Once Aaron had cald down, Nathaniel spoke, "I’ll stay by your side for a while. We’ll face everything together."
Aaron simply nodded, understanding that he needed soone by his side to help him manage his emotions, emotions he wasn’t accustod to facing, and to prevent him from doing sothing irrational.
Everything had been prepared by the servants. Aaron went to the chamber ant for the lord of the estate, where his father had once lived. Everything in this room, as well as throughout the entire residence, had been replaced with new furnishings.
After shedding his travel-worn attire and soaking in the bath for a long ti to calm himself, Aaron was ready to join everyone for a al. This gathering included the Rainiers, who were now the only family he had left by his side. Lucian was his only blood relative, and Aaron was determined to protect him and help him with everything he needed.
----
anwhile, another entourage, consisting of several covered carriages and hundreds of royal guards on horseback, entered the boundaries of the northeastern territory. After crossing the territory and traveling through the city en route to the military base, the covers on the carriages were lifted, revealing that they were not comfortable carriages but small prison cells on wheels.
One of these cells held Luis and his daughter, while the others contained the knights, servants, and guards who had worked for him and accompanied him to the capital city. All of them had been brought back to the northeast as prisoners.
As the covers were removed, the bright sunlight almost blinded Luis and his daughter. The people lining the pathway cheered loudly upon seeing their forr lord in chains. They had suffered under his rule for the past two decades and eagerly awaited the return of their true lords to punish this evil man. The crowd threw stones, insults, and whatever they could find at the prisoners, hurling curses their way.
Terrified, Grace curled up in the corner of the carriage, almost screaming, "Father!"
Luis’s hands and legs were chained. Though his heart ached for his daughter, he was powerless to comfort her. What could he even say—that everything would be alright? No, he couldn’t, because he knew they were dood.
The entourage reached the prison, and everyone was led to their cells, where other prisoners were already held. These prisoners included General Elord and several more of Luis’s companions.
When Luis was shoved into his cell, he pleaded, "You can’t keep my daughter here. She’s a lady. Treat her like one."
The soldier pushed Luis further into the cell. "Everyone here is a criminal. Your daughter is not a lady anymore."
With that, Grace was forced into the cell next to her father’s. Elord was in the cell beside them. He looked at Luis, but neither had anything to say. All they could do now was wait for their punishnt.
----
anwhile, at the Rainier residence, everyone was invited to a al, especially prepared by Gwen, despite her exhaustion from the journey. When Lucian insisted, she at least allowed the servants to do most of the work while she provided instructions. Around the huge dining table, all the friends gathered to have a al with the new mbers of the Rainier family.
"Mother, I didn’t know you could cook such fancy food ant for rich people," Rina comnted as she enjoyed the delicious al.
"Your mother used to work in the kitchen here, and the previous lady especially loved the food she made," Paul added.
"You an Brother Lucian’s mother?" she asked. "No wonder he loves everything you cook. He must take after his mother, the previous lady."
"Hmm, seems like it," Paul replied.
"What was she like?" Rina asked, curious. "Does Brother take after her or his father?"
This caught Lucian’s attention. He had never asked this question of Gwen or Paul, but deep down, he wanted to know as well. His talkative sister was unknowingly getting answers for him.
"Both of them," Paul replied, glancing at Gwen. "Don’t you think?"
Gwen nodded. "He’s tall, handso, and courageous like his father, while kind and thoughtful like his mother. And yes, his eyes resemble those of Lady Margaret. Most of the ti, I feel like I’m looking at her when I look at him."
"Hmm, he does have kind eyes," Rina agreed. "She must have been really beautiful as well."
"Indeed, she was," Gwen added. "Lord Rainier, though cold and strict with others, was head over heels for his wife."
"Oh, tell more about them, Mother," Rina asked excitedly.
Not just Rina, but everyone—Aaron, Nathaniel, and Arthur—waited eagerly to hear more, as the sweet mories of the past were finally being shared.
"Lord Rainier grew up in the capital alongside King Ailwin as one of his childhood companions. He rarely stayed here in the northeast, as he was one of the most talented young n by King Ailwin’s side—who was then the crown prince. When he beca an adult and had made a na for himself, his father, Lucian’s grandfather, fell ill, and Lord Rainier was called back ho. The northeast is an important territory and could not be left without a lord.
"The previous King allowed Lord Rainier to return ho and take on his father’s responsibilities as the Lord of the Eastern part. Since then, he settled here and managed this territory alongside Lord Wynter, Aaron’s father. It was during this ti that he t Lord Wynter’s younger sister, Margaret, our lady," Gwen ntioned with a smile. "She was the most beautiful young lady, yet to be wedded. It’s said that Lord Rainier fell for her at first sight."
Rina giggled. "That’s so amazing, and here my brother doesn’t seem like he’d fall for soone even if he saw her a hundred tis."
Gwen gave her a stern look. "Stop teasing your brother, or I won’t finish the story."
"No, no, please continue," Rina pleaded. "Look at my brother, he’s dying to know as well."
Gwen glanced at Lucian but said nothing, knowing he had never asked about his parents, but she knew this was a way to tell him.
"Alright," Gwen resud. "But there was an issue—Lady Margaret was already engaged to soone."
"What?" Rina asked, wide-eyed. "Then what happened?"
"Lord Rainier didn’t give up when he heard the news. He liked her and wanted no one but her. He confessed his feelings to Lady Margaret despite knowing she would reject him because she was betrothed. When she did reject him, he continued to pursue her, and eventually, Lady Margaret fell for him. Lord Rainier was indeed such an impressive man that it was impossible for any lady to not fall for him."
"I wish my brother was the sa and by this ti I would be eating sothing cooked by my sister-in-law. Such a handso face, but what a waste?" She frowned, stuffing food in her mouth.
It drew the laughs from others while glare from her mother.
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