After meeting his so-called friend, Ian wasn't in the mood to look for the few servants that worked here. He decided that going outside to eat in a restaurant would be faster than searching for the non-existing servants in his estate.
"If only I had a competent butler I wouldn't be in this state now."
***
"You should fire him, Ian!", Trevor demanded him.
"But he is an old servant that served the Agathiaron house since we first came to existence", Ian tried to argue albeit meekly.
"That may be true, but don't forget he is disrespecting me! That means he is disrespecting you, Ian! And if you don't fire him, all your servants will look down on you!"
"If I fire him I won't have a butler anymore", he said trying to convince Trevor not to sack the butler he grew up with.
"I will be your butler, I don't even need any salary!", Trevor replied stubbornly without showing any signs of backing down.
"That- "
"We will be able to see each other more often!"
"I- ", Ian didn't want to fire the butler who served the family for so long, but he couldn't help but want to see his first friend more than he does now.
"Master, I'll turn my resignation in, so don't worry about me. But do remember that I will always be waiting for your order."
"Butler Sebastian", Ian felt ashamed, because of his own selfish reason he will fire this loyal man. The man who served his parents who he looked up at: "I'm sorry."
"Don't be master. You should never apologize because you are always right", Sebastian bowed for the last time: "You will find me in that house."
The former butler smiled at his former master before turning around and walking to the exit. Sebastian didn't turn around and didn't show any reluctance as if he already had expected the outcome, but at the same time showed his deep trust in his master. That he would definitely once again reach out his hand for his family.
"Bu- ", even when he was the one who chose this option, Ian felt regret the moment he bowed at him, but before he could stop his former butler to leave he was interrupted by his 'friend'.
"Like I said I'll be your butler and my salary, I don't need it."
"How could I not give you any salary. Of course, you deserve it if you are my butler", Ian said a bit reluctant.
"How can I reject it if you insist it so much", Trevor answered with a voice that sounded reluctant, but his face told a whole other story: "How about so much?"
Trevor quietly whispered a big sum in Ian's ear. The amount he told him was twice as the normal wage of a butler, but how could he dare to reject him.
"Of course, I'll pay you that much each month", Ian answered.
"I really don't want to accept it but seeing how much you want me to accept it, I'll reluctantly accept it", Trevor who spoke of reluctantly accepting it showed a face full of greed.
***
"The more I think about it the angrier I get. I should have beat him when I had the chance to", Ian muttered regretfully. He had such a perfect chance to beat him up.
"Next time. Absolutely, next time, I'll beat him up till his parents won't even recognize him."
Ian once again realized how immature he was. He wasn't only a brat but also a selfish person. Someone who can't choose between the choices that they give. Ian was an indecisive person, an indecisive and greedy person.
He can't help but hate himself, but he wasn't planning to live his life full of hatefulness for everybody who did him wrong, including himself. The marquis still hasn't figured out what he'll do with his life, he never did before but now Ian wants to live a life that he wants and not a life people give him.
"I still have time."
He's still young. There's still time to figure it all out.
Ian walked leisurely to the stable. He wasn't planning to check if there was someone ready to arrange his couch if he wants to go outside. He rather uses that time to go search for his horse. His horse that he hasn't seen in a while.
He walked through the garden on his way to the forest that lay at the back of the mansion. A bit further in the forest you'll be able to see the stable. Beside the stable stood a wooden house. Normally there lived the caregivers of the horses that belonged to the Agathiaron house.
He knocked twice on the door out of politeness, but no one responded. Ian wasn't planning to stay there the whole day; therefore, he easily opened the door that seemed to have no lock and walked in searching for any signs of life.
"Is someone here?"
The marquis wasn't expecting an answer, he didn't even want to talk to them if they were here. But it was so long ago that he couldn't remember how you saddle a horse and even more where the equipment laid.
"Someone?", he asked once again: "Never mind."
Ian quickly decided that there wasn't anyone at home, but he wasn't planning to ride his horse without a saddle. He's going to search each corner of the stable and about how he would fasten it on the horse, he'll trust his muscle memories.
Before he left the house he heard crashes somewhere closely. The sound came from the second floor of the cottage. Not a second later someone came running down. It was a boy younger than Ian by a year or two. He had curly caramel colored hair and a pair of light brown hair.
"You called me, my lord?", the boy never saw the marquis berfore, but he would never not be able to guess who arrived in this shabby house. He quickly showed the manners he should have shown. He bowed deeply fearing for the punishment to come, but instead of the angry voice he expected, a calm almost lazy voice spoke to him.
"Ready my horse."
"Yes, my lord!", the boy quickly dashed outside ready to dutifully do what his master asked him, but before he could put the saddle on the horse he was stopped by Ian.
"Not that horse but that horse", Ian pointed to a beautiful white horse.
"Ah, yes sir!", he immediately brought the saddle for the horse and tied it skillfully. The boy tried to be done as fast as he could, but it would still take some minutes. The boy had a habit to ramble on and on when he was nervous. This time wasn't different.
"This horse may be beautiful, but you shouldn't let it deceive you! It is actually quite a naughty horse, but at the same time it is the nicest horse of them all! Do you know what her name is? Her name is actually- ", before he managed to blabber everything he could remember he was smoothly interrupted by a deeper voice.
"I know. Her name is Jade."
"Ah, yes, her name is Jade?", the boy looked extremely confused. He didn't know how the marquis would know about a horse's name.
"How did you know, sir?"
"Let me do the rest", Ian took over the task of adjusting the saddle after he was sure it would fit him, he climbed on the horse nimbly.
"To answer your question, Jade is my horse."
"Your- Your horse?"
"Hmm…", the marquis looked at the boy quietly ignoring the unbelievable face he showed: "What's your name?"
"My name? My name is Henry, sir!"
"Henry?"
"Yes sir, just Henry!", Henry quickly answered.
"I'll remember."
"What?"
Ian decided that it was time to get his food. He skillfully ignored the flabbergasted Henry and turned Jade to the direction of a restaurant.