The sound of metal cutleries resonated in the dining room. Though the walls were made of pine wood, it seemed like the room was a narrow cave where a person could feel suffocated. The dining table here was shorter compared to the grand table in the main house. Actually, most of the furniture, of the rooms, of the amenities in this manor was one less grand than that of the main house. The only thing that this manor has more than the main house was its household members.
Anton Kandas, the younger brother of Ziron, was the patriarch of this household. In the dining table, he always sat on the edge and on each of his side, his sons sat. On his right, sat Nathan, his first born, and his family while on his left sat his youngest, Oliver and his family.
It is not unknown to outsiders that Anton and Ziron had a complicated relationship. Though they shared the same blood, they were likened to water and oil. Though they have too much difference in opinions and decisions, the blood that links them together would always remind them to give way for the other and Anton was good at that. Nathan and Oliver, on the other hand, were so different from their father and uncle. Their brotherly bond might have been due to the conservative upbringing by Priscilla, their mother who has a strong influence in the family more than their father has.
As the Matriarch of the house, Priscilla held the seat on the other edge of the dining table. On her right was Rue's mother, Sara while on her left was an empty chair. While tucking her to sleep one night, Rue asked what happened to Uncle Nathan's wife. Her mother with a sad face answered that Lucy, the first daughter-in-law, died after giving birth to Lannis.
Lannis and his older brother Luther would sit across Rue and her younger brother, Ruben. These children grew up in this household and their relationships were more of being siblings than being cousins. Luther the oldest of them all was like his father who took much of Anton's physical features. He was not that tall, but his posture was that of a noble. He was calm and gentle, unbecoming for a 17-year-old. Rue respected Luther a lot as the guy has been living up to the name as the heir of Anton. Lannis, on the other hand, can be mistaken as Ruben's brother instead. Both Lannis and Ruben were the playful members of the family. A year younger than the 15-year-old Rue but they act like school aged children, much to her irritation. These boys could be easily mistaken as twins. Both have the same height, towering over Rue and almost at Luther's height and they even have the same shade of jet-black pupils compared to Rue's dark brown ones.
As the meal ended, Priscilla stood and took from the housemaid a teapot. She went and poured her husband and two sons cups of tea. The teenagers, who were used to the routine of old people drinking tea with boring conversations, were about to walk out of the dining hall when their grandfather stopped them.
"I have an announcement to make."
Anton's stern voice made all motions stop in the room.
"Ziron invited us to come to the main house tomorrow."
"For what reason?" Nathan asked.
Rue's interest was piqued.
"It seems that my older brother wants to introduce a long-lost family member. I am sure Rue had met him. Am I right my dear?"
All eyes turned to Rue who was expected to answer.
"Do you mean Dmitry, grandfather?" Rue asked in return.
Anton nodded. He felt his wife's hand pat his shoulder. "He is Selena's grandson."
"Selena? You mean Aunt Selena?! How did that happen?" Oliver exclaimed.
"It looks like Ziron was able to find my older sister and keep her hidden until our father, Godfrey, died. He also waited for Selena's death before he was able to take the child back home."
"Father," Nathan said while looking at the old man's weary eyes, "as I know, you loved and missed Aunt Selena. Knowing that someone survived her, you should be happy. Why aren't you happy?"
Anton wryly smiled. He really is amazed with how Nathan could be sensitive with the emotions of the people around him, especially his and Priscilla's. "This Dmitry has the gift. A strong one. Rue might attest to that. Knowing Ziron, he might have already planned to manipulate the boy to his advantage."
"What advantages?" Priscilla asked. Her husband has told him about this Dmitry beforehand. She after all answered the phone call a while ago. The call was from her brother in law who commanded the family to meet tomorrow. She might have been already informed about the reason for the invitation, but she did not hear this concern of his beforehand.
"That I am not sure. Is it not a coincidence? Someone tried to kill his only heir and at the same time, Ziron chose to bring Dmitry out in the public."
Rue thought out carefully what her grandfather meant. Unknown to her, the rest of the family members were trying to understand the situation as well. Even the childish Lannis and Ruben were curious who this Dmitry is.
Priscilla sighed and stood up from where she sat. "We will know by tomorrow what my dear brother-in-law intends to do with this nephew of ours. For the meantime, we should be in our best manners tomorrow." After saying the words, Priscilla gave a playful grin, unbecoming of her old age.
Hearing their mother's sarcasm, Nathan and Oliver silently chuckled while Lannis and Ruben laughed. Anton might have been subservient at most to his older brother, but Priscilla made sure that there are consequences of frequently taking advantage of her beloved husband. On the other hand, Luther and Rue sighed knowing that tomorrow would be a tiring day.