2. Sobs

Tristan's rage-filled exclamation resounded within the mansion's courts. Those sound waves bounced back and forth; disrupting the peace of the few birds that found rest on the mansion's stone walls.

The event slightly startled the butler who furrowed his brows, straightened his back, and cleared his throat.

"Before you begin fuming, young master. The marriage talks are not for you," Sestien revealed, his tone blank, and so were his grey eyes.

Being a person that had worked with the town's lord for many years Sestien had naturally been privy to certain Info's.

Lord Ior had never considered Tristan ready or suited for the intricacies of marriage. His ways were too harsh and his pride too evident. He would require time for deep growth to set in.

Stunned, it was Tristan's time to furrow his brows.

"Then who's is it?" He asked, blinking a few times. More out of embarrassment than not.

Realization dawned on him, but he allowed the well-read butler to speak.

"It's for young lady, Lucia," Sestien announced, partially glad that the angry man had stopped his march.

Even if he came to similar conclusions, Tristan's eyebrows flickered. The news disturbed him.

Not because he felt bad, but because the only person who had paid close attention to him would be leaving.

Town Lord Ior had been a man of great virtue and good morals. After his wife died, he stayed true to himself and remained unmarried, simply focusing on the one child the lady had bore for him.

Lucia. A fair maiden she truly was. Being the same age as Tristan, they had long since grown close.

She remained the only person who knew him for who he was, and he in turn knew her for who she was.

That news brought forth a certain moodiness. Knowing Lucia, he knew although she hated the thought of an arranged marriage, she would agree to it just to please her father.

Tristan having fallen silent, began his walk towards the mansion. Suddenly he wished the marriage talks had been for him.

He cared for her more than he did any other person. She had grown to be his best friend. The one who could pierce all his anger and pride to reach him.

"I understand," Tristan responded at some point, leaving the stunned butler at the entrance of the villa.

"I cannot say it's unexpected," Tristan spoke aloud to himself laying inside a stone tub filled with foamy water.

The fragrance of the soap utilized permeated the well-lit silver room. And the only thing it featured apart from the tub was a wall hanger featuring a towel.

"She spoke about them at times. I've never paid real attention or importance. I thought we had a bit more time," his words were deep with emotions and his tone radiated the state of his mood.

A jumble of emotions filled Tristan's normally chaotic mind. This on the other hand was too much. And too personal.

The only way out was to submerge himself in his intense training. But he knew that wasn't the right time. He would need to be by her side.

Heaving a deep sigh, Tristan's held the tip of the tub to lift himself from its insides.

The sound of water rushing down from his body resounded in that enclosed bathroom, and Tristan's physical state was revealed.

Hidden from the eyes of many was a toned body. One that had gone through countless rounds of training and had achieved a state that could be considered the peak for a man his age.

A giant of a young man he truly was, having the physique of a man worthy of his own sculpture. For a still-growing man, Tristan set the bar for radiant masculinity. The numerous scars that he bore further raised that bar.

Stepping out of the tub, he took hold of the cream towel recently brought in from a city in the west. One of the perks of living within the walls of the town's lord was obviously luxury.

Wiping his body clean, he hung the towel. It would be taken and washed by the maids.

Pulling the curtains into that tub room aside, a showerhead unfolded in his eyes, and he didn't hesitate to go for a round of rinsing.

Hung on the wall was another towel and he dried himself with it before stepping out of the bathroom.

A nice-looking room appeared in his gaze at that point.

Silver walls, one big window with yellow curtains. A king-sized bed with black sheets and a deep-blue rug ran across the expanse of the room.

With his towel tied around his waist, he spread open the curtains to allow proper sunlight and ventilation.

The beauty of that room became even more evident and the luxury he enjoyed spoke well of the good state of the town lord's pocket.

A two-piece attire lay on the bed and a pair of black shoes on the floor.

Donning it in no time, he brushed his long hair a bit before rushing out of the room.

His attire had been a white; slightly oversized long-sleeved shirt featuring a green collar with random black patterns, and a pair of black trousers.

Across his chest was the leather material that held his sword's sheath, which had his sword in.

Tristan never went anywhere without his sword. The many attacks he had experienced on journeys had drilled that into his mind. Anything could happen and he wanted to be prepared.

His destination being a certain room within the mansion, Tristan traversed the windowed corridor in silence, whilst Ignoring the fervent gestures of respect the working female servants showed him.

His mere presence seemed to fill the whole place with an air of dominance and power.

The view of the mansions courts below remained stunning, the small lush garden, the flowing fountain, the cobblestone path, and even two statues of winged women. All added to the overall beauty of the mansion.

Lifting his gaze off that genuinely pleasant view, Tristan stopped before one of the many silver doors on that corridor.

Placing his ear on its wooden surface he listened for any movement or sound. He caught sounds of muffled sobs and his heart sunk into his gut.

Stepping back, he contemplated on whether or not he should knock.

The door opened at some point anyway, and the features of a gorgeous young lady unfolded in his black eyes.

"Lucia--" Tristan tried to speak but was cut short by her gesture of placing her finger on her lips. She grabbed his arm and pulled him into her room. Shutting the door in quick succession to that event.

Whatever transpired between them remained unknown to the rest of the world.