"Sebastian...."
"I don't want to hear it, Natalia. Not now"
Natalia zipped her mouth shut, looking at the passing scenery. Rather than the noisy, bustling view of Traisen she had the first few times, it was a more quiet, sophisticated view she was greeted with. That was how the more advanced and luxurious part of Traisen looked like.
The place where the nobility lived was the safest and most luxurious part of Traisen. In case of an invasion, the nobles could easily escape or stay safely guarded in their homes until they were rescued by royal knights. Just a few weeks ago, she had secretly bought a house there while she was 'investigating' the cases she was handed.
The carriage stopped in front of a moderately sized blue mansion flanked by other mansions. It looked empty but Natalia knew servants were waiting for them. She sent a message earlier and the servants that accompanied her brother were already settled in the mansion. The carriage stopped and she alighted with the help of her brother.
"Welcome, Lord Sebastian, Lady Natalia"
"Butler Gerald, it's really you!" Natalia exclaimed, hugging the old man. She was hugged affectionately in return, eliciting a laugh from the old man. Butler Gerald had served the Adamantine family since he was a child and he happened to raise the Adamantine siblings like they were his children. He was more of a father to them than their real father was.
"You look as beautiful as the last day I saw you but…..aren't you a little skinny? Are they not feeding you well in the duke's home?"
"I've been a little anxious to eat well, haha"
"ANXIOUS?! THEY'RE GIVING YOU FOOD THAT ORPHANS ON THE STREETS OF THE CAPITAL WOULD REJECT!"
"....is this true, Lady Natalia?"
"It's a bit awkward to stand here and talk, right? Let's have some tea"
"Dinner has already been prepared at the behest of Lord Sebastian. We can continue talking at the dinner table"
The two walked inside together. Although the atmosphere was a bit strange, Natalia felt happy to have familiar faces, allies around her. Receiving glares and hostility all day from people around her could easily break her mind down. She couldn't wait to leave the duke's mansion.
"I'm sure it's been a while since you ate Gertrude's meals"
"It has" Natalia teared up. Butler Gerald and the rest of the staff of her father's house did not meet good endings. Even now, if she didn't change anything, the future looked bleak for them simply because of their master, her father.
"Do they really treat you like a beggar that you cry at the sight of a simple meal from Gertrude? Natalia...."
"Let's eat, Bastian"
The young Adamantine lord ate angrily while his sister amused herself. Butler Gerald ate with them, watching over them like a doting father. Having raised them, he knew the problems that plagued the siblings. They weren't fortunate enough to have the simple life of nobility, unable to choose a single thing for themselves. The first time he saw Natalia stand up for herself, it was shut down immediately by her father. Now...
"My lady, even if you cannot count on anyone else, I am always available to help you. I think it's about time we send servants from your father's house"
"NO!" her reply was immediate and sharp, surprising the men.
"Why don't you want your servants to come? It's a custom...."
"I understand your concerns, Bastian, Gerald, but if you send in the servants after seeing my condition, the duke would certainly think they are spies from father. The servants of the duke's home are not as generous as he is so I fear they may be treated unjustly or perhaps killed. I am fine. I don't need blood sacrifices on my head"
'Running away with servants might be a little difficult. The fae and dragons won't leave them alone'
"The duke is generous?" Sebastian repeated, his voice dangerously low. Natalia's hands shook. Lying to her brother was always dangerous.
"He is respecting the relations between himself and father. Let's not make a big issue out of this, brother. Instead, have you considered fostering a relationship with the Empire of Illumine?"
"Why would you say something like that?" his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"I think it would be best to spread our options, even beyond the reach of the empire. However, we can't reach the nations beyond the empire without going through the empire. So, for safe travels and international relations, we can start by fostering relations with the empire. I already asked Amaika to..."
"What exactly are you hiding from me, Natalia?"
"Even without talking, brother, you should know the situation. Walls have ears and nothing is really as easy as it looks"
"I couldn't care less about anything but you, Natalia. You are the most important person in the world to me, Natalia! How do you expect me to react if you're being treated lower than an animal in your matrimonial home?!"
"My dearest Sebastian, you...don't have the power to help me"
The cutlery in his hands exploded. She sighed, placing hers down. She touched his hands, putting hers in his despite it being red hot. Her brother was a strong magician with a high position in society but…..it wasn't high enough.
"I will play the part of the sacrificial pawn for a few more months. You both don't have to worry about me at that time. However, if I leave, the fate of our estate and the family rests on your shoulders. I plan to fake my death so there wouldn't be a lot of backlash from the royal family and the duke. I want you both to think of what you want after that"
"My lady, just how do you plan on faking your death enough to fool the duke?"
"That's something you'll leave me to worry about"
"Natalia, are you doing something reckless again? You always worry me"
"And you worry me since you keep using me as an excuse not to get married! I used to think you had a commoner woman at the side but you're just an annoying narcissist!"
"This isn't about me!"
As Gerald watched the siblings argue, he had the thought that some things couldn't change. It was just quite unfortunate that no one could tell the future.