10 Choices and Promises

They have already finished digging up the surrounding of the tree, the place that was so special to Alexandria, or so Miss Millington said.

Vasillis and his men stared down at the dug up space and looked for clues. He wanted to check the possibility that Alexandria buried something or kept her secrets there.

But other than dirt, there was none.

He turned around and walked slightly far from his men and put his hands on his head. It was frustrating for him, not only for him but especially for the people helping him.

They went everywhere, searched everywhere, even places that Alexandria goes to that Vasillis knows but failed to get anything.

Not even in this 'valuable place' that the lady from Millington mentioned. 'Did Miss Millington lie to me?' he thought, it would confirm his suspicion of her if she did.

Vasillis let out a sigh, 'She did tell me that it was valuable to Alexandria but it did not mean I would find anything here.'

It was his choice to go despite having no high chances. At least he was now sure that there was nothing in this place, he just tried. Trying is better than not.

"Pack up, we will leave." Vasilis ordered.

'We did not find anything here, Alexandria did not carve or bury something that would help us know what she was going through,' he thought, then he suddenly turned to look back at the dug-up area near the tree, "Unless..."

"It has not even been long since you people dug it up, now you're digging again?"

Unless someone got here before he did.

Vasillis turned around in a slow manner when he heard the voice of an old lady. She was holding two basket bags full of fruits and vegetables and her expression looked as if she was annoyed to see them at the tree.

"Again..?" Vasillis muttered under his breath. He approached the woman and bowed, "Excuse me, Ma'am. Could you perhaps clarify what you meant by digging again?" he asked. He already has an idea but he wanted to hear it from the woman's mouth.

"Are you not with the man who came here last week?" she asked with furrowed brows, then she relaxed and let out a scoff, "I guess not, since you are digging again without knowledge of it being dug up already."

His guess was right, someone really did come here before him. 'But how could that person know about this place? Was he somewhat related to Alexandria? Or was he just ordered to do it?' Vasillis thought.

"Ma'am, if it is all right, I would like to inquire more about this." Vasillis said.

The old lady stared at him, she could sense that it was trouble, and being involved in such troubles is one of the things she dislikes the most. She looked away and faced the direction in front of her, "I have to head home, I have no time to answer your questions." She responded and continued walking.

Vasillis followed her closely from behind, "I just need to know more about the person who came last week, Ma'am."

The old lady continued walking, "Someone came before you and dug it up as well. I have said all that I could say, nothing more."

"Please, Ma'am. I just need some details."

"I do not car-"

"I am searching for a dear friend of mine, I promised that I will not stop until I find her. Even if I die, I will search for her in the afterlife." Vasillis said, cutting the old lady off.

The old lady stopped and stared at him. She could see the determination in the gaze of the man in front of him. Such dear friendship, something that she has not seen for so long in her age. She let out a sigh and turned her back, "...Come, young one. I will answer you there."

Vasillis felt relieved that the lady finally agreed to tell him. He followed the old lady all the way to her house, it was not too far from the tree so it was quick. The place in the middle of Arcturus and Capella does not have too many houses. Not too many buildings like it were in Arcturus and not as lively and full of people as there are in Geminga.

It was mostly just fields, farms, and trees. A few small houses and that was all there were. He stepped inside the old lady's house and the lady immediately prepared him tea. "Thank you, Ma'am." Vasillis said.

The old lady just nodded as a response and sat in front of him. "Before we begin, a small introduction is not so hard. I am Elois Ingram."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Ingram."

"You can keep the Ma'am."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Elois Ingram looked outside the window and stared at the tree that the men were so obsessed with searching in. "Ask away, young man."

"Do you perhaps know who the person was? The person you saw digging up the area before me?"

"I do."

"Can you describe the person, Ma'am?"

Elois Ingram knew who the person was as she always saw him back then. Although he did not know his name or explain what he looked like, all she could say was that he was a butler. "He was clad in all black, but I recognized him," she said.

"That person is the man who was always with the lady who used to come here often. He was in a fashion fit for a butler, maybe he was, since the lady looked like a noble in her fancy carriage."

Vasillis froze, Miss Millington was indeed right when he said it was a special place. But the words of the old lady made his blood boil upon the mention of a butler. "The lady you are talking about…"

"...Yes. It might be the friend you are searching for."

Vasillis was put to a daze, "Butler…" he muttered.

The butler, as loyal as he was, it could not be. Why would he go there and dig something..?

The butler who came before him…

Bastien Cross.

~~~~~~~~~~

Before the chaos,

"Are you willing to step down as the Head Butler and serve me, or keep your 'temporary' power as you serve them?"

A smile formed on the butler's face again, he was amused despite having to choose from the two options that would bring him down."Which one do you think I will choose, My Lady?" he asked, unable to hold back his smirk.

Alexandria looked at him, "I am asking you because I want to know." she responded.

"You know me so well, My Lady. That is why you trapped me in these choices of yours," he said. "So I bet you would know which one I would choose."

"You know exactly how my mind works yet I cannot do the same to you. Your sickne--your condition makes you so hard to read. How unfair, My Lady."

Alexandria did not avert her eyes and just stared at him, "You would choose what would help you most in the future, than to keep something that you would easily lose." she answered, referring to power.

"As of the moment, you do not care at all about your downfall. You just care about what will keep you amused. The things that will happen after you make a choice are what entertains you most."

Bastien Cross grinned. Terrific, how terrific it was! No one amuses him as much as the lady does. He looks forward to what chaos the lady would cause to the family, up until now he was waiting for it.

He would gladly lose his temporary power to be entertained, and be with the lady until she rises to the top of her game. He laughed, "You know me well, My Lady."

Bastien Cross knelt down on one knee and held the hand of Lady Alexandria Midford, pressing his lips onto the back of the lady's hand. "I would definitely choose you, My Lady."

"I promise, in the name of Goddess Asteria, I will follow your every wish. I will serve you as you rise to the top and even if you fall to the very bottom," he said.

"I will be loyal to you until the end."

Until the mask on your face fades. Until the throne that you sit on crumbles.

Until you lie down and rest, six feet under the ground.