Chapter 40 - Chapter 4: Beyond The Woods (-40-)

-40-Yorn Lerkester gulped as he stood, rooted in front of once familiar gates. Gates he had once gazed on from the other side many a time, some long years past.He adjusted his cravat, then his coat and wrists, and examined his trousers and shoes. He wiped his sweat with a cloth and returned it to a pocket.He was in the inner part of the Capitol, where the multitudes of the masses of houses and buildings dwindled and in their places were exquisite buildings, and mansions that were ensconced in bar-ed fences.In front of him was one such mansion. One guard stood by the gate while the other had entered to send word of his arrival.Seeing their faded, reddish-brown uniforms unsettled him. It was much better than when he would quake and shiver, but it was still uncomfortable for him.A guard opened the gate and called out to him."Lord Yorn Lerkester, the Countess has invited you into the mansion." He said.Yorn nodded and walked past the gates.He followed the soldier along the paved walkway, like he was walking through his memories. The gardens, the grass, the trees, and the servants, each made him more nostalgic than he expected.They stopped before the manor doors, where the soldier saluted and turned about to return to his post.In his place, an old chamberlain stood, decked in a black suit, poised to guide him to his destination.As Yorn stared at the doors, he realized he never entered the manor through the main doors, or couldn't really say that he had been inside it at all. He only knew that one room through the backdoor.He examined his clothes, then followed the butler into the mansion.-Yorn sat in a room where the walls were painted light-brown. To his side, was a fireplace with firewood lodged in the firebox. A coffee table in front of him, and book and display cases by the walls.The room was lit by sunlight light from the windows and the lights from the burning lamps fixed to the walls.Across him sat Countess Tyaris, draped in a luxurious dark-red dress with laces embroidered in gold. Gold earrings hung from her earlobes and a golden necklace adorned with gems hung around her neck."I have no doubts now that I have seen you in person." The countess said, a light rasp to her voice.Parts of her hair were tied in a bun behind her while the rest fell down her back. Her skin was fair and some wrinkles were on her eyes and cheeks. Though, considering her age, it was amazing that they weren't more prominent."It makes me wonder how you have escaped my notice. You look just like the fool. It reminds me of when I fell for him, and that angers me more. Be quick and state your business." She said, eyes narrowing at Yorn.Yorn gulped and silently pumped himself, then straightened."As you well know, Countess, I am Yorn Lerkester. Though it might make more sense to introduce myself as Yorn Escher like I did in the letter. Anyway, I am here with a proposal, Countess Tyaris.""If I am not wrong," Yorn said,"Count Escher is presently bedridden, and his health will keep declining. Do I have that right?""And how do you know that?" The countess asked."Well, word travels around, and I know a bit about how things around here are run from my days here." Yorn replied.The countess nodded."That is not a secret I need to hide. If all goes well, he will be dead in a few weeks, or a few months. As far as I am concerned, he is not any more alive than dead even now." She replied."And before he dies, you will have to choose a successor, that is if you don't want the crown to take everything away. Since you have no heir." Yorn saidIt was one of the many nuances of aristocratic succession and inheritance. Any noble of a titleage lower than a marquis without a successor, upon their death, was liable to have their title and everything with it taken away by the crown.And since Count Escher was the one who officially inherited the title, they could enforce the law after his death. Even with the Countess still alive."Continue." She said."Instead of picking or adopting someone randomly, consider choosing me as the successor. I am also half an Escher, if it helps." Yorn said.The Countess didn't reply and silently stared at him.He somehow kept it from showing on his face, but his palms were sweating and he was trying his best to keep his legs from shaking."Your proposition is promising, I will admit. But why should I trust, or even pick you? I barely even knew you existed before you sent that letter, and that drawing. If anything, I would rather think you are here to trick me." The countess said."Well, it's not like I can chisel my face, or paint my eyes, to look like the Count," Yorn scratched his head, "And I can tell you a bit more about what our potential agreement will be like.""You may." She nodded."When the Count dies, how long do you think you - or anyone you choose - can keep this place, or even yourself afloat? From what I've gathered, the Count is walking a tightrope with his profits and what you spend. You won't even last a year if you can't do it at least as good as him.""You might even get screwed over by who you choose." Yorn said."I've assisted Baron Lerkester since I was young," He continued,"And have been managing Lerkester in his place for years, so I am confident I can run the business. And I also wouldn't do all that for them if I wasn't a man of my word. And I wouldn't be able to, Miriel or Louis would chase me out if I did anything shady."Yorn shivered as he thought about it. Miriel was sharp, sharper than she would ever take credit for. Even his mine discovery was only because she noticed the silver grains when she inspected the farms, and then directed him to search for it.And Louis, though old, was still as keen as a blade."So the house would have a capable successor to run the business and manage the house, you can continue spending and doing what you like, and you will gain a caretaker who is obliged to care for you. And we won't ask anything unreasonable of each other.""And if I were to decline this proposition, what then? You are but a half-blood, what could you do?" The countess asked."Then you and whoever you pick, will fight with me for the succession. And, I might be a bastard, but I have this ring."He pulled out a ring from her pocket and showed it to her briefly, before returning it."Ah, so you do have the ring," The countess nodded, "I now understand why he always gave in to the Lerkester couple. They had him by the neck. The shameless fool would not bat an eye just because you look alike."The ring was the heirloom of House Escher, with its insignia chiselled on it. Yorn - with his looks and potential - would never lose the succession battle with it."With the ring, I could have thrown him out anything, even right now if I wished to! It angers me that those three and you kept this from me for so long."She grit her teeth and glared at Yorn, who almost covered his face but held himself back.The countess sighed and shook her head."Yet that is of no use now. I will accept your proposition, boy. But I do not like being threatened, remember that."Yorn bobbed his head."Of course, Countess, of course. There will be no more of that." He replied."Now, why does the cherished guardian of Lerkester wish to inherit House Escher?" She asked."Well, Miriel is getting married and will inherit the house soon," Yorn said,"And with newlyweds, I feel like I'll get in their way if I stay, and I don't like that feeling, especially when I have no partner of my own.""Really? You do not?" The countess asked."No I don't, Countess." Yorn bobbed his head, his palms sweating."I doubt that you do not, Yorn Lerkester. But I shall leave it here. For now."Yorn almost visibly relaxed but he straightened before he slacked."This Miriel," She continued."Is she the one around Princess Allesol?""Yes she is, Countess. She is Magdalene's daughter, which makes her your granddaughter." Yorn replied."I will have nothing to do with Magdalene, or her daughter. When she left, she cast all her ties with us away," The countess said, "I already suffered one Magdalene, I will not suffer another."And who had the fault there? Yorn couldn't really blame his half-sister though. Though she was…strange in her own way, they did try to force her into pairing with a man twice her age. And it was when she had just come of age.So she took matters into her own hands and decided to get married by her own volition. To Albert, of course."And hanging around that eccentric princess is exactly what Magdalene would do." The Countess added.Yorn could agree with that. He didn't know much about her younger years, but the Baroness he knew definitely would not mind hanging around that unpredictable princess."When will you be moving in?" The countess asked.Yorn thought for a moment then replied."Soon, Countess. I have some things to handle at Lerkester first, and other things to prepare. But I will make sure to settle in before the Count dies."He hoped the people at Lerkester wouldn't take his leaving so well. He hoped they bawled their eyes out as they clung to him.But Yorn doubted that they would.

He was more certain they would see him off with a smile.