"I have something for you, Lord Hughes. "
The owner of the voice was one of Lord Franklin's friends. Leoandro turned around and peeked at him suspiciously. Man pulled out a maroon velvet box from his pocket.
He placed the box in the center of the table and opened it. It contained a beautiful pendant with a green jade stone and pearls. Beautiful flowers were carved on green jade and surrounded by pearls.
It was professionally fixed in a beautifully designed oval-shaped pendant. The pendant was made of gold.
" Sorry man, but I don't want to gamble anymore, I'm tired and wished for some rest"
Leonardo explained to him and uninteresting rushed towards the door but the voice chased him again.
" No!.... no gambling Sir. Why don't you make a deal ?"
The man doubtfully freed his words. Sitting on the chair he was praying from inside for Leo to agree with his proposal. The man possessed a pretty rough visual. If he was not sitting among the noblemen, someone surely mistook him for a thief. Hope glimmered in his eyes when Leo turned his head in his direction.
" A deal!..., What kind of deal ?"
Leoandro was confused as he addressed the man suspiciously. He grabbed his chair from earlier and get comfortable over it. He was curious about what more was hidden in their sleeves.
"Why don't you return all our money in exchange for the pendant?"
The man brought his intentions to life, this time.
He wished to get back his money if it was anyway possible. He also wanted to sell this pendant, thus it was such as killing two birds with one stone.
"Are you crazy? Who buys a pendant with fifty gold coins? Are you trying to rob me, man?"
Leonardo accused him coldly and tried to escape! But the action was merely an act, from inside he wanted to beg him a little hard, much better if others joined him too.
"Please, lord this is a rare jade. A Chinese man gifted it to me during a trip. He claimed, it belongs to Qing Destiny and processes magic, brings you good luck, and protects you from evil. It is blessed for helping people to find their loved ones which are separated from them for any reason."
The man explained everything, whatever his little knowledge occupied about the pendant. The other four members were attending the whole scenario such as a free show.
"That Chinese man just makes a fool out of you."
Leoandro chuckled a little and tried to dismiss him again. He was not pleading enough for his liking to give up on the fifty gold coins in his hand.
"Maybe, you are right lord, but this is a really rare jade stone. The man only gifted me stone but it was me who told a Craftsman to change it into a piece of jewelry.
Lord, you are not lack money but the money we lost only the money we have in hand. How can we able to complete our journey in this situation?
Moreover, I want to sell this piece and who would be more eligible than you.? It must look good on your wife. Please!, Lord Hughes, accept it and have mercy on us."
The man added further and tried his best to convince him, he was even visually begging now. On the other side, Leonardo only rolled his eyes, he initiated to enjoy it but the emotion of guilt engulfed him. He sighed deeply and approved of their condition.
"Okay, fine Deal! I'm just doing this because I pity you".
He tossed the coin bag towards the man and he catch it effortlessly in the air. Leoandro picked up the velvet box and fish it in his pocket.
*POW!!
Before Leoandro stepped out of the door, he banged a heavy punch on the man's face and knock him down to the ground. Blood trickle-down from the corner of the man's face as he was taken back from the Lord's action.
"Don't mention my wife ever again from you filthy mouth!".
He pointed out his finger and warned the man before leaving the bar. The man gulped down in fear as he witnessed his retired back.
In the chamber, Leonardo was sitting on his chair behind the table. He was scanning the pendant with keen interest. He fancied it at the first sight but his wicked mind wanted to make them beg for it. It provided him with a kind of satisfaction.
He knew that the bunch of crooks precisely invited him to make fun of him but they didn't expect the table would turn. The expression of shock and fear on their faces and eyes was quite entertaining.
He finally discovered his voice, he finally stand for himself, and all the credit belonged to his beautiful wife 'Elizabeth'. The remembrances of his wife once again forced him to go down memory lane.
flashback
Leonard and Elizabeth first time met at the age of eight. He was a shy boy back then filled with the guilt of his brother's death and she shifted to London from the countryside recently.
They met during a ball arranged by Hughes. Elizabeth joined in with her parents but after a while, she started getting bored and thought of exploring the property birthed into his head.
First, she passed through the garden to the dining area to the kitchen. Then she reached the second floor.
There was a luxurious hallway and four rooms facing each other. Out of curiosity, she twisted the knob of each room. The other three-door was locked but the fourth door was surprisingly open.
She entered the room with some calm soft steps. The room was dark, the curtains were closed, and even though it was during the sun or bright daylight but still not a single ray passed through the window.
It was creepy and in a corner of the room, a boy was sitting on the floor while burying his head in his keen. His eyes were sad and lifeless. She approached the boy calmly.
But as soon he caught the sight of a stranger in his room, he became furious.
"How dare you? How can you enter someone's room without permission?"
He yelled at her but instead of being mad she warmly smiled at him. She headed toward the window and opened all curtains with a swift motion.
Bright golden rays entered the room and enlighten it wholly. The room was not creepy anymore as before.
" If sunrays don't need permission to enter the room then why do I need to be permitted?".
She answered him with a grin on her face. Leonardo was stunned by her words. He legged in the direction of the window and peeked outside from it.
It had been days since he locked himself in the room. He was awestruck by the scenario unfolding in front of him.
The Garden was full of flowers that seemed to be bathing in the sunlight and birds were chirping happily. A bunch of colorful butterflies spread their wings widely and fluttered in the air.
" Hmm, I don't know what it is. but, Whatever it is you need to let it go. Everything happens for a reason, whatever happened, you can't change it but you have a life to live, and you must cherish what you have. Every day is a new beginning. "
The girl standing beside him advised in her melodious voice. Her words hit him like a hammer. His face turned toward her as he drank in her appearance. She owned beautiful auburn wavey hair and a pair of emerald eyes with a gorgeous heart-shaped face.
A warm smile adorned her lips but she lost her front two teeth due to her age and it made Leoandeo chuckle a little.
Suddenly, a thought across his head and he hurriedly rushed to his bedside and pulled out a small cage. He took it to the window and opened its door, two small birds flutter their wing and flew away in the endless sky.
After freeing the birds, he felt as if he freeing himself from guilt. He was feeling light in the head and as well as in his heart. Her words worked like a magic on him.
...