"Young Master ... This..." Natty said, her legs trembled when she saw the big door, guarded by two tall bodyguards in black uniforms who looked intimidating. Around the door, richly dressed people paced back and forth, their jewelry glittering in the light of the lamps. The atmosphere was crowded and full of energy that made Natty feel depressed. He could hear the sounds of laughter, whispers, and the thunder of music from inside.
"That's right, Natty." Lucian leaned his body close to Natty, giving him a sense of security. "Going to the Casino is one of the ways to have fun, right? We need to blend in with them. Don't worry too much, because your role here now is my Partner."
A while back, Natty could only surrender as Lucian pulled her along. Lucian's strides were long and sure, showing confidence and a clear purpose. Natty could only follow, her steps unsteady because she was in a rush. She tried to look back, wanting to remember the beauty of the garden, but the view had already vanished behind her.
"Um, young master?" Natty barely dared to speak, her voice just a whisper carried by the gentle breeze that brushed her face. She felt really nervous, her hand still held by Lucian felt cold and sweaty. She wanted to ask, wanted to know where Lucian was taking her, but fear held her tongue back. She could only stare at Lucian's back.
Lucian suddenly stopped walking, as if sensing Natty's anxiety. He turned around, looking at Natty with an expression that was hard to read. A faint smile appeared on his lips, but his eyes remained sharp and calculating. "We're parting ways here," he said, his voice calm yet firm.
"You know where my room is, right? Wait there, right in line with the window, near that big white rose pot. Don't go anywhere, and don't talk to anyone before I get back. It's important." He pointed towards the corridor leading upstairs, then started walking away from Natty, his steps quick and sure towards the grand marble staircase. "I'll meet you later, and don't even think about not showing up. You got it~?" He glanced briefly at Natty before disappearing behind the curve of the stairs.
"Hikk! Y-yes, Young Master!!" Natty replied with a trembling voice, her eyes still fixed on Lucian's back who disappeared behind the stairs. He felt very scared and confused, but he could only obey. He walked out of the mansion towards the wall that was parallel to Lucian's room with his steps shaking. He tries to calm himself down, trying to believe in Lucian, even though fear still haunts him. He reached the wall that was parallel to the window of Lucian's room, he stood where he had been ordered, waiting for his Young Master's arrival.
Lucian walked between the stairs to his room on the top floor. The atmosphere in the corridor was quiet and cold, only accompanied by the sound of his footsteps on the shiny marble floor. When he reached the corridor near his room, he ran into Pavel, who was standing straight, waiting patiently.
"You're back, Young Master?" Pavel asked respectfully, his voice calm and low. He observed Lucian closely, trying to read his facial expression.
"Yeah, that's how it is," Lucian replied, his voice sounding tired. He opened the door to his room, then turned to face Pavel. "I suddenly feel like I want to rest right now. And also, don't meet me until I call you." He looked at Pavel sharply, showing his seriousness.
"But Young Master.." Pavel hesitated, he wanted to ask, he wanted to know what had happened, but he knew that he must not disobey his Young Master's orders.
"Pavel, you doubt my orders?" Lucian looked at Pavel sharply, his gaze piercing and full of pressure. He does not like to be doubted, especially by his own servants.
"I'm sorry," Pavel replied in a lower voice, showing his remorse. He bowed respectfully. "I understand, rest well young master." He bowed deeply before turning around and leaving Lucian alone in his room.
"He became compliant like that? I thought he was going to rebel," Lucian muttered quietly, remembering Pavel's duel from the time he had seen it before. "Also, the notification is not visible at this time." Lucian was silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly in confusion as if his mind was bubbling with questions drawn above his head.
"Well, that's good. Now where is this Young Master hiding it," he said, then began to look for a mask that he would use to disguise. He checked the corner of the table, under his large, soft mattress, but found nothing he was looking for. He sighed, then opened the desk drawer. There, lies a face mask with beautiful purplish pink and white colors.
"It turns out to be here," he took the mask, examining it carefully. "Wait, it looks like I've seen this color," he muttered again, remembering something. However, he immediately ignored the thought. His priority now is to focus on his plan.
"Yes, already, not so important. Now it's just a matter of camouflaging as if I'm sleeping here, and looking for ropes and robes." He placed the mask on the table, then placed the pillow in line and covered it with a blanket as if he could see someone sleeping on his current mattress.
Lucian grabbed the mask, the soft touch of the material felt cool against his skin. With a quick and skillful motion, he put on the mask. He then walked over to his big wardrobe, packed with all kinds of clothes. He opened the wardrobe, looking for a cloak and a tie to complete his disguise. After a moment of searching, he found a long black cloak made of soft silk.
"Oh, thank goodness it's here," he murmured with relief. He put on the cloak, letting it drape down to cover his whole body. The cloak added a mysterious and elegant vibe to his look. "I should grab another one for Natty," he added, then started looking for another cloak that would suit Natty. He found a light blue cloak that looked graceful and simple.
He checked the closet again, but this time he was looking for a rope. He needed a rope to help him climb down from his bedroom window without making a sound. He searched every corner of the closet but couldn't find what he was looking for. Anxiety started to creep into his heart.
"Unfortunately, there's no rope here, how am I supposed to get down without being caught?!" he grumbled in frustration. He looked around the room, searching for another option. His eyes landed on a neatly stacked pile of sheets in the corner of the room. An idea popped into his head. He smirked slyly. That pile of sheets could be the perfect stepping stone for him to get down from his bedroom window.
Meanwhile, Natty waited anxiously below, her heart racing unpredictably. She kept glancing up, staring at Lucian's room window on the upper floor. Suddenly, she saw something that shocked her. A white cloth was unraveling from the mansion wall, hanging down. And at the end of that cloth, she saw Lucian carefully descending, using a bedsheet as a foothold. Lucian looked really different than usual, wearing a long black cloak.
"Yo, Natty," Lucian greeted, his voice soft but still firm, as he reached the bottom. He quickly and skillfully untied the bedsheet, then folded it neatly.
Natty jumped in shock. "Young Master?!" She almost screamed, but her voice got stuck in her throat. She stared at Lucian with wide eyes, not believing what she had just seen. Her mind was racing, various scenarios flashing through her head. She felt really confused and scared. "Wow, is he really losing his mind, is he going to pin this on me?!" She panicked, dark thoughts filling her mind. Lucian had reached the bottom, gently touching Natty's shoulder, trying to calm her down.
Natty jumped in shock. Her eyes went wide, her mouth slightly open, and her breath caught in her throat. She was frozen in place, unable to move or say anything. It was like her brain stopped working for a moment, only able to process the scene in front of her. "Young Master?!?!"
"Chill out, you're gonna attract someone here if you keep yelling like that," Lucian whispered, his voice low and soothing, yet still firm. He scanned the area cautiously, making sure no one was watching them. "Huh," he let out a quiet sigh, then pulled out the light blue cloak he had prepared earlier.
Natty took the cloak with trembling hands. She hurriedly put it on, trying to hide her fear and confusion. "You're wearing it again, huh," she said, her voice still shaking, pointing at the mask Lucian was wearing. "That mask."
"Hmm?" Lucian raised an eyebrow, as if he didn't understand what Natty meant. He gave a slight smile, trying to look relaxed. "Well, I need this. It would be weird if the Young Master of a noble family went out without a guard, right?" He pointed to himself, then to Natty.
"That's true, but..." Natty still felt confused and scared. He still didn't understand Lucian's plan. "Go out? You mean out of the mansion?!" His voice rose a bit, showing his surprise.