Rodion enjoyed his journey, taking in the sights along the way. Despite the intense heat, he found the rugged terrain of steep hills and dense pine forests both enjoyable and captivating.
I said I'd go on my own, but I honestly don't have any idea where I'm supposed to go. I'll just go where my gut takes me. Plus, I don't need to think further, don't I? The address should be stored deep in my memory, I'll figure it out on my way.
Without overly concerning himself about the matter, he directed his attention to his surroundings, admiring the landscape. After half an hour of traveling with his horse, he finally spotted a few houses. He slowed his horse to take in the scene around him. Children played joyfully under the sun, while a few women hung clothes out to dry. The further he went, the more houses and businesses he could see.
He was already in town.
The people were preoccupied with their affairs and didn't pay much attention to the new arrival. This made Rodion feel more confident about taking his time to explore the town.
He dismounted his horse and decided to walk on his feet. Covered in a black cloak with its hood pulled up to his head, he held the reins as he leisurely strolled along the sidewalk. Rodion couldn't help but admire the charming small structures and buildings around him.
... I am really in a completely different world.
His eyes traveled everywhere—public carriages passing by, women and men wearing exquisite dresses and suits—and it almost overwhelmed him, pulling his hood closer to cover more of his face. Yet, seeing others in simpler attire brought him a sense of comfort and familiarity.
Sigh… being around wealthy people can be quite intimidating.
The whole town was bustling.
After sauntering aimlessly, he noticed a group of young women across the road, looking in his direction and staring at him while engaging in a whispered discussion. Unfazed, he ran a finger through his hair, brushing the hood off his head. The heat was relentless, leaving him drenched in sweat after traveling alone through rugged terrain without a break.
Damn it, I'm sweating a lot!
"H-hello, good day to you, Young Master."
Rodion turned to size up the four teenagers who were staring at him a moment ago from across the road and finally decided to approach him. They were wearing a lavish dress, proof that they were from a well-off family.
He offered them a smile and replied, "Good day to you, too, young ladies. How may I help you?"
Upon seeing him smile, the four girls darted their gazes in different directions and blushed. But, as if they had made a resolute determination, they simultaneously looked back at him in the eye.
At a loss, Rodion raised an eyebrow, still wearing the same smile.
A blonde girl with her hair tied in a bun and bangs framing her face approached him quietly. Her silver-blue eyes radiated a captivating beauty.
"Young Master, would you be interested in joining our Secret Society?"
"Secret Society?" He mused with curiosity.
"Sshh, Young Master, you must not speak of it loudly." Another girl with black hair tied in low pigtails and a white cloth bow on each side leaned in to hush him. Her flattering bangs framed her round face, and she was adorable. Her dark eyes, adorned with long lashes, were mesmerizing to behold.
The other two girls nodded in agreement.
"Why...?" Rodion couldn't help but whisper in response, almost overcome by the emotion of the girls speaking so softly.
However, instead of answering him, they hurriedly pulled him by his wrist and dragged him to a nearby café.
"We can leave your horse outside, there's a shade to shield him from the heat. Let's talk inside."
Opening the door, a bell beautifully chimed. They chose a spot at the very corner of the café and settled at the four-seated table. Before they engaged in conversation, they carefully observed the place with keen eyes. After confirming that the café didn't have many customers yet, they sighed in relief.
"Why did you drag me here? And what is this Secret Society you are talking about?"
The three girls situated opposite him shifted their eyes toward the girl seated next to him. She displayed a more mature bearing compared to others. Her wavy red hair cascaded casually over her shoulder, and her striking red eyes sized up Rodion before she flashed him a smile.
"It's hard to explain it in words, so I'll be showing you a picture to make it easier for you."
She set a small brown leather briefcase on the table and opened it. Pulling out a piece of paper, she slid it in front of Rodion for him to see. As he examined its contents, his eyes widened in surprise, and he glanced at the girls with a look of disbelief.
The four girls swallowed and turned silent. Anticipating his reaction.
What was on the paper wasn't a letter, but a drawing. It was an illustration of two men atop a bed, both were half-naked and their eyes were glued to each other.
"Who drew this?" He asked in a careful tone, worried it might discourage a person in their group.
The girls pointed at the brunette with bangs and short hair. She had a small mole on the upper right side of her lip and wore thick-framed glasses. Timidly, she smiled at Rodion.
"You drew this?"
She nodded. "It's still not finished yet, though..."
Rodion gazed down back at the drawing and couldn't help but wonder.
Are these girls not afraid to be punished? As far as I've noticed, this timeline I have transmigrated into is either the early or late 19th century, though I can't be certain about this. This kind of vulgarity is certainly forbidden and could even cost their life!
"Who's your leader?" he asked out of curiosity; his eyes still on the paper.
Whoever they are, they should be responsible for these young teenagers! How could they allow them to recruit random people into their "Secret Society"? That's irresponsible! What if they have approached the wrong person?
The red-haired girl reluctantly answered, "Well, we don't know his true identity, but he told us to just call him Mr. Fujoshi."
"...Fujoshi?"
In a fleeting moment, he felt a stirring in his chest as a wave of memories washed over him.
Fujoshi... Could it be... I'm not the only one who transmigrated into this period of history. This word certainly rings a bell to me! If it's indeed the kind of secret organization I think it is, then the name of their leader certainly isn't just a mere coincidence.
Noticing how he suddenly turned silent, the girls exchanged glances.
The short-haired brunette carefully stood up, "I'm going to order us some drinks and slices of cake." Then hurriedly left their table.
The remaining three girls threw each other an anxious look. If they fail to recruit Rodion into their secret group, there's a huge possibility that he will report them to the authorities. Taking an interest in both men in a romantic and intimate relationship is scandalous. If they were to be discovered, it'd disgrace their family, and worse, only the worst punishment imaginable would await them!
Before they could speak, Rodion glanced at them with a smile.
"This is interesting. I would love to join."
"Really?"
Rodion nodded in confirmation, "Hmm. Tell me more about it."
He placed the paper on the table and adjusted his seat, waiting for them to talk.
The girls seemed to be excited to disclose their Secret Society as their faces were beaming with smiles.
"But before we proceed into important discussions, let us introduce ourselves first." The red-haired girl started, "My name is Nadeshda Igorevna, but please call me Nadya. Nice to finally meet you, Young Master…"
She was about to call him by his name, but she viewed it as an act of disrespect towards Rodion. Among the four of them, Nadeshda had the most reserved yet not cold demeanor. She undeniably made those who spoke to her respect her to some extent.
"I'm Daria Makarovna, call me Dasha Young Master. I have a cat named Twinkle, and I like sweets!" Adorned with flattering bangs and a white bow on her low pigtail, Daria offered Rodion a smile.
Her name suits her.
The blonde girl softly smiled at him before she spoke, "And mine's Tatiana Pavlovna, you can address me by my short name too, It's Tanya, Young Master. I also have a pet dog named Ari. Aside from Ari, I've got a number of pets at home, my parents have shelter for stray animals. Let me know if you're interested in adopting a pet."
"The one who drew that drawing is Irina Vladimirovna, if she agrees, you can call her Ira, Young Master. She possesses an exceptional talent for drawing, I don't know why she always says otherwise. I mean, if I have talent like that, I would be so proud."
Tatiana pinched Daria's cheek, "Dasha, it's not good to talk bad behind your friend's back."
Damn, why do they have a complicated naming custom? I have to memorize their name and I'm terrible at memorizing names! I don't wanna be disrespectful…
*
Sitting under a tree, Rodion was deeply absorbed in his thoughts. He had spent a considerable amount of time at the café discussing the Secret Society he had just joined a few hours earlier. Feeling sorry for his horse, he decided to find a spot with healthy grass for it to graze.
It's indeed true that the leader is a transmigrator as well. I must meet them; I've got a lot of questions to ask. Judging by how they had established a Secret Society, they must have been here longer than I am.
The spot he found was near a road and consisted of a field of wild grass. Several travelers greeted him, but he failed to notice them. His mind was adrift, and he didn't even realize his horse had wandered farther away from him.
Lightsaber Organization... Ugh, why do I feel so cringed about its name? Those young ladies believed it was a noble name and that it signifies security and protection. If only they were aware of what it actually meant in this regard... I'm curious how they would react.
It indeed sounds decent, but... I'm certain it meant something else. He snickered inwardly.
"They were expressing how a man should not be forbidden to love whoever his heart desires with great zeal…"
A yawn escaped his mouth.
They always held a secret gathering the day before the full moon every month. As this is a secret organization, one should wear a mask to hide their identity and protect their personal life as well. Hnn, that's also a careful consideration. But a day before a full moon? What sorcery and ritualistic ideas is the leader thinking? That arrangement is absurd. Sigh, I wonder when the full moon is, I can't wait for the gathering; I need to talk with the leader.
Another yawn escaped his mouth, he leaned back against the tree comfortably.
Several hours passed.
Rodion stirred in his position. Feeling the sun's rays on his face, he gradually opened his eyes, waking up to the uncomfortable heat and humidity.
He jolted awake.
"It's already afternoon... Where's my horse?"
How long did I sleep? I didn't even notice I fell asleep...
His eyes, still reddish from sleep, surveyed the area, but he couldn't find his horse.
Shit. Did my horse get stolen while I was asleep?
He abruptly stood up and spent nearly half an hour searching for his horse, feeling so anxious about the possibility it might have been stolen while he was asleep. Fortunately, he found it resting near a river. Sighing in relief, he hurried over and immediately checked for any injuries. After confirming it was okay, he regained his composure.
"Why did you leave me? I was so worried someone had stolen you..."
He patted its head before he pulled up rein, to which it obediently stood up, and they started to trace back their track and be on their way again.
"We should now be on our way, the sun is setting. We should be arriving before nightfall. What do you think? …And I'm starving already."
As the sun set over the horizon, he slowly walked on his feet, holding the rein of his horse.
I would better look for a house and ask for directions. It's only a matter of time before nightfall. I wonder if I can find a house in these isolated meadows tho…Where am I anyway?
As they walked, his horse periodically sniffed the flowers and wild grass, then blew its nose. Oblivious to their current predicament, it seemed to revel in the scent of the flowers and grass.
Feeling tired, he decided to mount his horse. Sensing its owner on its back, the horse willingly galloped forward. Without a clear path to follow, it somehow seemed to know the way, running confidently without further instruction. They needed to find help as soon as possible. His amber eyes were busy scrutinizing the area and searching for a house or a traveler to ask for directions.
His long, wavy hair danced to the wind. When the sun finally set, it turned the sky somewhat gloomy; painting the sky a red hue. Nightfall had arrived. In the midst of nowhere, as the surroundings started to get dark, a certain emotion tugged within him. If the night finally arrives, and he doesn't get help soon, it's not impossible to die from the cold, or worse, they'll be preyed upon by wild carnivores.
But before his imagination could run wild, his horse picked up speed. Ahead of them, he spotted a large house standing tall. As he adjusted his focus, he realized that this impressive residence was no ordinary house—it was a manor!
"Good job! I was worried we'd be spending the night in the midst of nowhere."
As he got closer to the manor, he couldn't shake off the idea of finally meeting his father.
Arriving at the enormous black metal gate, the whole place brought an eerie feeling as the silence hung in the air. Inside the manor, there's no light emanating from the windows. Upon surveying the area, he found no sign of human activity. He dismounted his horse to have a better look at the other side of the gate.
This couldn't be my father's Manor, this looks abandoned…
"What are you doing here?"
Rodion nearly jumped from fright and flinched when a voice echoed from out of nowhere.
Startled, he muttered a curse under his breath and quickly turned to the source of the voice. Behind him stood a tall, slender man dressed in a black silk nightgown that accentuated his pale complexion. He looked at Rodion and then at his black horse. The evening breeze gently swayed his short, silver-blue hair. In his right hand, he held a glass of red liquid, while the other hand carried a green bottle.
He turned back his eyes at Rodion and observed the dark-haired man through his azure eyes.
Rodion scanned the stranger and couldn't help but let his gaze wander down to the man's bare chest, visible through the opening of his robe.
"Who... are you?"
The temperature is getting colder, why is he wearing only a single piece of clothing?
Instead of answering, the silver-blue-haired stranger took a few steps and sat down in the lush wild grass.
"You're lost again, aren't you? You're so dumb in direction, you know that. I'm pretty sure your horse was the one who brought you here."
Rodion's horse blew its nose before walking over to the stranger and settling down, leaving its owner standing in complete puzzlement.
"It's already dark. It's dangerous to travel back to town. Why don't you sit here next to me and let's watch the moon? It's the first quarter, and it's been out since noon." He moved closer to the horse and tilted his head slightly at the spot beside him, giving him a cue to sit down next to him.
Rodion, for some reason, removed his cloak and gently threw it at the other person before he settled next to him.
"It's starting to get cold." He briefly said before the other could speak.
Donning the cloak on himself, he thanked him.
"So, I'm right, you're lost?" He said with a hint of teasing.
Rodion didn't make any excuses and just nodded in confirmation.
As he nodded, the other person let out a hearty laugh, this made Rodion blush. Embarrassed, he initiated to start a topic.
"Do you live here? The whole place looks abandoned."
The silver-blue-haired person wiped his tears from his laughing with his right hand still clutching the wine glass before answering, "I apologize, it's just funny how a grown-ass man still has no sense of direction. Young Master, this should be your third time getting lost here in my place."
He cackled once again and didn't even bother to act polite in front of Rodion, letting out an ugly laugh that was so unbecoming of a beautiful and handsome young man.
"Oh, forgive me... Yeah, I live here alone. What do you mean it's abandoned? I am so offended. I've lived here longer than you might imagine. Young master, did you hit your head, or you don't know? I thought the current Baron had told you since the first time you got lost here."
Rodion cleared his throat to cover his lies, "No, he didn't tell me. How long have you been living alone?"
Hearing his question, the silver-blue-haired man paused for a moment. He took the wine bottle that had loosened from his grip from his laughing. Opening the lid, he drank its contents straight from the bottle.
"I told you, longer than you might imagine. Look, the moon's peeping out!"
Rodion hesitantly moved his eyes up and saw the thick clouds thinning, revealing a half-moon. It instantly bestowed its silvery blue hue light upon the isolated meadows. As his eyes saw the moon, the anxiety from his heart he didn't know lingered and gradually faded. He felt at peace.
It's beautiful…
For a moment, they watched it with fascination, basking in its ethereal light. The cold blow of the wind passed through them, making Rodion flinched slightly from his position. This made his eyes and attention fall on the other's hair which looked white under the moonlight.
"The moon's beautiful tonight, isn't it?"
He turned to Rodion to check if he had been witnessing it, but he caught him staring directly at him. However, Rodion was almost taken aback when he saw his face. Instead of feeling guilty for staring at the stranger without their consent, Rodion was gripped with worry.
The person in front of him gazed at him with an expression of agony. And as if trying to hide the torment on his face, he looked at Rodion straight in the eyes as if seeking an answer in them to the question he couldn't articulate. He was completely different from the person who had been laughing and teasing him earlier.
"A-are you alright? Is something hurting you?"
Rodion was so caught off guard that he almost wanted to caress the other's face and soothe him from whatever was hurting him, but he held himself.
"The moon..." The other person mumbled in a perpetually tired voice.
"Why? Is the moon making you uncomfortable?"
Before the other person could speak, he heard a gallop of horses advancing towards them. A flash of light suddenly illuminated his face, prompting him to immediately shut his eyes.
"My lord! It is indeed the Young Master!"
When Rodion opened his eyes and glanced back at the person next to him, he saw no one but his horse. At almost the same time he heard a soft, eerie sound from the enormous metal gate being opened followed by a careful thud of closing it. Even though the Manor had a person living in it, it stood in complete silence as if abandoned for a very long time, dark and lonely under the half-moon above.
*****
A little guide for the characters's names mentioned in the chapter:
Tatiana Pavlovna - Official name / Tanya – Short name
Daria Makarovna - Official name / Dasha – Short name
Nadeshda Igorevna - Official name / Nadya – Short name
Irina Vladimirovna- Official name / Ira – Short name