As Axelius walked down the hallway with Elias following behind him, he noticed something peculiar.
Maids and butlers who had merely nodded in acknowledgment before were now bowing deeply, their voices respectful and clear.
"Good morning, Young Master Axelius," one maid greeted, her head bowed low.
"Young Master," another butler murmured, stepping aside to make room.
Axelius raised an eyebrow, glancing at Elias. Elias simply returned a calm smile, as if this was how things should have always been.
Behind him, Axelius heard faint whispers:
"Is that really Young Master Axelius?""Where's the shy young master we knew?""Did you see what happened? he slapped a maid just now... I didn't think he had it in him.""Since he lost his memories, he became... terrifying."
Axelius smirked at their murmurs but said nothing. He walked with his hands casually in his pockets, violet eyes gleaming with confidence. Elias followed behind him dutifully, his hands clasped neatly.
Finally, they descended the grand staircase, each step echoing through the marble hall. At the bottom, lined up perfectly in order, stood his siblings. From eldest to youngest, they were arranged in perfect formation, their expressions varying from indifferent to slightly curious.
To his right stood Cedric, his crimson hair neatly combed back, his gaze straight ahead. Behind Cedric, two maids and a butler stood with perfect posture, their eyes trained on the floor. Axelius couldn't help but notice the difference—his siblings all had at least three attendants each. Meanwhile, he only had Elias.
Axelius huffed but said nothing more. His gaze shifted back to the stairs as a butler stepped through carrying a tiny girl in his arms. Her hair was a bright shade of red, and she wore a frilly dress of white and gold. She blinked with wide, innocent eyes, clutching a small stuffed bear to her chest. Three maids followed closely behind, their hands at the ready to assist her.
"She must be Ellory," Axelius murmured, his gaze fixed on the little girl.
Elias nodded. "Yes, Young Master. Lady Ellory Dravenhart, the youngest of the Duke's children."
Axelius watched as the butler carrying her carefully stepped into formation, positioning Ellory beside him. The little girl looked up, blinking her big eyes at him before offering a shy smile. Axelius blinked, slightly caught off guard, but managed a small nod in return.
Just then, the grand hall doors swung open with a loud creak, and a voice rang out, clear and firm."Announcing the arrival of Lady Vivienne Dravenhart!"
The maids and butlers instantly straightened, bowing deeply as footsteps echoed across the polished marble. Axelius straightened his posture, hands still in his pockets but his expression calm and collected.
Lady Vivienne entered with an air of grace and authority. Her long crimson hair flowed behind her like a waterfall of fire, and her emerald eyes scanned the room with sharp precision. She was dressed in a gown of deep green silk, embroidered with gold patterns that shimmered under the sunlight streaming in through the tall windows. Her steps were deliberate, each one echoing power and elegance.
"Lady Vivienne," the siblings murmured in unison, bowing their heads slightly. Axelius mirrored the gesture, though his eyes stayed fixed on her.
Vivienne's gaze swept over each of them, pausing slightly when it landed on Axelius. Her eyes narrowed just a fraction, but she said nothing, merely continuing her stride to the head of the formation. The tension in the hall thickened, but Axelius remained still, his expression unbothered.
Elias leaned in and whispered, "Young Master, Lady Vivienne is the eldest and highly respected within the family. It would be wise to keep your composure."
Axelius snorted softly but gave a slight nod. "Yeah yeah, Got it."
Lady Vivienne moved through the grand hall with calm and grace. Her presence was strong, and everyone turned to watch her. Elias stood beside Axelius and quietly said, "Lady Vivienne was sent to the Kingdom of Valeria. It was a very important mission to make peace between the Dravenhart family and Valeria. For many years, the two were enemies."
Axelius's eyes followed her carefully. For a moment, he was stunned, unable to look away.
On Vivienne's shoulder, a bright red bird sat quietly. It was a small phoenix, its feathers glowing softly like flames. The bird's eyes sparkled as it looked around, calm but alert.
Elias continued softly, "She helped end the long war. Because of her work, the fighting stopped, and now the two families no longer fight."
Behind Vivienne walked a maid who seemed different from the others—quiet but confident which is the Superior maid.
Vivienne stopped in the middle of the hall. Her voice rang out, strong and clear. "Where is the Duke?" she asked. Her tone was serious and full of command. Axelius felt his cheeks grow warm, his heart beating faster from the power in her voice.
The superior maid bowed quickly and answered, "The Duke and Duchess are away on urgent matters, my Lady. They will return in one week."
Vivienne nodded once then turned and walked away.
Axelius let out a soft breath, still stunned. "Her voice... it's like fire," he said quietly.
Elias smiled kindly. "Lady Vivienne is very important to this family. She is strong and proud. She helped bring peace after many years of war."
Axelius burst into his room, slamming the door behind him with so much force that it rattled the walls. His eyes were bright with excitement as he shouted, "Owen! Owen! You're not gonna believe this! I just met the most beautiful lady here!" His voice was loud, practically echoing through the halls.
Owen, who had been dozing off quietly in the corner of the room, bounced up with a startled squeak. "Huh? What are you talking about?" he muttered, his voice groggy and confused.
Axelius marched over to the tall mirror near his bed, brushing back his long hair and inspecting his reflection with a wide grin. "Tsk, stop sleeping! As I said, my eldest sister arrived. Damn, Owen, if you only had eyes, you'd probably drool at her! I swear, she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," he gushed, his eyes sparkling with admiration.
Owen paused, then made a dramatic noise of disgust. "Gross, Hiroshi. She's your sister!" he protested, bouncing irritably in place.
Axelius rolled his eyes, turning back to the mirror and fixing his hair a bit. "Call me Axel, idiot. And she's my sister on my father's side, so it's not that weird. Besides...hey, Elias!" Axelius called out loudly toward the door, his voice carrying through the thick wood.
The door creaked open slightly, and Elias stepped inside, his posture straight and respectful. "Yes, young master?" he asked politely.
"How old is Vivienne again?" Axelius asked, turning with his hands on his hips.
"Lady Vivienne is nineteen, young master," Elias answered smoothly, his expression calm and unchanging.
Axelius's grin widened. "See! We're even in the same age!" he declared, practically bouncing on his feet.
Owen, who had been bouncing near the window, hopped up onto the ledge and let the sunlight hit him, his watery body shimmering faintly. "Nineteen on the inside, but outside you're a seven-year-old kid who's her youngest brother. Stop dreaming, Axel. It's really gross," Owen retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Axelius scoffed, flopping onto his bed and kicking his feet up. "Tsk, you just don't understand. Just wait till you meet her...you'll change your mind," he said confidently.
Owen made a noise that sounded like a bubble popping. "Yeah, yeah. Keep dreaming, Romeo," he muttered.