The Return Home (I)

Despite the length of the journey back to Louvaros everyone was in good spirits particularly after the last banquet. Their arrival was eagerly awaited in Yuva especially for the ones with the promotions. Naturally, it had to be celebrated in their own way.

Before any celebrations took place, they needed a few more days to work out the new hierarchy as the general had already thought about it while they were in the imperial capital. It was only after all that administration that everyone finally had a chance to rest.

Hearing that the young master was coming home, Nanny Mei wanted to have all his favourite foods prepared after he settled in. As a woman whose child had grown up and no other smaller children to look after, she had all the time in the world to fuss about such things.

"Nanny, this time I came back with some good stuff," said Sorin as he handed his travelling coat to Altair.

The servants were busy packing away the few boxes he had brought with him.

"Always just spending for no reason. Oh, why do I feel as if the young Master is in very good spirits?"

"Doesn't he look like a pregnant woman with a special glow? It's been blinding my eyes the entire way back," commented Altair with a chuckle.

Sorin wanted to punch him, but the other had made sure that he stood far away enough to avoid being punched, kicked, or held in a headlock. He knew his young master well by now.

Nanny could only laugh at the silliness of the two grown men who still acted like little boys.

"Ignore him, Nanny. No one ever knows what he's talking about."

"Tsk, tsk, people are like this once they've had their stone-cold hearts moved," playfully said Altair before he ran away.

Nanny now turned towards Sorin in surprise. By having his heart moved, did Altair perhaps mean...

"You've met someone?"

"I met many people, nothing as ambiguous as he puts it," insisted Sorin.

He said that but Nanny Mei could clearly see a certain change in him. She would just have to wait to hear what this was all about. There were currently other things to deal with.

"Come, you're expected at the main house, they're having a lunch with the officials and some nobles. Her Grace requested your presence."

Sorin made a face at the mention of the duchess, but she could only pat him on the back before she left the room. Initially he was planning to have a lunch with Nanny and then later meet with a few of the other soldiers as they had insisted on a celebration.

It wasn't long before they changed and arrived at the banquet. Sorin had already seen enough of the officials to last him a lifetime and was thankful that he didn't have to do anything like attending court.

However, while he didn't necessarily want to mingle with the officials, he had to know more about the overall situation of the entire court and its officials if he was to further explore this path. He already understood the situation with the other noble families about who couldn't be trusted and who could be trusted even less.

The doorman was about to announce Sorin, but he gestured with his hand and the man understandingly nodded. Seeing as everything was already in full swing, he didn't need to have all the attention on him with an announcement of his arrival.

"Isn't this the second young Master?" suddenly said a familiar voice.

Sorin continued walking, treating it as if there had just been a passing breeze. The young man stood in place, gripping the goblet in his hand tighter.

"Second young Master, allow me to toast to your promotion. I'm sorry, maybe this one may not be worthy for a person who's been to the imperial capital after all," he said loud enough for those around to hear.

The person beside him finally gave him a bit of a tug on his clothing which he ignored. People's attention finally turned to Sorin, realising that he had arrived.

Sorin paused and then turned to the smiling young man.

"Alright, this Lord will allow it," he said while slowly stepping towards the other.

As he walked, he gestured to the server to bring over a jug of wine.

Most people were quite astonished that he had agreed. Social events were not one of the second young Master's priorities so for the past few years he had barely attended them. And those in the inner circle knew of the slight dissonance between the two families.

"Why don't you pour?" Sorin asked before the waiter could move.

The young man was slightly stunned as well since he was expecting to be ignored completely only further validating the rumours of Sorin's difficult character.

What he hadn't expected was that Sorin wouldn't care about anyone at all and even disrespect him enough to ask him to do a servant's job. He tried to steady his breath and keep himself from cursing. In front of everyone, he had initiated the toast, turning back now would damage his reputation.

His hand slightly shook as he poured into Sorin's goblet and as he was about to put the jug back onto the tray and grab his own goblet, Sorin spoke.

"No need to put it back. Sir Arno seemed quite sincere when he proposed to dedicate a toast. Now drink," calmly said Sorin with a low voice at the last two words.

The slightest hint of a smile on his face suggested that he was simply inviting someone to a pleasant walk in the garden.

"Second young Master, Master Arno, he was just a bit drunk-"

"Even servants dare interrupt this Lord now. Sir Arno, is the Roux family's sincerity?"

The attendant next to Sir Arno was instantly silenced. Although the family was quite powerful, this unreasonable young master known for not caring much for rules. Who knew what else he would ask them to do. Now that he had even mentioned their family name, it could bring disastrous results.

"Wasn't Sir Arno, dedicating a toast?"

A subtle smirk had formed on the usually aloof face, but the bottomless dark eyes and air around him gave the other young man and anyone close enough heavy chills.

The young master found it difficult to look away from Sorin's eyes and the jug in his hand suddenly weighed a ton. It was in this frozen moment that he realised that he had damned himself by provoking this, Rakshasa. 

He blinked a few times to regain his consciousness and steeled his resolve since no one else in the room dared to say anything, not even the older officials or family members of the more powerful families. If anything, he could almost see the shrewd sneers on their faces.

He looked at the jug before putting it to his lips and guzzling down the wine.

It was completely silent in a certain part of the hall except for the occasional gulping of the young man, the wine forming streams that flowed onto his clothing. Sorin indifferently watched as the jug was emptied.

When he had the last drop, Sir Arno swayed and stumbled but finally fell to floor as the attendant rushed to his side trying to help him up. He was already red eyed and unfocused until he caught sight of Sorin crouching down, frightening him into soberness for a few moments.

"Let me see you jumping around in front of this Lord again," he whispered before standing up.

All the young man on the floor could do was point at him, unable to get out any words.

"Impudent," stated Sorin almost disgusted and the servant swiftly grabbed the young master's hand before he had it chopped off.

It wasn't until Sir Arno's face turned pale and he looked as if he was about to vomit that the attendant tried to help him up again.

"Young Master are you okay?" he hurriedly asked.

"Sir Arno seems unwell, it might be better rest at home," said Sorin before walking away.

The people watching: …

Unwell, was one way to put it.