Clouds of dust formed below the wheels of a carriage as it raced through Carmarthen town. Thankfully, the streets were empty. Even if they weren't, the noble lady who appeared to be in her mid-forties would not have ordered the Coachman to slow down, despite the risk to the townspeople.

The noble lady fists clenched in anger, silently gritting her teeth when the thoughts of her son came in mind.

"Wait till I get my hands on that boy!" She couldn't tell if she was worried or angry. Her only wish was that she found her nuisance of a son before he landed them both in bigger trouble.

No sooner had those thoughts entered her mind did the carriage screech to a sudden halt, nearly flinging her to the front- The only reason why the coachman would dare to stop must be because they've reached their destination, but the woman inside didn't bother to relax.

The door to her carriage was opened by the coachman, and the woman inside stepped down.

A look of anger contorted her pretty face as she pulled out a knife from the belt of her dress, silently wondering where to stab her son just in case she manages to lay a hand on him.

Luckily for her, Carmarthen Town wasn't nosy when it came to spreading rumors, so she could kill her son without hesitation.

Looking at the building in front of her, it appeared to be a decent average-sized mansion of another close relative her son liked to visit a lot, so she was half-sure she'd find him here.

She stormed through the gates and into the mansion, startling and ignoring the servants that greeted her as she walked by. She made her way through the stairs, grasping the knife by the hilt as she opened the door and walked in.

The butler who was incharge of welcoming visitors, spotted the angry woman advancing in his direction with a knife. He immediately panicked when he realized who's mother it was, but it wasn't out of fear of his life, for he knew the reason why she was here.

"Good_good morn--"

"Where's my son?" She demanded after stopping beside the butler, nearly brushing past him. She didn't even give the butler a chance to complete his greetings, and the young fellow instantly straightened himself up, clearing his throat.

"The family traveled yesterday, and the Young Master hadn't visited the mansion today." The butler informed her, but of course, Lady Elaine was nowhere close to believing his words.

She searched his face, her brows knitting together with suspicion.

"Are you lying to me?"

"I dare not." He appeared shocked, and at this point, Lady Elaine was close to strangling herself all because of her naughty son.

He's not here?? So she rushed here for nothing??

"Where is he?" She demanded, pacing back and forth. "His father will be arriving soon, and he of all people should know how his father gets when everyone of the family isn't present, he'll make us suffer but that son of mine has no idea that he's making things difficult for everyone." She laid out her worries to the butler who shook his head in pity, understanding where Lady Elaine, second wife of the High-ranking master living in the Villa Estate was coming from.

Duke Richard wasn't someone to be messed with, and the Young Master, out of all people should know that everyone must adhere to his father's rules.

"Do you intend on killing your son, Lady Elaine?" The butler inquisitively asked as his gaze shifted from the knife in her grasp to meet her stare, hoping that wasn't the case.

"The question is why shouldn't I kill him? Give me a good reason not to. It's clear he already has plans on killing me before my time, so I should get rid of him first before I die by his hands."

"Calm your troubled heart Lady Elaine, it is possible that the young master must have returned home by now." The butler said. "Since he isn't here, I doubt he'd spend longer hours wherever he went to. The Young Master isn't someone who mixes with people easily, so he must have headed back home."

Elaine stopped pacing, finally taking the butler's words into consideration and it was possible. Her son wasn't the type who had places to visit unless summoned, and he hated interaction as well.

So where could he possibly go? He was at the point of giving her a heart attack.

"I seriously hope you're right." She sighed, and the butler proceeded to ask.

"When will the Duke return?"

"In half an hour I suppose, I have to leave now, send my greetings to everyone once they return."

"Of course." He bowed his head, and Lady Elaine left after that.

The butler shook his head in pity as he watched the woman leave.

"The Young Master really knows how to turn his household into chaos."

In the Villa Estate where most of the people with higher ranks were based, Lady Elaine got down from her carriage and went into their mansion.

Her eyes were still searching for her son when she spotted the duchess of the house, Juliana, escorting her own son through the front yard, but the two had stopped discussing when they noticed Lady Elaine coming their way.

Duchess Juliana was the first wife of Duke Richard, and of course her son, Abbot was the first son of her husband, most likely the heir to receive the honor of being Duke.

"Sister." Juliana called with a smile, making Elaine halt in her steps as she was about heading inside, stopping her at the entrance of the main door.

"In a hurry?"

"Were you expecting me to be as slow in walking as a snail? Don't tell me I was only stopped to be asked something so irrelevant." She didn't turn to look at Juliana who was already simpering behind her.

"Your mood is like an erupting storm Elaine, has your son gone missing again? Perhaps?" She made it sound like she was asking, despite knowing the answers herself.

"It's funny how your son always goes missing each time our husband declares a meeting with the whole family."

She feigned innocence, "I mean he's fond of going against the family rules, and putting you and your daughter in trouble."

"If you have nothing better to say to me, then may I remind you never to interrupt me." Was Lady Elaine's response when she went into the house.

Abbot frowned after hearing the tone she used in responding to his mother, he wanted to say something in return but was stopped by his mother who lifted her hand up, silencing her son.

"You're just going to let that husband-stealer leave?" Abbot scowled, angered by her disrespect towards his mother. He had a lot of things to say to that woman but his mother was always there to silence him.

"Abbot," a smile curved his mother's lips, "no need to stir too much drama when your father is already here. For once, let's try to be the audience today and hope her son doesn't show up for the family meeting.

The Duchess folded her arm with a look of delight. Everyone knew these meetings are basically the Duke's way of teaching his prospective heirs, but Lady Elaine's son keeps skipping each one of them, hence, adding a benefit to her son who has dutifully been attending it all.

After hearing his mother's response, Abbot felt a bit satisfied with it as his lips tugged into a shrewd smile. "I guess you're right mother. He knows very well how father values this meeting, and most importantly, father is going to give us teachings on how we should behave in the society, as well as the roles needed when he makes one of us the Duke in the future, and he's missed it for the third time in three years."

"If he doesn't show up, it's going to be beneficial for you my son. And we'll watch, watch as your father is going punish him, just like how he punishes him each year."

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A/N: New Book Out! Search and add *Bride To His Darkness* to your Library and give it a read! Thank you!