xarth, he stared at him with an unusual expression showcasing upon his bold-looking face. "Xarth-nim..." he started to mumble while looking at his Master. Xarth glances at him but immediately looks back at Lex and asked. "So, what type of trouble did he cause now?" Lex smiled as he stations his arms around Zero's shoulders. "Well, you see Young master Xarth-" Xarth stopped him from continuing since something was making him uncomfortable from earlier that he had stepped foot on this mansion.
"I have enough of hearing 'Young master' over and over, just call me Xarth. It would be more easier to address me that way." Truthfully Xarth had been keeping quiet about it since the very beginning thinking that he'll be able to adapt to the sudden change of his position. But that was not the case since he still can't cope with people calling him something that he isn't.
Lex stared at Xarth for a moment before unwrapping his hands around Zero's shoulders. "Huh!? Are you sure you're alright with that?" he asked since he was unsure if he was hearing it right. Xarth just nodded his head stating what he replied. "Then Young mas- Ahem! I mean Xarth, your dependent has caused great trouble for the ducal household." Xarth stayed the same on the outside unlike what he was currently feeling on the inside.
'You punk! Making me clean your mess once again' Xarth let out a sigh. "Zero, tell me what did you start this time?
Zero locked his eyes upon his master for the time being. "Well you see, when we had left you behind the underground system. I volunteered to get you back with me since everyone is rushing to the capital to meet with the king about the incident that happened this morning in the City of Clona. But in the process of making my way back to where you were, I have made the wrong turn and ended up at the left side of the forest surrounding the Lancaster territory. And that process repeated several times that I have just given up on finding you. Since knowing Xarth-nim you'll be able to get out of there yourself. And eventually, I traveled out of the right part of the forest, where I heard people talking with one another." he stated but he was not done yet there since he has so much to explain.
"Just get to the point it is about Liliana and Agis, right?" Zero stayed quiet before opening his mouth once more, "Yes, during my time on the left side of the forest surrounding the Lancaster household, I saw people who were sneaking around the perimeter of the gates. They seem suspicious since they were wearing a robe that closed the access to their faces. But I made sure to observe their behaviors and movements to make sure that no one can harm anyone for the sake of their pleasure. 'Yeah, good thinking for once.' Xarth commended him for his hard work but, he also knew that it was bound to happen since they were all destined to meet from the very start.
'It was said in the novel that after meeting with these two, the craziest journey has begun. But they weren't supposed to meet this way or this early in. Well, if we are talking about the flow of the story it's just right since these 3 met after the incident in the Lancaster territory. But everything is a mess right now...' Xarth lets out a sigh and focuses his attention on Zero as he continues to explain what happened.
"But they were not suspicious people, they even helped me fend off some of the Wanderers lurking around the forest of the Lancaster Territory." Zero strongly stated with his hands pumped up into a fist. "So?" Zero's eyes immediately widen while slowly lowering down his pumped-up fist at Xarth's stern reply. "But I made sure-" "Stop." Xarth raised his hand telling Zero to stop reasoning with him. "It's already done, we can't do anything that has already happened. Instead." Xarth slowly faced Lex. "I apologize on behalf of my subordinate." Xarth lowered his head towards Lex to show his genuine apology. Contrary to what his action was doing at that moment no one was at fault, since it was bound to happen that they would all meet. They are all connected to the same path and It is already written on a piece of paper never to be changed by anyone.
"Xarth-nim..." Zero mumbled as he watches the cranky Young master lowering his head instead of him.
Lex hastily and forcefully lifted Xarth's head back. "Excuse me, but Young master Xarth what do you think you are doing!? Please do not lower your head to a lowly magician like me. You may have no way of knowing it but I'm a commoner from the Wolford Village in Baron Kyron's Territory. And I deeply respect him for ruling over us without any malice. The same goes for the other noble families that I have encountered." He expressed his true thoughts to Xarth since he doesn't feel comfortable seeing a Young master lowering down to him.
In any case, he even decided to lower his head as well. "In any case Young master Xarth you are the second person who has treated me this well, I mean...You and Young master Harold. And I sincerely appreciate you, two young masters, treating me a commoner this well. It's like there is no social standing between us when we interact and it's definitely a refreshing feeling." Lex heartfully expressed his thoughts as much as he can to show his sincere feelings towards the person he had met for just one day. This is not what he had expected, truthfully Lex has a characteristic where he would have to observe the said person for one week before knowing what kind of person is it. It's natural for him to know how to judge a person since he is serving under the ducal household which is the second-highest position to the Royal family. He often judges nobles who like to linger around Duke Jidek he wants to know whether they can be trusted or not.
And honestly, he even did not bat an eye at Xarth at the very beginning since he thought that he was a spoiled young master which he judged based on his appearance. He solely focused on the Eldest son of the Barrow's Household. But that all changed when he saw how courageously he fought with Amoth to ensure the safety of their Territory.
To be continued.....