The sun was already setting, and cold winds began to seep through all the hallways of the Halstead mansion. Inside a room where the fire inside the fireplace burned fiercely and quietly, Vincent, who finished his bath dressed in his pajamas, held a black folder. His eyes had no emotions as he read the information about his sister.
This was the envelope Neirin had given weeks before. He wasn't able to read it until now.
He doesn't know why he was delaying such matters, but now, he seemed to be ready to open it. Vincent broke off the gold wax seal and pulled out stacks of paper. The first thing he noticed was the quality of paper used.
He brushed his fingers on the paper, feeling the soft texture and high materials that the producers used. It was curves of letters forming a word and a portrait of her sister smiling.
Vincent stared at the picture for quite a while before moving down to read the information. As he skimmed through some details, several sentences caught his eyes.
'She lived her life in an orphanage.'
'She was abandoned by her parents'
'She was able to get by life and make a living stealing other people's money. Most of her targets were the aristocracy.
'She knew the slums well.'
'She met duke Halstead months ago.'
Reading through the sentences, Vincent revealed an amused smile for the first time after his father's death. He doesn't know his father's thoughts, but it was amusing to think and consider that a thief like her was leading the duchy now.
She lived as an orphan and had gone through hells to live and steal from rich people. However, her acting was impeccable.
Vincent can still remember the shudder he felt when she smiled as though she had really become the duchess. According to the information she said about herself, she never had any idea about nobles nor the flow of power. But now, looking at how she handled everything after the duke's death, Vincent was skeptical and suspicious once again.
His new sister seemed to know how to play a scary version of chess. Was it all because of the duke's teachings? Vincent knew that the duke had told her everything about power. His father was the prime of his time and had everyone in his hands, but seeing how Neirin looked exactly like the duke was a terrifying sight for him, whose position was in danger.
Still, He held Neirin's promise to give the position to her after he had come of age. It was absurd to think that he was trusting her now but what can a man do if the will had been like that. Furthermore, he needed guidance from a guardian, especially when he needed to be introduced to the high society.
Putting down the papers, Vincent blinked, leaning on his chair. It's been a week after his father's funeral, and everything was settled down without any Hinch. He saw the shift of the mansion the moment Neirin took over, and all the accounts and issues the duke left after he died were taken care of without any fuss.
Vincent couldn't still believe it, but the evidence was in front of his eyes. Tapping the table with his index finger, he rang the bell to call the servants outside.
The door opened, and the maid stepped inside. "Is there anything the young master needs?" Vincent's suspicious eyes landed on the maid. He felt like his actions were being monitored for some reason, or was he just feeling that?
"Tea," he simply said. The maid nodded without any fuss, but before she could leave, Vincent asked, "Where is my sister?"
The maid was still bowing. "She's in the duke's office, young master. She had been busy with matters regarding the servants."
Vincent fell silent before waving his hands to dismiss the maid. "Prepare some tea for my sister as well. I'll be going to her office."
"As the young master wishes," The maid said and quietly leave the room.
Vincent stood up and grabbed his coat. He left his room and walked towards the room where the office of the duke was.
Heaving his breath, he knocked. " Come in."
It was his sister's voice. Without any word, he twisted the doorknob and entered inside. The first thing he noticed was that there was no change in the interior of the room. It was still the same, and the portrait of his parents was still there. The only thing that changed was the supposed to be dark curtains were replaced with curtains that can give peaceful energy and can let the sun's rays come in. The room was also brightened up.
"Vincent!" He drew back his gaze to the room and looked at his sister, who was now walking towards him with her always cheerful smiles and honest emerald eyes. Vincent frowned slightly, feeling a bit discomfort at how her eyes flickered.
Just as Neirin was only a few inches close, he took a step back. "Sister," He said in his usual cold tone.
Neirin stopped and paused. She looked at him, smiling. Vincent knew that she noticed his discomfort, but she acted determined and honest. He hated it even more.
"Yes?" She said in a gleeful tone.
"I heard that you have been busy, so I asked for the servants to prepare some tea."
At the same time, there was a knock on the door. "Duchess, young master, the tea is already prepared." They heard.
Both Neirin and Vincent found their seats. "Come in," Neirin said and the door opened. Vincent watched everything being prepared while he took a look on the table of the duke where the documents were.
He saw several letters with different seals on them. Few of them looked familiar. After assessing it for a while, he turned back and faced Neirin, smiling gently at him. He coughed slightly, grabbing the tea on the table.
The maid excused herself, and both of them were the only ones left in the room. Neirin was the one who took the initiative to talk.
"Is there anything that concerns my brother?" she asked while sipping the tea.
Vincent paused for a while. Her voice sounded lovely in his ears, and it made him wonder if he was hearing it right. He tilted his head slightly before convincing himself that he was probably hearing things.
"I saw some letters from the vassals. Are they still opposing?" He asked the topic as though he was not thinking of other things.
His tired eyes tried to observe Neirin. She was still smiling and enjoying the tea. However, her black dress with white lace implied that she was still mourning. His eyes waver for a moment. Vincent can't help but think that she was a person who embodied the sun and the spring.
"I was planning on telling you sooner after I sort it out. They have been the cause of my headaches for a few days now." She sounded authoritative, and he can't help but wonder what her plan was. Although they established a truce between them, Vincent doesn't care if others would interfere and let him lead the duchy. He was just observing.
"I heard that you would be returning to the academy a few days after?" Neirin asked once again. This time she was looking at him.
He nodded, sipping the tea. The atmosphere between them was calm and peaceful. Few would doubt that they were siblings that were not blood-related.
"Yes, sister. I think I already missed some of the lessons needed to be learned and have been away for the academy for too long."
"I am glad that you prioritize your academics but delay your journey for a week."
"Why?" he asked. He was really curious to why would this person who seemed perfect would need him? She looked like she can handle everything.
"I will be needing you for a few documents, and furthermore, I need to introduce you to someone."
"Is he important?" Vincent pressed.
"You will be the judge of that." Neirin smiled gently.
"When?"
Heaving her breath, Neirin put down the teacup. "If you don't find it uncomfortable, why not today?"
Vincent's eyes widened as he was taken by surprise. He almost spilled the tea he was drinking. Coughing twice, he asked. "Why the rush?"
Neirin chuckled, giving him a handkerchief. "I'm sorry," she said. Vincent accepted the handkerchief his sister gave him and wiped the corners of his mouth. Neirin continued.
"I thought that the earlier you knew, it would be best so that you can know how useful they can be."
"I'm still a young master," Vincent said, putting down the tea. "Why would you think that I am capable of leading people?"
Hearing his response, Neirin stared at him for a little while. Her eyes looked like it was observing him.
"Vincent, I know very well how smart you are. It's no use pretending to be dumb. It would be best to showcase your intelligence and your capabilities. Furthermore, I know you are wary of me. Why not give them to you to lessen the burden, right?"
Vincent clenched his jaw. His tired purple eyes stared at her a little bit longer before he sighed in defeat.
"If it's what my sister wants."
"Great!" Neirin said, clapping her hands. Vincent can't help but notice how her cheeks blushed as she smiled. Ignoring his gaze, Neirin then stood up and said, "You have permission from your master to come in now."
Vincent doesn't really understand what her thoughts were. It was his first time encountering a woman he can't predict the course of her actions, it was making him tired.
As his mind was drowned with his mussing, he felt a little cold as one of the windows opened and a dark figure appeared. This time, he was the one who stood up and walked closer to where Neirin was standing.
Curious as he was, he watched the figure bow in front of him as though he was the most respectable person inside the room. This figure wears a dark cloak forbidding the light seeped through and seeing his face. He looked like a shadow.
"We greet the young master and the head of the family. We are the courts of crows and were tasked by the deceased duke to be the young master's strength."
"Do you like it?" Neirin asked looking up to see Vincent's expression. He smiled a bit, knowing fully well who was the person in front of him and what they usually do. He looked down to meet Neirin's gaze.
"It's a good gift from my sister, who was once a previous thief."
--