2.2

In Brandon's early days as the earl's aide, he'd sit at a table that was set there for him to work and ask him something he didn't know. It would be inefficient to leave his room, where he would work, to question every time he had questions about the document. So it was decided by the Count that he should have a space there for him to use during his apprenticeship.

The tasks set for him were relatively simple, with the organization of papers and some work he could do to adapt. They weren't something that would require specific knowledge or a lot of experience. As the difficulty gradually increased, the Count analyzed and revised, pointing out his mistakes he made and how to find and solve them.

It was something Brandon enjoyed doing. The earl's praise was also encouraging for him to continue. Therefore, he tried to learn well and perform his tasks well, being a great helper for Mr. Miller.

"Without him, I couldn't have learned so well and quickly. Of course, it took me a few months to adjust to the job. I would have made more mistakes if I hadn't had his instructions, though." A small one grew on Brandon's lips as Ferion paid attention to him.

"Still, it's amazing that you learned that in months."

"I appreciate the compliment." Brandon said. "All right, Ferion. If you don't have any more questions, now that we're done, I'll be off. I have to deliver these papers to the earl."

The redhead got up and took a sheaf of papers from the table. These were documents they had already reviewed. There was no need to be there anymore.

"I don't. Go ahead."

"Excuse me."

Brandon bowed slightly and left the noble's room.

Ferion looked for a moment and leaned back in his chair. Her mind focused on the time she'd worked with Brandon in the morning and afternoon. The boy, in his eyes, had changed and it was not his imagination.

He saw how the other was during the day of his arrival. A smile on his face, but his eyes weren't smiling along. On the contrary, they were as dark as night in a forest.

Also, there was the lack of expression when he didn't smile. A serious face that hides any feeling, emotion and thought from others around you.

It wasn't something he did when he left, so he must have gotten it after his departure.

"How could he have changed like that? He was so honest before." A low murmur was said in the silent room.

Ferion took a deep breath and sighed. In his eyes, Brandon was like a brother, so seeing him changed was something new and he didn't even know the cause.

He remembered going to his mother to find out the cause after his arrival. She was reading quietly at the garden table, reading the newspaper and having tea with some snacks when she arrived from her trip to town.

"Good afternoon mother."

It was no longer morning, as he had left early to attend to personal matters. Ferion wasn't working as an heir and was still on his rest days, but that doesn't mean there weren't things to do now that he's back.

The woman, when she heard him, opened a happy smile. Her face all lit up at the sight of her firstborn and that he was the first to see her. Claire was still glad to have her two boys back at the mansion after not seeing them for so long.

"Oh, what does my son want now that he's come to me? Sit down and tell me." She said good-naturedly, getting a kiss on her cheek from her son and seeing him sit in the seat she showed him.

"Can't I just come to spend time with you? We haven't talked properly in years." Countess Miller laughed at her son's speech.

"I do not believe that. Not even if it was James saying I would believe it. He only comes to me when he wants something." She says. "But it's not bad, I can always get favors from him too."

It was a known fact to her children. Countess Miller, upon receiving requests from her children, asks for something in return. When they were little, it was usually a hug, a kiss, or time to be together. Simple things any child could do that would express their relationship with them.

The one who used this method the most was Phillip, who asked for new toys or things that caught his attention. James asks sometimes, but he stays with Brandon most of the time and has nothing he really wants. As for Ferion, they were few, but requests from him were something that helped him.

She did it with pride to see their smiles when they got what they wanted.

"So what's the reason for coming to me? I'm sure you're busy enough since you don't stay at the mansion much and don't come back until dinner. Did you know your father is worried? He gave you rest days and you don't sit still. I do not want to intrude on your affairs, but rest properly."

"I'm getting enough rest."

"I hear you left the day after your arrival."

"It was a quick thing. I got back to the mansion before you and James and Brandon."

"And the next day."

"That…"

"And the day after the day after."

"..."

The man couldn't say anything to the woman who was in front of him with a light expression, but a steady gaze directed at him.

How long has he not experienced something like this? A sense of nostalgia and longing filled him, remembering the time when he worked as an heir and his mother would visit him and his father and demand that they both take time to rest. Requests from him were even more demanding of the head of the family, because of his age.

A slightly lopsided smile grew on his face at the scolding tone in her voice. Perhaps he had forgotten after so long, but his mother was still as threatening to him as an enemy army.

The purple hair and brown eyes in her kind face were friendly, but everyone knows her personality is mischievous and strong. To her kids, when she's got a smile on her face while hiding some of her anger, she's much more intimidating.

He was wrong, in any case. It was right that he had to rest and lighten up after the long journey and pressure he'd had for three years. But he barely stopped at the mansion.

"Sorry." He said, lowering his head to her.

"And?"

"I'm going to rest well until Dad sends me to work."

His voice was low, but it was audible to her. Anyone who knew Ferion, one of the best generals in the war, would not believe such a vision. He was being scolded by his mother and had such a passive attitude that it was incomparable to the one he had on the battlefields, where he acted with vigor.

Hearing what he said, she softened her face, lessening the firmness in her gaze.

"You don't have to stop going out, I can't stop you from that. You are a made man. I just ask that you take a proper break. Stopping and thinking for a while is a good and beneficial thing."

"Yes."

Countess Miller looked at him and picked up her cup of tea to take a sip. The man was standing with his head up looking at her. She couldn't help but remember when he was a teenager with such a vision. Ferion was serious and did what he had to do, which caused him to take notice of his reprimands when he did them. There were few, so there was no need to worry so much.

"You still haven't told me why you came here. And don't say it's just to see me, honey."

"I wanted to know what happened during the three years. The cards don't tell everything that happens."

"Actually..." She shook her head. "But it will have to be more specific. There are a lot of things that happen in a period of time."

He pondered whether he should go straight to the point or ask other questions and then get to what he wanted. But knowing her mother, she would recognize that that wasn't what he really wanted to ask. Her insight was great.

Therefore, he decided to be direct. She would answer him properly anyway.

"I want to know why Brandon changed. When I see him, his face looks so rigid. He changed. He looks nothing like the young Brandon I remember three years ago."

The countess, hearing the question, understood what he meant. Brandon was more open before. If it was like before, just by looking at his face you could tell he was happy or sad.

Claire also knew why her son had asked about Brandon. The same saw him as a younger brother, just as she saw the redhead as a son. Although they didn't have much contact when they were younger, she always saw him treat him with care. He was similar to James, who admired Brandon.

A look down and a slightly sad smile grew on his cheeks. She liked saying that.

"I don't know."

"What?" He asked surprised by the unexpected answer.

"I don't know. I have no idea why this happened." The countess sighed. Looking at the transparent green color in your cup. "It happened after a while after you guys left. He didn't show much reaction or at least try. It looked like he was trying to control himself. Since then, he's stayed that way. It turned out so good that sometimes I even wonder what he is thinking."

Ferion was surprised by his mother's words. She was a woman who wanted to know what was best for the people around her. So that statement was shocking.

"Did you try to ask?"

"He wouldn't answer me. Not even to James he says. He's a kid who doesn't like to tell other people if there's something bothering him."

The black-haired man couldn't help but disagree. He sighed. The conversation hadn't gone the way he wanted, so all he could do was sigh.

Claire watched her son. The man she created was now shoulders down. He was a little upset. But there was something there that she could recognize.

"Son, Brandon is fine. James is fine. Your father and I are fine too. There's no reason to feel responsible to us. We are not on a battlefield, you can relax."

When she called out to him, he lifted his head. The words that followed were something that had hit him. His mother, Claire Miller, was right. He was feeling a little responsible for the other. A sense of duty to those around him was what made him want to help.

"Thank you mother." He smiled, feeling a little comforted by those words.

🇧🇷

The day was cool and the sky clear. The sun's rays lit up the whole land and it wasn't at a high temperature. It was a great day for a walk, horseback riding or just hanging out with a friend.

In the garden of the Miller mansion, ladies and gentlemen were gathered at a long table laden with drinks and snacks. They were talking and laughing about things they found funniest. Rumors about who or the newest scandal in the capital were the most talked about topics.

"Oh, did you know? The Marquise Rannon discovered that her husband was cheating on her with one of her maids. They say she acted like a madwoman and went to get satisfaction from the Marquis."

"My gods. What happened?"

"Screams were heard from the room where they talked and after that she went to fight with the maid and fired her after giving her a punishment. It is unknown if she will file for divorce. And since she is the official heir to the marquisate, if she divorces, she will have dominion over the entire estate.

"Poor marquise, to go through something like this…"

"The Marquis was not a flower to be smelled. I always felt there was something wrong with him."

The ladies chatted with each other excitedly, giving their opinions on the matter. Some sympathized with the marquise and others felt sorry for her. Curses were not heard as it was considered vulgar, but they all silently belittled the marquis and his actions. Almost all of them were married, so they could only imagine if they were the ones who had such a thing.

Countess Miller just looked at the women while she drank some of her tea. She didn't scold the ladies or disagree with their lines. If it had been her husband, she would have left this house the same day, but she wouldn't leave without taking decent revenge on him and the woman who would be her mistress.

However, her goal was not to socialize or learn the hottest news from the empire. In fact, he was to find out more about his second son's fiancée. She always stayed in her or Phillip's room and only saw her during dinner, as lunch usually took place in her room.

The servants who served her said she was nice and reported her movements to her. There was nothing special or suspicious about her behavior, but her lack of enthusiasm for becoming a noble's bride was something that intrigued her. So she was on the back foot.

An invite was sent to her about the tea party and that it would be nice if she attended and interacted with the other women. It didn't say much and was very direct. The answer was given to her immediately and she was positive. All she had to do was wait for her time to come down.

"Countess, I hear your children have returned from the war. You must be super happy about that, right?"

"Yes, I knew too. Lord Ferion and Lord Phillip must have changed a lot and be different. It must have been a surprise to see them again after such a long time."

The women all focused their attention on Claire. They were curious about the countess's children. Both were men of marriageable age, single and of good ancestry, it was natural for them to be aware of them. Some even went with the purpose of joining one of them with their daughters.

Claire set the cup down and set it on the table, flashing a professional smile and nodding in agreement. She knew it would be one of the topics of conversation, seeing as she was the host, but it went faster than she thought. She thought she would have a few more topics to talk to each other until Johannes, Phillip's fiancee, arrived.

"I was very happy to see them after a long time. Seeing them return home was like a worry was erased. But actually it was surprising to see how they changed, especially Phillip who got taller."

"I was also shocked to see my son Anderson. He had come out thin, but when he came back he was muscular and taller. He didn't look like my son. I thought it was a mistake."

Countess Lemaire said and laughed, recounting her experience of seeing her son, a knight who volunteered for war, arrived completely different from when he left. His intentions were obviously to attract the attention of the other ladies and get him a bride.

"Oh, but there's a rumor about Lord Phillip that my son told me about when they were in the army."

Claire's gaze fell on Countess Lemaire and she looked at her, as if she were asking permission to talk about it. With a nod, Countess Lemaire realized that she had been allowed to speak. The ladies were curious and eager for the next words Countess Lemaire would say. Everyone liked gossip and if the hostess allowed it, who would they not allow themselves to hear and comment?

"He said that Phillip was with a woman next to him and that they seemed close. It was talked about among the soldiers and it sounded like he was saying he would make her his bride. Was it true, Countess?"