As sunlight fell into the room the first thing that entered his vision was a street bustling with life.
People under his window moved from road to road, entering giant shops and then coming out with bags full of clothes or jewels showing off their new tuxedos and dresses to their friends. Houses surrounding the one he lived in were also moving and servants of families carried chairs and tables out to gardens for their neighbors to enjoy the morning sun.
His aunt was also outside, talking with ladies from surrounding houses and laughing with them on today's news while also exchanging information about business and the state of the city. With mature charm and her black dress, she immediately swayed ladies surrounding her and when her gaze registered him, she smiled and waved.
Ladies surrounding her followed her gaze and when they noticed him they gave him a wild smile and also wawed enthusiastically, following by saying something to his aunt who just answered with glee in her eyes.
Awkward as he felt he did not dare to embarrass his aunt and waved back just for some younger ladies to scream and then shake so much their hats slowly began to fall. Giving a last look to the living city and fountain that was not far away he turned around and was prepared to go down to the kitchen when doors hit something and sent a small body flying.
Opening the door a little more he finally could observe as his niece Mina slowly stood from the ground with a pained expression.
"Ouch."
She muttered but after seeing his figure she forgot about the pain and sprinted to him and hugged his leg. For a moment her grip was strong enough to make him unable to move and when her head finally lifted tears were falling down her plum cheeks.
"I was worried you would never come out."
Lowering her head her body began to tremble. Hildebrant did not dare to make her even more angry and began to pat her head to calm her down. He even lowered himself and hugged her small body hoping it would make the small girl stop crying.
"I am sorry I will never do it again."
Mina lifted her head and looked at him with red eyes.
"Really?"
"Really."
She brought her hand up, showing her pinkie finger.
"Promise?"
"Yes."
"Then lest go eat."
Hildebrant smiled and was prepared to let her go when she pushed him away with an innocent smile and rushed down before she stopped and turned around, her small hands grasping the railing with a confused face.
"Are you going?"
With a kind smile, Hildebrant shook his head and then dusted his knee.
"I will be right there."
Mina nodded and then all he could hear were small feet trying to reach the wooden surface. The blue dress Mina wore today was not easy to move but when Hildebrant began to descend her figure already left the last stair and disappeared behind the wall.
As he went down, he observed numerous paintings that hung from the wall and names written on the side of paintings. There was a woman who stood on the edge of a cliff watching thousands of ships approach the shore, the golden demon with six horns beheading the bear with an owl head, a man crying into well, a small girl running away from darkness, and many more showing talents from around the golden empire.
The last painting at the bottom of the stairs showed a village submerged in white flames but before he could ponder about it one of the servants directed him to his seat where his uncle and his family waited.
The servant who stood not far away from the table moved a chair for him and he calmly sat down.
Mina next to him pulled his sleeve and when he turned around, she smiled.
Her sister Maria just glanced at them and immediately after averted her gaze, their brother Haniel was similar but different also from Maria as he kept observing the entire table with his blue eyes and calm gaze.
The only normal-looking person was Morgana who with a happy smile hit her husband's hand and after a while of Durian observing the table, his children, and his wife he nodded his head.
"Praise the sun and golden emperor."
"Praise the sun and golden emperor!"
They all said in unison.
Hildebrant's inside twisted at the mention of the sun but he still followed the lead, opening his mouth and saying the forbidden word.
After praying, the entire family threw themselves into their meal except the Morgana whose smile became wilder and more elegant.
"How was work dear?"
She asked and Durian's face twisted in rage.
"They took these Tengoku mutts in. In the end, I could not stop it."
Durian raged but Hildebrant without change in expression took a look at his plate and began to dig in while Durian continued his speech.
"They even tried to get into my new dyeing workshop, if not for Gideo they would already have replaced old workers who had worked for me for decades. These poor people don't even have anywhere to go and now they want to throw them away for mere Tengoku muts? They must dream if they think I will allow it."
He said with a furious expression and calmly cut down his steak and put a small part of it into his mouth. Morgana nodded her head agreeing with him and then also digging into her food.
"We indeed need to keep workers from Everlast, but you also need to be careful of your image, some ladies already started to talk about how heartless you are dear."
Durian chuckled.
"What can they do to me?"
"Burry you and strip you of your assets if the Key finds out. Also, these Tengoku mutts you talk about are a perfect working force, sometimes even cheaper than slaves from the Feren Republic so I don't understand why you don't want to use them. Wouldn't it be less expensive father?"
Haniel who sat opposite him said while calmly putting food into his mouth.
His father shot him a furious glance but did not raise his voice.
"Silvy or two what differences does it make? If you think they are so useful you can use them yourself or are you afraid the so-called Key will find out about you dealing with the Blood Dynasty?!
"No, it's just too much work Father. Also, it's my dear sister who has already begun to take care of them and use them for her own new family."
He answered and looked at Maria without a change in expression.
Seeing his gaze Maria sneered.
"What is bad about taking what I discovered first or are you disappointed you don't have more workers for your new ships? If you had them, you would not lose so much money just to construct a harbor. Isn't it right brother?"
"Please calm down everyone."
Morgana's words made the two children gaze at each other and then look back at their food.
"I still think they are useless mutts."
Darius sneered and then froze and as if he remembered something carefully couched while gazing at Hildebrant.
"How do you feel Hill? Is everything fine, doesn't your body hurt?"
Hearing his uncle caring word for a moment Hildebrant had no idea what to say, he just played with his food until he nodded his head with a kind smile.
"Yes, everything is fine."
"Are you sure? Don't you want me to take care of that boy?"
Before he could answer Haniel lifted his head.
"If you want, I can make him disappear."
Hildebrant heart skipped a beat as he smiled.
"What about leaving it as it is?"
Hildebrant said but Haniel stopped eating and pondered with his uncle.
"We could smear his name for trying to attack one of Werners and then have him executed by police officers too."
"Not a bad idea son."
Hildebrant quickly shook his head.
"He is already in hospital, and it will take a long time for him to come back to school so we should just let it be."
Haniel wanted to say more but before he could Morgana grabbed his hand with a smile and after closing his mouth, she turned to Hildebrant.
"Of course, sweaty we will let it slide this time."
With a gulp, Hildebrant nodded his head but observing Morgana smile as she was calming down her two family members, he was not sure she would keep her word.
After the small talk, they continued to eat but then searing pain again spread through his chest, not as intense as in the morning but still strong enough for him to grasp his chest and froze for a moment.
Maria next to him looked at him worriedly and then after looking around she came closer and whispered in his ear.
"Is everything okay Hill? Do you want to come to my room?"
Grasping for breath Hildebrant suppressed his desire to just fall on the floor and while straightening his back he answered with a smile.
"No need I just feel a little tired."
Maria disappointedly took her cutlery and then muterred.
"If you feel bad or hurt anytime, you can come to my fiancé's house we can rest there together."
The only person who listened to their exchange was Mina but even after hearing her sister she stayed silent like a good kid, but Hildebrant could see her brows furrowing.
The smell of Maria's hair also entered his nose and for a moment he was lost in the garden full of roses and flowers with tea in hand.
Waking up he smiled.
"Thank you but I want to meet teacher Simon today."
Maria nodded.
"It's okay as I said you can come anytime you want."
With it, they continued to eat finishing everything before the sixth bell.
When the clock rang all servants began to clean the table taking all empty and full plates away until the table remained clean and tidy but Hildebrant did not remain to watch and left the table.
"Don't try to fight again sweaty."
Morgana kissed his forehead before he went out to school and Mina joined her by pulling his sleeve.
"And don't forget to return home!"
With a smile hidden behind his veil, he disappeared into the bustling streets of Everlast.