The awaited day.

She was startled when he leaned across the table and brush one dark wave of hair away from her face, his cool fingers trailing till he held her chin, delicately and gently.

With a lowered voice he said. "Lucinda. Look at me"

Despite herself she slowly trailed her gave up his larger hand, the sensuous ridge of his neck to his smoldering gaze. She saw something there, familiar, similar, it was the fierce determination that greeted her every time she looked in the mirror.

"Since the time i decided to get involved with you. I was prepared to take on anything about you. And to the best of my ability, i would treasure your Child like he was mine" for he saw something in Theodore that he so admired, something that moved him, like a silent consolation for what he could have had.

In the quiet space, all that was heard in Lucinda ears was the rapid beating of her heart, she notice as something akin to tears sting the back of her eyes. Lucinda made quick work of blinking them away, breaking the intense mirror of their gaze.

She saw his lips curve to the side, not reaching his eyes but an odd sincerity in his gaze. Words not the father of her child or anyone else has said before to her. Was it foolish that she wanted to read into it. Believe him? Was it that simple...

Before she could fully process his words, he pulled away at that moment and sat back like nothing happened; nothing except the continuous smolder in his gaze and now tipped up corner of his lips.

Before she could open her mouth to say anything in retaliation to his words, a knock on the door interrupted them. And he couldn't hear the words she had to utter to him. He found it disappointing— disheartening.

•••

"It was worth my time" Silas concluded.

Frederick seized from eyeing him from the corner of his vision and turned to his book.

"If you have gotten all you need sire. Then i think its time to leave." He suggested.

With a patient nod, Silas lifted a cane at the side and tapped the roof of the carriage signaling the coach man. A whiplash followed by the neighing of horses sounded and the carriage moved to life, the wheels slowly turning as they made their way away from the house and down the long winding path of the estate.

Silas looked back once more, his gaze drawing him to look up the house. At a familiar pane of windows. A shadow loomed there watching him leave, her gaze sharp and calculating.

Still so ever untrusting. At the corner of his eyes at another far end, he saw another shadow looming at a window. This gaze more hostile. Arms crossed and royally pissed. As it watch the carriage roll away.

A satisfied taunting smile pulled on Silas face. Oh what the days ahead bring. He was almost too impatient to wait...

Later that evening, Lucinda made a round around the mansion as usual. She came to a stop at an unlit part of the hall. A hall way leading to the back door out which is rarely used. Something pulled her to walk down the hall. Lucinda walked towards the end leading to the back door of the mansion. And beside the door, she saw a wet umbrella looking like it was recently used, and a wet patch of dirt and grass shoe prints. Her eyes narrowed. Did any of her maid visit the back yard today. But what would they need the coachman for?

***

In the few days leading to the summoning from Magnus. Words about the plans for the vermilion son and Lucinda step sis taking in her child. Spread steadily round like wild fire. Blooming from every lips a different tale and millions of assumptions. Nothing good brought forth from their lips. All comfortable in the vile words that they all become so used to in the topic of lady Lucinda.

Glistening luxurious chandeliers, vibrant candle light bouncing off the wall, pristine marbled floor filled with distinct dignified attires ranging from expensive coats to flamboyant dresses adorned with pearls, gold and other glamorous materials from around the empire and beyond. The soft rhythm of music flowed through the hall like a wisp. The party was in full swing. And the hall was filled with the hush chatter of the noble guests and the jingling giggled of the women behind their fans.

At interval there would be the announcement of each guest that stride through the double doors.

"Welcoming Lady Lucinda Cassius" The announcement was like a tidal wave sweeping through the hushed chatters of the crowd. The hall suddenly quiet down. The whistling wind of anticipation running down everyone spine.

Among the hushed uprising murmurs and sparkling flutes of wine in each socialite hands Lucinda appeared like a silent hurricane, strolling into the hall gracefully . Her head tip high, shoulders back straight and a slight prancing sway in her steps. The air of a confident woman. Lucinda vixen eyes didn't bother to scan the crowd as she continued to take hold of Theodore hand leading him through the crowd.

Theodore moved his gaze around the hall, his lips pursed. When they came to a stop at a corner he turned to Lucinda.

"Mama, why isn't my new papa here with us?".

Seeing her son curious expression. Lucinda looked for a way to answer. Her son was smart, lying to him was a stupid move and over the course of the few days before this ball she has explained the best she could to his level why they were here today. If only she knew her son was fast in catching up on the things she didn't mention. He knew his reason for being here and partly what they might be up to, but that doesn't mean he had to revel his level of understanding. It would ruin the plan of helping the infamous evil lord.

She bent to his level. Ignoring the piercing judging stares that stayed trained on her since she walked in.

"Like i said before Theodore. Lord Silas-"

"Papa" he corrected.

She swallowed thickly feeling the word constrict in her throat as she tried to force it out.

"Y-your new P-papa won't be here today and you know why?"

Theodore nodded "because I'm meeting my old papa and it isn't time for my new papa to meet the old one"

Lucinda facade of confidence cracked as she so wanted to giggle at the way her son worded it. Almost like they were something akin to a property thats old and new. She wouldn't have want Magnus to be called an old papa the man deserved no fatherly title whatsoever. But thats the only way she felt she could explain whey they were here to her six year old son. As she had failed to mention his father that abandoned him. She wished she could see into her son mind to know how he was feeling. Seeing his furrowed brow she eased it away with her fingers, thinking he was distressed about meeting the man that was suppose to be his father but abandoned him before his birth.

What she didn't know was that Theodore was quite worried about other things like; The evil lord was suppose to protect and stand up for his mama. He knew the people here didn't like his mama nor him. He was familiar with those gaze the maids, the governess that taught him and everyone else he met always had. A gaze often cast to something someone find unsightly like dirt or a torn in one's flesh.

Yet they had the heart to cast that gaze upon a child still.