Twain : You Two

.4

Countess Violan, the second wife of Deruth, recalled the times she heard the humor for the first time.

'The Family of Henituse County originally have two children.'

She remembered talking it out with Deruth. She's his wife now, she have the right to know of what's happening in their surrounding, more so in their territory.

It was one fine autumn, with the blossoming spring almost approaching.

As always, the two head of Henituse County is as busy as ever, that's why Violan suggested to take a break even for a while. They were having their tea time in the garden, leisurely sipping on their expensive teacup as they watch in the distance their 9 years old son Basen indulging the baby Lily into playing.

The laughter and giggles disguising as their background music.

"Dear, have you heard of that one certain interesting rumor? I wonder if you can give me answer regarding that." Because her hair is neatly tied into a bun, Violan can feel the breeze swaying in her exposed nape.

Violan wasn't really expecting something. She doesn't mind it actually, she's just asking it to tease Deruth a little. Wether it's true or not, she will welcome it with open arms.

However, if eve the rumor's true, why was the child hidden in the first place? And the servants don't even know anything. It's like someone never existed in the first place. Even if you try asking them, they don't have any clue. Did something horrible happen enough to conceal it's existence? Because death is the only thing she can think of, of why Deruth is adamant on not leaking the information out. Maybe, this average looking Father don't want someone to remind his melancholy past.

Count Deruth stilled on his seat. It didn't get unnoticed in the eyes of Violan that's why she also froze on her seat.

She elegantly placed her teacup atop the intricate carved table despite her trembling hands. The teacup let out a click sounds, it oddly sounds loud in their ears for some reason.

"Dear?" She called out the blank man.

Count Deruth heave a deep sigh before leaning in to grasps her hands into his hold. The man's hand is bigger than her, she saw how her hands was fully covered in his carefully fisted palm.

"Violan, you're my Wife now, someone I'll spend the rest of my life with." Deruth started, staring straight into her eyes.

Violan doesn't quite understand why Deruth is saying this but she kep her silence. She nodded, also looking straight in his eyes, as she patiently waited for his husband to reveal the truth.

"And because you're someone special to me, I don't want to keep a secret from you nor do i want to keep you in the dark." He shakes his head, brown hair gently shook as he intertwined their hands.

"Yes, Violan. I..no, w-we originally have two children.." Deruth looks like he'll choke on his words, he's struggling to unravel the truth however he seems so relieved that he finally said it to her.

"Yes, Dear, continue. I'm listening." She wriggled their intertwined hands as she softly nodded her head.

"You know that my late wife, Jour, have died in an accident in the Harris Village. Right?" Deruth's shoulder trembled.

"Of course, i know." She replied.

And Deruth dropped the bomb.

"And my eldest son also died that time."

Violan is frozen cold on her seat as she blank out.

Deruth squeezed his eyes shut, the trembling in his shoulder shook even more as he put strength on their intertwined hands to seek comfort. He struggles to keep his composure as he continues to ramble and let out his emotions.

"M-My firstborn went to accompany Jour because h-he seems worried and restless regarding his mother's health. A-And then, a-and then... all what's waiting for us in the end is-- the carriage was f-flipped over near the hill, almost falling over..." Deruth keeps hiccuping, he tried not to cry but his eyes betrayed him. The tears keep falling, quickly explaining.

Violan stood in her seat, she forced her shaking legs to walk towards Deruth. She envelop her husband in a soothing and warm embrace.

"J-Jour, the lovely woman i once loved, was severely i-injured. A-And my son, oh my god, my firstborn..sobs.. h-he was missing, he fell in the hill...How are they expecting my son to survive that hill?!"

The conversation they have that time end with Violan comforting the grieving Deruth.

The accident in the Harris Village indicates that someone, or rather a big group of people ambushed the carriage. But they don't have a proof, or a lead to arrest the criminals. They were always rounding in a circle, always back in a square one at the end of the day.

Madam Jour have injury beside the injury she got from the carriage. They didn't know it that time, but years later, they found out that Jour died with her plate getting destroyed.

The child, the firstborn, was never found. All the things like clothes or shoes was found in the depth of the hill, they never give up and search every day until it rounds up in a year. But the place of incident was bathe in blood, therefore it's impossible for the child to survive. It's either the child was captured in the hands of the enemy or he died when he fell in the hill.

Deruth was so angry at himself for that time. He felt useless and powerless, what's the use of being rich when you can't protect your family? It's just so stupid.

So in return, he tried his best to tend on his youngest. He gave his remaining son, Cale Henituse, all attention and love he deserved. He tends to him, showing him affection, even shunning his works away when Cale is sick or is mourning after the death of his Mother.

That's all Deruth could do. To love his son.