Lord Joss LeBlanc sat in his well-appointed office, the scent of aged books and polished wood filling the air. His short stature and brown eyes bore testament to his age, and his countenance was one of wisdom earned through years of scholarship. Seated across from him was his wife, Maria Marlowe, a woman whose lovely face carried an aura of deep wisdom. Her slightly graying brown hair and dark brown eyes mirrored the knowledge she had imparted as a teacher at the academy.
Their eldest son, Edwin LeBlanc, sat adjacent to his parents, the spitting image of humility. With average height, brown short hair, and brown eyes, he was the embodiment of the LeBlanc family's scholarly disposition. The room's ambiance seemed to exude intellectual pursuit, but they had gathered here not for a fun little debate but a pressing matter, the challenge issued by Sylvette to Princess Andromeda.
"Where is Sylvette?" The first question Lord Joss asked was simply about his daughter not being present at the moment. The sun was already setting, and he had informed them through Talia to be present in his office before dinner.
Maria softly sighed, worried about the situation ever since Sylvette had come home and told her about what had happened and how she had issued a challenge. She had told her to stay home, yet Sylvette had rudely walked away, and now that she had asked the servants, she was told that Sylvette left in a hurry this afternoon. It worried her greatly.
"I did inform her, but she was in a hurry this afternoon and left without informing." She spoke, as if ashamed on behalf of her daughter, and those words worried Joss LeBlanc. He had wanted to have a talk, but to ignore her parents' words. Just what was that child doing?
"Please don't worry, dear. I will talk to her when she comes home." Though Maria said that, Joss knew that Sylvette had always been a child who held grudges and did the things they often told her not to.
"Mother, I do believe that we should marry her off before she causes a bigger issue. She has always caused issues. And now she is threatening the stability of our house. We are not a family that goes to war against other families, and especially not the lord of the land." Edwin was brutally honest as he spoke, and his parents went quiet, which made him keep talking. His frustration regarding his sister was obvious. "You have to find a permanent solution to this problem."
Maria and Joss looked worried, and there was stifling silence.
Lord Joss gently pushed forward an open letter on the polished table, its contents a matter of concern. He cleared his throat, his voice carrying the weight of the issue at hand. "I've received a summons from the Duchess, pertaining to the recent altercation between Princess Andromeda and Sylvette."
Maria exchanged a knowing glance with her husband before speaking with a mature perspective rooted in years of teaching. "It's clear that they also wish to deal with this problem without making it a huge deal. It's a good thing. They also recognize that it's crucial to approach this matter with both care and reason."
There was still hope, since the grand duchess was still giving them some face; perhaps the problem could be resolved without having to involve others and letting it become public knowledge. They had always valued education and intellect in their family. Sylvette, in her stubbornness, sometimes overlooked these principles.
Edwin, the voice of reason among the LeBlancs, added his thoughts. "Father, Mother, I believe it's important for Sylvette to understand the implications of her actions. We've raised her to be independent and strong-willed, but there's a fine line between determination and recklessness."
Maria nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Edwin. We must ensure that Sylvette comprehends the broader consequences of her choices. The academy has always been a place for learning and growth, not a battleground for personal disputes."
Lord Joss sighed, acknowledging their words, "I hope that Sylvette will heed our advice and approach this situation with a more rational perspective. It's vital that she doesn't let her emotions cloud her judgment."
Maria nodded, her eyes still troubled, "Sylvette always had a temper, but this recent clash with Princess Andromeda seems to be more than just a matter of tempers flaring. I don't think that she is lying either-"
Edwin looked at his mother, eyes narrowing, "But mother why would the princess, of all people, stoop to insult her? Are you sure that it's not Sylvette's sharp temper?"
Lord Joss pondered this for a moment before responding. "I have met the Princess just once, but briefly, and she was a mature and quiet child. The Duchess is also strict about the upbringing of her children. More importantly, even if a child is throwing tantrums, a teacher must always uphold their dignity and deal with them with care. I cannot believe that she is trying to win against a child." The man was exasperated. He truly hoped that the meeting with the Duchess would resolve this problem.
Maria, who had never seen Andromeda, also agreed with her husband to a degree. Regardless of what the child had said, to get so worked up over it was below a teacher's dignity. " …..We should intervene before this escalates further, for Sylvette's sake."
Edwin nodded, determined. "I'll accompany you, Father, to the Embercliff. Maybe Sylvette will behave if we're both present." He truly had no trust in his sister and felt uneasy about the meeting.
Lord Joss agreed, relieved to have the support of his family in this delicate matter. "Thank you, Edwin. Let us hope that we can help Sylvette see reason and, if necessary, find a way to mediate between her and the Princess. A challenge at this point could damage the reputation of the duchy and lead to unnecessary conflict between our houses."
The LeBlancs shared a moment of concern for their youngest family member, knowing that Sylvette's stubbornness could sometimes be a double-edged sword. As they prepared to face the Duchess and address the issue at hand, they held on to the hope that reason and wisdom would prevail, for the sake of their family's reputation and the pursuit of knowledge they held dear.
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The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the LeBlanc estate when Sylvette finally returned home. She walked into the dimly lit study, where her parents were sitting, sipping tea with their eyes filled with worry. Her mother, Maria, regarded her with a mix of concern and relief as Sylvette entered.
"Sylvette, where have you been?" Maria asked gently, her eyes reflecting the concern of a loving mother.
Sylvette, her expression still somewhat defiant, replied, "I was at the academy's library, Mother. I needed some time to cool down."
Maria sighed, relieved that her daughter was safe but troubled by the ongoing situation. "You had us worried, Sylvette. Your father and brother have something important to discuss with you."
Sylvette's eyes met her mother's, and for a moment, her defiance wavered. She knew that her actions had caused turmoil in her family, and a part of her regretted it. Still, she had her reasons, and she couldn't simply back down now. Sylvette looked at the letter on the table, bearing the seal of House Bethel, and before her father could speak, she continued.
"I know, Mother," Sylvette responded with surprising agreement. "I'll go with them to meet the Duchess."
Joss LeBlanc and Edwin both stopped sipping their tea, their expressions a mix of surprise and relief as they stared at her. Maria too, felt a mixture of emotions at her daughter's compliance. Sylvette had always been strong-willed, and her sudden willingness to meet the Duchess raised questions in Maria's mind.
"Sylvette," Maria said, her tone gentle but probing, "whatever this dispute with Princess Andromeda is, I want you to approach it with an open mind. Let go of your anger and pride. We're going there to resolve this matter, not to escalate it."
Sylvette remained silent, her thoughts hidden behind a mask of determination. In truth, she had no intention of letting this matter go so easily. A plan had already begun to form in her mind, and she was determined to see it through. But for now, she simply nodded in agreement, giving her mother the assurance she sought.