Lady Blanche

"It seems you have something to ask me, boy."

Alec visibly hesitated but smiled up at her. "Miss, I'm looking for an auction house."

Blanche felt like cooing. She wanted to badly to pinch those cheeks. He was so precious! And he called her miss! How cute! Which family left their dear child here alone?! Why didn't he have a guardian?

There was a strange, instant connection that she felt towards him that she'd never felt for anyone else.

Blanche smiled down at the boy, badly startling the servants that were working to put everything into the carriage. They felt like they'd seen a ghost. They never saw the madam smile! Even when the young masters came back home to visit, she scowled even harder!

Seeing her with a smile made them feel like their entire worldview was being overturned. Even when she was with the master, her face was neutral. The servants moved even quicker than before, feeling like they would be struck down by a meteor that they weren't able to detect if they moved any slower and saw this sight.

Alec wasn't lying when he called her miss, though. Blanche looked like she was only in her late twenties, with how radiant and supple her skin was. If it wasn't for the hairstyle she sported, which marked her as a married woman in higher society, he wouldn't have known.

She was about to hold out a hand to the boy, but then thought better of it. After all, no matter how cute he was, there was always someone who was out gunning for her blood. She didn't get this far being trusting, after all.

"I know how to get there. It's just along this street. I'll bring you there."

Alec's smile widened slightly, and Blanche could almost see flowers blooming behind him, dazzling her. She even felt like he was so much cuter than her own children when they had been his age.

"Seems strange for a young boy like you to be wandering out here alone," Blanche probed. "You may call me Blanche." As she caught sight of the two creatures following the boy, she wondered if he wasn't so alone after all.

"Blanche," Alec tested the name on his tongue. "Big sister Blanche?" Alec wondered if he was laying it on too thick but thickened his face and said it anyway. "My name is Alec."

Blanche valiantly resisted the urge to squeeze his adorable cheeks. So cute! Alec. What a cute name for a cute boy. If only her sons were like this when they were his age, instead of being rowdy little brats.

He gave her a strange feeling…

"You can call me big sister too!" she said, getting a resulting smile that really made her want to adopt this adorable little tyke into her home.

They walked along the street, where Blanche pointed out the various shops and buildings.

"I hope your family isn't missing you, Alec," Blanche commented. "I'd hate to be the one keeping you out."

Alec shook his head, his smile dimming slightly. "Father told me I have to come out and find the two traitors, otherwise he won't give me any dinner."

"What," Blanche gritted out, her face turned away from Alec. Her expression was dark and foreboding. If she could, she would give the man a tight slap. What did he think he was doing, treating a child that way!

"That's not too good, isn't it."

"It's fine. I have Bunbun and Fenrir with me."

The cuter Alec was, the more Blanche could only think how this poor child's deadbeat father was making him go around alone to try and find some elusive traitors that might not even exist!

Blanche knew she shouldn't, but she really did feel like kidnapping the poor dear. The thought of the look on her son's faces when she brought home an uncle for them only made the idea more tempting.

Unfortunately, her musing was cut short as they arrived in front of the auction hall.

"Leave it to me," Blanche told Alec. She adopted a firm, unyielding expression on her face, a far cry from the doting expression that she'd been showing Alec.

How strange. She never expected that she, of all people, would feel so strongly, so quickly for someone that wasn't related to her.

The attendant at the auction hall got a fright when she saw Lady Blanche's thunderous expression as she walked into the auction hall with a child in tow. There was a large, white creatures that looked like a rabbit, and a purple wolf creature on top of it.

The attendant had been about to blurt out the words that the auction hall did not allow creatures into its halls but choked back the words as she remembered that this was Lady Blanche.

Though the Golden Leaves Auction Hall did not fear her, they would not offend her for no reason either.

After all, the attendant was just a small, disposable member of the auction hall. Even though Blanche wouldn't make a move against the auction hall, that did not mean that she would not make a move against her.

"Lady Blanche, welcome to the Golden Leaves Auction Hall," the attendant said calmly.

Alec admired the composure the attendant exuded. He'd caught sight of the brief startled expression in the lady's eyes when Blanche had entered the building, but she had concealed it remarkably well.

"Yes. Do yourself a favour and bring us to meet the manager." Blanche habitually used her cold and haughty tone to speak to the attendant before catching herself.

She turned and caught sight of Alec looking at her with wide eyes, making her feel embarrassed.

"Ahem," Blanche coughed lightly. "Yes, bring us there please."

The attendant struggled to hide her wide eyes, feeling like she'd heard the rumours wrong. What did she just hear come out of Lady Blanche's mouth…?! Wait, no, Lady Blanche was indeed as overbearing and wilful as the rumours said, but one look from that little boy made her change her tune so quickly.

Just who was he?!

The attendant didn't dare to stare at him for long as she turned and quickly made way to bring the both of them to a waiting room that was used to entertain the distinguished guests.

She knocked on the manager's door. "Manager, Lady Blanche is here and wants to talk to you."

Sean opened the door within a second, his eyes crazy. There were crumbs on his shirt and pants, as well as around his mouth. "Lady Blanche is here!? There was no notice of this!"

The attendant shook her head. "She did not announce her plans to come. Also…" she trailed off.

"Also, what? Continue, don't just stall!"

"Also, she brought a little boy with her!"

Sean paused, confused. "A little boy? Lady Blanche's children are already grown up, aren't they?"

"I believe so, sir."

Sean put the matter aside for now. The current presence of Lady Blanche was more important. "Bring the tea! And the biscuits!"

"Yes sir!"

Sean checked his appearance in the mirror, brushing down his clothes as he smoothened out the wrinkles, getting rid of the several crumbs that were still on the front of his shirt.

He hurriedly took the tray of tea and biscuits from the attendant and calmed himself, knocking three times on the door.

"Come in."

Sean entered the waiting room and was greeted with the sight of a boy and Lady Blanche sitting on the sofa.

The boy had dark, black hair and sparkling blue eyes. He looked no older than nine or ten, and was definitely not Blanche's son, with her green eyes and blonde hair. Who was he?

But still, this did not cause him to lose his composure, as he had already been warned beforehand.

Sean calmly placed the tray down on the table, pouring two cups out. He handed them to Lady Blanche and the unknown child, sitting back down.

"How may I help you today, Lady Blanche, young master?"