29 Chapter 21.2
Wuss…
Wuss…
Two shadows crossed the dark night sky in high speed.
No one realized that they had entered the mansion without any incident. Even though the mansion was in high security with a lot of guards and magic devices. That just meant that it's a useless things and need tobe replaced by a new ones.
[You pick the honey, I'll pick the layer.]
Whispering was a NO, so the 'shadows' used telepathy, their special skill.
*Nod*
They went to the things they picked. In a different side, and in a different room.
Actually, one should pick the 'honey' a.k.a the 'lady' and the other one should pick the 'layer' a.k.a 'informations'.
Nyiit...
The window squeaked, weird indeed, it's not even an old or heavy window. One of the shadow, with eyes glimmered like golden, shone below the moon, similar to those eyes of the wolf ready to hunt their prey, jumped over the window into the room.
Tuk...
The sound from behind made the shadow turned back with cautious. Though the shadow could not be seen, just in case there's something wrong.
A young boy with a few bluish bruises on his body and an almost bald hair, appeared before the shadow. Looked like the boy accidently kicked the chair's leg. The shadow looked indifferent, only stared at him just in case that boy was one of the young mages in the mansion, but seemed like he's not.
"H-hello...?" The boy called with a small voice, almost unheard.
The shadow blinked her eyes... so it looked like the boy could see them. The shadow thought with a cold eyes. Even though they've used an expensive magic device and use their skill to hinder their presence, this little boy could still see them. What a bunch of useless things to buy!
"E-em, Lady? What are you doing here?"
The shadow didn't answered. Just in case there were any magic device for voice recording and recognition hid in this room, the shadow didn't reply and appear like ignoring or pretending not to hear the boy's question. After all, the shadow should be invisible from the very beginning.
The shadow used an illusion magic so that others would not see even if the table or mirror flipped or thrown over. The shadow needed to find information and looked like this room is a no-go. Thinking if it was the case, the shadow used 'search', so the shadow didn't need to approach other place and could get any information they need.
"My Lady? Did the 'Blade House' send you?"
Hm? Woah, are you kidding me?
The shadow glanced at the young boy, still activating 'search'. He didn't look strong and even he didn't look well himself. Just what in the world happened to him! Looking at those bruise and scar, then the untidy cut of his hair, the shadow couldn't get any reason for a young child suffering of maltreatment would be one of the target to be assassinated.
Nah, impossible, if the boy was the crown prince or some strong noble family's heir, then that would make sense, other than that... well, kind of impossible. The shadow thought as she finished 'search' and found nothing, decided to search this room once more quickly.
By the way, Blade House was one of many high-class assassination groups. Specialized to 'finish off' anyone cleanly and of course, with high-secrecy and could only be hired over an enormous amount of money. They're popular, even among the noble lady which almost never stepped out other then to attend a fancy party or saloon. Blade House also sold information to some degree for a handsome money.
Hah! Only a fool would hire them though, and yes, there were a crazy amount of people wanted to hire them.
"Lady?" The young boy called again. Looked like he didn't mind to be ignored before.
But, hold on, how could he know that the shadow in front of him was a 'she'? The shadow's body was hardly resembled that of neither a female or a male. Was it just a pure luck that the boy guessed it right?
The shadow looked to the outside as she now was half-sitting by the window frame.
'Looks like it's finished, time to go...' She thought as she got the signal from her other half.
She's ready to jump off, but the boy held her.
"L-Lady? C-could you please tell me your name? Does not matter even if it is only an alias..." The shadow, once again turned to her back.
The shadow approached the boy, whispering closely to him as she put her right hand on his forehead. Not long after that, she jumped off after closed the window.
"What took you so long?" Her half asked as they fled in flash through the territory.
"... just a random... rabbit..."
"You're into rabbit?" Her other half asked, sounded curious.
"Better watch your front, Sis."
"Hah? Woa-" Almost. The big tree almost got hit.
"Woah..."
They stopped in a mansion, sneakily went into a room by window. They changed off their black clothes and opened their masked.
Tok... Tok... Tok...
"My Lady, may I come in?"
"... Come in." One of them said after a few moments.
"My Lady, I apologize for waking you up."
"It's okay, Linda. We're awake just a moment ago."
The young woman, Linda, bowed her head.
"Lady Arunarafa and Lady Arafania, it is time to sign the family contract."
It's kind of a weird tradition, signing a contract at around 3 AM, but well, it didn't matter. Rafa and Nia, their father and brother called them like that. As for their mother, she called them differently, but still adored them the more time's rolled.
"Okay, please pardon us with this clothes and lead the way." They went out with only night gowns and coat to keep them warm as it's still cold outside.
A contract, yes, to be exact, it's an adoption contract which would be signed by both party of the adopter and the adopted. Furthermore, the contract used blood of each party to form a legal piece sealed and witnessed by at least 3 priest and mages.
Arunarafa and Arafania, two ladies of Valencia house, who would dare to pry on them? None. If there's one, they would...
.
.
.
"Brother?"
"Yes, Rafa? What is it?"
" Could you stop patting my head?"
Dominique had patted Rafa's hair for almost half a day, he wasn't bored or tired of it. But Rafa dislike being patted because she felt like a little kid. Oops, she was one though.
"O-Onii-sama... could you please let Sister go...?" What a soft voice. A little girl standing at the doorway awkwardly.
[Note : 'Onii-sama' literally means older brother, could be changed as baba too for a childish way to call brother]
Dominique overwhelmed by the cuteness of his sisters, don't blame him for being greedy and want them only for himself.
"Nia..." Dominique called.
"Y-Yes?" Nia replied.
Nia was the hardest to get along with. She didn't trust people easily, same with Rafa though, but Rafa was an honest and cheerful type of girl, at least that's what Dominique saw. Whereas, Nia was even quieter than his late fiancee.
Not that Dominique had a slightly sadness when he heard the news of his fiancee. He just... didn't fond of the fact that his fiancee only used him before. Furthermore, Dominique found out that his fiancee's family was one of those people colluded in poisoning his late sister. His sister was someone dear to him and knowledgeable enough to feed him with rare informations.
Rather than felt pity or sad, Dominique felt relieved. He relieved that he didn't need to drag his fiancee head for those 'evil deeds'. Even if it was her family the one who did a lot of harm, she also held responsibility for being ignorance and let her in-law-to-be died.
No more words or hindered feelings, Dominique had cleaned it to the root from the time his sister died and the royal turned their back on the reality.
Sorry, but Dominique didn't pledge his loyalty to anyone who couldn't even care about others' life.
Even if the emperor was not included in these event, Dominique would not give back the honor, talent, achievement, and promises under his name. It's all over. For royalties, Valencia was a big house full of fortune, a great and strong opponent for nobles, and a good leader for their people (commoners). If the Valencia said 'NO', then it's over for them, now and forever.
"…"
Dominique blankly looked down.
"Bwother? Aw you owkay?"
Dominique and Rafa stunned for a moment, staring at Nia whose slowly got red face out of shame.
Nia got flustered by her words, shyly revised them. "I-I mean, are you okay, Brother? You look tired."
Laughed over her sister cuteness, Dominique felt a warm feeling swarming in his chest.
"I'm okay." Dominique caressed Nia's cheek with the back of his hand. "Thank you for your concern." He smiled to not worry Nia further.
Rafa also noticed that Dominique was not really okay. Rafa and Nia then shouted together, "Linda!"
A young woman came into the room, then bowed her head in respect, waiting for command.
Rafa jumped down from Dominique's lap and approached the young woman. "Linda, could you bring our snack today here?" Rafa asked, pulling the hem of Linda's brown gown.
"Yeah, Mister Chef said we would have sweet ice for snacks today." Nia added as she also pulled Linda's gown.
"Please…"
Rafa and Nia clapped their hands once and stopped the pose with a cute face, as adorable as possible.
Heart Captured!
'No, no, no. My heart, hanging there!'
"Ehem… but, My Lady, the chef is gone for grocery just now along with the head maid." Linda informed them with a furrowed eyebrows, signaling that it's a no-go for snacks this time around.
Well, it's sure too early for snacks. Plus, only a few allowed enter the kitchen to prevent anything wrong with the meal. Maids could not enter without the head maid permission and the head maid was absent along with the chef right now. Other chefs should get permission from the chef and the family head, but those two also absent currently.
Both Rafa and Nia puffed their cheeks a little, not upset. Just felt 'what a pity'. Just if they could have sweets…
Eh? That's right!
"Linda! Where's Mama?"
"Madam is currently in the garden, would you like to go there?"
"Yes!" Both of the little girls cheered, then pulled Dominique with them. "Let's go, Brother!"
If you could choose your destiny, future, were you planning to curse them when you chose them wrong? That's a question his late sister asked in the past.
Dominique smiled.
If there were something like that, Dominique must have cursed them in every second of his life. But… you may not know (yet) if that destiny you cursed upon might be the best future you ever had.
"So, you said that destiny was suck?"
"Yeah… haven't realized it?"
