The Grey Storm

4

Behind Mansion doors
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Iseul walked into the Manor, greeted by the Butlers and servants who were clocking out by ten. Removing his work shoes and sliding into house slippers to see a pair of sock slippers was set aside from all the other house slippers. It was already past ten and normally he's the only one that is out this late. But lately Isamiona has been coming home later than him. Elijah nor Ethan know where she comes from and goes to, it as if she's a ghost.

His wife, Hyo was waiting by the sitting room. She always waited for him to come home from work, even if it meant losing sleep. Seeing her timid figure hunching over the settee reading a book, with a hand under her chin. This was a sight he longed to see when he came home from work or business trips, giving his briefcase to another butler, Mister Eris, before walking towards her loosening his tie. Leaning down to her level and kissing her forehead deeply, smelling her favorite perfume. "Welcome home love, how was work?"

"The usual. Same old, same old." nodding as she closed her book, moving up for him to sit. She sighed out in frustration, meaning something was on her mind. "Talk to me Butterfly, what's on your mind?" Iseul said sitting down beside her, putting an arm around her. "I don't know how to say. But I try, Isamiona is too. . ."

"Too?" cocking his brow in annoyance that his daughter from a previous marriage has been the talk for three days, the media is trying to leech from him any juicy scandal. People at the have been murmuring and gossiping about it through walls, it was really getting on his nerves. "What's wrong?" he asked tilting her head up with an index finger, "Isamiona is a complicated character, don't get me wrong, she's wonderful and was raised well. . ." bitting her lips, he waited for her to continue.

"She doesn't sleep in the Manor nor eat with us, the boys and her still call me Lady Rosemary—" placing her head on his chest letting a deep sigh out, stroking his stressed out wife's hair. Rubbing her back, smiling at how stressed out she is over petty issues, "There, there darling, wanna explain to me?"

Looking at the portrait of a beautiful woman, hanging against the wall above the settee. With dark brown skin and light hazel blue eyes, natural ashy-blue hair. She was in her early twenties with a little pale boy in her arms compared to her chocolate skin, the little boy clutched onto her looking the same way as her, the woman was very beautiful but had this intimidating aura coming from her. If it was to say she's a fierce lioness, willing to do anything to protect her little cub. Iseul looked at the portrait that Hyo was looking at and held her chin to make her look at him. "Something bad happened, she's so thin Iseul. I could feel every bone on her back and wearing a breastplate, she's in pain. Walking limp and using a cane or crutches,"

"She was in a car accident recently and got out of hospital a day after surgery, she's stubborn as a donkey but worse than a donkey." Hyo hit her husband's arm playfully as he chuckled at her pout, "I'm serious,"

"I know Butterfly,"

"Iseul, she doesn't want to talk to me. Am I bad?"

"No sweetie, Isamiona normally is talkative. I think her mother's death is still new to her, she's in grief." Hyo frowned looking at the portrait, "Iseul," he hummed. "Isamiona needs to be pulled out of the void she's drowning herself in, she needs light in her path."

"I know, she'll come out of it soon."

"No Iseul, Isamiona is still young. She still needs guidance, someone to listen to her with a meaningful ear. I don't understand why everyone judges her talkativeness, it's who she is.

"I can see she's a beautiful girl. Something bad happened and I can see it in her eyes, she hides it by using bad characters. I guess she learned it from you," Hyo got up straightening her dress then walked away, Iseul watched her. "What do you mean?"