Sebastian was sitting in his cozy living room, surrounded by his loving family. The fireplace filled the room with warm light, casting a soft glow on the walls. The fire crackling was the only sound in the room as he listened intently as his mother recounted stories of her time as a maid for the grand castle everyone wanted to work for. He was fascinated by the tales of the castle and its history.
Sebastian leaned in closer, captivated by his mother's tales of the castle and its history. He had always dreamed of visiting the castle and seeing the place's grandeur for himself. His parents often spoke about the castle with such reverence that it had become a legend in Sebastian's mind.
"I remember I was still young, maybe even younger than you when I started. The castle was so magical, and so were the people working for it," she said, her voice filled with nostalgia as she sipped her tea.
Sebastian's father said, "I remember spilling a tray of drinks during a fancy ball held by lord Lucian. I thought I would lose my job, but I was lucky your mother was around to help me clean up before the head butler could discover the mishap."
Sebastian couldn't contain his excitement and eagerly listened to their stories. After all, he had heard stories about the grand castle for as long as he could remember. The platinum-blonde man had always wanted to visit the castle, and now Sebastian would finally have the chance to see it for himself.
He couldn't wait to explore the ancient halls, see the grand tapestries, and experience the history that his parents had always spoken of. Now, at twenty-seven years old, he would finally have the opportunity to see it for himself.
It had been decades since Sebastian's parents had worked for Lucian, but they still spoke highly of him. "Even though we never got a chance to see Lord Lucian in person, we have heard many great things about the noble deeds he has done for both humans and vampires as the high emissary from servants and butlers who have worked around him," his mother said. "Everyone speaks highly of him, and he deserves respect."
Sebastian's parents looked at him expectantly, with pride and nervousness in their eyes. "Sebastian, are you ready for tomorrow?" his mother asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Sebastian lost in his thoughts about the castle, looked up at his parents with a start. When he realized what they were talking about, he smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready." He answered excitedly.
His parents smiled at him, their eyes softening with affection. "We're proud of you, son," his father said, his voice filled with pride. "We have prepared everything for your departure, son. We hope you will be accepted by the castle just like we were," his father declared. "You'll start your training right away."
As the night wore on, Sebastian's parents continued to share stories of their time at the castle. Sebastian listened with rapt attention, eager to learn all he could before his visit. He knew the castle would be an unforgettable experience, and he wanted to prepare for everything he saw.
Sebastian thanked his parents and spent the rest of the evening preparing for his new job. He couldn't wait to see the castle and hopefully even get a glimpse of the lord of the said castle. The twenty-seven-year-old male drifted off to sleep that night with visions of the castle dancing in his head. Sebastian knew that the adventure of a lifetime awaited him, and he couldn't wait to see all that the castle had to offer. He couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity and excited for future adventures.
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The moon hung low in the night sky, casting its pale glow outlining the ancient castle that stood with an air of forgotten history. Its silver light painted an ethereal glow upon the stones, echoes of the past once lived in the castle.
In a chamber covered in old, timely tapestries that whispered of eras long past, Lucian stood by the window with a sad look, a glass of fine wine in hand. He gazed up at the sky, lost in his memories. The moon's glow filtered through the chamber, touching every tapestry as if trying to illuminate the history that once lived within these walls.
"What are you doing standing there?" A soft voice asked behind him, freeing Lucian of his past and returning him to the present. He let out a quiet sigh, knowing too well the owner of the soft voice. The castle lord turned to see Kieran, his trusted friend, standing there with a gentle smile.
"Lost in the past again, then?" After a proper look at his face, Kieran asked, his voice still gentle. Lucian could only give a soft, sad smile and nod in answer.
Kieran took a few steps and came to stand next to Lucian, gently taking hold of his free hand, and turned to gaze up at the moon in complete silence. Lucian, grateful for the silent company, gave Kieran's hand a gentle squeeze and turned back to the window, too.
They stood there for a while, enjoying each other's company in silence, until Lucian finally turned towards Kieran, setting the glass down and taking both of Kieran's hands into his own.
"Thanks for always being there for me," he started, staring into Kieran's beautiful obsidian eyes. "I don't know how I would've dealt with everything if it weren't for you being right by my side," he finished with a sad glint.
Kieran brought their joined hands to his face, nuzzling into Lucian's palm before he started speaking. "You still can't forget her even after all these years, can you?" Lucian could hear the tinge of hurt hidden in Kieran's voice. By now, Lucian was familiar with the ever-present hurt that tinged Kieran's voice—a carefully masked pain.
Lucian met Kieran's gaze, "You know I can't forget her, don't you?" Lucian asked in a gentle voice. He waited a couple of breaths before he continued, "She meant a lot to me, and I know that I meant a lot to her, too, and yet, in the end, I did something I never wished for." He took a deep breath to calm his inner turmoil.
"I betrayed her trust," he choked out in a broken whisper after a couple of moments. Once Lucian finished speaking, he felt Kieran's arms wrap around him, embracing him in a comforting hug, and he returned the gesture in appreciation.
Lucian's words hung in the air, a testament to the weight they carried—the remorse that clung to him like a shadow.
Several moments had passed between them before Kieran's soft yet steady voice broke the silence. "I know that, and I understand. I was there to witness everything after all." His lips stretched into a sad smile.
"You know, Lucian, I've always admired your strength. You keep moving forward, even weighed down by your past," he added.
"It's not strength you speak of, Kieran," Lucian replied, his voice tinged with bitterness. "It is not that I'm strong. It is just that I can not take the easy way out of my misery. I don't want to unjust her further than I already have."
"My living is a way for me to repent for the sins I committed that night." He finished. The words hung heavy in the air, like the weight of centuries.
Lucian turned away from Kieran, his gaze fixed on the moonlit, somewhat worn but still intact tapestries adorned the chamber walls, each telling stories of long-forgotten eras—a record of his ancient memories.
"After all that I did to her, I thought that I didn't deserve to live," he continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "But dying would've been the easy way out. It would have put an end to the misery that her memories bring to me. Living now is just a way to keep punishing myself for the sins that I have committed against her, a never-ending cycle of past torments."
Kieran's heart ached while listening to Lucian's torment; he reached out, gently placing a hand on Lucian's shoulder. "Lucian, I know you carry a heavy burden, and the guilt is immense, but you don't have to be alone. I've chosen to be with you through all of it because I believe in you and your judgment."
Lucian turned back to face Kieran, his crimson eyes filled with turmoil. "Am I a part of your punishment, your torture too, Lucian?" Kieran asked, his voice trembling with vulnerability for the first time tonight.
Lucian's gaze softened at the raw vulnerability and took Kieran's hands. "No, Kieran, you're not; you can never be a form of punishment or torture to me," he said sincerely.
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have come this far; you're the light that has guided me through the dark for over a century. I can never truly express my gratitude for everything you have done for me up to this point. Without you, I would still be drowning in the darkness of my regrets."
Kieran's eyes glistened with unshed tears, touched by Lucian's words. He leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to Lucian's lips. "It was not your fault, Lucian," he whispered, his voice filled with sympathy and understanding. "You did what seemed expected of you; you lost your younger brother that day, you were grieving, and you did what you thought was right. You just wanted to protect your brother."
Lucian's eyes held a mixture of pain and gratitude for the understanding and support Kieran had offered him for centuries.
Kieran leaned in, his lips brushing against Lucian's forehead in a reassuring kiss. "We'll find a way to move forward without being weighed down by our past, Lucian. Together, we'll face whatever demons haunt us."
With that promise, they stood together in the moonlit chamber, finding solace in each other's presence and silently vowing to navigate the intricacies of their past and their uncertain future side by side.