Chapter 6

Thankfully our training was cancelled for today because father wanted to bring us somewhere, he didn't tell us where. I really can't refuse him so I'm going with them.

Inside the carriage the two of them are talking to each other and laughing. Claudius looks like a kind son infront of our father but I don't really care about them two so I just looked outside the window.

"Keep it up my son! Someday you will inherit everything I have!" My father said and I could feel that he's reay proud of this son of his.

Claudius smiled "Thank you father and I won't let you down" Let him down my ass, you will literally kill him in the future.

I could feel Claudius' eyes looking at me boastingly but to his disappointment I only yawned and kept on looking outside. I must say the view outside looks very beautiful, different from where I live in my past life which is full of tall buildings and structures.

After a while Claudius asked our father "Where are we heading to father?" I also looked at our father in curiosity. Father grinned as if planning something "We'll find you a fiance".

Fiance huh...I guess he wanted Claudius to have a fiance with strong connections and family background that could help him and our family in the future. It feels like a CEO marrying they're child into a child of CEO from another company.

"Fiance? From what family father?" I think Claudius get what father is planning to do.

Father stroked his beard "I'm still thinking about it but I have few candidates" I looked at father who keeps on stroking his beard and I noticed for some reason that his beard is a lot thicker compared to his hair on his head...

Claudius smiled "Can you tell me which family are they from father?"

Father have a big grin on his face that suits a villain from many shows that I've watched before "I'm thinking of the one from Chrysalis, Driscoll or the Stallard family". When Claudius heard the word 'Stallard', his eyes lit up and I could feel that he's getting excited.

From what father said, those three families have strong background. The Chrysalis family is a family headed by a Marquess. The Driscoll family is a family of knights for generations. Lastly, The Stallard family, The Stallard family is a family of merchants and one of the wealthiest family in this kingdom. Our family Ashford neither have titles like a Marquess nor a family of knights but our family's a noble and also a merchant and one of the wealthiest like the Stallard family.

"Oliver" I looked up to my father who just called my name "Yes father?". He stroked his beard and looked outside the window lazily "Although I doubt that a family will took interest in you, you should try your best to get picked".

I know that our father's mocking me but I don't really mind and in my opinion it's much better if I wouldn't be picked by anyone. "Okay father, I'll do my best" my father sneered while Claudius looked as if making fun of me, I ignored him and continued to look outside the window.

We arrived on a huge estate and in my guess, it is a bit bigger compared on our own estate. Inside, there are about 8 men talking on a long table as if having a meeting.

"Ohh Arthur it's been a while!" The bald man with a huge belly greeted father with a laugh. "It's been a while indeed" father replied with a smile, they seem so close but actually it's also like they're relationship is just for show.

"Are those your sons?" Another man with mustache asked while looking at me and Claudius. "Yes, these are my sons Claudius and Oliver". Claudius and I bowed in sync as a greeting and to pay respect.

"Such good kids BAHAHAHA" The guy with big belly laughed with entertainment.

The guy with blonde hair who looks kinda handsome despite being around the same age with my father smiled at us, he also had eyebags below his eyes but it didn't affect his looks that much "Why don't the kids join the other kids for now? They're at the garden".

Father nodded in agreement and a butler guided us towards the garden. The garden looks so wide and big. The flowers looks well taken good care "This garden looks amazing. I liked how the flowers are organized and looks neat" I said as I couldn't help but compliment the view that I'm seeing.

The butler smiled "Our young lady likes flowers very much so the Marquess hired talented gardeners and architect to design this place".

"I see" I smiled as I kept looking around and surprisingly, Claudius is so well behaved by my side that neither was he fake smiling nor looking at me with usual annoyance.

We just remained silent as we reached the pavilion and met kids around our age sitting and there's a table with variety sweets and teapots with teacups. there are six girls while there are three boys sitting at the table.

I noticed Meredith sitting quietly while drinking her tea and our gazes met. I smiled at her and was about to wave when Claudius suddenly waved at Meredith with a smile on his face "Greetings lady Meredith and the other ladies" he bowed with his palm on his chest.

I smiled and looked at everyone "Good day everyone" I placed a palm on my chest just like Claudius and bowed with a slight smile on my face.

"Good day to you also sir Oliver and sir Claudius" The girl with blonde hair and pink eyes looked at us with a smile "I'm Aeryn Chrysalis".

It looks like it's the daughter of the duke? In the novel Aeryn also became part of Claudius' harem because she fell in love with him in the academy. Aeryn's like the yandere type girl but not to the point that she'll kill other girls from Claudius' harem. She loves him so much that she forced herself to accept everything.

All of them greeted us back except for Meredith who just nodded. It seems like the kids around her were used with her behaviour.

"I heard you guys also study swordsmanship?" The girl with black hair and golden eyes asked us, if i remembered correctly she's Alexandria Driscoll and she's with her brother Alejandro Driscoll, they're also twins like us but they kinda looked like each other because they have the same color and eyes but they still have difference like face shape. Alexandria is on the cuter side because of her small and soft looking face while Alejandro is on the handsomey cute looking side.

"Yes we are" Claudius' the one who answered Alexandria's question with a bright smile on his face. "Why don't we have a match some time?" Alexandria asked.

"It'd be an honor to fight you lady Alexandria" Claudius looked at me when I said that then he shook his head sighing. "I apologize lady Alexandria but I don't fight girls" Trying to be a gentleman? I wanted to sneer.

Alexandria frowned when he heard Claudius and not just Alexandria but Alejandro also seems to frown slightly "What do you mean by that sir Claudius? Just because I'm a girl do you think I'm weak?" Alexandria's voice might sound calm but I know that she's quite mad about being looked down upon.

Claudius took a sip from his tea and shook his head with a smile "Of course not lady Alexandria, please don't think too much".

Claudius is such a hypocrite. I know that he looks down on Alexandria's abilities and Alexandria herself but I couldn't do anything but stay quiet.

Alexandria clenched her fist then calmed down and gave Claudius a fake smile "Is that so?" Claudius nodded.

Alejandro made a coughing sound as if clearing his throat "Why don't have we have a match sir Claudius? You seems like a strong opponent. I think we can also have a match right now" Alejandro chuckled softly, there are no hostility in Alejandro's voice but I know he wanted to fight Claudius to avenge his sister.

Even though Claudius is the main character in the novel, his current strength wasn't enough to defeat Alejandro who receives a lot harder training even at such a young age compared to him who recently just started last year.

"Maybe you two could fight next time sir Alejandro. Yesterday, brother and I played tag and we both accidentally tripped and hurt ourselves" I pointed at the wound I recieved from Claudius near my lips yesterday "See?" Alejandro looked at me and Claudius then sighed "Too bad then".

Claudius who's sitting by my side stepped on my foot under the table. I could've avoided his feet but I didn't and it didn't hurt anyway.

After drinking tea and talking for a while, Aeryn suggested that we should all go and walk around the garden. Everyone agreed so they all started going on their own while Claudius who was about to approach Meredith was stopped by three girls to talk to him. Claudius, who's a 'gentleman' and 'nice' person talked to the girls with a smile on his face.

I ignored Claudius and shrugged. Being handsome is really hard sometimes huh? I walked around to look at the flowers and my eyes fell upon the red roses that reminded me of my mother's hair and the roses in our garden.

"How can such a beautiful flower be so thorny?" I sighed as I gently touched the petals of the rose for a bit.

Then suddenly a voice sounded behind me "Roses are just like humans, They might look kind and gentle on the outside and other people's eyes but deep inside they have dark secrets and their true nature that they're hiding" Aeryn chuckled while looking at the red roses then turned to look at me.

What she said doesn't sound like a seven years old would say...I was quite shocked when I heard her. With a smile on my face, I stood up "You're right lady Aeryn. I think that all goes with everyone right?" I said with a slight smirk on my face.

Aeryn made a thinking gesture while looking up "hmmm you might be right but who knows?" she smiled with her eyes closed. To be completely honest her aura doesn't seem like a young kid.

"How about you sir Oliver?" her closed eyes slowly opened while keeping her smile and slowly said "Do you also have a secret?"

I felt a little bit nervous by her question, it's as if she knows something but I just chuckled it off "You're quite entertaining to talk to lady Aeryn but to answer your question..." I made a thinking gesture while looking at her "Hmm...Who knows?" Aeryn laughed when he heard my answer that I copied from her.

"It's fun talking to you sir Oliver but I must go for now" She gave me a smile before leaving and nodded, I nodded back.

When Aeryn left, I started to walk for a bit. In this garden where the red roses are located was like a maze and the height of it was like two men standing up on each other. I reached the other side of the wall from where Aeryn and I talked then there I saw Meredith staring at the roses.

"You looked good just like last time we met, lady Meredith" I smiled softly as I approached Meredith who just turned her head to me. Her eyes looks cold and lazy as usual but she nodded "Thank you".

I looked at the roses where Meredith was staring earlier "Do you also like roses lady Meredith?" I'm not sure what to say or ask so I just asked whatever comes to my mind at the moment.

"Yes" she paused "Roses reminds me of something...And I personally think that the thorns made it more beautiful..." Meredith looked at me with her lazy cold looking eyes, I'm taller than her so I was looking down at her beautiful cute face. "It depends on each person if what would they think about one's imperfections. In my eyes nothing is really perfect, everything has imperfections but don't you think that imperfection is trully what makes things perfect?"

I was stupefied listening to Meredith and I think what she said was right. I couldn't reply for a while but I shook my head and smiled "You're right lady Meredith" For some reason, being with her kinda makes me comfortable. The feeling that I'm feeling with my mother, the feeling is similar to that when I'm with Meredith despite meeting each other only twice.

"You have such a great wisdom lady Meredith" Meredith blinked twice then nodded, she didn't respond anymore. We spent our time together walking our way towards the exit of the maze.

"Your wound" I blinked twice and looked at Meredith on my side "Hm?". Meredith looked at me with the same lazy cold eyes but with seriousness that I could notice "You didn't receive it from tripping down right?.."

Well I guess Meredith's really wasn't a fool. I laughed for a bit "What do you mean lady Meredith? I really jus-" before I could continue my words, a cold fingertip touched the wound near my lips.

Meredith was looking at my wound while touching it for a bit then raises her eyes to meet mine "You, don't try to trick me".

I smiled apologetically and laughed for a bit "Sorry about that mhm...Well let's just say I got this from somewhere else?"

Meredith nodded and started to walk while I stand still from my position. I touched my chest with my palm, just now I felt nervous when Meredith touched me. I shook my head and followed Meredith back towards the Pavilion.

There are also others there sitting so I also sat down. After an hour or so they all came back and sit back down on the chair where they're sitting earlier.

Today is such a long day and it seems like father and the others just finished their meeting so it was already time for us to go back home. When we reached our estated I immediately went to my mother and told her stories about the beautiful garden earlier.

If I could change the future, I wanted to save mom with me...Also Meredith and the others that became his victims. I must stop him without destroying the order of this world.

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I apologize for not posting anything yesterday so as an apology, I wrote you guys a long chapter. This chapter might have some errors such as grammatical errors but please feel free to comment it so I could fix it.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for reading!