VI. Duke of Mablethorn

Hugging her legs tightly close to her chest, Henrietta cried her eyes out. The tall muscular figure that had bumped into her stared at her in panic. He crouched down, his hands gently touching her shoulder. Thinking of what he should do, he decided to gently reach out for her.

"Are you alright?" He asked but the only thing he had heard from Henrietta were cries. The thunders continued to roar across the night sky. It was a first for the Duke of Mablethorn to be flabbergasted as he has seen countless of deaths yet a cry of a young lady caught him off guard.

Henrietta kept crying as the Duke tried to hoist her up to accompany her back to her chambers. The maids have been waiting for her return but all Henrietta could do was weep as she kept her eyes closed.

The Duke stared at her looming figure, still in shock with what had just happened. As Lady Henrietta entered her chambers, Thomas, her elder brother appeared before the Duke of Mablethorn.

"Your grace, what brings you to Chrysantia Manor at this hour?" Thomas queered cheekily as he gestured for the Duke to follow him to the drawing room.

The Duke's eyes followed Thomas' every move as he accompanied him to the drawing room. He looked around as he passed the hallways of the Chrysantian Manor. He knew that Chrysantia Manor is well-known amongst the ton, considering its beauty is ethereal. Wonderous colours of gold, white and blue danced around the Manor's interior.

Upon reaching the drawing room, the Duke's eyes met Lord Tiberius' eyes. "Duke Mablethorn, what brings you here to our humble Manor at this time of the night?"

The young Lord Tiberius had his arms crossed as he sat up, questioning the Duke for his sudden visit to Chrysantia Manor. "Pardon the sudden visit as I have a request to make with the Marquis. Is he perhaps awake at this hour?" Duke Mablethorn answered, gently leaning against the door.

Thomas and Tiberius looked at each other. "Yes, the Marquis is very much awake. I'll go call for Father, Thomas." Tiberius said, patting the back of the younger lad. As Tiberius left, Thomas left out a sigh of relief.

"Blimey, Victor. What brings you here at this hour? I heard you accompanied my sister back to her chambers as well. Are you crazy?" Thomas went up to the Duke of Mablethorn and smacked his arm gently.

"Geez, you sound like an old geezer when your older brother is around." Victor laughed as he gestured the same action back as they head towards the couch.

"You know how strict my brother is, right? I can't afford to let him know that I have been prancing about with the Duke of Mablethorn. Father would be furious if he found out about our crazy adventures." Thomas mentioned as he swung his leg across the other, his face looking perplexed as if Thomas was imagining the doom that would come if they were to find out.

The Duke of Mablethorn, Victor Etzwald Mablethorn, was feared and known amongst the ton. Being a war hero that has slain a mighty beast that has been taunting the northern territories of Deserandaea, the Duke has been called a series of names that the ton has caught attractive. The Duke's sparkling blue eyes and white hair truly was a sign of royalty to the Deserandaean Empire. Only the Royal Family and the Duke have those mesmerizing blue eyes that everyone just adores.

Just as the two were bickering, Marquis Chrysantia had made his entrance.

"Duke Mablethorn, to what pleasure do I owe this visit of your humble being to Chrysantia Manor?"

Duke Mablethorn got up and gave a slight smirk as he came closer to the Marquis. "I heard that...." he whispered in Marquis Chrysantia's ear.

The Marquis turned pale at the words that he had uttered in his ear.