Stella walked into Kilian's room the morning of the Gentleman's Club gathering, carrying a big box in her arms. She placed it on the table and Kilian wheeled over to unbox it.
A well-sewn outfit in white and pale greens was neatly packaged in the box, and Stella began to fuss around while dressing Kilian in the new clothes.
Her happy expression when seeing him in the pale white and greens brought some life to the gloomy room, and even Kilian had to acknowledge the colors fit his blonde hair very well.
A small box was under the clothes and when Kilian opened it a brooch with a light blue gem was sparkling and reflecting the rays of the sun.
"Wow!" Stella burst out, watching as Kilian placed the brooch on the soft white velvet fabric bound at his neck.
"Is that an aquamarine?" She asked curiously, studying the brooch.
"I wouldn't know," Kilian answered with a low voice, as he had no idea about the many different kinds of gems that existed besides the few common names like ruby and emerald.
Stella studied the young man in front of her.
It was as if he radiated innocence and youth, with a beautiful face that could pass for a girl. She thought it was a weird color choice for a gem, as the outfit was more green and Kilian's hair was light golden.
"It matches your eyes," She said after having admired the man in front of her until any more staring would just be considered rude.
He gave her a curious look. Stella had become a lot more outspoken in his presence and seemed to be more delighted and upfront with her admiration than shy and trying to hide it when she looked at him.
'She has gotten quite frank lately,' he thought and gave her a warm smile.
It was a rare smile, because this one was sincere, and he could tell that Stella had learned to tell the difference as she had watched him interact and give fake smiles to the other staff.
She instantly blushed but didn't look away, instead, she gave him a smile back and started fussing over him like a mother hen while trying to mend his hair.
After a bit, his bangs were swiped to one side to show more of his face, and she cut the hair in the back, causing the hair to look thicker and wavy.
"It is too bad no young women will be attending such a gathering, I am sure when the Young Master debut, all the young ladies will want to have a look".
She gave him another smile and gestured for him to look in the mirror.
Kilian got up from the wheelchair, and stood in front of the mirror, admiring his looks.
He had to be careful or he might become narcissistic while looking at himself. The young man staring back at him was no less than breathtaking.
The delicate features were enhanced by the outfit and the gem at his lower neck matched his eyes.
However, he saw the clothing as a battlesuit, as this look would be his only strength today. Besides a possible ally like Mr. Kilga, who he had only met once, he had nothing else to bring to the table so to speak.
If anyone decided to humiliate him today, he would have nothing to retort with.
He sighed and his face looked gloomy, causing Stella to complain and telling him to smile more.
He really had no power in this world…yet.
"Knock knock"
Kilian looked to the door and gestured for Stella to open it after he got back in his chair.
A young man, maybe 1 or 2 years older than himself stepped into the room.
Kilian instantly noticed the bright red hair that stood like flames on the man's head, with a slightly tanned face and obvious muscular body under the clothes from the many hours this man had spent training.
The redhead bowed as he entered and Kilian gave him an indifferent nod back, pretending as if he had never met the man before despite the many occasions this redhead would wave or nod at him from below the window in the mornings.
"My name is Dante, Young Master I am to be your guard escort today for the visit with Mr. Kilga in town".
There was a pause and Dante stood back up straight looking at Kilian.
Kilian noticed Dante was taken aback at the sight he had seen, as he was obviously staring holes into Kilian, not expecting to see this kind of… sight, after entering the room.
Kilian Heathgrave was beautiful. That was all that Dante could think when he saw the man in the chair in the gloomy room.
'Is this really the third Young Master,' he thought.
He had heard he was a cripple and in a wheelchair, and when seeing him in the window or in town, Kilian had not stood out to him at a distance, besides his blonde hair.
Dante swallowed hard, unable to say anything else.
"Thank you, Sir. Dante".
Kilian replied studying the redhead with his icy blue gaze. Determining if this man had come here with an agenda or not.
After a while all Kilian could gather was that this young man was just as carefree and easy to read as Stella.
Kilian sighed. At least the head maid had given him an escort, it would have been weird if Kilian the son of a Count showed up with no escort at all.
So far from what he could gather, they had simply sent this redhead because he was from a commoner family, which he assumed as Dante had not given the last name.
They were indirectly telling Kilian he was not worth the time or effort of a proper knight of the house.
Dante's eyes widened as he heard the Young Master thank him.
He already had a good opinion of the young Master who overlooked their training every morning, and who had given money to the poor kids on the street. But now he was even going as far as thanking him with a smile, even though he was a commoner.
'Even the knights don't acknowledge me, but Master Kilian did right away,' he thought looking at the young man, who confidently sat back down in his wheelchair as if that didn't hinder him in any way.
"Well let's get going," Kilian said out loud after studying Dante.
He had to admit Dante was at least something good to look at, and he had no issue with having him around.
Dante took over for Stella wheeling Kilian out of the room and down the hall to the grand staircase leading to the foyer, where the entrance was.
Kilian was about to stand when suddenly without a warning, Dante lifted him from the seat as if he was as light as a feather and carried him down the stairs placing him comfortably on a lounge chair while walking back up to bring down the wheelchair.
Kilian said nothing but just observed Dante doing this as if it was the most obvious thing to do.
He had to admit that back in his old life, he did not like it when people would randomly touch him, and even when the man in the cane store had suddenly grabbed him he had felt uncomfortable.
He studied Dante. Then why didn't he feel annoyed now?
Instead of getting up from the lounge chair, Kilian waited for Dante to pick him up again, placing him back in the seat he had taken him from.
Maybe he could get used to this for now. Later he would make sure he never needed this chair again.
Kilian sighed, watching the more extravagant carriage pulling up in front of them. At least this time they had made sure to show him off better, as possible prominent figures would attend the gathering at the club.
Kilian got in the carriage. Stella was not coming with them as it was a men's only kind of club.
It was a similar path as the one Kilian had taken to town, but he was still curious to see anything he could from the open window.
The wind was blowing and he sucked it in greedily, the fresh air gave him energy and the sun on his face felt warm. He couldn't help but smile and close his eyes enjoying the feeling.
He didn't notice Dante observing him from his horse, watching the Young Master through the opposite window.
'He must not get out much, he is so pale,' The man on the horse thought.
Dante looked away again, catching himself staring. He knew the thoughts that were forming in his mind slowly, were wrong.
'This must be the first time the Young Master is known to make a public appearance, since birth'.
Dante had heard all the rumors regarding Kilian.
Apparently, he had been discarded by his father who had never visited, even his mother had stopped coming. From what he knew the countess was still alive, and she was not the mother of the two elder brothers.
'Who could abandon such a beautiful kind person?'.
'Maybe he wouldn't be too bad to serve,'
Dante gulped, having noticed the nape of Kilian's neck as the Young Master had moved tilting his head more to see the outside. Something in his chest stirred.
Something more than normal adoration.