Published

at 27th of May 2020 07:53:49 AM

Chapter 4

Breakfast continued peacefully, with Guinivere's occasional chatter and a discussion between Aurelion and Gareth .

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Only Vespera and Neo sat there eating silently .

Vespera wasn't one for small talk in the first place, whereas Neo had many thoughts brewing in his head . The two of them focused on their meals to the end .

Neo cut into his toast, the feeling of his etiquette lessons settling into his movement like a second skin as he began to eat like Nazareth once more .

It was stifling .

He really missed the modern world .

"-And what of you, Nazareth?"

The cold voice of Gareth was sharp and clear as it directed itself to the oldest Odum .

Neo's head snapped up in surprise .

He wasn't paying attention to the conversation between his father and brother .

Sapphire eyes narrowed--looking as judgemental as Neo remembered--and with a sigh, Gareth asked him again .

"How is your study so far?"

How is his study?

He couldn't help but grimace . Second-year of Senior High at the academy was when he became particularly mad and wasted most of his time scheming against his brother . His grades were the worst, and they certainly didn't get any better in the third year . How in the world did he even manage to graduate--oh yeah .

He died the day before the ceremony . . .

Letting out a small breath, Neo decided to be honest and looked directly into those blue eyes of his father's .

"Not good . I promise I'll raise them up as soon as I can . "

There was a brief pause, and if his father's face wasn't already ice-cold, he would have thought the man had frozen in befuddlement .

However, soon enough his expression became one of admonishment and he sternly spoke .

"The school year has started long ago, Nazareth . I do not expect much from you as you are not my heir,"

Neo smiled uncomfortably . That's right . He wasn't the heir . In the past, it was this fact that drove him to insanity . Now, however, he is glad to hear this .

"-but do not forget that you are an Odum . We do not let our studies fall to the point where we must raise them . "

He nods his head .

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Remove Ads?"Yes, sir . "

Gareth was most certainly not expecting such a demure response .

From the expressions on Vespera, Guinivere, and Aurelion's faces, they didn't expect this response either .

Neo has brought silence to the table once more .

Realizing that his father was no longer lecturing him, his brow furrowed in confusion . He raised his head, only to meet the astonished look on the man's expression .

Um . . .

"Father . . . ?"

And then it seems his father realized that he had become unsettled and gathered his bearings once more .

He coughs . "As I was saying, do make sure that your studies are taken care of immediately . If I don't see any improvement soon, there will be consequences . " Gareth warns with a hard glare .

Again, Neo complies with a nod .

Satisfied, Gareth doesn't look at him anymore, signaling for everyone else to return to what they were doing .

"Oh, yes, and Nazareth . " He says to him again, as if he had forgotten . "Those 'companions' of yours," Gareth sneers, "seems to be one of the primary reasons as to why your grade is falling . Do see to it that you rid yourself of them immediately . "

And finally, their conversation stops there .

For a moment, Neo was confused . He had friends?

Oh, wait .

Now that he thought about it, there was that group of people he used to hang out with at this time . They were the sons of shady n.o.ble families who he had taken advantage of . Using his connections with them, he had sent people after Aurelion constantly .

G.o.d, he was an a.s.shole .

His father had warned him last time when he had found out about his companions as well, but he didn't care .

This time around, he will listen .

Gareth observed his oldest son from the corner of his eye .

Nazareth had appeared to breakfast with his hair cut to his ears and a docile manner to match .

He never paid much attention to this illegitimate child, but it didn't make him oblivious to the schemes of his resentful son . He even knows of the one-sided rivalry between his oldest and his heir and has never done anything to stop it .

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Remove Ads?It is amazing how no one ever wonders as to why the Odum has never had more than a son and a daughter . The mistake of his youth brought about consequences in the form of that b.a.s.t.a.r.d son, and even now, it is his greatest regret .

The chatter ultimately died down, trapping the entire family in a stifling silence .

Aurelion stood from his chair .

"I will be leaving first . "

Gareth nodded, giving permission for his son to be dismissed .

Then, Guinivere also stood up . She walks over to Gareth and gives him a kiss on the cheek .

"I need to go as well, father . Anna and Mary have invited me for tea . "

"Yes . Have fun . "

And she was also dismissed .

The dining table now only has Neo, Gareth, and Vespera left .

It was still very awkward, so Neo finished his coffee and nodded to father .

"Have a good day . " He tells the two adults quietly and stands up to leave .

"Wait . " Gareth stops him .

Neo pauses . "Yes, father?"

Gareth inspected this child with a contemplating look . There was a war in his head as if he wasn't sure why he stopped him . The strangeness of Nazareth gave him mixed feelings .

With these swirling thoughts in his head, Gareth finally said, "Nevermind . " Prompting that he had given up comprehending the situation . With great effort, he forced out three words, "Enjoy your day . "

Neo stares at this man with renewed recognition . And then he gives a very small and subtle smile .

"I will . Come, Rainier . "

"Yes, Young Master Nazareth . "

The servant and master pair leaves .

Alone at the dining table with his wife, Gareth orders the servants to clear up the plates .

"Gareth . "

Vespera suddenly speaks, sending shivers down everyone's spine . Her voice, chillier than his own and unexciting as ever, spoke for the first time that day .

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Vespera never makes it a habit to speak much, but when she does make the effort, it reaffirms the reason as to why Gareth had wanted to marry her in the first place .

"Good try, but I've seen better attempts . "

Her monotonous voice showed that she wasn't very impressed .

And then she went back to drinking her earl grey tea, an amused smile suddenly appearing ever so slightly on her face .

Gareth doesn't ask her why this is . She has met her daily quota of words today .

Resignedly, he stares at the door .

Neo and Rainier made their way towards the foyer .

"Young Master, would you like me to prepare us a carriage . "

"En . "

A carriage with the Odum emblem arrived in front of the entrance .

The drive stepped off and courteously bowed .

"Where would the Young Master like to go today?"

"St . Achillas Cemetery . "

Alyoise Webbers lived and died as a commoner . She was only twenty when she had Nazareth and tried her d.a.m.n hardest to raise her son as best as she could . In the red-light district, she was the most well-known prost.i.tute and it took quite a large fee to even have her serve tea . When she died of illness at the age of twenty-seven, Nazareth was devastated . It was her death that started him on the path of madness . Gareth had come after she died and arranged her funeral and burial . Placing her in the best cemetery in town--for commoners, of course--was already a big favor . If she were any other wh.o.r.e, she would have been cremated and forgotten, her ashes scattered somewhere to become fertilizer .

Neo boarded the carriage and sat down . Rainier took a seat at the front with the carriage driver .

"Let's go . "

The drive to the cemetery was quiet . Neo observed the scenic outside the carriage with a newfound interest .

If he were to compare that modern world to this one, he would say that this world is far less advanced, technologically and socially . For one, the internet doesn't exist and medical science is still seen as the devil's work by the Church .

The social cla.s.ses are also more prominent and instilled into the people, while the government is still a monarchy with power . The n.o.bility cla.s.s is above everyone, the commoner work, and the people of the slums do whatever they can to survive . This is the age where humans teeter between being civilized and wild .

Gas-powered vehicles also don't exist and a majority of things he has taken for granted in that modern society would now take time and patience since everything is man-powered .

Neo sighs a little as thinks of this . He really misses his cellular device .

"Young Master . "

Rainier called out to him from the front of the carriage, drawing him from his reverie .

"Yes?"

"We are arriving in the town soon . Is there anything you might need before we arrive at our destination?"

Neo thought for a moment .

"En . Stop by a flower shop first . I want to buy a bouquet . "

After some time, the carriage enters the town . It did draw a lot of attention from the common people due to the Odum emblem, the party in question ignored the stares easily .

Soon enough, the carriage arrived in front of the first flower shop the carriage driver could spot .

Rainier stepped off first and went to help Neo out of the carriage . The fact that he did this with ease despite the blindfold on his face was very impressive .

After being helped from the carriage, Neo found himself standing in front of a fairytale-like building . Flowers decorated the little shop and displays of arrangements covered the storefront with colorful bouquets . A sign was placed at the front of the shop, with the word 'Graham Florist . '

Hmm, the name sounded somewhat familiar, although Neo wasn't sure why this is .

He opened the door and stepped into the shop .

"Welcome to Graham Florist . How may I help you?"

A gentle voice rung through the store .

Neo paused . Behind him, Rainier also stopped . The two of them looked around .

"Over here . "

Their eyes turned toward the source of the voice .

A giant arrangement of gardenias came within their line of sight .

A plant spirit, perhaps?

But then, the arrangement lowered and finally, they could see the person behind it .

Neo was somewhat shaken . It is hard to forget the face of this person . He had tormented him for an entire year .

Soft brown hair messily tied into a small ponytail and placid grey eyes . His smile, small and subtle, but charming at the same time . He is slightly taller than Neo, but only by an inch or two, and definitely a year younger than him .

He is Sutton Graham, the commoner boy who Nazareth kidnapped and nearly murdered .

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