Conspiracy of The Silence

Tace

After the event with Cornelia, Blaire focused his entire thoughts into becoming the perfect son for the grand duke. But inside him the darkness that has haunted all the generations of the bloodline of the Konrad has grown stronger every moment. It was already threatening to swallow whole his identity and turn him into a vicious, heartless and conceited monster. Secretly, he has come to despise the man who has taken him away from the normal family he had once. As he grew, he longed for the peaceful relationship between his parents and loathed the hateful and silent living of the duke and duchess. As his mind matured he longed to be free of all the servants that follow him around. He wanted to be on his own and to be treated with an identity rather than just a chatelaine for the continuation of the duchy on the Konrads' hands. What embittered him the most was the fact that he never had a friend in all his life. The duke did not give him permission to be civil with the servants' children. He was also given strict orders that he is not to dally with the community folks. The duke always told him that if he was to govern these lands someday, the people must fear him, it is as he claims the only sign and toll for respect.

"What are friends Blaire, but people who are only good and accommodating to you because you are rich and famous? You can only have connections, and only of those from the same class as you are or if possible higher." Blaire remembered the duke telling him once.

Not that he approached these children, but even though he does nothing for some reason they seem to fear him already. And so over the years Blaire both basked and suffered in this treatment. He became aware that he was held in awe, but he still did not understand why. And because he did not know the cause he became more and more intimidating.

But once on his eleventh year Blaire decided to take a trip, and possibly alone, somewhere he can think clearly. Very early that day he asked his personal valet to pack a picnic box for him, and so the servant did as he said. The morning saw him biking in such an agonizing slow pace so that his many servants, who were walking behind, can follow him. He had decided on a beautiful spot situated inside the duchy's own forest. As he told his maids to unpack and arranged the place for his picnic he waited for the exact moment to execute his plan. When Blaire saw that they were all engrossed in preparing the area he slowly pushed his bicycle forward until he was out of their hearing and then pedaled faster until he can feel the breeze in his face. He felt the joy soar in him as blood rushed all over him as the excitement of his escape engulfed him. This new found freedom caused him to never even once consider all the servants who would befall the scolding of the duke for losing the young master.

That night the duke almost raised the roof in his anger. His awesome voice thundered over the servants who stood in cowed fear while their master was on his seat in his study and was insulting them for losing the young master. Blaire, on the other hand, was sitting on a corner couch and was not taking heed of the chaos that he, himself, has caused. His mind was taken up by the thing he witnessed that afternoon. He had asked his tutor for sports about it. At first his teacher was adamant and did not want to tell him about the sport.

"I am afraid, young master I cannot and will not teach you about it." The tutor said.

"I see, therefore I will ask another about it. Better yet, I will hire another tutor to teach me. Forgive me Mr. Quayle, but I have no need of your service after all." Blaire said imitating the duke's high handed manner. To his chagrin Mr. Quayle just smiled.

"Now, young master I believe the duke will not permit such rash action. I am amused by the way you spoke." and the man continued to laugh.

"How dare you laugh at me? I am Blaire Terrence Konrad and I am not to be insulted!"

Mr. Quayle sobered and looked at Blaire. "Forgive me young master, but to tell you the truth the topic you wanted to discuss with me was one of the things the Grand Duke ordered to never be included in your study. It is his choice and I am but a servant that follows."