The next morning, after getting up and getting ready, while Aldous was thinking about his departure he walked to the door and was about to leave his room, but as he raised his hand to open the door he stopped when he noticed that he was trembling slightly, he had a helpless expression on his face, he walked to the window of his room and looked towards the horizon. A few minutes passed but Aldous did not move, his expression changed continuously showing slight traces of anxiety, worry and fear but at a certain point he calmed down, his expression became indifferent when a blurred image came to his mind.
It was a humble and dimly lit room, besides a medium sized bed covered with worn sheets, a rough bedside table, and a closet there was nothing else, on the bed sat a woman, from her his facial features could not be distinguished, but she had beautiful silver hair that reached her back, she was wearing a white dress and although this was a bit faded it was well kept and without a single wrinkle. The woman sat a child on her lap and while she carefully secured him with her left arm, with her right arm she held a book, she seemed to be reading an entertaining story because from time to time the child on her lap let out tender laughter and asked questions with curiosity, the woman patiently answered with a voice full of tenderness and affection.
That was a scene he contemplated in his dreams and although most of the details are blurred, Aldous still feels warmth every time he thinks about it, while gently placing his hand on his chest to feel its accelerated rhythm he turned around and walked to the door with firm steps and this time without any trembling he opened the door and walked out of his room.
Aldous went to see the Count in his study, inside Count Blackstone was sitting behind his desk as he carefully looked over some documents, noticing someone entering he did not look up, but said softly.
"Wait a moment."
Hearing it Aldous said nothing, he closed the study door and waited patiently, after a few minutes the count stopped reading the documents on the desk, he had a somewhat exhausted expression while he let out a sigh and massaged the center of his eyebrows with his hand, he fixed his gaze on Aldous and put a contemplative expression without saying a word; Aldous neither said anything nor changed his expression even though the count was staring at him without saying anything, without any discomfort he calmly returned his gaze to him
"When are you leaving?"
Earl Blackstone asked after a moment.
"Right away, I don't want to waste another minute."
Aldous replied firmly, the count gave him a meaningful look as he said.
"Since you are so determined, go with the butler, he should have already finished the preparations for your departure"
Aldous looked somewhat surprised but after being silent for a moment he said.
"I'll get going then, Father."
After which he left the study, after Aldous had gone Count Blackstone's expression darkened as he spoke quietly
"I know you wanted me to live a normal life, but being our son, as ordinary can be, you wouldn't let me get involved, you wouldn't let me help "
her voice held helplessness and pain as she spoke
"Knowing that you were in danger I couldn't protect you "
Speaking this far Count Blackstone's expression turned grim as he said coldly.
"Well, well, well, let me see who dares to lay a finger on my son, even if he has your lineage he also has mine, no one who has had ill intentions towards a Blackstone has ever met a good end."
After leaving the study Aldous found the butler, who took him to the outskirts of the castle where a luxurious black carriage was already prepared, with the elegant coat of arms of the Blackstone house on the sides and pulled by two horses. Beside the carriage was a retinue of guards wearing silver armor and mounted on war horses, half a dozen in all. Aldous watched them for a moment and noticed that the guard he had been paying attention to lately was not there, so he did not board the carriage immediately, he instructed the butler to call the guard in question, and after the latter joined the retinue, Aldous boarded the carriage and began his journey.