The Marquess' Marks (2)

As the afternoon sun cast its gentle glow through the corridors, Secretary Cade, also the head butler, made his way purposefully toward the Marquess' study. He had to report under the Marquess' request for an update on Mikael's condition.

His thoughts drifted to questions about the Marquess' bizarre behavior. Secretary Cade had known Nicolaus for his unwillingness to make concessions to others, especially to people who had done him wrong or lied to him.

Secretary Cade's association with Nicolaus stretched back to their shared childhood when he served as Nicolaus' personal butler.

The bond between them ran deep, having a connection that began from master and servant before being companions had grown strong over the years.

Cade couldn't help but reminisce as he made his way to the Marquess' study, and his lips unconsciously curled into a smile.

Cade's father used to be the former butler, a trusted confidant who had worked closely with Nicolaus' father, a known merchant. But a tragic accident had claimed the lives of both their fathers, deeply changing their lives in ways they never could have imagined.

Back in the day, they were merely kids. Young Cade was all excited to serve Nicolaus, clueless about the antics the little devil would pull.

Nicolaus' mischievous pranks often carried a sinister side that hinted at the brutality that would become a big part of who he had been now.

One time, Nicolaus tricked Cade into going to the garden, promising to show him something super cool. He revealed a jar full of frogs he had caught with a sly smile.

Before Cade could react, Nicolaus opened the jar and let the frogs loose. Cade was left scrambling to catch the jumping frogs at the former Marchioness' garden while Nicolaus laughed like crazy.

Another memory that Cade had been stuck with was when Nicolaus had managed to convince him that there was some secret treasure hidden in the yard of the main estate.

Cade fell for it and spent the whole morning and afternoon digging senselessly, following Nicolaus' instructions.

But his reward wasn't any treasure. Nope, all that digging unveiled a box packed with dead rats. And Nicolaus thought it was just the funniest thing ever, mainly because young Cade had freaked out so much he even fainted.

Well, that was that. In the end, they turned out to be great companions, even if Cade spent their whole childhood suffering from Nicolaus' antics.

Secretary Cade stopped for a second when he reached the door to the master's study. With a hand on the knob, he remembered what he and Nicolaus had discussed.

He told him the plan had changed because of a 'problem' with the marriage. However, Nicolaus would still accept having the young lord from the Steele family. But, obviously, he would not let the Count get away.

Secretary Cade gently pushed open the door and entered the room, his steps cautious as he approached Nicolaus, who stood by the opened window, the tendrils of tobacco smoke swirling in the air.

"Marquess," Cade addressed respectfully, catching Nicolaus' attention.

Cade cleared his throat, his tone steady as he relayed the information he had received. "I have just received a report from the Marchioness' young maid, Beth," he began, choosing his words carefully.

Nicolaus' brows furrowed slightly, his curiosity piqued. "Go on," he urged, his voice a low murmur that echoed in the room.

Cade nodded and continued, "According to Beth, the Marchioness has not left his bed throughout the day. He appears to be experiencing some physical distress."

Nicolaus glanced back at him over his shoulder and replied, "Hm."

'This guy, seriously.'

Secretary Cade squeezed his eyes shut, clearly frustrated by Nicolaus' brief response. He also felt sorry for the Steele's young lord, knowing he suffered because of Nicolaus.

Cade respected the young Lord Steele a lot. He had a good personality and was the one who had consistently opposed Nicolaus and the Count's agreement. However, Cade had only found out about it by overhearing arguments behind closed doors.

With a sigh, Cade fluttered his eyelashes open. He caught Nicolaus looking back to the window, his back looking distant.

"I need you to send the family doctor we brought here to the capital. Make certain that the Marchioness receives proper medical attention," Nicolaus instructed.

He had one last puff from his tobacco before giving it a tap on the ashtray. A small cloud of ash drifted upwards as the smell of the smoke lingered in the air.

Cade nodded, showing he understood. "Absolutely, my lord. I'll see that the family doctor is summoned right away."

As he prepared to leave the room to carry out his orders, he paused momentarily, his curiosity getting better.

As he was about to leave the room to get things done, he hesitated for a moment, curiosity getting the best of him.

Cade cautiously inquired, "If you don't mind me asking, considering how delicate this situation is, I'm kinda wondering why you've gone for a bond with an alpha, especially one who's also the heir of another family. It might not be received well within the noble circle."

Nicolaus looked at his secretary with a steady gaze, his face not defensive or evasive, but rather like he was thinking about what Cade said.

A faint smile appeared on Nicolaus' lips as he replied, "Have I ever given a damn about the barks of those dogs?"

True, the thoughts of others didn't matter much to him. Nicolaus was his own person, sticking to his beliefs and going after his goals. The possible gossip about their bond would never bother him.

"It isn't something for you to concern yourself with, Cade," Nicolaus said. "Just get the old doctor. Ensure the Marchioness would be in good condition to travel back to Odelle."

"But wait a second," Cade broke in, his forehead wrinkling a bit. "Are you telling me that Lord Mikael, I mean, the Marchioness, is going to keep pretending to be Lady Mikayla? Like, cross-dressing?"

"It's a thought worth considering," Nicolaus casually replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "To be honest, I didn't even know which of the twins I was married to until last night."

Cade coughed awkwardly, a faint flush touching his cheeks. "B, By the way," he stammered, shifting the topic slightly, "word has it that the Steele family had recently dismissed most of their staff. But what's strange is that there's been no public mention of the young lady's disappearance. It's like they're keeping it under wraps."

Nicolaus nodded thoughtfully, his mind already turning the information over. "An advantage we could exploit," he mused.

Cade shifted back into his analytical mode as he delved further into their considerations. "Still… Even if the Marchioness can pull off the dresses and wigs, his voice would give away the entire charade."

A small smile quirked on Nicolaus' lips. "You think I didn't think of that?" He handed Cade a silver tray, upon which rested a letter, its address clearly directed to a specific individual.

Cade's gaze landed on the letter, recognition flickering in his eyes as he read the name. "Ah, the Middle East," he commented aloud, acknowledging the destination of the message.

He remembered that Nicolaus had a contact in the Middle East, someone who was connected to a talented alchemist known for creating bizarre potions from that region.

"Get a messenger ready," Nicolaus instructed, his tone firm.