"Mother, this time, are you planning on celebrating Lork's birthday? I think it's good for you to have a change of pace." Ophelia asked before she even took her seat.
Ophelia Gertrude was Duchess Sorsiana's second child. Similar to her older brother, Ophelia excelled in many fields. She had just turned eighteen a month ago, but there was no coming of age ceremony held for her. Well, it was her decision to not have one. She was simply being considerate of the atmosphere within the dukedom.
"Lork's birthday? I don't think we'll be viewed in a good light if we celebrate that dog's birthday when we didn't celebrate yours."
Sorsiana took a sip of the tea brewed by her own daughter. She then looked at Ophelia with loving eyes. Throughout the years, it was Ophelia who provided her with the comfort she needed. Whenever she was tired of conversing with the other noble ladies, she would seek Ophelia for a relaxing tea time or a stroll in the garden.
"Since when did you care about what other people say? It's just a celebration to lighten up the mood in this house." Ophelia said with a sigh.
"But dear, the rumours will bother you. I'm fine as long as I'm the focus of those nasty discussions. However, I will not forgive myself if I place you in that position."
"How sweet of you, mother. Then, let's consult father as to what will be best for us." Ophelia then joined her hands, "Or, better yet, let's just celebrate with the five of us. I'll take Sherra with me to buy gifts for Lork. It will be easy to prepare a banquet for fewer people. Lork's birthday is in three days, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Alright, please leave all the preparations to me, mother. I'll also inform my brother. He's been too busy these past few days. He needs a breather."
Duchess Sorsiana nodded at her daughter's suggestion, taking a sip of her tea thereafter.
Soon, their time together ended and Sorsiana was left alone in her parlour. She stared at the picturesque orange sky that would welcome the dusk. Contrary to the calmness of the heavens, her heart was raging. She grinned and bore her teeth on her bottom lip out of frustration.
Sorsiana slammed her hand on the glass table, resulting in the slightest crack on the surface. Following that, she slowly crumpled her hand into a fist.
"That damnable little rat! Where are you hiding?!" Suppressing her strength, Sorsiana hit the table once more. "I swear that the second I see you, I'll kill you. How dare you make us run around!"
There was a reason why Sorsiana had no desires of celebrating Lork's birthday. It was on purpose that she declared the Tibetan Mastiff's birthday to be on the same date as Ilya's.
Before the young lady's disappearance, Sorsiana was amused at her petty deed. But now, the day only reminded her that their search for Ilya was bearing no fruit. In three days, Ilya would be of age to reclaim her rights to the heir's seat. Sorsiana was afraid that Ilya might have gathered enough accomplices to back her ploys.
To be on the safe side, not once did the Duchess assume that Ilya had already succumbed to death's curse. There should be a body presented to her. Else, she would refuse to believe that Ilya was dead no matter how credible the sources were.
"Pray to all the deities that you know, little rat. You'll need their blessings to escape my clutches!"
It wasn't easy for Sorsiana to regain her calm. No amount of tea could quell the fire of her fury. And the servants knew better than to attempt to appease the Duchess. That was if they didn't want to preserve their jobs.
Sans a change in the daily routine of the Gertrude Family, three days passed uneventfully. Finally, it was the day for them to embrace a moment of repose.
A knock was heard on the door to the Duchess' bedroom. However, rather than waiting for permission to enter, a young man pushed the door open.
"Mother, they've already gathered at the dining hall. I came to fetch you since you're taking too long."
"Is that so? I apologize for taking my time. I'll be ready in a second." Sorsiana answered as she checked her garment one last time in the mirror.
Meanwhile, the young man just stayed by the door. His name was Troy Vhelian Gertrude, the youngest child of the Ducal Couple. Far from his older siblings, he didn't bother learning the politics of the Etheros Empire. He had no ambitions of becoming the head of the family, or any family for that matter, and his parents respected his choice.
Brahm and Sorsiana wished for him to live freely, an uncanny deviation from how noble children were usually brought up. They allowed him to do anything he wanted. Furthermore, they believed that it was just a matter of time before he would find something that he desired to do. By that time, they would pour all their support towards his dreams.
"Mother, you said in a second. It's been a minute." Troy said after letting out a breath. He then gave a glance at the maid beside him, "You, go to the dining hall and inform my sister that she should send someone to get Lork. Mother is taking her time."
"As you wish, Young Master."
The maid bowed ahead of taking her leave. Troy proceeded to approach the biggest window in the Duchess' bedroom. Instead of the entrance to the dukedom, the view that one could see from the window was the enormous garden.
It was the area of the dukedom that Sorsiana took the most pride in. Various plants that weren't native to the Empire could be seen in the garden she had nurtured. Though, the most eye-catching element of all was the fountain marking the centre.
It was truly an enchanted place, but Troy had gotten tired of seeing it. He had memorized every single plant, tree, bench, arch, pathways, and other components making up the entire garden. As such, he noticed something wrong with the fountain.
"Mother, why is there not enough water in the base of the fountain? The spring hasn't stopped dispensing water."
"Really? Maybe there's a hole somewhere?"
"Hole? But the surrounding patches of grass are not wet."
Curious, Sorsiana stood beside her son and observed the fountain.
"Now that you said it. I was drinking tea until the evening yesterday. There was nothing wrong with the fountain as far as I can remember. I'll have it checked later."
"Please do. The garden's aesthetic rests on the fountain."
The Duchess patted her son on the back, delighted that he was as concerned as her when it came to the garden.
"Now that it's sorted, let's go. Your sister will get mad at us if we're any later than this."
"Yes, mother."
Thus and so, the mother and son pair left the room.
If only they stayed a little longer, they would be able to see the strip of light slowly emerging from the depth of the fountain's basin.