The night was long for some and short for others.
As it ended, the sun came up and the horizon softened under its pale glow.
Elias woke up feeling quite disoriented.
'I feel like I haven't taken proper rest.'
He muttered to himself as he stretched his body before the sunlight slipping from between the curtains reminded him that today was the day!
"...No point waiting. Let's go."
Elias pressed his palms against his face, rubbing them against his warm skin. His actions made the sleep go away as the glow in his hazel eyes returned.
Following that, he moved and got to his morning routine, freshening up, having breakfast, and taking a bath. After which, he started to get dressed. Well, Sylphie was dressing him.
Anyway, after dressing up, Elias stared at his reflection.
His dark auburn hair was perfectly styled, accentuating his beauty with the glow of his hazel orbs.
Elias wore a dark, fitted travel coat with a green shirt inside. Charcoal black trousers covered his lower half with a pair of elegantly shining black shoes. A quite expensive watch that looked to be made up of gold and designed with diamonds rested on his left wrist as a black cloak fluttered behind his back, fastened with a crest of the Varen family—a black thorn.
All in all, he looked regal and dignified, like a real baron. The jewelry that was decorated on him made him look only more handsome and charming.
'Isn't it too much?'
Elias groaned, looking at himself. He found it quite heavy to wear all of this, in March, no less.
However, not that he could go looking like a beggar, or could he?
"Whatever."
Elias muttered, putting the gloves inside his pocket. He was not going to wear these things.
After this, he turned to look at the maid, who was weirdly silent.
Feeling Elias's gaze, she smiled.
"You look handsome, my lord!"
Her voice came in like a chirp. Yet, Elias could feel she was completely somewhere else.
'At least say it with your heart.'
Elias's eyebrows twitched, yet he hummed to her compliment before moving.
"Hm."
***
Elias didn't have to go to Victor's chamber, as Victor was already outside his chamber, waiting for him.
"My lord, you look splendid," Victor spoke, bowing a little. "Every dress suits you, no matter what you wear."
"Thanks, Uncle."
"Haha, there's nothing to thank my lord. It would be a sin if I didn't praise you, my lord, when you look so exceptional."
'Isn't that too much?'
Elias wandered inside as he smiled. "Thank you, Uncle."
"It's my pleasure, my lord," Victor said, shaking his head with a smile. "How about we move? It would be better if you didn't delay, my lord."
"Ah, yes, Uncle," Elias said, nodding, as they started to move.
As they walked, Victor explained everything that was prepared and how it all had been taken care of.
Listening to him, Elias trudged through the hallway of the castle. Sylphie and the knights followed behind as they trudged to their destination.
Descending from the upper floor to the middle and from there to the ground floor, they walked towards the courtyard.
As they did, they saw a carriage parked just in front of the fountain. Its wood shone under the light of the sun, highlighting its refined look. The crest of the Varen family gleamed under the highlight marked on its wooden door.
Two dark horses with full-grown, dense manes and long tails stood regally, ready to pull the carriage.
As Elias and everyone came to a stop, Victor spoke up.
"My lord, these were the horses that I was talking about."
"Northern one?"
"Yes, my lord, one of the finest horses one could own."
"Hm, they do look intimidating."
"Haha, yes," Victor laughed before explaining more things and ending with... "All things required have been loaded in the rear compartment of the carriage."
"I see," Elias nodded.
"You don't have to worry about anything, my lord. The knights with you will take care of your security and any labor work that needs to be done, and the maid will be in charge of other minuscule tasks. So, do not worry about anything and just enjoy this break."
"Thank you so much, Uncle," Elias said, turning towards Victor. "Here I am going for fun, and you are going to be busy with the load of work of the barony."
"My lord," Victor shook his head. "As I said, these works mean nothing to me. I only find happiness in serving you, so be at ease with this worry and take a break."
"Thank you, Uncle," Elias once more thanked, making an emotional face as he hugged Victor.
"It's my pleasure, my lord."
After this, Elias sat in the carriage, with the maid taking a seat opposite, as they departed.
"Take care, Uncle."
Elias bid Victor farewell, as Victor did the same.
"I will, my lord. You should just enjoy this break with no worries."
Victor's eyes were curved due to his stretched smile as he watched the carriage in which his nephew sat, leaving. The two knights on both sides of the carriage followed it, on their horses, as the carriage rolled forward.
As the carriage left the gatehouse of the castle, and the gates closed once more, Victor's hand fell down.
"Ah," a satisfied breath escaped from his lips as he stretched his hands. Inhaling the air with his closed eyes, he opened them again. His dead black eyes stared at the gate, darkening as time went on.
A deep sense of exhilaration and thrill drowned him as Victor muttered.
"All of this. All of this." His smile stretched, tearing through his face as the air blew, fluttering his whitish-black hair. "It's mine now."
"Finally," he took a shaky breath, his chest heaving up and down, his body stuttering, as if he were addicted, and the air itself was intoxicating. His hands reached his face as he massaged it before dragging it upward. "It's mine. The day has finally come."
"Haha, finally."
Turning, he walked forward as the whole castle came into his view.
"Finally indeed."