With a long sigh Mina shut the door to Aether's room.
They had made quick work in applying the medicine, trying their hardest to make the experience as painless as possible, but in the end they could do little for him. His screams of pain had been muffled by a cloth as he bit on it, but the sound alone was still haunting her ears. And his eyes. His eyes were full of tears as he glared daggers at the two of them. She was familiar with the look of betrayal and hurt, but to come from her Master?
She lowered her head and let out another long sigh. She never wanted to witness such a look again.
"How is he?"
Mina's head snapped up at the sharp voice of the Madam. She stood up right as always. Her hands in front of her and her eyes narrowed.
Mina never liked to look in the Madam or Master's eyes. She always felt as if their eyes were devoid of warmth and love, vastly different from the Young Master.
She lowered her head, her eyes landing on the floor, "He took the medicine with no problem, but when applying the medicine on his neck…" she trailed off, not sure how to report what she had witnessed without making the Young Master seem even more weaker than what he already was.
"Don't dawdle. Spit it out." The Madam sneered.
Mina bowed deeper, "Yes, apologizes Madam." Her hands began to sweat as she spoke, "The medicine for his neck brings unbearable pain. He did not take well to it and-"
The Madam raised her hand, cutting Mina off. "Is his mind and body doing well after the medicine has been applied?"
Mina bit her lip, "Yes, Madam."
The Madam nodded, "Good. Make sure he rests. I don't want him to exert himself before he is fully healed. Now-"
"Mother." Aria walked up from behind her mother. Mina duly noted that she wore the same face as the Madam, but her voice was more rushed when she spoke. A clear sign that something urgent has or had happened. Mina was ready to leave, but was stopped once again by Madam.
"What happened?"
"Nothing yet." Aria glanced out the window, her eyes staring at something that wasn't there, "We will be having visitors soon…" She glanced back at the two, "…not ones that are welcomed here."
The Madam frowned, "Whose strings did you see?"
Aria's hand reached out towards the window, twirling with what Mina could only assume was the unwelcome visitor's strings.
"I only know one for sure, the other…" She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head, "I've never seen it before. It must be a new string with how bright it is."
"We will worry about the new one later. Who is the one you know for sure."
Aria's eyes narrowed, a frown painting her face, "The third Prince, Nox."
"Damn it! That bastard! Has he no shame!" The Madam slammed her hand against the wall, cracks appearing underneath her fist. "They don't listen, all of them, just like their father." She mumbled as she turned on her heel, her eyes snapping towards Mina, making her shudder in fear. "You."
"Yes, Madam!" Mina bowed her head deeper. The unyielding pressure coming off the madam brought shivers down her spine.
"Head back into Aether's room and lock the door. Distract him with-" she waved her hand, "anything, something. I don't care what you do, but do not let him leave that room. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Madam." Mina gave a quick bow before turning back to Aether's room and quickly entering, locking it from the inside. She let out another long sigh before turning around to deal with her still pouting Young Master.
A pair of eyes watched from down the hallway. They trailed after the Madam and Aria as they left towards the Madams room. They only watched the figures for a moment before shifting their focus back onto Aether's door. They stood there for a moment longer before turning around and leaving.
"Mother, what are we going to do?" Aria watched from afar as her mother grabbed her favorite sword and secured it on her waist.
"Simple." Her mother fixed her sleeves before turning towards the door, "We will drive him out before he gets the chance to meet Aether."
Aria frowned, "You know he won't take no as an answer."
Her mother smirked, "Yes he will. Especially if we tell him how terrified Aether is to see him. How if he were to show his face Aether's health could deteriorate. After all, who in their right mind would want to see the face of the man who hurt him."
Aria faltered for a moment, "That…that could work."
"Of course it will work. You saw how ghastly Aether looked when he returned." She paused for a moment, her hand stroking the hilt of her sword, "The Princes are often seen as inhuman beings, but deep inside they are just like everyone else. If you find what they care for, you can use it against them and before you know it…" She left the rest unsaid.
Aria was silent, soaking in the words. "Mother." She opened her mouth before they went down the stairs to greet the uninvited guests.
"Yes." Her mother turned around, her hands till resting on the hilt of her sword.
"Does the same apply to us?"
The two did not move. Their eyes locked onto one another, a silent conversation passing between the two. Without a word, her mother turned around and headed down the stairs.
The silence was deafening.
Erik Frenzel stood at the bottom of the stairs, his head held high and his arms crossed behind his back. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly at the door as if he could see through it. "Finally, you arrived. I was beginning to think you wouldn't show up." Erik did not spare a glance at his wife.
His wife scoffed. "How long until they arrive."
"Any moment now."
"Are the guards ready?"
"Of course."
"Where is Leon?" Aria interrupted their conversation. She had been looking around, but could not spot her brother anywhere.
"He is indisposed at the moment, but do not worry where he lacks the guards will make up for." Her father waved his hand, shushing her and brushing off her worries.
"You better have placed them near Aether's room."
Erik rolled his eyes, "What do you take me for, an imbecile? Of course I stationed them right outside of Aether's door."
"Good."
The sound of horses hooves hitting the ground and the creaking of a carriage pulled the attention of the three. They shifted their focus on the door, each preparing in their own way for whatever Nox had planned.
THUNK.
CLANK.
BANG.
THUMP.
Erik's nose scrunched up at the atrocious noises coming from outside. "You there." His eyes landed on a poor servant who was standing to the side.
They shivered in fear as they stepped forward with their head slightly lowered. "Yes, Master." The servant's voice quivered as he spoke.
"Go and find out what all that noise is, now."
"Yes. Master." The servant squeaked as they ran outside, slamming the door behind them. The trio did not have to wait for even a minute before the door reopened and the same servant came back in. His eyes darted around the room and he was sweating as he struggled to speak, "Well..um-"
"Well, spit it out."
"Yes, yes!" The servant lowered their head once more. One hand gently squeezed their own shoulder as they spoke, "It seems Prince Nox has…" he took a strained breath, "…brought some gifts for the Master and Madam."
"Gifts?"
The two glanced at each other, their eyes narrowing.
"What kind of gifts?" Erik's wife was not fond of the idea of gifts. She never liked the idea of giving an item in order to obtain favor. It was a ridiculous concept, but for a Prince to bring gifts, she was curious to see how valuable they were.
Erik glanced over at his wife, "How strange, you've never been interested in such things. Care to let me in on your thoughts."
"I'm curious about what gifts he brought."
Erik sneered, "You seriously can't be thinking about accepting them."
"Who said anything about accepting them?" His wife rolled her eyes, "Instead of just blindly accepting such gifts without knowing his purpose, we should see first if any of the items are worthy of our attention. If they are, we simply take them as an…apology towards us. If they aren't, we simply reject them." She glanced over at her husband, "Aren't you curious to see what gifts he has brought?"
Erik hummed. His wife had a point. Although it was rare, the Princes were notorious for gifting the rarest and most sought after gifts. He had never heard of Nox giving gifts, but he did have to wander if he too would bring such rare gifts.
"I see your point." He turned back to the still shivering servant, "Bring them in."
The servant did not move immediately. Instead they gazed at the door then back at Erik, "um…are you sure?"
Erik sneered, it seemed he would have to get rid of another servant. "Did I stutter?"
The event squeaked as a bolt of fire leaped at his feet, "No, Master, right away." The servant bolted out the door and not a moment later the door opened with servant after servant walking in with their arms full of random items.
"Wha-what is this?" Erik's eyes were wide as the servants dropped off the items only to go out and grab more. Soon the entire room had been filled with piles upon piles of random items, stacked on top of each other to the point where some were towering over him.
He walked through the piles, his eyes landing on certain items that were undoubtedly rare. He picked up one, noticing that it was an object he had been eying for years, but never allowed to touch.
The door squeaked open once more, but this time it was accompanied by the sound of boots hitting the ground. Erik paused at the noise and placed the object down, no longer interested in such a thing.
His eyes narrowed.
'What are you planning?'