"We've arrived," the Duke said, his deep voice breaking the silence in the carriage.
Arius jolted awake, startled. He hadn't even realized he'd fallen asleep during the ride. Rubbing his eyes, he peered out the carriage window, his breath catching in his throat.
(Woah... Is this really where I'm going to stay from now on?) he thought, staring at the massive estate looming before him.
"Oi, hurry up. I don't want to keep everyone waiting," the Duke said, his tone firm and face expressionless as always.
"Ah... yes, coming!" Arius replied hastily as he scrambled out of the carriage and ran to catch up.
As they approached the grand front door, it slowly opened to reveal a row of servants standing proudly in formation.
"Welcome back, Master," they greeted in unison, bowing respectfully.
The Duke's butler, Benny Brontes, and the head maid, Becky Boreas, stepped forward.
"Master, welcome home," Benny said in his calm and formal tone.
"Welcome back, my lord," Becky added with a warm smile before turning her gaze to Arius. Her eyes softened instantly. "Oh my... who is this little cutie?"
"Wow, he's adorable!" one of the maids exclaimed, and soon, a chorus of similar compliments erupted among the servants, their excitement bubbling over.
Arius felt a bit overwhelmed by all the attention.
"Ah… him? He's my son," the Duke said casually, his tone as straight as his face.
Arius blinked in surprise. (How can he say something so shocking with such a straight face?) he thought.
The room fell into stunned silence. The servants exchanged wide-eyed glances.
"Master, how could you...?" Becky began, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"Do we need to prepare for a new Duchess?" Benny asked cautiously, his worry evident.
"What? No," the Duke replied, a hint of irritation creeping into his voice. "He's my adopted son. And why would you even think I'd bring another woman here? Irene... Irene was the first and last woman I will ever love." His voice softened as he said her name, and a flicker of sadness crossed his face.
Silence fell over the room again, heavier this time.
"Ahem!" The Duke cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "Arius, introduce yourself properly."
Arius straightened his posture. "Hello, I'm Arius."
"Say it with your last name," the Duke prompted with a slight smirk.
"What? You should've told me that earlier," Arius said, a faint edge of annoyance in his voice.
The servants gasped softly.
"Is he... a miniature version of the Duke?" one of them whispered, and the others murmured in agreement. Arius's tone and expression mirrored the Duke's so perfectly that it was uncanny.
"It's nice to meet you all. I'm Arius Nyx. I hope we can get along," Arius said with formal politeness, earning approving nods from the servants.
"Now that's more like it," the Duke said with a small smirk.
"Master, where is Young Master Claude?" Benny asked, referring to the Duke's trusted assistant.
"I've sent him and the others to handle some tasks for me," the Duke replied.
"I see," Benny said with a nod.
"Becky, from now on, you'll be in charge of Arius. Make sure his room is set up, and prepare a small library for him as well," the Duke instructed.
"Understood, Duke," Becky replied.
"And Benny, you'll oversee his other needs, find the best professors that will be handling his studies and assist Becky with the library also."
"As you wish, Duke," Benny said with a slight bow.
"For now, Arius, you'll stay in one of the guest rooms until your room is ready. Understood?"
"Alright," Arius replied, his tone confident.
As they began to disperse, Arius turned to the Duke. "Is it true that you have a torture chamber like in the rumors?"
The room froze. All eyes turned to Arius in shock. Even the Duke raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I have one," the Duke answered after a moment, as though the question were perfectly normal. "We'll visit it sometime if you're interested."
Arius nodded thoughtfully. (This family is going to be... interesting,) he thought.
The Duke dismissed the servants, then turned to Arius. "Come to my office. There's something important I need to tell you."
"Alright," Arius said, following the Duke up to the second floor.
________________________________________
The Duke's Office
"Sit," the Duke said, gesturing to a plush couch. Arius complied, waiting patiently.
"First, you'll start calling me Father or Dad from now on," the Duke said, a rare smile playing on his lips.
Arius shivered slightly. (Why does that smile look so creepy?) he wondered. "Alright... Dad," he said without hesitation.
"Good." The Duke's smile widened. "Now, listen carefully. Your older brothers will return from the northern border on the first day of next year. You'll meet them for the first time then."
"I have older brothers?" Arius asked, feigning ignorance.
"Don't play dumb. I know you're aware of the Nyx family's five sons. You're the sixth now. Once they return, I'll introduce you to the entire empire."
"Alright," Arius replied simply.
"For now, focus on studying. You'll start your lessons next week, and I'll personally teach you swordsmanship," the Duke said.
"Is there anything else?" Arius asked hesitantly.
"Now that you're my son, you are obliged to train for assassination, we'll start with your assassination training once your older brothers return. They'll help with your training," the Duke explained.
Arius nodded, conten with everything right now.
________________________________________
Later That Night
In his temporary room, Arius was preparing for bed when Becky knocked on the door.
"Come in," Arius said.
"Young Master, would you like me to read you a bedtime story?" Becky asked kindly.
"No, thank you. I can sleep on my own," Arius replied.
"Very well. Goodnight, Young Master," Becky said, turning to leave.
"Wait. What's your name?" Arius asked suddenly.
"Becky Boreas," she said with a small bow.
"Goodnight, Becky."
"Goodnight, Young Master," she said before closing the door.
Lying in bed, Arius stared at the ceiling. (I have a new family, a new home, and a new life. But... I still miss Mom and Dad...) he thought, his heart aching faintly before sleep overtook him.
________________________________________
The Duke's Office
"Master, what do you think of the boy?" Becky asked after knocking and entering the office with Benny.
"He's... interesting," the Duke replied, a smirk playing on his lips. "I can't wait to see how the others will react when they meet him."
Benny nodded. "He's mature for his age. Talking to him feels like speaking with an adult."
"I feel the same," Becky added. "He's bold, sharp, and seems to have a hidden strength."
The Duke chuckled. "Good. Let's see how he fits into the family."
With that, he turned his attention back to his work, his mind already racing with plans for the future.
To be continued.....
________________________________________
New Character(s)
Becky Boreas
Age: 58
Appearance: Long gray hair, white skin, gray eyes, and a pointy nose. Always well-dressed in the Nyx family's traditional maid uniform.
Personality: Strict, warm, kind, protective, maternal, and cunning
Hobbies: Organizing the estate, keeping records of household operations, and occasionally baking sweets for the younger members of the family.
Dislikes: Messiness or disorganization in the estate, Laziness or a lack of discipline among the staff, When the family skips meals or neglects their health, Political visitors who treat the staff poorly.
Benny Brontes
Age: 64
Appearance: Short black hair, white skin, brown eyes, and a pointy nose. Wears a tailored suit and gloves, always maintaining a professional demeanor.
Personality: Strict, calm and collected, loyal, composed, analytical, and resourceful
Hobbies: Assisting the servants, maintaining the estate, managing the torture chamber, maintaining the family archives, and occasionally enjoying a quiet game of chess with the Duke.
Dislikes: Recklessness, particularly from the younger family members, Improper etiquette or lack of respect for tradition, Servants who are overly casual in their duties, Wasted resources or unnecessary extravagance.