Chapter 4

“You seem to like your brother,” said Claude.

Kieran had been perusing over hunting rifles and now straightened his back at Claude’s words. Claude Del Ihar was Duke Ihar’s son, who ruled over the north. His mother, Jasmine Pon Ihar, was the emperor’s sister. His sharp features and black hair came from the north, while his blue eyes came from the imperial family.

Kieran turned to Claude’s expressionless face. His cold eyes and condescending attitude were passed down to him by his bloodline. Other aristocrats considered the Ihar family as the noblest of the noblemen.

“Is there a reason I shouldn’t like my brother, Claude?” asked Kieran with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

Claude frowned slightly as he looked at Kieran’s mysterious smile. “He’s the evidence of deceit,” said Claude.

The answer was curt, and Kieran’s smile deepened as he stroked the pistol engraved with the eagle crest of the Ihar family. “Deceit comes with a price,” said Kieran, “My brother has already given up much for it.”

Kieran’s tone was intentionally polite, and Claude’s eyes glistened at the careful answer.

“I sometimes see you as an old man, Kieran,” said Claude with a smirk.“Me? Old?” scoffed Kieran, “Don’t say that even as a joke.”

Claude looked at Kieran’s sculpted face. He seemed to take after his father, but his mouth was similar to the Marchioness. Kieran never revealed his innermost thoughts to him. It was all fun and games and nothing more.

However, Canillian was different. Except for his appearance, the boy did not take after Kieran at all. Canillian Vale was a fake. While he had the Marquis’s blood, he did not have that secretive streak. Claude decided to forget about Canillian Vale, he was young and of no consequence. If it hadn’t been for his appearance, he would have died in poverty somewhere. It was clear to Claude what the marchioness was working hard for. And it was a pity she did so much for a fake.

Claude approached the window that looked over the lavender gardens with a drink in his hand. Kieran’s copy was standing in front of a man, who bowed in surprise as Lian greeted him with courtesy. It was comedic. The boy’s hair covered his ears a bit, and his round green eyes glanced at the window where Claude was standing. Claude sipped his drink as he watched Lian and tasted the bittersweet herbs in his mouth.

Claude’s carriage drove away from the Marquis’s lands four days after that incident. Lia hadn’t been able to sleep properly from the day she had met Claude. Every time she closed her eyes, she heard gunshots and animal cries. According to Betty, Claude and some other noblemen had gone hunting.

She could not understand them. Why did they go out hunting in the dark? And, why hunt small helpless animals rather than large predators? They hunted only for the fun of inflicting pain, not because they hungered for the chase.

Lia had covered the window that looked over the hunting ground with a large blanket. Betty had drawn the curtains, so the window wasn’t visible anymore, but the sounds of the hunt weren’t muffled. She could hear them outside.

“Young master, wake up! It’s morning!

Lia woke up blearily. It was the first time she had slept properly after Claude had gone away. She still felt tired even after the deep sleep, but she needed to get up and get dressed. The Marchioness would be there at the breakfast table.

Lia went up to Betty who began fussing over her, washing her face in the wash basin, straightening her hair. Lia wore trousers much easily now; she had become familiar with the comfort of it. She had become accustomed to this easy life. She recalled her soot-stained face. She mustn’t forget. She needed to remember her past if she was to have any chance of ever meeting her mother again. Betty straightened Lia’s cravat and smiled approvingly.

“Let’s go eat,” chirped Betty.

“All right.”

Lia was anxious. On her first day, she couldn’t eat anything because she had no knowledge of the etiquette the nobles followed at the dining table. Lia had learned everything from using the different utensils to conversing with the nobles. She was thankful for the knowledge; she now could at least sit by the Marchioness and eat with elegance without dropping anything.

“You came,” commented the Marchioness. The Marchioness lowered the newspaper she had been reading and raised her head. Kieran, who had been sitting at a chair in a diagonal position to the Marchioness greeted her with a smile.

“Come, sit,” instructed the Marchioness, “I specifically asked for my favourite egg dish this morning. Do you like eggs?”

“Yes, of course.” Lia did not know what the dish was, but she knew what to reply.

While Lia still felt queasy acting like a brother to Kieran, the Marchioness, albeit strict, was kind to her. She always greeted Lia with a smile and never seemed to be angry at her despite Lia giving her many reasons to be so. Lia’s mother, in contrast, had known how to show her anger after she had had a bit to drink.

Kieran tapped the side of his glass with a spoon and the servants hovered over the breakfast table, serving dishes. The warm egg was particularly delicious. The Marchioness’ gaze flickered to Lia’s dish for only a moment.

“I heard that you are a very good student,” said the Marchioness.

Lia swallowed her food. “It had been pleasant.”

“I am glad to hear that,” said the Marchioness, smiling, “Kieran is a model student at the academy. I believe you can soon catch up to your brother if you keep working hard.”

Lia’s heart skipped a beat, unpleasantly. The Marchioness had been genuine in her compliment, but Lia found it hard to be glad. She managed to nod. “Thank you. I will try my best.”

Kieran frowned as he broke the egg yolk on his plate, sitting across Lia. “It’s been only a week since he started studying. He’s working hard enough, mother.”

“You shouldn’t say such lenient things, Kieran.”

“Father would have told him to go out and play.”

“I’m talking to Lian right now.” The Marchioness’s voice rose a bit, and Lia wanted to get away from the argument. The food was heavy in her stomach.

“I know that… but mother. The young Duke has been hunting for a fortnight here. Lian would have heard gunshots all day and night, which meant he wouldn’t have gotten much sleep. So don’t be too hard on him.”

Kieran was the only person who could even attempt to melt the steely countenance of the Marchioness. He always came to Lia’s defense, so it was only natural that she felt affection towards him. The Marchioness did not talk of classes afterward, and while the rest of the breakfast was pleasant, Lia couldn’t eat so well. Kieran asked for a sherbet after the Marchioness left the table, including Lia’s share.

“I met Claude in the academy. We’re the same age, but he’s better than any of us. Let’s go hunting together next time. I think you would be better at shooting than me.”

“I never held a gun before.”

“Everyone has their firsts. Also, I won’t… be able to go back to the academy.”

Lia lowered her head. She understood what he was saying. The household was strange. No one suspected anything, or questioned her, despite having arrived at the mansion overnight and been converted to a son of the family. Everyone treated her like Lia had forever been a Vale living in the mansion. Everybody showed her politeness and courtesy. Sometimes Lia felt like everything else in the past had been a dream.

“Young master Canillian, Sir Theodore is here. Young master Kieran, please come, too.”

The manor was already preparing for the cold, as the grate near the fireplace was filled with wood and the sofa held mink blankets. Lia remembered having spent the last winter with two pairs of clothes. She pushed down the memory while following Kieran with light footsteps. She saw Theodore far away, and while no one told her anything, she was starting to know what she had to do.

Lia watched Kieran go to the library after greeting Theodore. Even though he coughed all the while, Kieran’s eyes were firm in front of the servants. Lia knew that she would never be able to replace him.

*

“The Marquis has just passed the Croizen Plains and will arrive in an hour!”

The servants were at their busiest as the sunset painted the white mansion in a rosy hue. It had been exactly a month since Lia had first arrived at the mansion. “The Marquis? Now?”

Lia had been asleep when she heard the news. Pepe, who had been serving Lia instead of Betty, shook her gently awake with a smile. “He’s back after three months. We don’t have time. You have to get into clean clothes. It won’t do if you don’t look right.”

Pepe’s joy was to dress the beautiful Lia, and the child felt fond of Pepe as well. Lia’s gentleness towards Pepe made her even more bold in her attention that she gave the child. She chose her outfit, while Lia waited.

Pepe was sure of herself that Lia would be a hit when introduced in the social circle. She dreamt of the day when Lia would march around wearing a navy-blue uniform following the Marquis’ footsteps.

“Am I going to wear that?”

“Yes. This yellow vest will go well with your eyes. Do you like it?”

“It’s nice.”

Pepe did her best to spruce Lia up. The Marchioness had emphasized neat and quiet outfits, but Pepe was of different opinion, she thought hiding such a face in quiet outfits was a crime. While she got dressed, she watched the servants run outside to prepare the reception. Lia’s heart hammered. She would be seeing her father for the first time.