People kept pacing back and forth from inside to outside of the manor. Silverwares and appetizers rushing out from the main kitchen to the table set at the manor's backyard. The weather was pleasant today and the climate was warm. The sky did not warn of impending rain. It was perfect for the family gathering to be set outdoors.
It was about 10 am when luxurious cars began arriving in the premises. The person who came out from the first car that arrived was Anton. He was an old person and yet no one could ever guess that he was already 55 years old. He was shorter than his older brother, but he had a more bulkier body frame. Looking younger than her age, could also be ascribed to the woman who came out after him, Priscilla. She was two or three centimeters taller than Anton and look younger even though the two have the same age.
The old couple were greeted by Sardon, Marie and Emerald who stationed themselves at the entrance to greet the guests. Emerald, as always, noticed the subtle display of affection from the old couple. Priscilla tucked her arm around Anton's as they walked past them. Emy would always wonder, whenever she saw this couple, if her grandparents were like that as well.
Interrupting her thoughts, Emy felt someone nudge her.
"Hi Rue. How is your summer?"
"Pleasant. And yours?"
"Not like yours."
A chuckle escaped Rue's lips.
"I can imagine. With everything that is happening…"
Before Rue could even manage to finish her statement, two boys came towards them, intentionally intruding.
"She's not getting tall at all." Ruben jested.
"Are you not eating right, cousin?" Lannis added.
Rue knitted her brows in annoyance and Emy smiled as if expecting these boisterous greeting. Emy was about to comment, but she saw Luther waving at her while he said his greetings to his uncle Sardon and Aunt Marie.
"How have you've been Emerald?" Luther asked. Emy shrugged her shoulders and greeted the older teenager with a smile. Out of her cousins and family members, it is only Luther who would call her "Emerald" rather than "Emy". She asked him once why he kept calling him that, the young man just answered, 'It's a pretty name. it would be a waste not to call you that.'
The teenagers were about to go towards the backyard when they were halted because they were surprised to see an unexpected guest.
"Muriel," Priscilla's domineering voice can be heard, "I am happy to see you here in this gathering."
"Really now. Your smile says otherwise dear."
The woman grinned even more. An intimidating atmosphere could be felt between the two. It is also widely known that this two did not like each other. The clans of Sagubo were known to have close ties and are bound together by their loyalty to the clan. However, among the clan members, it is also widely known that Priscilla and Muriel did not like the company of each other even though their parents were well acquainted. The reason for it is unknown. Muriel Kantes was the head of his clan branch which is the most influential branch, while Priscilla was the oldest child and the remaining one of her siblings of the Tohey clan, a clan second in influence among the clans of Sagubo. People say it was a conflict over land ownership, some say Priscilla is bitter over the influence the other man has over the clan. An influence gained only because of his inherent gender.
Before the tension rose, Anton held his wife's waist and guided her to sit. Making sure his wife was now calm and settled he went over to shake Muriel's hand.
"Forgive her. I am sure you know how she is." Anton plead while he shook the man's hand.
"Yes, I am fully aware of that fiery temper of hers."
Hearing those words made Anton uncomfortable. Though he is aware how much these two hate each other, Anton sometimes would feel unpleasant knowing that Muriel knew his wife long before he did.
Sensing the silence from the younger man, Muriel added, "And she is fortunate to have you calm her nerves."
Anton laughed, "It is the other way around, I think. Did you come alone? How is Lyanna. I heard she is still sick?"
"Today she feels better. I let her rest instead of tiring herself and going here. I came with my grandchildren."
"I don't see them."
"They're just around. Roaming somewhere"
The two chatted for awhile until Muriel pointed at Ziron who was walking towards them. A young man was beside him. Anton observed the man. He was taller than Ziron, he walked languidly and yet there was elegance in his physique. Anton was not aware that the same observations were being made by the rest of the guests.
Ziron tapped Anton's shoulder. "Forgive me for the delay little brother. I wanted to introduce him much earlier, but a lot has been going on. Anton, this is Dmitry, Selena's grandson. Our grandson."
The young man came forward. He towered over Anton who looked in his eyes.
"I never knew that my older sister had a child."
"She had a daughter. Apparently, our niece died giving birth to Dmitry."
"And Selena?" Anton asked without tearing away his gaze from the young man's eyes.
Unexpectedly, this time, Dmitry answered, "She died in her sickbed. It is nice meeting you Uncle. Grandmother told me a lot about her little brother who always played chess with her."
Anton felt his heart being pricked with the mention of her sister and their favorite pass time. He remembered the times when he would challenge his older sister for a game of chess. Out of Selena's three wins, Anton would win one. He remembered her laughter as she would tease him to play better.
"Yes. She might have told you as well that she keeps winning the game." A soft chuckle, bordering a sad laughter, escaped Anton's lips.
"She did mention that. She taught me how to play Uncle. She wants to make sure I win as well if I was to challenge her little brother."
Anton laughed, "Very well. Later then.". Anton shook Dmitry's hand, and unexpectedly he wrapped his arm around the younger man's shoulder for a hug.
Nathan and Oliver looked at their father's lonely back. They knew that their father longed to know the whereabouts of their Aunt Selena. They couldn't care less on what Ziron is planning, for now, they are just glad that their father has found the closure he needed.
Anton then started a series of introduction starting with his sons who were behind him, Nathan, Oliver, then Priscilla, Sara, Oliver's wife. Then the next generation came to line-up and be introduced. This time Ziron introduced them.
"These are your cousins. Luther and his brother Lannis. I know you have met Rue. This is her brother Ruben."
The three boys shook Dmitry's hand while Rue, who had already met him, offered him a bow and a smile.
"Nice meeting another cousin." Luther commented as he shook Dmitry's hand.
Dmitry chuckled and replied. "It is nice meeting cousins indeed."
After the hand shake the boys notice Dmitry's attention shifted towards the person beside Rue. His gaze fell from Emy's head to the tip of her shoes.
"As usual, you look pretty again today Princess."
A slight blush appeared in Emy's cheeks. "Thank you."
Rue and the boys awkwardly felt silent. Yes, Emy was elegant and beautiful most especially today. Her fair skin and straight raven hair accentuated over a knee-high white dress designed with flower petals of varying colors. She was indeed beautiful today, no one among them just have the audacity to compliment her. The subject, anyway, already knows how she looks.
Thankfully, Ziron called out Dmitry to come to him, who was talking to both Muriel and Anton.
"Princess?" Luther commented.
"Dmitry's pet name for her I guess." Rue said nonchalantly.
"But his old." Ruben critiqued.
Emy nudged his brother, "20 is not old."
"That is old. Emy is 15 right?" Lannis inquired.
The conversation is going towards a topic that made Emerald uncomfortable.
"Stop. Please stop."
Rue laughed. "Are you worried of the age? If I am correct, Ziron and Mariela had a 10-year gap?"
"Stop that! He is our cousin!" Emy shouted just enough for her cousins to hear.
Rue disagreed, "And since when marrying a cousin became strange in our clan?"
Rue's comment was not unfounded. It may be strange from an outsider's perspective, but the highland practice of intermarriage within the clan was not unheard of. In this day and age, even though rare, arranged marriage still exists. For example, Godfrey arranged wives for her sons. Both daughters-in-law were distant relatives from the Sagubo Clan. Emy would not be surprised if Ziron arranged someone for her and her sister to marry one day.
"Yeah. It is not strange at all." Emy heard Luther say as the older teen's gaze fell on her.
The teenagers made their way to the venue. The backyard landscape offered a pleasant atmosphere for an outdoor lunch. There was a large round table at the center and two rectangular wooden tables on each side. The elders sat in the center, Dmitry who was not part of the generation was forced to sit with the elders, as expected. Thinking this, Emy laughed and to her surprise she caught Dmitry glance at her at the same time and gave her a smile. The glance lingered shortly since Dmitry went back to conversing with the elders.
Meanwhile, while the busy sounds of celebration filled the manor's backyard, a girl in a lemon-yellow, below-the-knee, dress stood at the doorway. Her eyes lingering on the young man sipping wine from a glass and giving old people empty smiles.
'Whose blood did you come to collect Dmitry?'
As if her query was heard, she caught the attention of the man. Dmitry looked at her with that empty smile and gave her a nod. Jade sighed and was about to make her way to the venue when an arm caught her waist.
"What's the big sigh for?"
"Andrei!"
"I am happy to see you after a long time. How have you been? Your sister might be pretty today, but you will always look prettier to me." The man complimented not letting go of Jade who is struggling in his hold.
"I'm doing well and thank you. Could you please let me go?"
"No." Andrei replied with a teasing grin.
Andre's hold came loose when he felt someone pinch his arm. "Andrei stop that. You might break the little miss."
"Mel, why you got to interfere?" Andrei irritatingly shouted.
"As your sister concerned with your welfare, I have to stop you before someone charges you with sexual harassment. Besides, I should stop you since our dear grandfather is staring daggers at you right now."
True to her words. Jade saw Muriel look their way. He stood and called them out,
"Andrei! Stop playing around and come here! Melissa you too!"
The two complied. Jade felt she had been set free until Andrei pulled her by the hand.
"Come and introduce me to this new cousin of yours."
"Muriel, you need to teach your grandson some modesty." Ziron commented with a commanding tone.
"I assure you Ziron, he is a proper child. He only acts that way with your granddaughter."
Teasingly, the subject of the conversation replied, "It's true Elder Ziron. I just can't stop myself from showering your granddaughter of my fondness."
Muriel sighed and Ziron knitted his brow. Priscilla and Anton on the other hand laughed. They have heard of the infamous Andrei Kantes. The young man was the current heir of the Kantes clan. Like Emy, whose father did not have the gift, the young man carried the burden of an heir when his father died unexpectedly of heart attack. As a 19 year old with a lot of responsibilities, Muriel was surprised to see that his grandson was able to keep his jolly and extroverted personality. But sometimes the boy's foolishness gets the better of him.
"What was that for?!" Andrei shouted as he felt his grandfather's hand smack the back of his head.
"For being stupid!"
Seeing the opportunity, Jade pulled her hand back unto which Andrei sighed. A chuckle was heard among the lot. Dmitry reached his hand out.
"Dmitry. Nice to meet you."
Andrei straightened his back and offered his hand as well. "Andrei. I don't know if it is appropriate if it comes from me, but welcome to the clan. I guess?"
Dmitry chuckled again and nodded.
"This is his younger sister," Muriel interjected, "Melissa."
The young woman came forward and shook Dmitry's hand as well. "Nice to finally meet you. I heard a lot about you."
"Is that so?" Dmitry confirmed.
"Sometimes tall tales have true basis" Melissa commented flirtishly. The act did not escape Jade who rolled her eyes in annoyance. Unknown to the elders, Melissa was like a wolf in a sheep's clothing. The people on her generation was sure of that. No fine young man escapes the web of this lady spider.
"I heard that the little miss didn't sleep well last night, that is why she arrived late today." Dmitry remarked, shifting his attention to the girl who slowly walked backwards, away from the crowd, and behind Melissa and Andrei. Jade replied with a glare.
Hearing the comment, a little bit of worry came to Anton, "Are you okay my dear? You can skip the occasion if you're not feeling well."
"Thank you, granduncle, but I am alright. Yes, I slept late last night but I was still able to rest well. I wouldn't want to miss the welcoming celebration of my dear cousin."
Dmitry grinned. Unknown to the rest, Dmitry was able to pick the sarcasm on the girl's tone.
"I have never felt more welcomed until now."
This time the smile plastered on Dmitry's lips was not empty, but Jade was sure that it was not a friendly smile either.