By the gods this man was trying to trap her!
The interior of the palace was absolutely magnificent. There were several sparkling diamond chandeliers that reflected an abstract rainbow colors of light. The floor was adorn with lavish carpets that looked hand made with intricate designs along them. The fabric they were made from having to be extremely expensive. "If I v'ere to let you go, right here and right now. To let you roam around. V'hat v'ould you do?" Declan suddenly came up behind Silla whispering and resting his hands on her shoulders. His body pressed up right against hers.
He was testing her to see if she would try and escape again in the upper city.
"I would stay. You are too crazy to let me go and I have never been in the upper city and to much less escape would be impossible. I am no idiot." she told him emphasizing on the last part. She would rather take het chances with him than anyone else. That way she at least knew what she was getting herself into. Better safe then sorry....
"Ahhh.... Such a smart v'one you are~" He gingerly bopped her nose as he kissed Silla's cheek leading her around the mansion. She was already getting used to his touches and hugs. He desperately needed to make himself familiar to her.
The hallways were decorated with old paintings and busts that led to a long spiral staircase. The architecture alone was absolutely beautiful but with the extravagant decorations only made it even better. The manor had many windows and a few of them were beautiful works of art that held stained glass.
As she continued to explore, she was shown a the conservatory; an indoor green house with vast amounts of plants. It was like it was from her very own dreams. Outside they had a large organic pool for recreational fun and other much smaller pools that were simply there for decoration.
Strangely enough it was like her dream home. Everything she ever wanted in a home was here...
The hedges and gardening outside was done well and seemed to be regularly taken care of. Many flowers and vines decorated the multiple gardens and gazebo. Though her favorite part was the moon gate that led to a maze.
A few awkward conversations later Declan took them around the mansion to explore and show them around the property but during their trip one thing unsettled her. The entire time Declan seemed to sneak around as if he avoiding someone but the only people around them were the occasional maids and other various servants.
"Oh your excellency there you are!" An elderly voice suddenly called out of the blue as they were touring through the gardens surprising her almost causing her to jump out of her skin. At the voice Declan suddenly and stopped in his tracks. His face implanted with a look of annoyance on it like he was caught doing something he wasn't supposed to. Slowly turning around the green eyed man looked at the old man before him the said elderly man wearing a uniform pointing to the fact that he was a butler of some sort.
However upon seeing Silla, the butler completely ignored Declan and ran over to her much smiling down at the woman his eyes starting to water as an unknown emotion flashed in his eyes. "I did not expect I would be graced with the presence of a lady today much less get a chance to serve such a beauty," the butler dramatically exclaimed with his and over his mouth whipping out his handkerchief dabbing his eyes.
"Even if I were to die now, this old man has no more regrets in life," flamboyantly exclaimed fully letting the waterworks go.
Huh?
What is he going on about?
He kept on looking between her and Declan his eyes tearing up even more.
Wait... A second.
Did he think that her and the green eyed giant were in a relationship?
Oh no.
"H-Hey you, weren't n-not in the kind of relationship you're thinking of!" She told him nervous while trying to hold back her confusion this was getting way out of hand way too quick.
Completely ignoring her the butler whose name she learned was Portio continued to dab at his tears wiping them away. His name ironically being the male version of Portia which comes from Latin origin swine or pig. Although similar his name more or less sounded more like porta potty.
"Because we've never had a lady of this house, no one takes care of this mansion, now that the new lady of the house has come, please take care of this place in his excellencies mother's stead," Portio happily sobbed.
Did he not hear her?
"Seems like this old man did a great job in not meddling with the house," he continued with the theatrics.
"Ah it's not what you think!-"
"I only say this because I care about this household," Portio cut her off bowing again ignoring what she tried to explain once again.
"C-Cain... Please?! Help me!" She gently whispered punching his side trying to get him to help her but all she got back was nervous eye contact declaring to her he did not want to get involved in the situation.
A shocked and disgusted gasp loudly sounded shortly after her contact with the boy. "Move away! How dare you touch the madam!" Portio screeched at Cain in rage as a thick vein popped up on his face. However, it was Silla who touched Cain in the first place? Not the other way around...
At the butler screeching both her and the small boy looked at back at each other sweating nervously. Noticing this Portio spoke. "I apologize for surprising you, madam. I was wondering if that boy was acting up and annoyed you..."
"No, I'm not surprised! And I'm not your Madam..." Silla lied about the first part while putting her hands in the air as an awkward show of no offense.
"I'm relieved I didn't startle you." He gently spoke sighing in relief not even mentioning how he was wrong, and she should not be his madam. He had ignored her again! How can he hear only the words he wants to hear?
"Come follow me. Important officials are holding a meeting at the manor in five minutes," he lightly spoke to her waving his hands.
"To which you are late to master Declan!" Portio screeched shortly after using a much less gentle tone. This strange man seemed to give her special treatment to which she was grateful for but at the same time nervous.
Following the butler inside they were led to a giant mahogany double door and from the outside she could hear the muffled chatting from what she assumed was the officials.
"T-Thanks for escorting me. I-I'll just wait until their done with the meeting," She told Portio as she sat outside.
"No, how dare I make a lady wait. I can't let that happen," he said with a look of determination in his eyes as he bowed all the way down to her shoes as if worshiping a holy relic.
"Portio, you've done more than enough. I will wait here patiently-" Silla started but was then cut off by the butler who sudden slammed both door open with a bang and yelled,
"The madam is here!" Causing all the eyes in the room to turn to them as she shook in shock her soul slowly leaving her body.
Seeing the butler call her madam one of the officials that she assumed had a high rank got down on one knee and put his hand over his chest. "Welcome to Black Sun," he almost nobly spoke bowing.
Great...
This old man had caused yet another misunderstanding.
She wasn't the madam!
How was she supposed to explain this!
Much to Silla's terror the rest of the officials followed suit and also bowed to her seemingly expecting her to do or say something. "Uhh... N-Nice to meet you? I'm Silla," She told them extremely horrified.
Sadly, the only other woman in the room was an older lady in a maid uniform who seemed to be the head maid and had a wedding ring on her finger matching Portio's telling her that the two were married.
The cute elderly lady ran up to her and squeezed Silla in a hug. "She's so cute!" Her small voice cried, playing with her raven hair behind her, the woman's eyes behind her giant glasses expanding in awe as she utters, 'so soft' to herself. It was safe to say even the troll like, and crude cook fell in love with the small girl at first sight along with all the other staff that attended to the mansion.
"This old man knew it would end up like this," a voice suddenly interrupted behind Silla and Cain causing her to sweat nervously knowing exactly who it was and what was about to take place. They turned to see Portio in the door way sniffing and dabbing his tears away with a blush growing on his face.
"Yes, I knew." He sobbed blowing his noise into the hankerchief.
"P-Portio?" She questioned him as he went on with his nonsense while his tears continued to spill.
"This old man already knew everything when the two of you were alone in the garden. His excellency and the madam..." The butler nodded with a tearful and dreamy expression. He saw nothing and somehow jumped to the absolute worse conclusion...
Why her?
"N-No, I'm not the m-madam," Silla pathetically uttered trying her best to stop what was about to happen almost bursting into tears out of frustration. He tried to clear the confusion once again.
"Del and I don't have that kind of relationship!" She finally yelled.
"I see, this old man is a little impatient." The old man said with a sad smile while blatantly coughing.
Not a little impatient.
Very impatient.
"Anyway, as the butler, I cannot simply send you way like this when you've come all the way here," Portio said smiling.
"U-Umm... A-actually I was k-kidna-"
"You should have some tea and chat for a bit with his excellency," he interrupted the poor girl once again.
"Then miss... Who were you again?" Portio said seemingly thinking hard with his hand on his chin methodically rubbing his long white beard.
"Right... Madam, let's go," he suddenly remembered with a smile.
What.
There was no way he could've actually forgotten what just happened...
"I told, you, I'm not the madam," She explained once again a vein popping out on her forehead her eyes dangerously squinted.
"My apology. I keep confusing similar words since I'm getting old, Madam."
Those words aren't similar at all...
"I cannot believe this day has come. Now, I can finally rest in peace," The butler daydreamed and twirled around the room.
Until his happy parade was suddenly interrupted by and ominously loud methodical noise.
Thud
Thud
Thud
Thud
The extremely loud and sudden noise of clomping feet interrupted the entire room.
"WHO IS IT!" Portio whipped his head around and roared.
"Oh grandpa." A voice said near the entrance stepping into the room.
"Oh. Everyone's here. No wonder," the mysterious person started towards the room almost into sight.
His bright blonde hair and pale brown eyes. His loud feet covered in blood as he tracked bloody foot prints throughout the mansion.
"YOU BASTARD!" Portio roared; veins popping up on his face.
"HOW DARE YOU COME IN HERE!" The butler spat with bravery as he pointed a finger at the blonde who just looked in the opposite direction ignoring him. It appears this old man didn't fear death or this strange man as he continued to scream.
"I told you to think before you act, so why did you forget all of it?!" Portio lectured screeching once again.
"Huh...? Come to think of it, you did mention something. Wait, let me have some water first," The blonde said picking wax out of his ear.
"YOU RUDE LITTLE PRICK! WHY ARE YOU DRESSED LIKE THAT ON SUCH A GOOD DAY LIKE THIS?!" Portio ranted.
"I cleaned the floor with so much care, and your shoes-!" The old man cried while looking at the blondes blood stained clothes and shoes which dirtied the newly cleaned floor.
"Gosh gramps you have so much energy. I'm jealous." The blonde waved his hands back and forth with a dead look on his face while Portio's last pieces of sanity cracked into pieces.
"YOU BASTARD!" The elder screamed and took the blonde by the neck and shook him like a rag doll.
"Who's that bast- I mean, person?" Silla whispered looking at Declan as they watched the scene in front of then unfold Cain holding onto her dress peering behind her.
"An idiot." The green eyed man simply answered.
"By the way, who's that person over there?" The blonde said and suddenly stared at Silla then quickly giving her a grin that would creep any woman out.
"Whoa, a beauty has graced us with her presence~" the man waved at her with heart shaped eyes.
"SON OF A BITCH! HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO OUR MADAM! ARE YOU SICK OF LIVING?" Portio yelled grabbing him by his collar again.
"Our what? Commander, did you get married without my knowledge?" The blonde asked while Portio whipping him from left to right and mopping the floor with his body. Despite being an old man, he was quite agile.
"Not yet," Declan simply answered while blankly watching his butler beat the blonde to a pulp which sparked the woman into a rage.
Yet!!?
Silla sighed in exhaustion at the ruckus which Portio seemed to notice. "Madam shall I prepare a room for you?" the butler asked dropping the blonde.
"Sure," she replied with a smile.
"Follow me Madam~" He fluttered down the hall.
To Be Continued...