2.1 - Consequences of War

Over the course of a few days, Brandon had tried his best not to meet Phillip. And quite successfully. He did not find him for the rest of that day, nor the next day, to which Phillip ordered him to accompany him.

Whenever he saw him or there was any mention of him from the servants, Brandon would quickly go another route or do something else. He didn't want to meet him and hear him try to order something that, in some ways, could be humiliating for him, like taking care of his fiancée, even if he was an employee.

Brandon had also avoided Phillip's fiancée Johannes. The woman, who occasionally appeared around the house, spent most of her day in her or Phillip's room. So the odds of them meeting weren't high and he'd been extra careful when she heard she'd left.

The redhead didn't want to see them and was using his time to think, even when he was focused on his work. The papers he had to take care of were like a depressing escape from reality, but they weren't enough when he was done so quickly. In those moments, his mind fills with thoughts and he falls into reflection, before sighing and trying to focus on something else.

His feelings were complicated. He was still sad that this had happened to him and angry that Phillip had not been considerate at all. His heart felt bitter at the thought of the two of them together, even more so when he saw them going to the carriage the day they went to the shopping street.

The two of them looked so happy that he felt even worse. It wasn't a pleasant thing.

He thought it would improve and calm down with time, but the pain still lingered in his heart. Perhaps knowing that they are both in the same room together and the employees talking about them next to him has contributed to the painful feeling that won't go away, no matter how hard he tries not to think about them.

It sucked, but what could he do? He just had to get used to it, because that was his reality now.

Fortunately, he had James to cheer him up. The boy made him forget about his problems and he had fun with him, talking about various things when they had free time. Sometimes James would even go where he was to just say hello.

The countess would also look for him for some things, like having a simple cup of tea to keep her company and asking him how he was. She didn't ask any more questions like the day she left, but kept looking every now and then, as if she was reflecting on something.

The earl continued as usual, giving him trouble. And Ferion saw him a few times, not having much contact, but they talked when the heir to the Miller house sought some opinions.

In short, his days were peaceful, but followed by the shadows of his thoughts.

*

It was dawn when Brandon opened his eyes for the first time that day. The window was closed and there was no lighting in the room, but he knew it was still dark. The darkness and silence were obvious enough clues to him.

He had gone to sleep at his usual time, so I didn't know what was wrong with him waking up at that time, as his habit of sleeping was until the next day if he wasn't disturbed by someone. His throat was dry, it could be a hint, but he just hadn't had a drink of water before bed, so it was a possibility.

Brandon went to the window, opening it and letting in some moonlight.

The room was still pitch black, but he could see something as he got even more used to his surroundings. Intense shapes in the dark were semi-distinguishable from their surroundings. Such objects were not obstacles to him when he decided to leave and go into the hallway.

The hallway lit by a few candles helped him make his way to the kitchen. Had he been without enlightenment, he would have given up and gone back to bed, forgetting he was thirsty. It would be too much trouble to walk to his destination in a passage he didn't see and didn't recognize.

Metal clangs were heard as he turned the corner and found the kitchen lights on. Brandon approached, walking with normal steps and without hesitation. The mansion was secure and the chances of a thief breaking into the kitchen were low, as they would usually go straight to the office or look for the safe. So, there was only one option left, someone in the house was awake.

However, in none of his guesses that he could carry out with his mind, did he think he would find his lord's eldest son in the kitchen, boiling something on the stove, so calm and relaxed that he even doubted his eyes for a moment.

"Ferion?"

The man a little taller than himself looked back in surprise, as it showed a little in his eyes, and then went back to the teapot. Ferion didn't think anyone would be awake at this hour to go to the kitchen, but he thought it might happen. The strange thing was that he couldn't make out the presence until she spoke.

"Are you making tea?"

"Yea."

"I didn't know you could make tea."

Brandon said, taking a glass and pouring water to drink, to wet his throat. Throughout the process, he watched how focused Ferion was, so as not to miss the moment to remove the teapot from the fire.

"I learned after I left home. A knight I knew taught me."

"Oh, that's cool."

His voice conveyed an honest opinion. It was a good thing Ferion learned something that could be of benefit, however trivial, on a battlefield.

"Want to have some with me?"

"I can?"

Brandon's eyes widened at the question addressed like that. It's not that it's not common, it's even polite to offer a seat at the table, but he didn't expect Ferion to make such a suggestion. They barely spoke normally, so it was unusual that they could have such a long conversation as long as it wasn't about business.

Not that Ferion is cold and indifferent to everyone. On the contrary, he was hot from the day he met him. However, due to the somewhat serious nature and atmosphere that surrounds it, it is difficult to start something that is more personal.

Ever since they were younger, Brandon hadn't had much courage to talk freely with Ferion, even though the eldest was never rude. So he approached Phillip who was his age and more open and sociable with himself.

It was natural, there was no other reason for this to happen.

He also thought that after the war, the other would have changed too, at least to some degree, just like Phillip. However, it appeared to have been a mistake and Ferion remained the Ferion he knew, albeit a little changed. The little contact they exchanged wasn't enough to show him that. A smile grew on his lips without Ferion responding.

"If it's not a bother, I'd love to." It was the answer that came after he himself had said something.

Brandon sat across from Ferion and waited for the other to finish pouring into the cup. Then he brought the container to his face and smelled the light aroma of the tea, indicating that it was well made. The taste was good and not bitter.

'This tea is delicious. Ferion learned to make good tea.'

Ferion's tea skills were good enough to be recognized.

"The knight who taught you must have been very good. His skills are excellent.."

"Thanks. His name was Cole and he was a knight of a lady before he went to war…" Ferion replied, in a whisper.

A grim expression crept down his face a little, along with the seriousness that was there. It lasted a second, but it was enough. It was obvious what this represented.

"I understand."

Brandon nodded, not saying another word. As he drank more, he felt the heat of the liquid warm his body. His body wasn't cold, but it felt good.

"It's chamomile tea."

"Yea."

"It's usually done for stress and calming down. Having trouble sleeping?"

Ferion looked him into her green eyes. He was reflected in the emerald jungle and looking at himself through that reflection. The man was a little embarrassed to have been caught. It wasn't something he felt comfortable saying to his family. Not even Phillip, the one who had been with you for three years on the battlefield, knew that.

"Yes… I can't sleep at night. It's gotten worse since I arrived, I can't even sleep a wink."

"That's why the tea..."

"Uhm. I do it every day."

"Wouldn't it be better to ask one of the servants to prepare it? There's no need to come and do it yourself."

"I feel better when I do it. It's nice to prepare and carry out the whole process. Also, the dawn is great with the silence and no one around."

His last speech was accompanied by a sip of tea. Smoke smoldering from the container and the smell lingered there between them.

The atmosphere in the kitchen was pleasant and the good hot tea was pleasant for both of them, providing a calm. Though silent, it was by no means uncomfortable.

Brandon didn't ask what he dreamed of. It would be impolite and tactful to ask something like that. The visions he would have seen on the battlefield, the screams of his comrades and all the blood that stained the land would be enough to have nightmares about, even more so if it involved soldiers who were his friends and colleagues.

The redhead was never in the war and didn't even try to find out what it was like. However, he could guess what Ferion went through in his dreams.

*

"I hear you called me, sir."

Brandon had opened the door to the earl's office, a place he'd frequented a lot over the years and even more so during the time his kids were away.

The characteristic book smell of the room gave him a calm every time he entered, even if it wasn't his room in the first place.

"Yes, that's right. Come in."

The earl held up his hand in a gesture for him to enter. The man with black hair and a little gray hair was sitting in his chair in a composure and an imposing atmosphere. The serious, natural expression of the face was with eyes on him and on his son who was also in the room.

The young master of the Miller house was standing in front of his father's table. With the same face he'd seen in the early hours of the morning, serious, without a hint of fatigue caused by the times that haunted him in his dreams.

Brandon walked up beside him, naturally, and got into position to take his master's order.

"I think you two have an idea why I called you here."

"Yea." Ferion just nodded while Brandon replied.

"Fine. So Brandon, I want you to help Ferion adjust back to the affairs of the territory. Keep him up to date with key matters and documents he has to see and review. And give him a brief rundown of events afterward. your exit."

Ivan handed Brandon a thick stack of papers. With one look, Brandon could find one that passed through his hand and argued a few times with the man in front of him.

"And Ferion, as I told Brandon, he will help you with your work. Three years is a long time, so there has to be something that helps you and he's the best person for that."

The heir nodded again, it was something he accepted and wouldn't be a bother either way. It was part of his services as heir.

"Any objections?"

The two denied.

"Fine. You can go." Ivan said.

Earl Miller's plan was that with Ferion returning to the estate, he would go back to his duties before he left. It's a natural thing he would do as heir since he's returned.

And Brandon was needed, because as his sidekick, he has enough knowledge about matters involving the territory as well as he does, so there would be no reason for Ferion to have a hard time getting used to it.

"Yes father."

"Ok sir."

The two bowed to Ivan. Brandon was the first to head towards the door and out. Ferion followed close behind.

"Ferion, where do you want me to deliver the documents?"

Brandon asks him as soon as they leave the room.

The room was in the center of the hallway and had a path on both sides. The corridor was luxurious and with some paintings that expressed that they were worth gold coins.

They were so familiar to both of them that they were no longer surprised by the famous painting that was in front of them every time they opened the door.

"In my room."

Ferion had no office. The only one in the manor was the earl's, but that was because of Ferion's departure. The old space he used as an office was still there, but it hadn't received any cleaning orders.

So the place was full of dust and under the furniture on the white sheets. So, there was no way to use that space, for now.

"Fine. I'll be back soon."

Brandon spoke and moved to his room, Ferion's gaze fixed on him.

A short time later, the documents the earl had given him were on top of Ferion's desk, along with some log books and other papers that were used in Brandon's work.

Ferion's gaze was on that. He didn't think it was little. In fact, he thought there would be a lot of work, but what he was seeing was a little less than he thought it would be.

"That's it?" Ferion asked. Brandon smiled at the question.

"Yes, for today. This one for the most important documents of the three years." Brandon pointed to another stack of papers.

"This one is for analysis, this one for review, and the last one is the documents the earl turned over." He explained to Ferion, indicating which was which.

Then the two got to work. Ferion had a lot of documents to look at and Brandon had to assist him in case he didn't understand something, like an aide, but he also still had some papers that he would have to take care of for the earl...

The conversation came and went about managing the territory. Agricultural, transport, health and other issues came and went in a rebound with each new role they took on to update Ferion on the goings.

"So we just need to specify the day, increase the budget to its starting value, and come up with a plan that doesn't confuse the other shifts. I think we can leave the last one to them. Managing the soldiers is a job for the barracks, after all."

"You are good."

Ferion said when they had finished talking about the security of the territory. The books and documents all tidied up while Brandon jotted something down on a piece of paper.

The redhead was a little embarrassed by the sudden compliment, but he cracked a smile.

"Thank you, Ferion."

"When did you start working with my father?" It was a genuine question.

Before he and Phillip left, Brandon worked almost like a butler or servant. It wasn't specified what he was supposed to work on, so it could be said that he did a little bit of everything, but he didn't engage in heavy work and was centered only on the mansion.

So, he was a little curious as to how the redhead got to play an aide role.

"Oh, you know what. Well. I think it was a few weeks after his departure. The earl was spending more time in the office because of the extra work he was responsible for. Nothing he couldn't handle once he got used to it. but he was not quite as young as he assumed the title. So the countess suggested that he make me his helper and that part of his work come to me. I accepted, of course."

"Since then you work as a helper?"

"Uh, yes. But I also act as the lady's escort sometimes and take care of James as well. It's not all the time, so I can handle whatever the earl leaves in my hands." Brandon explained. The story was simple and there was nothing complicated.

"I see. And who taught you about management? This is as good as me doing it, which I learned from childhood."

"The Count taught me what it took to work. He would always review and point out my mistakes."