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The only variable in his plan.....
Last Updated:
2025-04-13 20:53:41
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“Uncle, if old Drew is still alive, where do you think he is most likely to stay?”“Uncle, do you know who plotted against the grand duke and duchess?”Both Cornelius and Baldwin asked in unison.Linus sighed, frustration and unreconciled anger evident in his every breath. He turned to Baldwin, as though to answer his question but the guilt in his heart made it impossible for him to hold gaze with the righteous indignation in the eyes of the man in front of him; he lowered his gaze as he spoke in a low voice “I don’t, although I do not have evidence, I have a hunch.”His guilt stemming from the fact that while he had given up, lost hope, it was an outsider who had never given up, never stopped looking.“We are all ears.” This time, it wasn’t Baldwin or Cornelius who spoke but rather Elias. He had been asking this same question for the last decade and yet he couldn’t get a single word out of his father.“Our cousin…. It is a no brainer.” Linus shrugged before he gritted his teeth “But w
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“Hymph!” Mira humped unhappily “Looks like this trip left us with more questions and no answers.”“Not entirely true.” Edith spoke in a gentle tone, an affectionate gaze stopping on Jack’s face “We got to reunite with our Leander, and you got to know the culprits behind your grandfather and grandmother’s accident.”“We had guessed.” Mira pouted “You still don’t have proof for that….it is still a guess at best.”“Would us releasing the news that all of you are returning to regain your rightful positions make them act hastily?” Jack slowly opened his mouth “Would that give them room for error and give us the opportunity that we need?”“We cannot just release news….” Cornelius shook his head as he narrowed his eyes “It has to be believable to those receiving the news…”“How about saying that you have reconciled your decade long differences and that they have agreed to come back since you have promised them a huge compensation for their grievance?” Mira asked smiling like a sly fox before
Last Updated : 2025-04-15Second chance at happiness At least let me enjoy the glory while there is no one to challenge my claim.
Baldwin knitted his brows as he too had thought of the incident, but he didn’t look at Mira, instead he looked at Linus and asked somewhat awkwardly “Uncle, what do you think of dreams?” He didn’t have his father around anymore to ask, the only person he was close enough to ask and still breathing was Linus.“Dreams???” Linus arched his eyebrows, however Elias and the rest started making a ruckus teasing him if he wanted to share the details.“Our forefathers thought of them as forewarnings passed by our ancestors from the beyond...” Linus answered seriously once the ruckus quieted down “passed on to the purest of heart….”“Divination?” Humphrey’s son, Derek who had been a silent listener all along slowly asked hooking his eyebrows.“Not quite…” Linus shook his head “Divination is the ability to see into the future at will and it is a skill that some are born with while others can cultivate.”“Dreams are different.” Linus paused before saying “While most of them can just be wishful thi
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The next morning, Cornelius and the rest were ready to leave when the Bellevue palace had another visitor, the duke of Warringal.“Brother in arms.” Cornelius greeted Uzi with their customary elbow handshake.“It has been a lifetime.” Uzi nodded in acknowledgement.The two men looked at each other, the past and their loss reflected in the depths of their eyes. And yet, they were helpless to do anything but smile remorsefully.Uzi shook hands with Baldwin as always, but his gaze suddenly stopped at a face that seemed to have come back from the past. He rushed forward but came to an abrupt halt before Jack, frightening Mira who had involuntarily pulled Jack back a few steps with her.“That was very impolite…. My sincere apologies…” Uzi bowed deeply towards the youngsters before straightening but he still couldn't stop staring at Jack without blinking.“This is my husband.” Mira puffed her cheeks and even though she was trembling in fear, took a step forward to stand in front of Jack, loo
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Uzi didn’t struggle nor feign ignorance when he was questioned by Baldwin as he knew this day would come and he had Alex’s permission to disclose when they came looking for him.It was quite a sight to see the large group following Uzi, back to his residence, the curiosity on their faces couldn’t be hidden. Although Uzi had only invited Cornelius and Baldwin, the others followed without giving social etiquette a second thought.Inside, Uzi’s study, he walked over to a secret compartment and took out a scroll and handed it over to Baldwin feigning an unhappy expression, spouting nonsense, “I will lend you the letter my best friend wrote to me, just so that you won’t be jealous and accuse his sincerity towards you.”Baldwin pulled his lips lopsidedly and ignoring the childish banter, anxiously opened the scroll with trembling hands. Cornelius leaned over his shoulders impatiently.Inside, the scroll was an amulet with the Zumerong seal in the form of pendant. Uzi stretched his hand and p
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Cornelius turned to Uzi and asked raising the scroll “Can I keep this?”“That is a letter from my brother to me…” Uzi snatched the scroll and kept it back in the secret compartment without giving Cornelius a chance to react. He slyly took another scroll from the secret compartment and extended it towards Cornelius “But I have transcribed a copy for you.”“Dishonest ghost” Cornelius cursed in good humour as he took the scroll.“Lord Zumerong, let us all have lunch here and disperse.” Uzi looked at Linus as he made the invitation. It was not uncommon for the two families to have impromptu gatherings followed by lunches and suppers.Baldwin pulled Elias back as Uzi tactfully steered Linus and the elders’ attention towards the banquet hall with topics of mutual interest.“For your eyes.” Baldwin extended the scroll towards Elias once the elders were out of ear shot. “Don’t burden Uncle and Aunt with the details for now.”Elias nodded as he took the scroll with knitted brows and read throug
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“What’s going on?” Baldwin asked without raising his curtain.“It’s an ambush, your grace.” The footman replied in a trembling voice while another more commanding voice came through “Sit tight, your graces, we will deal with this.” It was Parker who had swiftly jumped out from his position in the shadows wielding his sword.The clanging of swords went on for another 20 minutes or so, and yet it showed no signs of slowing down; if anything, if was getting more fiercer.“What’s the status?” Cornelius asked, growing a little impatient.“My royal highness, the situation is getting more trickier.” Parker’s strained voice came through “They seem to keep coming without end. I have sent word; help shouldn’t be too far behind.”Baldwin and Cornelius jumped out brandishing their swords without warning, hearing the stress in Parker’s voice, they knew the situation wasn’t one that was easy to deal with.“Your graces…” One of the guards who was rescued from the edge of the blade by Baldwin widened
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Mira checked Jack a million times, asking him repeatedly if he was hurt once they entered the carriage; Each time, Jack patiently answered that he wasn't hurt and that he was fine, while indulging Mira to check his hands and feet for injuries with a doting gaze.Both Aglaya and Katherine had a teasing smile on their faces as they watched Mira who was confident a few minutes ago, showing her true colours without a second thought.However, once inside the carriage, both Cornelius and Baldwin kept looking at Jack with a complicated gaze; they both opened and closed their mouths awkwardly for a long time, making both Jack and Mira uncomfortable, before Cornelius managed to ask “Son, where did you learn that move of yours?”It would be a lie if they said that they weren't surprised by Jack's fighting skills but what shocked them to their core was the move they saw.... the one they had not seen executed to perfection for more than a decade... it looked like they were seeing someone else thro
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Bari didn’t ask any further questions and lead the group towards the tavern that was written on the scroll ‘Green Serpent Tavern’.Unlike the taverns in the other parts of the kingdom, this one reflected the true lifestyle of the gipsy where drinking was only one of the activities. There were performers, gamblers and even sporting events like blind-folded archery with live targets.“Do we have a name for the one you want to meet?” Bari asked in a low voice as they neared the tavern.“They will find us.” Cornelius answered, “We just need to sit somewhere conspicuous.”Bari nodded and was about to head to the stone gambling section which was the area that attracted the most attention when they were approached by a gipsy woman who was dressed in the attire of a dancer “Are you here for gems?”Cornelius nodded.She smiled and flirted with them as she led them slyly to a hidden area and whispered, “Behind the painted is the room where you will find what you are looking for.” As she spoke,
Second chance at happiness Alex will skin me alive…
“Take him and go home…” Cornelius advised John in a whispered, putting on a show of staggering and maintaining balance while he laughed loudly “I am not carrying this bore….. take him to the tavern…. Throw him there …. Then we will drink till the morning bird calls.”“Let’s send him to the tavern and we will go together.” John whispered back even though he kept the act of being drunk.“Take you???” Cornelius had an expression of horror “Alex will skin me alive…go…go… don’t make trouble for me.” He pushed John away laughing loudly “Go…go…. go to the tavern…. Get a bed and a wife … drink till the morning bird calls… drink till all our toils are forgotten…. Drink…. Drink….”John had no choice but to keep up the act and with the assistance of Amice, head back with Martin. He thought that his opportunity for adventure had finally come but looks like that was still a pipe dream; when he was younger, his brother-in-law protected him, allowing him to taste measured risks under his watchful ey
Second chance at happiness I am not questioning your loyalty.
‘Duk’ ‘Duk’ ‘Duk’The knock on the door came in a timely manner interrupting the staring match between Cornelius, Thomas and Orseus.“Your Grace, Carl is here.” Lazarus announced after answering the door.“Bring him in.” Jack waved his hand, gesturing Lazarus to bring him in, his lips curling in a smile as he pulled his chair to place it exactly before Jerome, hiding him behind him.Martin and Oden snickered as they saw Jack’s actions; Thomas and Orseus joined in once Oden whispered the gist behind Jack’s actions.“Your grace.” Carl greeted him with his usual amiable smile as soon as he entered but his smile soon froze on his lips as he saw the room full of heavy weights.Although he was visibly frozen for a few seconds, as the man of business of the most prestigious duchy, he quickly regained his composure and greeted every single person in the room with the same charm, making everyone forget that he had lost his composure.However, today was one day that his duke decided to test his
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“Let’s head downstairs??” Baldwin hooked his eyebrows as he looked at Jack before shifting his gaze towards Cornelius.“Does it matter…” Thomas hooked his eyebrows challengingly “I mean now that we have stocked up our arsenal and are ready to battle?”Orseus had an expression of agreement; he didn’t think that there was a need for secrecy anymore. They were ready to strike.Corenlius knitted his brows unable to make up his mind one way or the other when Jack opened his mouth “Let’s head downstairs. We are not ready; we still have loose ends.”Although both Orseus and Thomas looked unconvinced, they still headed downstairs towards the study without arguing verbally. Everyone, including John and Beth, followed.“Summon Carl.” Jack instructed Harrison on his way downstairs “I have something I need to discuss with him.”Harrison nodded and went to deliver the message.Lazarus left his right-handed man outside the study to bring Carl inside when he arrived, before heading inside, to follow
Second chance at happiness My potion might not be able to cure….
Everyone waited outside the room while Leal, Cornelius, Baldwin and Caleb entered the room along with Emeralda and Jerome.“Lie down.” Esmeralda had a faint smile as she requested. It had been more than a decade since she saw their young master; even though he didn’t remember them, her inner world was peaceful. They had found each other, they were halfway…. It wouldn’t be long.She sat by his side, concentrating on the examination once she was able to quieten the noises from her inner excitement. She frowned as she realized that although he appeared to be fit from his physical appearance, the information she gathered from his examination was not so promising.Her brows knitted further as the examination continued, raising the anxiety of the men who were standing in the room observing Esmeralda. While Leal and Caleb stood still like pillars, regardless of their clenched fists and knitted brows, both Corenlius and Baldwin started pacing in the room unable to stand still.“How is it?” Th
Second chance at happiness We have waited for this day for a long time...
Caleb wasn’t far off with his prediction although the healer's arrival had nothing to do with his message. The healer and a hooded man arrived at Southamberston Duchy late evening of the same day. Everyone was resting in their rooms when Harrison announced their arrival to Jack; Jack asked Harrison to clear the hall of everyone and to inform the others as he went down to the lounge area to greet his old friends. “Venerable one…” Jack greeted as he always did, without the airs of his newly found status. The healer narrowed her eyes as looked at Jack; she didn’t have her usual airy, fairy daze but this time, her gaze was sharp, like that of an eagle, before her lips slowly curled up and she knelt on one knee “Esmeralda greets the young marquess.” She had noted the Butler clearing everyone away from this area and the young commander circling with his men, she knew that there were no more prying eyes around them. The only thing she didn’t anticipate was the audience that was coming dow
Second chance at happiness Do you think his three-legged skills are enough to harm me?
Mira kept scolding and kicking the man, without showing the slightest hint of stopping or displeasure from touching his already bloodied body; the truth was, she was trembling in anger, her eyes red with rage, barely attentive to notice the state the man was in. Jack was stunned for a minute before he rushed after her and held her back in his embrace as he coaxed her, shamelessly boasting “Wife, I am fine. Look…. Do you think his three-legged skills are enough to harm me?” “Wife, calm down… let Lazarus deal with him.” Jack held her tightly in his embrace; he could feel her trembling in his embrace and his heart ached for her; although no one in the room knew, he knew why that statement triggered her so much. She had told him about her past life memories. Matthew and Harry had a helpless expression while everyone else other than Thomas and Almera had their mouths agape as they saw Mira in action. Thomas didn’t have time to admire Mira’s gallantry; he was busy soothing his wife who wa
Second chance at happiness Who told you that he is non-consequential?
Thomas and Orseus stepped on their toes as they leaned over their father’s shoulders and read the scroll along with them; tears rolled down Cornelius and Baldwin’s cheeks as they saw the scroll in their sworn brother’s hand and read greedily.Their tears didn’t stop even though they finished reading the letter. The guilt of not being there when their sworn brother needed them the most was eating into their soul; they listlessly handed the scroll to Jack and Mira.“So now we have to find Esmeralda to cure Uncle Jerome.” Orseus pursed his lips. He called out to Jerome as Uncle Jerome smoothly, he had no difficulty as he grew up hearing these two names, Alex and Jerome; to him, they were family, more closer to him than Uncle Alaistair and his sons.“If we have guessed correctly, we don’t have to go anywhere searching for her.” Cornelius shook his head and added with an air of mystery “She is much closer than we think.”“Are you saying that the healer that we go to is, this Esmeralda that
Second chance at happiness Why didn’t you tell me I had a son?
“If only we knew….” Harry sighed regretfully “Then we could have followed that man’s trail and found Alex sooner.”“You think too beautifully... Alex would never lead a trail if this was his contingency plan.” Baldwin sneered before his expression turned serious “But we may have stumbled upon some unexpected luck in finding Alex.”“Did granduncle Zumerong shed some light?” Orseus asked, leaning forward eagerly.“Heh!” Corenlius scoffed “They were kept in even greater darkness than us.”“Then are you talking about the man who lives at Mer waters?” Thomas asked hesitantly; he really didn’t know why his father and godfather were so confident, just because he trained with Jack?“Son, you don’t know.” Cornelius shook his head “Leal can never be separated from Alex; wherever Alex is, he will follow, whether it is in life or death.”“There has never been a more loyal shadow.” Baldwin too sighed regretfully.“Then what are we waiting for?” Almera looked around curiously; Mira leaned forward an
