Warnings of the Red Book

Lord William and his son, Lancelot, after staying for more hours in the law prepared to leave and Seraphina was asked to escort them to their carriage.

Lord William walked in the front with an annoyed face making Seraphina wonder what he and Mr. Hansbrouck Geoffrey discussed to have his happy smiling face now sour.

Speaking of Mr. Hansbrouck Geoffrey, she couldn't still believe he was the illegitimate child of the fifth generation of Hansbrouck's family.

But who was the real son? She was yet to find out.

Lancelot walked a little behind his father and Seraphina was next in line.

Seraphina tried to create a good space between them but every time she felt Lancelot knowingly slow his steps so they could walk in the same line and she knew he was doing it to annoy her.

What she didn't understand was how he moved with ease with little to no movement, as if his steps were floating on the ground.

Seraphina turned to the side to look at him as they walked in the corridors of the building going to the first floor. He was tall but at least she passed his shoulders as she wasn't considered short for a woman. He was lean in figure but his shoulders looked strong giving him a more manly look.

Seraphina's eyes moved from his shoulders to his face which was hidden behind his silver mask. His long silver hair that cascaded down his shoulders looked silky and it had a peculiar shine that somehow added to the mystery of the man.

She wondered why he wore the mask that made him look more mysterious and dangerous than his aura exuded.

She always knew that behind the facade of being jovial where he always tried to amuse himself by annoying her lay a dangerous man. It was as if something dangerous lurked behind his eyes and the way he looked at her sometimes left an unsettling feeling in her. And being the black-door guest added to her suspicions of him.

Her eyes went to the skin on his neck and his hands that were not covered by his clothes. He was fair, fairer than most men she had seen. But it looked more like it was pale.

Seraphina didn't know how much she stared at the man until she heard him speak,

"If you continue staring at me that way, I'll begin to think you dumped your darling Erix to chase me."

This had Seraphina quickly set her head straight and look where she was going. She didn't retort knowing she had been caught.

"You didn't respond?" Lancelot chuckled.

"To feed your amusement?" Came the sharp retort from Seraphina.

"Now that's more like it. It's better when you speak than when you keep mute."

Seraphina glared at him and choose not to speak again. Any time she said something, he would always use it to have his weird type of fun.

Now outside the building and near the entrance of the law firm where the carriage of Lord William was packed, the sun making it sparkle more than it already was.

Without a word of goodbye, the father and son entered the carriage and left the building but not after Lancelot stared at her and something told her they were going to meet again.

Seraphina went back inside the building and met Raymond who was scribbling something on a blackboard similar to the one he used to write the warning of the black door guests.

"What are you writing?" Curious, she questioned the boy who rose his head on hearing her voice.

Raymond pushed his spectacle up his nose and inspected what he was writing with a boyish smile on his face. He scratched his head before answering, "Uhm...I was making a nameplate for you."

"That is so thoughtful and kind of you." Seraphina smiled at the boy who was happy to be of service to her "Let me have a look."

Raymond nodded and turned it for Seraphina to have a better look.

"Wow. This is beautiful. You're talented in calligraphy, Ray." Seraphina praised that was nothing less than honey in the ears of Raymond.

The boyish smile on his face widened. "Thank you, My Lady. I'm glad you liked it. Let me get the colors and make it more beautiful." He said and stood up immediately almost as if he was running away.

Seraphina shook her head in amusement and stared at the beautiful nameplate Raymond carved her name and her position in the law firm.

This would look good on her table. She thought and moved her hand across the table and mistakenly caused a small pointed knife to fall.

The knife almost hit her leg was she not fast enough to shift it. She bent to pick up the knife and her eyes locked with the small red book again.

Seraphina's eyes shone when she saw the book she had forgotten, and now was the opportunity to finish the last paragraph and know who the second son of the fifth generation Hansbrouck's family was.

She left the knife she was going to pick up and took the book and immediately began to turn the pages, her eyes constantly checking when the Raymond boy will come back.

Seraphina knew she shouldn't be doing this but the curiosity to finish what she had been reading was so strong she couldn't wait to see the name of the real son.

Turning to the last page, her eyes immediately went to the last paragraph where it started,

The second child who should have been the rightful heir to the inheritance of Hansbrouck's fifth generation is Mr. Hansbrouck William.

Mr. Hansbrouck William? Who could that be?

Down the page, Seraphina continued to read.

'The events that happened after the decision of the Head of the fifth generation Hansbrouck family are not disclosed, and the person who might be fortunate or unfortunate to have read this book to this last paragraph should with a capital WARNING, be careful not to disclose this information to anybody as you're likely to be in danger now you know an information not known by the world.'

Now here comes the price of reading and getting the information she shouldn't have. Seraphina thought.

The last paragraph was surely something not to be taken lightly with. Was this the reason why Raymond told her she shouldn't be reading it? It must be this reason.

But why would one be in danger for reading the history of Hansbrouck's family? Perhaps this was more than what she thought it would be.

There was a popular saying, Reading begets knowledge and knowledge begets the dangers of it. Some things were meant to be hidden and when brought to light, will cause havoc. Just like how everything that has an advantage had a disadvantage.

Seraphina kept the book back where she found it and returned to her office before Raymond could come back.

Now she was no longer excited to know more about the history of the Hansbrouck family. Who knew it would bring an unknown trouble hanging on her neck? She had to be careful now, and she would also dare not tell anybody what she had read.

Now she understood why Raymond had also warned her. Did he also read the book? Maybe she would subtly ask him about it.

Urgh! Seraphina sighed in frustration. First day at work and she had gotten to know so many things, and all of them came with warnings.

First, it was the black-door guests that she had to be cautious of. And now, it was about the red book and its warning.

Thinking of which, why did she have the feeling that Mr. Hansbrouck William who is the rightful heir of the family was the person as Lord William, or was it a coincidence of two persons answering the same name?

It must be the latter reason. She was just thinking too much about this. She would pretend she never read the book and continue with her life. She had a bigger problem with the marriage proposal than to concern herself with the history of some family.

Even at this consolation, Seraphina gave herself, something told her that it was not the end yet. Something bigger lurked in the darkness waiting to envelop her.

Once in contact with the devil, you will start to smell like the devil.

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Author's Note: What do you think of this chapter? Please comment and let me know.

In the next chapter, I'll drop a picture of Seraphina.

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