Nineteen years ago, in a place called Night Grove, Cassius Avery was born. It was nearly daybreak on the day he was born. At the time he came into this world, his father, Leonard Linneo, wasn’t there. Since Leonard Linneo is a part of the nation’s military, he wasn’t able to come to his son’s birth.
Cassius grew up in Night Grove with his mother, Elvira Graisley for ten years. He wasn’t a very good child then. Since he never knew who his father was, the other children teased him about it. When Cassius asked his mother who his father is, Elvira answered that it is Leonard Linneo, the Head of Danior military. Now, when Cassius told that to the others, he was branded as a liar since no one ever even saw what Leonard Linneo looked like. Because of that incident, Cassius turned into a child with a sharp tongue, but with a very soft heart.
When Cassius said that to me, I found it hard to believe. How could someone have a sharp tongue and have a soft heart at the same time?
Going back to Cassius’ story, a time came when a man in a military uniform came to Night Grove. It was quite unusual at that time for military men to come to a small town alone. That man is Leonard Linneo, Cassius’ father. The townspeople couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw him.
“I didn’t believe him when he knocked on our front door,” Cassius said, laughing. “Of course my mother came rushing towards him.”
“Why didn’t you?” I asked. “He is your father right?”
“Of course he’s my father but, I just couldn’t believe him. Ten years after I’m born, that’s the first time he sees me. He’s an unbelievable man and you should know that.”
“But you should understand his position in the military right?”
“I understood that but he never even made me feel his presence. For those ten years, I’ve been waiting for him to come home.”
Okay, now I see. Cassius has quite a temper towards his father. The way he speaks is also quite rude.
“Master please, your manner,” Cyril said.
Cassius scoffed. “After he came to Night Grove, he immediately made preparations for departure. He barely stayed and talked to us, just like what a father would do. The first thing he said is that it’s time to leave. Well, if I had a choice back then, I would’ve run away from Night Grove.”
Cyril cleared his throat. I really feel like Cyril is the one who keeps Cassius’ temper at bay.
“Don’t nag me, Cyril.”
Well yeah, Cassius really speaks like a commoner, but not the usual even. Maybe that’s the result of him enduring all the hardships in life.
After Cassius and Cyril came into terms, Cassius returned to his story. He said that his mother and he went to the north almost immediately. During the train journey to the north, nobody said anything. Cassius’ ten year old self was almost afraid to say anything because of a lethal-like aura he felt from his father.
Careful, Keishi. Even a dagger could prove quite lethal. You should drop that.
I closed my eyes for a while. That word ‘lethal’ used by Cassius sparked another memory. I felt a bit nauseous.
Despite that happening, I know neither Cassius nor Cyril noticed that. Cassius still continued his story. “Right after reaching the north, he enlisted me in a military school,” Cassius continued. “Isn’t that a bit harsh? He never even said that he’s happy I’m alive. He never even had any compassion. I was only ten at that time when I entered military school. it was even as if he wanted to kill me.”
The nausea settled down. That statement of Cassius actually made me laugh. “Did you really think that?”
“I could see. It’s like his eyes are saying ‘Hurry up and get killed, you piece of meat!’ I could smack him.”
If I were Cassius, I would probably feel the same. Leonard Linneo didn’t waste time in talking to his family. Probably it’s because he felt that it’s more important to make Cassius into someone like him.
“I stayed in the military school for eight years,” Cassius said. “In those eight years, I never saw my mother, or even my father’s home. I was taught thing I never wanted, like how to use weapons and those things that can benefit the military. Still, I was given special education. Because my father is the great Leonard Linneo, I was taught how to become the proper son of a nobleman. I hated those lessons the most. I wanted to grab a dagger and run away from my instructors.”
Keishi, put the dagger down. It’s me, Kyreil. No one’s going to harm you here. You’re safe.
I groaned low. That’s the second time this hour that memories came rushing in. still, nobody noticed and I’m fine with that. They don’t need to know.
“I did meet Cyril when I was fifteen.” Cassius poked Cyril in the face. “They already sent me an attendant while in the military school. Cyril is the one who persisted that I speak properly.
“So when I was eighteen, I found freedom. I graduated from the military school and went straight to my mother. Unfortunately, it only made me suffer even more.”
Cassius’ face looked pained. “My mother already passed away when I was still twelve. She was already long gone when I finally escaped from that dreaded school.” He went silent.
“Sorry for your loss, I truly am,” I said.
“Then, when I went to see my father, he didn’t even look at me,” Cassius continued. “He just congratulated me and passed me a folder. It wasn’t even a week after walking out of the school and he already gave me a task. I think you probably already know what that is.”
“The task to find me, right?” I said.
“I knew that I needed to prove my self to him for me to be recognized as his son, but he never even said a very comforting word to me.”
I feel bad for him. I thought he and I were the same, but it was on totally different levels. Cassius never felt wanted by his father even after coming to pick him up at Night Grove. Father did give me to Gil for my own protection but he never ceased to show his love for me.
Cassius suddenly stood up. “The next time I see that bastard, I’ll show him a piece of my mind.” Then he walked away.
He called his father a bastard. That’s hate for you.
“I apologize for my master’s attitude,” Cyril said, bowing down.
“It’s fine, actually,” I replied. “I understand what he feels. I’m only surprised how open he could be with his feelings.”
“I had also noticed that. It is what makes my master truly kind. He might speak badly of his father, but I do feel he still wanted his father to see him as his son. When he was given this task, he did not even refuse accepting such a hard task immediately. Instead, I felt that he accepted it to make him worthy of his father’s praise.”
I nodded. I couldn’t say no to what he said. If Cassius really resented his father, he really would have run away.
Cyril stood up. “I must run after my master. Until then, I bid you good night.” Then he also went the same way as Cassius.
Gil said to me that most noblemen can’t have their own way. Usually, they had a code to keep them as role models to the society. I could see that it really does because of Cassius.
Early the next day, we departed. Cassius was back to his old self, like yesterday never happened. He didn’t speak any further about his past.
I was looking out the window, gazing at the thick clouds when Cassius suddenly spoke.
“My lord, we are already closing in on the central city,” Cassius said. “It would be best if the clothes you wear now are to be changed.”
I knitted my eyebrows. I told them that I hated them calling me too formally. They called me with that address when they learned I’m His Highness’ son.
“Sorry for returning the address, my lord, but it would seem too impolite if the residents of the central city learn of it,” Cassius continued. “We would be stopping at a station before the central city for you to change.”
I grumbled. “Okay then.”
It wasn’t long after we departed that the carriage stopped again. The station looked almost deserted when we stepped out of the carriage. Cassius said that we’d change our dusty clothes in one of the station’s restrooms.
I picked out long pants when I looked for something to change to, but Cassius asked me to use half-pants. Like whey the hell would I even use that? Besides, I’m not used to wearing half-pants. We argued on that with Cassius saying that I’m young, and short (he’s teasing me and I know it) and it’s what normal young nobles wear. In the end, I was made to wear a rather stuffy outfit. He even said it’s a standard look to be wearing a vest, a blazer and a coat.
That would have been fine, but it turned for the worse when Cassius changed the entire set into another color. I was holding one set of clothing that Elicia already prepared and the set had a unanimous color of midnight blue. The set Cassius changed it into is the color of bright red.
I never could have imagined what I looked like, but I did. It’s that insane mix of colors. I have dark brown hair and green eyes. It became insane when I wore bright red clothes.
I hate Cassius. He does not have any sense of style. In the first place, why would Elicia even put in a color of bright red in my wardrobe? I’m thinking of Gil.
When I walked out of the restroom, I was greeted by many people. I saw Cassius had also changed into his black and gold military uniform. Cyril didn’t look like he changed at all.
Cassius and Cyril ran towards me. Cassius pulled my hand and ran to his right. I had no time to think about anything because, for one, Cassius’ grip hurts. I couldn’t even walk properly in the leather shoes I’m wearing.
“Forgive my master’s impatient action my lord,” Cyril said, leading the way through the platform. There aren’t many people in here and most of them made way. “We have little time to be dawdling any longer.”
Sometimes, I would like these two to at least tell me what’s going on. They always act first before telling me why. Now, Cassius pulling my hand can mean many things. Only one hint made it clear to me why they’re doing this.
The moment we reached the carriage, Cassius almost shoved me in. I can see that Cassius is too quick to panic because he complained on how slow the carriage is moving.
When Cassius already settled down, he breathed a sigh of relief. He even slouched down the seat.
“Was it too early for the people to know that I’m already found?” I asked.
Cassius suddenly became silent. He sat up properly in the seat and looked at me. “You’re pretty sharp, I commend you for that.”
“My master was very frantic about the lord being seen in public,” Cyril said, smiling. “It was as if my master wanted to tell you that the lord is not supposed to be going out of the station.”
So I was right then. “But isn’t that better? It would save the introductions for later.”
“I was ordered to keep your existence hidden from anyone else until you reach the north.” Cassius looked out the window. “Still, it was my fault that you were discovered by the public.”
“Was it because of the uniform?”
“It is one of them. Regular military uniforms are different from the Constabulary uniforms. The thing that attracted public attention is the Linneo family crest.” Cassius pointed at the golden, circular pin at his chest. To me, it looks more like a letter L written in calligraphy.
I would have laughed at the thought of it but, family crests are defined by the first letter of their last names. A golden crest means that they are noble by blood. A silver crest means that they are not exactly noble by birth. Families with silver crests are noble by appointment, just like governors. Still, that pin is hard to notice. Maybe one of the people talked to Cassius because of the uniform and noticed it.
“They mistook me for you,” Cassius finally said.
My left eye twitched.
“Someone talked to me and saw the crest. He must have thought it is the first family’s crest.”
“The first family doesn’t use the first letter of their last name, right?” I said.
“That is what I thought too, but there is a story of why their crest is like that.”
Cyril cleared his throat. “Master, I believe it is time the lord wears the ring.” He handed Cassius a small box.
“You should wear that before we reach the central city.” Cassius gave me the small box. When I opened it, it contained a gold ring with the crest of the first family.
I remember seeing the crest in one of the books I read. The author of the book said that the crest of the first family has all the letters of their last name. At first glance, it looks like a letter C and T with a circle at the lower end of the C. When I scrutinized it, it seemed possible that all the letters are there.
I pulled the ring out of the box. “The Luzatto family crest,” I mumbled. I slipped it in my right thumb. “It is a bit large, right?”
Cassius nodded. “I had requested to receive a smaller finger size.”
I had already noticed that Cassius shifts his manner of speaking every now and then. I told him that he should just stick with his formal way of speaking. Cassius did say that he preferred talking to me normally.
“But it’s fine. I could live with it,” I said. “I can see now why the public mistook me for you.”
“Why?”
“The existence of the family crests itself. The Luzatto family has a first letter of L, just like your last name. Not many people have seen the Luzatto crest.”
Cassius locked his eyes on me. “You’ve seen the Luzatto crest before?”
“In one of the books Gil gave me. I saw it there.”
“Yes, it is true that not many people have seen the crest but, it is suprising for you to know that it looks like.”
Cyril cleared his throat again. “Master, we have arrived in the central city.”
“Already?” Cassius stuck his head out the window. Then, he pulled his head back. “We should be heading for the villa right now.”
It only took us a few minutes to reach the villa. Cassius said it is the villa that the Luzatto family uses when they go to the central. He said that he himself already stayed there.
The villa looked like a cottage, a large one. It has three floors, made completely out of live materials and has a wide lawn and backyard. Cassius told me that it is small compared to the three manors. The villa is located near the station headed for the north.
There were many guards stationed outside the villa. I thought they were statues for a moment.
“Were staying here until when?” I asked, walking on the path towards the villa.
“The day we depart would be determined as soon as I have made contact with the central city’s military,” Cassius said. “I have been ordered to make contact with the military before heading to His Highness.”
I looked at Cyril. He just smiled when I looked at him. Even when he’s carrying the entire luggage, he doesn’t seem to be burdened.
Before Cassius could even knock on the door, a butler already opened it. The butler bowed down in respect. “My lord, please come in.” He motioned us to come inside.
The inside is not like what I expected. Being the first family, I thought all the things would be grand and unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The inside, however, was like how a normal cottage would look like: Floorboards, a fairly low ceiling and sliding windows and doors. Even the furniture is nothing grand. It felt like I’m back in Gil’s home.
“The place gives a different air than of the grandeur of the north,” Cassius said. “I believe the lord would find himself quite at home.”
The butler just smiled and led the way to the third floor. The butler explained to use that the villa is designed to give the first family a different experience while staying away from home. He said that it is so that the first family will feel a bit of how commoners live in the area. When w reached the third floor, a single door greeted us. There are no more corridors at the left or right.
“My lord, I welcome you to the suite,” the butler said. He opened the door.
Based on what I am already seeing, I know that what lies behind that door is also similar. And I was right. Though the terminology the butler used is suite, it isn’t anything different from the outside. The inside is just a living room with a low table and two sets of chairs. The two windows were opened when we entered. There are two doors at the left. The butler said it leads to the two bedrooms. The single door at the right is the bathroom.
“I am happy to see that the young master finds the suite to be in his liking,” the butler said.
“Well then, my lord, we shall leave you to rest,” Cassius said, heading for the door. “Shall we go, Evans?”
Evans, the butler, bowed down and headed for the door.
“You’re leaving me here?” I asked.
Cassius looked surprised. He told Evans and Cyril to leave. Then he turned to me when the two had already left. “Is something the matter?” Cassius asked.
“I mean, I’ll be alone here?” I asked again.
“This suite is for the first family’s use only.”
“Can you not keep me company?”
“I can always, but for now, Cyril and I must leave for the central military faction.”
“I can always stay with you right?”
Cassius breathed. “It will only take a while. The military faction of the central is near the area. until then, please take a rest.” Cassius smiled, and then left.
I opened the second door on the left. Just like what Evan said, it is a bedroom. The room only composed of a twin bed, a table and a closet. When I opened the closet, my luggage was already there. Cyril must have put it in without us noticing.
I looked out the window. It has a perfect view of the city. I know that the central is mostly a business district, but I didn’t think that some people also have their own homes here.
The world is different from what I imagined.
I walked back to the closet and took out my luggage. I put my luggage down the bed and opened it. On top of all the clothes is the silver key Gil gave to me. If he said that father might have added in something, it could mean that this key opens some sort of a container. I only found it weird to know that father also has a spare key.
Well, I can worry about that later. I’ll just have to remove the blazer and vest out of me so I can move around freely. This is still a fairly drastic change to cope with. Even these leather shoes I’m wearing are another change for me. I sat down the bed and kicked my shoes out. The shoes were very hard to use for the first time anyway.