Algernon Black || The Rise of a God ||

(Chapter 148) Wishful Fear

"Hanagan," Mrs. Black called from the well worn kitchen table as she wrote on a pad of paper. "Make my eggs sunny side up."

The butler didn't turn around, but smiled. Sunny side up was only requested when the mistress was in a particularly good mood. "What's the occasion?"

"That girl." Mrs. Black grinned at her carefully curated list. "She might be the only person in this world that can save my son." Cecilia proclaimed before her smile lowered. "If he doesn't destroy it for himself."

Mrs. Black sipped at her morning tea while Hanagan's features failed to hide the concern.

Lucy meandered into the kitchen not too long after dressed in one of her nicer shirt and dress combos. Though nothing she owned was designed as a matching set, she was still able to pair the miscellaneous assortment together for a pretty but albeit plain outfit. And at least it was warm when the mornings had become so cold.

"Lucy," Mrs. Black sang.

"Good morning, Mrs. Black." Lucy bounced to a stop with hands politely crossed behind her back.

"And good morning to you, dear," Mrs. Black beamed back. "Would you like some tea or biscuits or anything?" Not waiting for an answer Cecilia used her powers to levitate over a basket of lemon poppy biscuits.

"Oh, thank you." Lucy sat down before her set plate and taking a bit of the tastiest biscuits of her life.

It reflected so in her shocked smile. It was so rare for Cecilia to be greeted with a smile in the morning, or really any time of day in her house.

Algernon stalked into the kitchen a few moments later, his hair still ungroomed and tangled from a deep sleep. Cecilia hadn't gotten anything other than a half-muffled morning from him since he went through puberty. Strangely enough though, as her son caught sight of Lucy, his shoulders lifted, and his cheeks lit with color.

Algernon angled his back to the woman as he grabbed his own cup of tea before chocking out a, "Good morning."

"Morning," Lucy said back, as she absentmindedly followed Algernon's every action.

Mrs. Black glimpsed the slight traces of red blooming on Lucy's cheeks and the way her gaze trailed her son until Lucy seemingly caught herself staring and shook herself out of it. She also witnessed her son not so stealthily stealing glancing at their guest over the sips of his tea. She chuckled at their poorly masked but oddly missed, subtle gestures of affection.

Mrs. Black rested her chin under laced fingers. "Algernon, do you mind going to town to pick up a few things for me?" She asked in a disarmingly sweet tone.

Algernon knew his mother was more than likely up to something when she tried to look as innocent as she did now, but he reluctantly agreed with a nod of his head.

"And Lucy." Mrs. Black's head swiveled to their guest. "Could you accompany him? There are a few things that require a woman's presence."

"Of course," Lucy said, excited. She'd explored many towns with her brother, but none in Emora besides the short stay in its capital.

Mrs. Black smiled at them both. "Fantastic. I'll have Hanagan get the carriage ready."

Hanagan suddenly wrung around from where he was still frying an egg, looking very frantic as he threw down the cast iron skillet and rushed outside still wearing his apron.

Lucy watched him running from the house thinking he took his orders perhaps a bit too seriously.

Algernon promptly over took his position at the stove, very casually as if this was a common occurrence. And as Algernon did, he saw the egg unscrambled. He glanced back at his mother, now certain she was up to something. He just didn't know what it was yet.