(I)At the Duke's Mansion
The next morning I woke up to a very fierce monster gazing upon my slumbering vessel.it was my mother who was fuming with anger.
"Zane maximus do you have no idea how to behave like a noble and not go around sneaking at the dead of night with your brother?do you not have any shame?"my mother kept going on.
"Mother i was having trouble sleeping so I took Archie with me to practice nothing much"I tried explaining.
"Oh yes surely you're such a good little man aren't you.do you even know what today is?don't tell me you forgot?"mother asked.
I thought for a moment and realized "it's the prince's 14th birthday banquet"I said to myself.
"Exactly and you decided that you would lose sleep over such an important event?and to make your brother do the same?"What came after was a flurry of scolding and embarrassment as the maids around us watched.'seriously?she could've dismissed them'.
"how many times have I told you to not let your bad influence run wild?and now we have to worry about the event?I told you three days in advance and yet-"
"I am very sorry mother dearest but if you be so worried about such an event then how about we prepare for our departure instead of this conversation about I did this and I did that"I cut my mother short.
it was rude but I could care less I had just woken and wasn't thinking straight.... Which is also a lame excuse against my father if she tells him this.
"Oh my worried son" my mother played along"How about instead of worrying about our preparations you yourself should get up and prepare since everyone else already did"said my mother.
"Already?"I asked"even Archie did?"
"Yes, now hurry up and don't keep us waiting anymore"mother said before she left my room.
"What a unique morning"I said to myself.my mother really never held back against me or my other siblings.
I dismissed the maids and got out of my bed.i had to get ready now and I had to do it quick,knowing my mother she'd leave me here without me heck I reckon if she got mad enough she'd have no problem convincing father to dump me into a port full of sea men where I'd had to catch fish all day.so I had to get ready quickly,luckily I did all the preparations beforehand or well I paid Archie to do them for me but nonetheless it didn't take long and I was downstairs in no time.
As soon as I got downstairs I could sense an air of intense tension as I was going downstairs one step,two step…. I could feel the air get darker and darker as I got down. I could see the being that was causing all of this right In front of me,I could see it clearly from the steps,the anger on its face was as clear as glass.it was...…. My father.
"Greetings little Duke!"father exclaimed."Finally awake are we?"father asked.
"Morning father.sorry to keep everyone waiting for me.I was just a bit tired last night."I tired explaining myself to a question I wasn't even asked."See what happened was-"
"Apology not accepted"said Zoe my sister.
'Do they always have to interfere every single time I get scolded?I swear I've never gotten out of any scolding because of these three devils.'
"Then what shall I do to make up for my inconvenience?"I asked.
"You should fix that expression of yours"my sister replied with a serious face."It looks like you are trying too hard"she added.
"Why sure if you'd bring me some plumbing tools I'd fix it along with that horrendous mouth of yours" I replied with a grin on my face.
"Why you-"my sister started to speak.
"Enough of you two blabbing" Father said,cutting off Zoe.
"Do you two have no shame?arguing like that Infront of me and your mother?I swear it feels like all those lessons on manners are going to waste."
"Zane maximus!"Father turned to me.
"Yes father?"I replied.
"I am sure you understand very well what you have done and are ready for your consequences?aren't you?"father asked,not even blinking once or even flinching.
"Yes father I do" I replied hesitantly.
"Very well then"said my father. "We should get going now we'll be late otherwise and….." father turned to my sister "Zoe Maximus"
"Yes father?"she asked while having her gaze lowered to the floor.
"Even if your brother does something wrong doesn't make him younger then you and nor does that give you any right to scold him or insult him, I am sure this is not my first time teaching you this now is it?"father lectured her as she kept her eyes down.
"Sorry father! I'll be careful nextime" she said with a low voice.
"Good." Father said quickly. "Tch! Ruining the mood like this just before departure you children never seem to not amaze me. Come on let's get going now, we'll continue with the scolding once we get back"saying that father left for the door, mother and my siblings followed behind.
'Seriously?we are still gonna continue with this honestly this man and he even tried to lighten the mood with such an awkward sentence?well if it weren't for Zoe and her foul mouth I wouldn't have gotten into a worse mess.but my foul mouth also couldn't control itself if only I had kept shut I wouldn't have training time taken away.'
After that inconvenience we finally made our way to the carriage and got on and set off for our journey.