The ride back was a bit awkward. His parents knew something happened. They covered for him. Trisha probably understood a bit more since the Duke simply followed along without question after insistent prodding. Still, neither of them could have realized what truly happened.
The princess hanging herself. Dying. Then being brought back to life. Kerv was silent when questioned, and Bellavarn simply said nothing happened. Her son was good at hiding his emotions and not giving away any tells. Still, she wouldn't be a mother if she didn't know her son was hiding something. She wanted to pry open those locked secrets.
"What happened last night, Bellavarn? Were you not able to meet with the Princess?"
The safety of a carriage with only the three of them made Trisha more bold than usual.
Bellavarn, for his part, didn't even bat an eyelid at the mention. He was growing as a person, able to hide things that must stay hidden. Even from family.
"I think I made a mistake..."
Trisha wondered what he could have done. Come on too harshly? Appeared desperate? Too sincere? Her sweet boy deserved the best, even a princess. Her talk with Anne Lionel showed her some of the girl's troubling side, but princess Lecil was a different matter. She was very respectful at dinner and didn't harass Bellavarn like the others.
"It's alright. These things should go slowly, Bellavarn. It might have been a bit hasty to-"
"I have been shut-in for too long."
Trisha turned her head at being interrupted. It was like Bellavarn hadn't heard her. Braster bristled a bit but was soothed by a comforting hand.
"I should get to know the staff at home rather than avoiding them."
A misunderstanding.
The worries of a mother trying to marry off her son were unfounded at this moment. Bellavarn was thinking of other things. The root of the problem. The cause of the events at dinner. If the rumor continued, it would wreck his standing, and he wouldn't be trusted. The staff in his own home looked at him oddly. No doubt some of them still believed he was evil—the newer ones at minimum.
Braster spoke in a distant but affectionate tone.
"The staff walks on glass around you."
Bellavarn looked away from the window and at his father. Taking in the words objectively, he accepted them. If he was to change his image of either a weak-willed boy or an evil abuser... he needs to start with those who stayed around him.
"My eyes are open now. Can I have your permission to gather all non-essential staff at home? I want to make an announcement."
Braster approved.
"Of course. I will summon them myself."
"Thank you, father."
Bellavarn rested an elbow on the window sill and went back to plotting. Oblivious to the quick exchange of motions and gestures between his parents.
=
"Hey, psst. Do you know what is going on?"
A slim server rushed to walk next to a pair of passing maids.
"No. Just that the Duke returned from the palace and now wants us all in the entrance hall."
The taller of the two answered back.
"Why, though? Did something happen?"
"Obviously, something happened. You think the Duke would have us all stop working because he wanted to chat?"
The shorter one snapped at him in a stage whisper.
"Sorry, sorry. I just don't want to be fired. I dropped a platter last week and it is hard enough to earn money as a server."
One of the maids rolled her head along with her eyes.
"Do you really think the Duke is going to fire everyone? No. It most likely has something to do with his son."
"Master Bellavarn?"
"Does he have another son? Yes. His son."
The maid was in a foul mood.
"He probably acted out at the palace or offended one of the princesses."
"It is possible."
The two maids conferred with each other. The server looked flummoxed. Was this about that rumor he assaulted a maid?
"I thought that rumor going around wasn't true. That the maid was blackmailing the Duke and trying to sully the young master's reputation?"
The shorter maid sneered at him.
"Melody wasn't lying. You can't fake something like that. She worked here for six months and was always the perfect maid. She even had some of us outbeat."
The server was confused. Then wasn't she just playing an image? Well... He shouldn't mention that as it would just earn him a smack. These maids seemed to take the event personally and even knew the maid in question. Better just to remain quiet.
The rest of the walk was short as they gathered in the hall. Some of them started to mill around and talk but stopped when they saw Braster Sallow overlooking them from the top of the banister. Instead, they formed neat-ish rows as they waited for the rest of the staff to gather. There was only about 50 staff. Half of them maids who kept the house clean and ran errands. A couple of gardeners and groundskeepers. Cooks and chefs. Carriage Drivers. Servers, a busboy, a stable hand, etc.
The guards weren't counted in that number. Several of them still stood off to the side. Being called to attend, as well. The rest of the guards were going about their duties.
All other staff, guards, or soldiers in the Duke's standing army remained at the main house. The Sallows owned most of the North Eastern Region of the Kingdom, taking charge of the land under King's name. This house was actually on the edge of that land. Several miles South or West, and the land would become the King's or some other household's jurisdiction.
They all had been staying at this mansion for over a year now. The Duke being needed near the capital. Everyone longed to go home even if everything was blistering cold up north.
The Duke clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. Without preamble, he addressed the crowd.
"You have been summoned here not by me, but my son, Bellavarn. He wished to address you directly."
The doors to the mansion opened theatrically, Bellavarn striding in, planning this ahead of time. The hundreds of feet shifted and turned to stare at Bellavarn as the doors shut themselves. A moment of silence in the hall as the crowd processed. Then a confident voice addressed them.
"It has come to my attention that rumors have gone unaddressed and have been left to permeate."
A few exchanged glances and some looked uncertain.
"I have realized the uncomfortable atmosphere you are standing in is due to my own choices. Looking at you all now, I can tell some of you see me differently than you did previously."
One or two looked ashamed but the rest simply listened. Bellavarn's steady gaze swept over the crowd, pausing at each clearly visible face.
"I know several of your names, but I can now see there are many new faces and even old ones that I don't know the names of. Through my actions of locking myself away, I have ostracized not only myself... but you all as well. Regardless of what you currently think of me, I wish to apologize."
There was a silent stir as Bellavarn bowed at the waist. A noble bowing to servants? A stable hand and busboy?
He remained bowed a second longer before straightening.
"I hope to correct my mistakes and get to know each of you a bit more personally over time. I request that you all keep an open mind and attempt to work with me going forward."
A sneeze.
"That is all I wished to say. You can all go back to work."
Bellavarn turned around and walked back outside.
The spell broke and people moved.
=
Bellavarn shivered. Regretting not planning an exit strategy. There was no way he could walk back inside now. He would have to walk around back, pretend he went for a jog. Yeah, that would work.
The snow crackled underfoot as Reiss took a step to the left. A creaking as a door opened.
"I give you a 7/10. "
Rubbing his nose, he turned to see Kerv holding a door ajar.
"I thought I did pretty good."
"I noticed your nose was runny during your little speech. How long were you waiting out here, Bell?"
"Ah, shut it. It was good for something so impromptu. I just have to plan my exit better next time."
Kerv received a jab to the shoulder as Bellavarn walked past him.
"They're all gone... right?"
Kerv whispered.
"Nope. They are all standing there, still staring at the door."
Bellavarn pivoted on a heel to walk back out, but a laughing Kerv caught his collar.
"I'm just pulling your chain. They all left a few minutes ago."
A scowl and another punch was his reward.
"Jerk."
A sniff accompanied more laughing. Bellavarn took a jacket off a hanger and wrapped it around himself. Back to the study with him. More things to research and planning. Could he do something about food? There was talk of food shortages on the carriage ride to the palace.
He would have to look into it...
"Achoo."