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"Our duel? In the drawing room?" He asked like what I said was preposterous. It was not what I meant. Clearly, he was not thinking about taking the swords displayed on the wall and starting to duel here.
"Let's play a board game."
I don't think our fathers will be returning anytime soon. So to pass time, I thought about playing a game I knew I would have an upper hand at. Damian's nature to keep on playing until he wins also helped me pass the time. Of course he did not win once.
It was an hour after Damian left, and the sky had turned darker than the clouds hovering above, that my father and Sir Darwin came back. I was at the top of the stairs when I saw them heading to my father's study room.
My curiosity got the better of me and I let my feet carry me downstairs and to the study room where the door was so conveniently left hanging ajar. I remember the servants talking about the door in the study room might need to be replaced, I'm glad it was not replaced yet and it gave me an opportunity like this.
"To think he would change his will." It was Sir Darwin's voice who spoke before I heard a click, a tobacco being snapped and then the sound of a metal lighter.
"It's better that he did." Now it was my father who spoke.
They were talking about His Majesty's will. He changed his will. And why would it be better that he did? It would be better for who exactly, that His Majesty changed his will?
"Should we start now, Heinrich?" Sir Darwin asked, a sense of urgency in his voice. "I fear we might not have ample time. Since His Majesty…"
He trailed off and there was silence inside the room. I had prepared myself for an excuse as to why I was right outside the study room blatantly eavesdropping. But when I thought they had sensed my presence, my father's voice assured me that they did not.
"You're right, Darwin. We do not have ample time. We must prepare ourselves once the news of His Majesty's passing is announced."
I let out a gasp before I covered my mouth with my hands and took several steps away from the door. I was right with my speculation that my father's summon had something to do with His Majesty. But the news of his passing? His Majesty could not have passed away now, could he? It did not sound like it when I heard what my father said. It sounded more as though he was close to passing away.
I was not able to hear what they were talking about until I walked back closer to the door.
"It must be carried out with great care. We can take our time once it begins. For now, let's take this matter to rest and call it a night."
I did not know what they talked about before arriving at that closing remark. But I quickly left before Sir Darwin could open the door. I was halfway up the stairs when Sir Darwin called.
"Lady Aeris ,"
I stopped before turning around. "I see you have arrived, Sir Darwin. Is my father in his study room?"
"Yes. Are you going to retire for the night?" he asked for formality as I nodded. "How was your duel with Damian?"
"It was not long until the rain poured when you and father left so we had to postpone the duel." Sir Darwin nodded but he seemed to be thinking about something. Like why is Lady Aeris going upstairs just in time when he was on his way outside. "But Damian and I played a board game in exchange for not being able to duel. We played in the drawing room."
It was a subtle way of telling him that I had just left the drawing room, and now I'm on my way upstairs. It seems Sir Darwin grasped my subtle words as he nodded.
"I see," he said. "Then, I shall leave you to rest for the night, Lady Aeris ."
"Thank you, Sird Darwin." I gave him a smile. "I look forward to continuing my duel with Damian tomorrow. If the weather allows."
"Ah, My Lady, that might not be necessary."
"How so?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at his words that somehow made me curious. "I still need to assess my skills."
"And that you will be able to do, even if it's not my son."
"Then, someone else will be fine," I said before I added. "But since Damian was my first sword training partner, it would have been better if he and I would duel to assess my skills."
"Worry not, My Lady. I believe he is the same age as Your Ladyship. Surely, you know the Seventh Prince, Claudius."
"Claudius…" I trailed off, remembering his second name. "...Mikhail?"
I remember his name, but I do not quite recall that we've met each other before. Though it would prove to be inconsequential, because our fateful meeting was supposed to occur the very next day when the weather was once again as bright as his blue eyes.