Lumiere: "... Will you spit it out or not..?"
The arm in which Ainsley kept hiding underneath the table until now was raised up and a voice recorder could be seen tightly held in his hand. He spoke ominously as a threatening aura started to leak out of him.
Ainsley: "What's inside your basement?"
***
Lumiere's inner thoughts: 'A recorder?!'
He began to panic once Ainsley revealed that he was recording their conversation. He hadn't said anything worth of importance or something that would upset the general image the public has for him, yet this alone made him feel nervous. Why you ask? Well...
Lumiere's inner thoughts: 'How does he know about the basement..?'
Basement. Specifically, the one that Lumiere himself owned underneath his tower. He had never mentioned to anyone else, especially to those equal in status to him, that he owned such a place. Why? Well then it would lead the other party to get curious and ask to see what was inside it. Then his secret would be revealed to the world. The secret is that he kept overworked slaves and kidnapped poor people to do his bidding.
Lumiere tried his best to keep his calm and straightforward composure as he wore a smile that twitched from time to time.
Lumiere: "I have no idea what you're talking about..."
Ainsley: "Then would you mind showing me to the bottom floor of your tower? Since you have nothing to hide after all."
Lumiere: "You say that as if I'm some sort of criminal under suspicion."
Ainsley: "But you're showing some confirmations that you seem to be avoiding the subject I suddenly brought up. If you really are innocent then what's the need for you to reject my request?"
Lumiere: "I... never said no to your statement."
Ainsley: "Will you agree then?"
Lumiere's inner thoughts: 'F*ck! If I say yes there's a chance that he'd alter the tape to make it sound like I have a basement!'
Lumiere formed a crooked smile on his face as his mind was flooded with all sorts of possibilities that could be used against him in the future.
Ainsley stayed cool with his demeanor as he leisurely waited for Lumiere's answer.
***
A woman and a man, both in their 50-60s, were staring at the exact same scene unfolding before their very eyes. These two people were none other than Ainsley's overbearing parents.
The high class woman, Lindsay Oseth, tsked as he aggressively flicked open her fan and she fanned herself.
Lindsay: "What is that brat up to this time..."
The high class man, Reynold Oseth, responded to his wife's one-sided question as he nonchalantly drank the whiskey in his glass.
Reynold: "Do not fret. I'm sure that child has something up his sleeve."
They both knew this. Since they were Ainsley's legal guardians, one way or another, they would find out about their son's sly and manipulative tactics to make things go the way he wanted it to be. They made sure to keep him in check at times so that they could guarantee that their son wouldn't turn his back against them one day. But they were never sure in the end if they succeeded or not, as they still couldn't find out what was truly going on inside Ainsley's head.
All they could do now was watch from the sidelines and hope for the best.
***
It was already a total of 8 minutes that had gone by ever since Ainsley asked Lumiere to give him a tour of the tower's 'first floor'. Lumiere was secretly scheming up a plan in his head as he laughed at Ainsley on the inside.
He realized that every tape recorder had a limit to how much they could record. And seeing as how Ainsley was being careful not to stop it just in case he finally decided to speak up, he made a plan to stay silent for as long as he could. But Ainsley was several steps ahead of him in this plan as he pulled out 5 other recorders.
Ainsley: "You think buying time would let you win in the end?"
Lumiere cursed in his thoughts while sweat drops started to form on his forehead. He gave in and went for the latter option he made up on the spot.
Lumiere: "I could just end the party right here and now."
Ainsley: "Why so? Everyone is having such a great time. Myself included."
Lumiere: "Obviously as the host I get to have a say in when the party I'm hosting will end."
Ainsley: "That's a shame. It seems that you win."
Lumiere's complexion was bright again, as he saw that Ainsley had easily forfeited the game of cat and mouse. But his expression immediately switched back as he saw him leaving with something shining in his pocket. Ainsley purposely displayed it there for Lumiere to see. That shiny object was the key to his basement.
Lumiere's inner thoughts: 'How!? When??'
He could've sworn that he hid that key safe and sound in his bedroom, so how in the world did a person such as Ainsley get his hands on it?! He quickly stood up from his seat as he thought of chasing after Ainsley and tackling him to the floor. But after carefully thinking it over it would not be a good image for him and the others who were present as they saw the man whom they looked up to the most randomly tackling down an 'innocent' person.
His last resort was the only option left as he whispered to the walkie-talkie in his vest pocket.
Lumiere: "Number 032. Get the aircraft ready. We'll be putting on a show for tonight."
"S-Sir? You do remember that the aircraft is still unstable and-"
Lumiere: "I don't care about the risks! Just do it if you want to have food on your plate for the next week or so!"
Food. Once the person on the other side of the walkie-talkie heard this, they immediately changed their attitude as they energetically replied with 'Yes sir!'.
Lumiere swiftly strode his way over to the far left corner of the rooftop and stood next to a large switch that was displayed in a glass case. He caught everyone's attention as he yelled.
Lumiere: "Everyone. I would like for all of you to come gather near the staircase over there."
His open hand pointed to his front and showed a staircase that led up to an open platform. Each of the guests and attendees did as they were told as they simultaneously put a stop to what they were currently doing and crowded around the area. Lumiere also saw that Ainsley was being forcefully dragged by his parents to follow after.
Ainsley: "Let go of me, I have far more important places to go-"
Lindsay: "And you say that when you've clearly failed to get the Grand Duke to our side?"
Reynold: "You know the rules of the deal."
Ainsley's expression turned dim as he frowned at the word 'deal'. If he had succeeded in convincing Lumiere Welle to work with his family, then his parents would've given him the freedom to do what he wanted from then on. As he was helplessly dragged with both of his arms being locked by his parents on each side, Ainsley couldn't help but feel his bloodlust rising towards Lumiere.
Lumiere wore a satisfied look on his face as he opened the glass case and pulled down the large switch. The rooftop slightly rumbled as the platform connected to the staircase began opening like an elevator door.
The surface of the platform was now completely gone and Lumiere proudly said his announcement to the expectant crowd.
Lumiere: "Tonight will be marked in the history books as the first flying aircraft to ever exist has been made!"
For the first few seconds nothing came out of the open platform. This caused the people to gossip among themselves.
"... Where is it?"
"Maybe it got delayed?"
"It could be that he just excited us for nothing."
"Why would the Grand Duke do such a thing?"
"He seemed excited when he announced it. So perhaps it is delayed after all."
Lumiere was furious as he whispered to his walkie-talkie again.
Lumiere: "Number 032! What are you lazing around for? Didn't I tell you to prepare the aircraft?"
"Sir, the aircraft takes quite the while until it finally goes up."
Lumiere then recalled that the aircraft was set to start flying from the basement until the rooftop, and he sighed.
Lumiere: "Make it go faster then! I promise I'll give you 3 full course meals for the next few weeks."
At this, he heard an engine whirring on the other side of the walkie-talkie, and he promptly turned it off as he understood that the aircraft was soon about to rise.
"What is that?!"
"Oh! It's..."
"A peculiar shape. Looks quite convenient though."
"Impressive!"
The aircraft that resembled a blimp was finally seen rising up from the open platform. And while the people were busting marvelling at the sight of the first ever successful aircraft to be witnessed, Lumiere took his chance to bolt out of the rooftop and head down to the basement. Ainsley also realized what his plans were as he struggled to let his parents loosen their grip.
Ainsley: "Let me go already! I need to use the toilet!"
Lindsay: "Even if you do, we know you how well you can hold it in."
Reynold: "And if I remember correctly, I'm sure that we haven't seen you eat or drink yet tonight."
Ainsley: "That's because it's from the food I ate earlier this afternoon!"
Lindsay: "Keep your mouth shut, young man. Your lies won't work against us."
Ainsley bit his lower lip out of frustration and he tasted a bit of blood on the inside. He bit his lip so hard to the point that it was bleeding. His nostrils deeply inhaled as he started to inwardly pray to whatever god would listen to him at this crucial moment.
Ainsley's inner thoughts: 'Please... a diversion. I need a diversion.'
He couldn't afford to let Lumiere use this moment to increase the security surrounding his basement, and so he prayed as if it was his last day to live.
Boom!!
"AAAAH!!! IT'S ABOUT TO EXPLODE!"
"Something fell from out of the sky!!"
"Move out of the way!! It's going to crash on our direction!!"
The guests and attendees that were originally standing still with an awe-filled look on their faces were now thrown into utter chaos as they scattered into groups and individuals. Those people also included Lindsay and Reynold.
The grip they had on both of Ainsley's arms was now completely gone as they ran as far as they could. They did not even care for their own blood-related son as he was left dumbstruck by the unexpected development that had occurred.
Ainsley snapped back to reality as he quickly ran after Lumiere, who was still heading down to his basement.
Ainsley's inner thoughts: 'It's only been a few minutes since he left. Unless he took a hidden passageway, then there'd be no way for him to reach the ground floor yet.'
His gaze was filled with determination as he swiftly went down the stairs.