Before entering Master Willdyer's room, Alina smoothed out her attire and took a deep breath to calm herself. Showing up all restless would be disrespecting the host, and right now, Darian's apparent rule-breaking is her golden ticket to scoring a position in the Willdyer family as an in-law, so she cannot afford mess to this up.
When the master let her in, she pinched the hem of her black skirt and curtseyed, addressing him formally. "A very good afternoon, Master Willdyer."
The man behind the desk nodded. "Is something the matter, Merry? Is Darian refusing to see you again?"
"Quite so," she said. "But the young master is apparently seeing someone else."
Master Willdyer frowned. "What do you mean?"
A devilish smirk played on her lips, but it was veiled by her locks of jet-black hair that shrouded her face when she bowed. "I heard voices coming from his room. There were two, and they seemed to be having a good time."
The master stood up abruptly, disbelief written all over his face, and he tapped his quill pen rapidly while processing this information. His son had come in contact with the people outside, which means he may already know about the Tradition.
"Bring me to Darian. I want to see it for myself," he instructed, and grabbed his blazer from the coat rack, storming out of the room.
"Gladly, master." Alina chuckled and led the way.
—
Darian helped Michael with his case and supported the boy as he climbed down the window.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Michael said, inching down the wall slowly but steadily.
"See you tomorrow, and be careful in there," Darian reminded, to which his friend nodded earnestly.
His door suddenly burst open, and Master Willdyer marched in authoritatively, scouting the room for any outsiders. Darian hurriedly turned around and tried to block the window, but his father saw through the trick and pushed him aside, looking down.
Alas, there was nothing.
"F-Father?" Darian stammered, fearful for his friend. Master Willdyer exhaled sharply and turned to Alina, who was gritting her teeth in humiliation.
"B-But I heard them! I heard them laughing and talking! That other one was a boy!" She exclaimed, and her words made Darian stood rooted to the spot.
'She heard? But I casted the barrier! Unless... there was a leakage?' he surmised, and thinking of his probable mistake shook him to the core.
Master Willdyer cleared his throat. "Well, miss Merry, there is no real evidence to suggest that there was another person in the room," he said, and although Darian wanted to celebrate, his father's glare at him rained on his parade. "But I want to know the truth, Darian. Why are you so reluctant to meet her? She comes everyday just to see you, but all you do is shut her out."
Darian shuffled his feet and shot Alina an icy stare. "She doesn't want to see me; she needs to see me. I don't know why, but the first time I met her, I knew she had other motives in mind. It's like she's getting close to me to obtain what she wants. And I hate it. I hate her."
Alina gasped dramatically, and the corner of her eyes turned moist. Master Willdyer approached the boy, and slapped him across the face.
Darian's eyes went unfocused. The stinging pain lingered on his left cheek, and he thought he was hallucinating when he heard ringing. He looked up to see his father heaving, anger puffing up his chest.
"Darian Willdyer. You will apologize for what you just said!"
Energy festered in his fist, and a low hum buzzed from it, but no one could hear it but Darian.
"How can you be so uncouth! You just disgraced the family and yourself! Apologize now!"
A flicker of electricity zapped through the air, and Alina narrowed her wet eyes at the glowing force gathering at his hands.
"Don't make me repeat myself. Apologize to Merry now!"
"NO!"
His voice boomed, the sound waves sending the curtains flapping rapidly, the mirror at his dressing table cracking, and his father stumbling a few steps before regaining balance with the help of the study table.
Alina had fell to the ground, clasping her ears in pain. She winced and dusted herself, before catching a glimpse of the large shadow beside her.
Darian was still in a fit, so he did not immediately notice his father's long stare at the door, nor did he hear the slow clapping coming from it—when he finally read the room, he turned to witness his grandfather grinning proudly, hitting his hands in a ceremonial manner.
"That was impressive. Way more powerful than I expected," Grandmaster Felluor Willdyer said, and eyed Darian intently. "I knew you had something in you. Perhaps you may yet qualify to be the heir, despite having terrible academics."
Darian had locked eyes with the grandmaster, and a few years later, he would regret this foolish, nonsensical action, and blame himself bitterly for what happened to his dear friend—all because he could not control his emotions.
Sir Felluor retained the hidden information in Darian's mind and smiled wickedly. "Well, dinner is soon. I suppose we should hurry along? Leave the mess to the maids," and he barked at one of them nearby, then proceeded to strut down the hall.
Alina got up and chased after him, tugging at his sleeve. "Wait! Sir! Darian actually has—"
The senior flung her off harshly, adjusting his cuff links. For a moment, Alina thought he was irked, but he smirked and said in a low voice, "I know. And you're going to listen to what I say, so we can both catch him in the act." He bent down and offered his hand. "Little girl, why don't we talk in my office?"
—
"What do you mean I can't visit you anymore?"
Darian paced around the room, making a confused Michael even more agitated. Finally, the heir sat down in front of him and grabbed his shoulders.
"I think my father and that annoying Merry girl knows about you," he said, and he wanted to spit when he thought of her. "It's best if you stop coming for now. Maybe return only after a few days, or weeks."
Michael sucked in a breath. "Does that mean... your barrier failed?"
"Probably," Darian admitted, looking down in disappointment. "Just that one mistake... and now it's all in shambles. I can't believe it. Everything was going so well."
But Michael was not angry, nor did he blame Darian for what had happened. Instead, he took off the case and slid it over to him, patting the cover. "You keep this, then. Since I'll be gone for a while."
Darian refused profusely. "No, I can't do that. It's all you have in that forest."
Michael shook his head. "I've had it for years now, and I'm more busy with hunting and helping my mom, so I had no time to play it anyway."
But Darian was still not convinced, so Michael took the violin out and gave it to Darian, adjusting the amateur's posture and the position of his fingers on the instrument. "I'll teach you how to play properly, so you can use it in my place."
Michael moved Darian's fingers for him and told him when to pull with the bow, taught him the difference of each string and the proper way to clean the violin. It felt like he was passing on his legacy, and Darian made sure he did not miss a word—for he wasn't sure when he would meet his friend again, if ever.
After the short lesson, Michael still saw that his friend was in distraught, so he enveloped him in a warm hug, patting his back comfortingly.
"I'll come back eventually, so don't worry," he consoled, and pulled back to have a look at Darian. "Don't you forget about me, okay?"
Darian's tense expression relaxed, and he smiled back softly.
"Okay."
—
Master Willdyer could not believe the conversation he just heard outside the heir's room.
"It's just like what I have said, master, Sir Felluor," Alina addressed the two gentlemen who were both present, listening attentively. She did not show it, for she needed to remain humble, but Alina was bursting will glee.
Sir Felluor played with his cuff links out of habit. "Indeed, it's just like what you said. Now, we can lay the trap to catch him." He turned his attention to Master Willdyer, whose lips were pressed with anxiety. "Terrell, be calm. I have no intention of killing him. It's forbidden to do so, as what the Tradition says."
The master gave an apprehensive sigh, still uneasy about the plan. "This can really backfire on Darian. I don't know if it's the right thing."
But the senior merely clapped him on the back—not in a reassuring manner, but a forceful one.
"You do this, and everything will turn back to normal. Alina will get her position, and we will have an heir with a bright future." Sir Felluor ruffled Alina's hair fondly, and turned his back on the both of them. "I'm sending the guards to Witherblaire tonight. Tomorrow shall be an interesting day."