Lucian nodded weakly, staring at the wet ground, the smell of rain and wet grass mixed in the air.
"No way ... I— I'll try to talk to your father."
"No Rogan, don't worry, he won't listen. You will be kicked out of this house if you protest, and I don't want that to happen to you, I still want to be with you, at least before I leave this mansion."
"Young master ..."
It was funny that he felt more comfortable around Rogan, Rogan was just a butler working for him in this house but Lucian could not help but think if he had a father he would want that person to be Rogan.
He looked weak only around Rogan, he always acted strong on the outside, wearing his mask, it was rare occasion for him to cry but every time he cried, only Rogan would see him in that situation.
Just like this time, tears were flowing without him knowing, Rogan took out a handkerchief from inside his chest pocket, wiping the tears on his cheeks gently and carefully as if not wanting to scratch the delicate skin, the two of them stayed there for a while. Rogan did not force him to return to the mansion, he stayed with Lucian until Lucian himself stood up and said he wanted to go back.
***
The main hall was decorated so beautifully, with a big, fluffy red carpet for people to step on, tables and chairs were arranged neatly around the room. On top of the tables were small flower vases, creating an elegant and beautiful atmosphere. Lucian saw the flowers in the vases and recognized them as the ones he had picked earlier.
As he entered inside, the sight of so many servants cleaning the room, and the even larger number of tables than at the celebration two years ago was a sight to behold. Last year, the Douglass family had been unable to celebrate the anniversary due to their still mourning the death of Earl Douglass. Therefore, it was only natural that the anniversary this year would be a splendid one.
"Why did you come here?"
The low voice of a man he did not even want to see today was closer to his ears, the man squeezed Lucian's shoulder lightly who shuddered at the touch. Lucian glared at the man "Eric don't do anything stupid."
"Don't worry, I won't touch you in public." He said that while holding Lucian's hair, "Also call me Earl Eric, or Sir, you know very well that I am my father's successor here."
Eric kissed his cheek, Lucian reflexively moved away, wiping his cheek roughly, seeing the man smiling faintly, Lucian could not hide his irritated face.
"So why did you come to the mansion? Did you miss me? Let's do it in my room then."
"Eric!"
As Eric grabbed his wrist, Lucian jerked his hand roughly which made his legs stagger, his body hit the table causing the flower vase on it almost topple over.
The noise drew all attention to Lucian, but as they saw Earl Eric was with him, the maids who had glanced their way lowered their eyes and went back to their work.
Eric walked over to help him stand up straight, Lucian watched this man's face. A man who closely resembled his late father, handsome face with the tall and large build of an alpha, blond hair and blue eyes, if people saw this man, they would not think that this man was someone that was terrifying to Lucian.
As he stood closer, Eric laughed faintly, he released his pheromone while whispering "Don't act like a virgin, it's not cute anymore, we've had sex so many times so don't try to act innocent."
Lucian glared at him who said that in an indifferent voice, the man smirked as if pleased by the reaction "I will come to your room tonight, it's been a long time since I was busy with work and did not visit you."
No. He did not want this man to visit, there was nothing good when this man came to his hut. He hated his touch, he hated everything about this man.
A hand came to his hair, combing it back, Lucian's lips were trembling not because he was scared but he was holding back anger, it would not be good for him to scream here, witnessed by so many maids. "Your hair, why did you cut it, the first time I saw your long hair was when my father brought you here ... you really look like an angel—"
"Eric!"
Eric who was pulling his head closer towards him, stopped abruptly as he heard his younger brother's voice calling. He clicked his tongue in frustration and gave Lucian's head a small pat before taking a few steps back. His gaze was resentful as he glared at his younger brother, who was glaring right back at him.
"What Ivan? Can't you see I'm busy?"
"Huh ... haha, busy playing with the son of a criminal?"
Eric did not say anything, even his face was expressionless looking straight at the younger brother, Ivan laughed again, "Helena is coming tomorrow, so stop playing with this bitch."
Lucian glanced at Eric who changed his facial expression slightly when he heard the woman's name coming out of Ivan's mouth, he chuckled, the laugh was disgustingly very similar to his late father.
"Ah, Helena ... of course she will come tomorrow for the Douglass family anniversary."
He shifted his gaze from his younger brother to look at Lucian with a pale face.
"Not only Helena, so many nobles will be coming to this house … so Lucian, don't come here, and just stay in your hut. Ah, by the way, why did you come here?"
"That's because I told him to pick flowers and decorate the table here, but this idiot isn't even doing his job!"
Ivan stepped down the stairs with a stomp, glaring at Lucian angrily as if he was about to punch him. However, Lucian stood his ground, not backing down despite the intimidating expression Ivan wore. Ivan was shorter and smaller than him, though he still looked like he wanted to tear Lucian's face off. "Lucian ... you, I told you to pick the flowers why did James arrange the flowers in the vase instead of you?"
A hand rose to slap his face, Lucian closed his eyes but before Ivan could smack him in the face a voice stopped him "Okay it's my fault I disturbed him while he was picking flowers."
"Eric, are you defending him? Are you defending a son of a criminal? You are crazy!"
"I'm not defending him, he did pick the flowers but I did not know they were for you."
"Okay then ...., Lucian have you checked the vineyard and cleaned the stables?"
He had not checked the vineyard yet, but he was planning to clean out the stables right after checking the flowers he picked here, Lucian looked around the room, with the fresh flowers neatly arranged in a vase on the table, he was relieved that one of the maids might picked up the basket left in the flower garden.
"No. I haven't cleaned out the stables yet."
"Then what are you waiting for? Get out of here!"
As he turned to leave, he saw James— Ivan's personal servant, running towards where he stood up as if he was being chased by a ghost. James ran until he was close to Ivan, and Ivan looked at him in astonishment as if he was some kind of idiot. However, when James finally said something, Ivan's expression brightened as if in a better mood, his face turned so bright it made his face even prettier.
"Marquess Gerald's carriage is coming."
"Is it true?"
James nodded, Ivan turned back up the stairs going to his room. Ivan's happy reaction was very different from Lucian's, who upon hearing that his face turned pale, how could he forget about this? of course that man would come to the Douglass family's important event.
"You don't want to meet that guy do you? Me too, I don't want you to meet him." Eric stood behind him whispering it under his breath, Lucian swallowed hard, he stared straight at the orange light illuminating from the entrance. "So just stay in your hut, it will be very bad if he finds out you are the son of the man who killed his father."
"I don't want to meet him..." he said softly, Eric hummed. He nodded in acknowledgment, a hand patting on his head, like someone petting a petrified dog.
"That's good, you won't meet anyone not only that guy, but the other nobles. Stay in your hut, don't mess up this event."
"I've never had the desire to meet other nobles ...."
"I know, Lucian— you're not someone who likes interacting with nobles. But of course you would not want to interact with them again because of your dirty family name."
Hearing Eric say something bad about his family name, his facial expression hardened, Lucian quickly turned around to look at the man with a sharp gaze, the man smiled nonchalantly, the hand that was on his head to stroke his hair was pulled back, Lucian clenched his jaw in annoyance as he saw the indifferent face of the man standing in front of him.
"Don't look at me like that, are you planning to turn me on? Lucian Gifford."
Bastard.
Lucian looked at the man full of anger, although he could not refute Eric's statement, he knew very well that the Gifford family name had been soiled because of the crimes committed by his father, but that was very disrespectful to other Gifford ancestors in the past, the Gifford family was known as someone warm and kind, the ancestor who made North Rosaenia even more prosperous. It was not fair that Gifford's name being tarnished just because of Lucian and his father's sins.