"Brother Reggie invites me to visit his manor?" Harry's voice was calm, but there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes as he looked at the servant standing before him.
"Yes, Lord Harry," the attendant replied, bowing deeply, his tone respectful but with a hint of nervousness. "Lord Reggie is hosting a grand banquet at his manor and has specifically requested that you attend."
"A banquet?" Harry raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly as he considered the request. "Is it just Brother Reggie hosting, or are there others involved?"
The servant hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head. "I... I don't know all the details, Lord Harry. But it is rumored that Mr. Cedric, Master Reggie's teacher, will be attending as well."
"Cedric," Harry muttered to himself, his expression thoughtful. He had heard of Cedric, a man of considerable influence and experience, and one of the few people who had been a guiding hand in Reggie's life. But why this sudden invitation? What was Reggie's true intention behind the banquet?
The attendant shifted nervously, sensing Harry's uncertainty. "Lord Harry, if you don't mind me asking, will you be attending?"
Harry took a long pause, his eyes distant as he mulled over the invitation. His thoughts swirled, but his face remained composed. "Since it is Brother Reggie's invitation," he said finally, his voice steady and measured, "I will, of course, attend. Please tell him I look forward to the event."
"Yes, Lord Harry." The servant breathed a sigh of relief, visibly relaxing now that he had received a clear answer. He bowed deeply once more and left the room.
The moment the door closed behind the servant, Harry stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the window. The soft light of the late afternoon filtered through, casting long shadows across the stone floor. But Harry's mind was far from the room, he was lost in thought, considering the invitation, the strange timing, and the potential underlying motives.
A few days later, Harry made his way out of the hunting grounds, intending to travel to Reggie's manor. He stepped out of his residence, his mind still preoccupied with thoughts of the banquet, when suddenly, a voice called out to him.
"Harry, wait!"
Harry turned to see a young man on horseback, disheveled and breathless, standing before him. His clothes were torn, his face drawn with exhaustion, and there was a clear sense of urgency in his eyes.
It was 'Alfie'.
"Alfie?" Harry raised an eyebrow, his surprise now turning into curiosity. "What's going on? Why do you look like you've ridden all night?"
Alfie's gaze was wide with concern, his voice trembling with urgency. "Harry, you can't go to Reggie's manor," he said, his words tumbling out in a rush. "Brother Reggie... he plans to harm you."
Harry blinked, taken aback by the sudden warning. 'Harm me?' he thought, his mind racing to process Al's words. 'What's this about?'
Reggie... going to harm him?
Harry studied Alfie closely, his expression neutral, but his mind already running through the possibilities. Alfie seems a loyal, earnest man, but he had always been a bit too emotional, too prone to acting on instinct but this could be the image he made up himself. And now, standing before him, Alfie looked like he had ridden without rest for days, as if he had been carrying a message that was too urgent to wait.
For a moment, Harry felt a flicker of doubt. He glanced at the hunting grounds behind him, the familiar landscape that he had come to know as his base, and the road ahead that would lead him to Ethan Manor.
Harry studied Alfie carefully, his gaze softening. There was no deception in Al's eyes. His concern was genuine. But that only made things more complicated. If Reggie were truly planning something, was Alfie being manipulated by others as well? Was there some bigger scheme unfolding?
Then another thought struck him, 'Could this be Madam Glenda's doing?'
The woman had been the source of much tension between him and Reggie. If anyone would want to exploit this rift, it would be her. Perhaps this warning was part of a larger play to discredit Reggie, to turn Harry against him for good.
Harry let out a small sigh, thinking about the situation. Even if Glenda were behind this, Alfie's warning still carried weight. If Reggie had truly planned something sinister, Harry needed to be prepared.
"Alfie," Harry said at last, his voice low but firm, "you've warned me, and I'll take that into account. But I still have my own way of handling things. I'll go to Reggie's manor, but I will be cautious. If anything feels off, I will leave."
Alfie's expression softened slightly, but the worry didn't fade from his eyes. "Please, Harry... don't underestimate this. Reggie's plans are not what they seem."
The tension in the air was thick. Alfie, his face flushed with a mix of anxiety and determination, stood in front of Harry, blocking his path. "Harry, you have to listen to me. Don't go to Reggie's manor. It's dangerous, he's planning something, I know it! If you walk into that trap, you're in grave danger."
Harry's brow furrowed, his expression calm but guarded. He looked at Alfie, who was clearly distressed, yet his heart remained steady. 'Was Alfie truly concerned? Or was this all some kind of manipulation?' He couldn't quite tell. But one thing was certain: something about this whole situation didn't sit right.
"Al, I don't know where you heard this, but..." Harry's voice was steady, though there was a flicker of doubt in his mind. He looked Alfie straight in the eyes, his voice firm as he continued, "Brother Reggie is a brother to me. He's someone I trust completely. I don't believe for a second that he would harm me."
He paused, letting his words sink in, and added with sincerity, "If I can't trust my own brother, who else can I trust in this world?"
Alfie looked at him, a mixture of frustration and worry in his eyes. "Harry, you don't understand! It's not like that. There's something wrong, Reggie is changing, and you're walking right into a trap! You're—"
Harry held up a hand, cutting him off. "No," he said, his tone unwavering. "I trust Reggie. Whatever you think is happening, I won't doubt him."
Alfie was visibly shaking, his eyes wide with alarm. "Harry, don't be naïve! Reggie—" He clenched his fists, stepping forward, voice rising in desperation. "Do you really think he'd never hurt you? If you go to his manor, he'll definitely attack you. I know it!"
The words hung in the air like a heavy fog, but Harry remained steadfast. "I don't know about your concerns, Alfie, but I do know this: Lord Reggie is someone I trust deeply. He's my brother, and I believe that no matter what happens, he would never harm me."
Al's face twisted in frustration. "Why can't you see it? I'm telling you, I'm 'warning' you because I care about you! If you go there now, you're walking into certain danger. I can't just let you do this."
Harry sighed, his voice softer now but still resolute. "Brother Alfie, please. You've done enough by warning me. But I've made my decision. Go back to where you came from."
Alfie stood there for a moment, stunned. He stared at Harry, as if the words he was hearing couldn't possibly be coming from the man he thought of as a brother. "But—" Al's voice cracked, his chest tight with emotion. "I can't let you go alone. I can't just stand by and watch you walk into danger!"
Harry's gaze softened slightly. "Alfie..." He paused, taking a long breath. "I appreciate your concern, but I've made up my mind. I'll go to Reggie's manor, and I believe nothing will happen. You don't have to worry."
But Alfie wasn't finished. His eyes narrowed with resolve, and his voice came out in a low growl. "No, Harry, I 'won't' let you go alone. You're my brother, and if Reggie's planning something, I can't just leave you to face it by yourself."
Harry froze, startled. "You; what are you saying?"
"I'm going with you," Alfie said, his voice firm now, full of a quiet, unwavering determination. "If you're going to walk into danger, then I'm coming with you. If Reggie's planning anything against you, I'll be there to make sure he doesn't lay a finger on you."
Harry studied him for a long moment, weighing his words. It was clear now, this wasn't some scheme. Alfie had come of his own accord. The loyalty in his eyes was unmistakable. And though Harry didn't fully understand why Alfie felt this way, he could sense the genuine care in his voice.
Harry finally sighed, nodding slightly. "Fine, you can come. But don't say I didn't warn you. Brother Reggie doesn't exactly have the best opinion of you."
"So what?" Alfie shot back, his face a mixture of defiance and confidence. "Does he dare kill me on the spot? Not in front of everyone."
Harry couldn't help but chuckle softly, though his mind was still filled with unease. 'Could Reggie really be capable of such a thing?' Given Reggie's volatile temperament, it wasn't entirely out of the question. Reggie had never been one to hold back if he felt slighted, and the current political climate, with Baron Ethan away; meant that Reggie's power was growing.
But Harry didn't voice his concerns. Instead, he turned and started walking, his pace measured. "Let's go then. We'll find out soon enough."
As they made their way toward Reggie's manor, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that things were not as they seemed. The more he thought about the situation, the more questions filled his mind. If Reggie was truly planning something against him, what could it be? And why would Alfie, of all people; be so insistent on warning him?
As they approached Reggie's manor, the atmosphere shifted. The grand estate stood at the top of a hill, the sprawling gardens now filled with guests arriving in various carriages, chatting amongst themselves. It was an unusual scene, there was excitement in the air, but also something that didn't sit right with Harry. The guest list was sparse, mostly consisting of Reggie's inner circle, and yet there was a strange tension about it all.
The courtyard was alive with servants and warriors, but there was an unmistakable air of secrecy in the way they moved. Most of the guests were trusted subordinates, the kind who wouldn't question Reggie's orders no matter how strange they might be.
Harry and Alfie arrived at the gates, where a servant came forward to greet them, bowing low. "Lord Harry, Lord Alfie, welcome. Master Reggie is expecting you."
Harry nodded, his face a mask of calm despite the swirling unease inside him. "Lead the way."
As they walked toward the grand hall, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that this evening would bring more revelations than he was ready for. Every step he took seemed to pull him deeper into the web of intrigue, and soon enough, he would have to face whatever Reggie had in store for him.