"Brother! So this box was from the lady that saved me? Oh! Then let me have them, please?"
"No, we don't know if it's someone from those guys and send it here"
"B-But brother! Those guys were already inside the knightward's office! They couldn't get out there! It'll take them years to get out from there!"
"Alright, however. Let me taste this first. It's better to be sure than never"
"Alright!"
Days had passed since Ger had tasted the muffins but it was as if it's still fresh in his mouth. The taste o the muffins was extra ordinary that almost made him felt warmth. At first he was suspicious about the person that sent the muffin however when he tasted them he immediately knew that it's safe and delicious. It's more delicious than the breads that Willy had always making in the Berry's
It's the first day today that he had remembered about the muffins. It's because of the breads' aroma that's always captivating his sense of smell. Now, he's inside the Berry's bakeshop assisting he customers there and every lady that comes and ask him for his name and other stuffs related to him
'I guess that lady had already stopped coming towards our shop now. It's great for her however, the more I think I about her the more I felt something indifferent'
Ger only shook his head and continued smiling towards the lady that he thought of as annoying ones
***
"As I thought about, Victoria will easily be your son's friend. I guess she's truly into having friends now"
"I see, at first I was worried to leave your daughter alone with my son but now I think that he's already adapting to having his first friend"
"First friend? Then it's the same with Victoria, except for the crown prince as her fiancée, though"
"Well, sort of. Oh! Regarding that I'm grateful for inviting us over!"
"Well, to be honest, it's more likely our pleasure, right Olivia?"
"Of course! Besides, we're grateful for your acceptance to our proposal to the empire"
"That what friends are for, Duchess Olivia and Duke William"
"As always you're that formal again, Duke Felium"
Then all of the three people laughed and talked to each other inside William's office. However, Felium knew that it's not the primary reason why they were invited in the household. He knew that William's daughter needed some guy friend to protect her from some bullies and he was just the perfect person for that. It's because he was the only duke who had a son than a daughter.
Meanwhile, regarding Melly --- she was about to go towards the room of the lady when she remembered that there were already visitors inside the household. There, she immediately went towards where her feet would take her as she was already having those free of time. However, unconsciously her feet brought her towards the training ground of the knights. She only regained her consciousness when she heard some deep familiar voice behind her
"Hi, M-Melly"
"…"
However, instead of turning ahead, Melly felt like her whole body was frozen that she can't even move an inch. Yet, the person behind him continued talking while having that deep shy voice
"I-I know that you've been busy lately. However, may I ask you sometimes when you have free time to go towards the m-market ---- uhm, j-just the t-two o-of us?"
Yet, again Melly was surprised however, this time she already had a choice and that is what made Howald --- yes the personal knight of duke Chutlier ------ to be surprised
It's because Melly only ran away from him without turning back. Those actions of Melly made Howald's mouth opened wide and like he was left dumfounded and felt like Melly didn't even care about him. he felt like he was dumped by Melly
'What the?!'
He could only thought as he stared at the back of the person that he asked --- on a date --- running towards the opposite side of him – without even turning back.
'Well I can't blame my feelings for her and I can't blame what she's feeling for me. However, I'll make her mine in no time, I promise myself that. In the meantime, I just need to ask my comrades what they felt was the meaning of what happened now. In that way, I could only be enlightened'
"What?"
"Well, sir, if a lady runs away after you ask them it only meant that she's not interested"
"Wait, I think you're wrong there, Rey"
"What now, Dave?"
"Well, Sir Howald, if a lady runs away after you ask them then it only meant one thing"
"One thing?"
Everyone in the room was interested to know what Dave will say next but the one that's more excited is Sir Howald
"One thing! --- And it's about that the lady is embarrassed"
Huh? What are you talking about Dave, embarrassed?"
"Wait for it, Derry"
"Alright"
However, instead of speaking, Howald was so focused to what they'll be saying that it's affecting his point of view already
"The lady is embarrassed because it's the most unexpected time of the day!"
"Huh?!"
The others seemed dismay to his idea. However, Howald only nodded seriously with his hand on his chin
"I see"
"See? Even Sir Howald gets it guys"
"What do you even mean with thatDave?"
The others asked him and he only smirked at them
"Guess that you all doesn't even know how to love or in reality you all never been in love unlike me and Sir Howald, huh?"
Then as if rebutting Dave all went silent as heat waves flushed their cheeks
'As I thought so'
"Alright, here is what you'll be doing now Sir Howald"
"Alright I'm listening"
"First....."
***
"Then that happened! How can I ever reacted when it's so suddenly, Greya!"
"Well, you're truly correct, who would expect such a thing from Sir Howald. Even I was shocked when Lady Victoria had thought of you two"
"Truly? I guess she already sensed some of Sir Howald's intentions. Ugh!"
"Well, you'll get passed with that. I assure you, so what do you wanted to do to him right now?"
"Of course! I'll Avoid him! it's embarrassing Greya!"
"It's true, however, just a reminder --- you can't avoid him forever"
"UGH! I know of that but just this time!"
"Alright, I'll keep you here with me, besides do you want to learn baking?"
"As in right now?"
"Yeah! Besides, I promised Lady Vcitoria to teach you during your free time"
"Alright! I'm in now"
"Alright then let's begins with these"
***
'As I thought, Ger truly had some charisma again with the ladies inside the bakeshop'
Willy was smiling while looking towards Ger accompanying the ladies non-stop just for the shop.
'I'm glad I already gave him the bonus days ago. I just hope that he had spent it wisely'
It's already afternoon and near to be night. that's why Willy was now on the outside of the kitchen and stopped baking as he looked towards Ger who was still busy accompanying the people inside the bakeshop --- more like ladies who were into him.
Then a few minutes later, the shop had already been empty with customers. With that, Willy gave Ger what he had to be given every day and the two closed the shop and locked it. As usual Willy messed with Ger's hair before going towards his home and Ger only heaving a sigh
'He's always like that though'
Then he started going towards the alley, which he considered as his home always
After a few minutes of walking, he felt such unease and he doesn't know why. He felt some chill in the first place and it's the first time that he felt something like that. knowing that his instincts were always right, he went and run towards the alley only to find it being quiet.
'Okay? This seems like the usual silence that always welcomes me however, why do I feel unease? Why does my heart beating so worriedly?'
He continued asking himself but instead of stopping to move. He begin moving inside like he's usual walk until he saw crimson color on the wall, on the ground and some stingy smell that one could call blood
'What had happened inside here?'
He never saw anymore, he only saw blood between the wall and ground to where he's standing. The brown paper bag full of breads had fallen towards the floor and he's shock. He doesn't know why but his hands becoming cold. It's becoming paler until he heard some noise of heaving breathing. There, he immediately went towards the place and saw what he didn't wanted to see
The old man had a knife on the part of his chest. Then his siblings were lying on the floor with blood on their bodies. Ger wanted to shout however, He can't. He wanted to find the people that did those to his siblings but he can't even more an inch. He felt paralyzed. He felt like his whole world had crumbled apart.
"Brother!"
"Brother?"
"Brother…."
"Brother ----"
"Brother!!!"
He remembered the times that he had, those memories that he always treasure with his brothers. However, the vision that he had led him to darkness. He never saw what happened next but right at the moment --- he's already shouting.
He doesn't care if someone had heard him or not but he immediately went towards his breathing brother that is still alive
"B-Brother, d-do you r-remember w-what y-you used to want?"
"Shhhhh, don't speak anym0re I'll save you and the others so just stay sti----"
"N-No b-brother I-I t-think I-I don't have any time anymore. J-Just h-hear m-me out p-please"
Cries were heard and it's only Ger's cries. Finneas was smiling sadly towards him with blood on his mouth
"B-Brother n-never forget your dream to be a knight and found those p-people that harmed u-us alright? In that way, I assigned you a purpose to never w-waste y-your l-life f-for u-u-----"
Those words were the last words he heard from Finneas after his hands on Ger's cheeks had now fallen towards the ground
"NO!!!!!!!!"
'That's the last time he had control over himself before everything around him turned to darkness