Oh Cecilia!

Chapter Three

Ian Glynn was a confident man. He knew what he wanted and how to get it. He wasn't the type to wait around for a miracle, he would rather charge into the battlefield. Which was probably why he simply rolled eyes at himself when he woke up in an unfamiliar house with a severe headache. 'Oh great, what did I do this time?' Ian groaned and tried his best to remember last night's event.

***

Ian was at the tavern on the edge of the capital, where less people knew who he was. While drinking and catching up with his old friend Osha, he heard a rumour being passed around. Rumours were his bread and butter so he had no trouble distinguishing between meaningless chatter and juicy information.

"Has that crazy widow found a tenant yet?" someone muttered.

"In that expensive looking corner shoplot? Hah! I doubt it. Have you seen the price she put? 'Can be negotiated' -yet it costs almost a month's worth of salary! I bet she doesn't know the economy nowadays and just randomly put a number in" 

"She won't find anyone willing enough to pay, and those rich nobles won't go near the widow's property unless they're willing to put their reputation on the line!"

They laughed as their glasses clinked. Ian, half drunk already was listening intently. He heard a few rumours circling about the widow who just moved in Fair street but it never peaked his interest till now.

"Osha, what's this rumour about a widow lately?" Ian asked his friend. 

"Sometimes, I think you're obsessed with random gossips. Even in the academy all you did was listen in on people. It's a bad habit you know," Osha fixed his crooked glasses. His face was red, but he wasn't drunk yet.

"Old habits die hard. Now tell me old friend. You live near Fair street, yes? You must know something."

Osha sighed, "Remember Baron Hughes?"

"That old skeleton who owns a couple of properties here and there? Quite a philanthropist, I heard."

"Yes, he passed away recently leaving all his properties to his nephew Gerald. Fortunately he managed to write in his will about Lady Cecilia, his wife."

"Another charity case I assume? He never took in a wife before. Why now in his old age?" Ian scoffed. He remembers the old baron. A nice chap, plenty of money and friends. 

"Probably. From what I've heard, Cecilia's family is a noble line that lives on the edge of Mount Pinewood. They lost all their money when the mines they inherited collapse. It's not far fetch to assume the old Baron took in Cecilia to help the family. He has done many other charity works before," Osha shrugged, "Anyway, before he passed away he gave one of his property to Cecilia. She is now letting out one of the room upstairs. Probably to sustain her rich life from before, with the price she put up."

"And nobody is taking it?"

"Not with that price she won't. Plus people like us should steer away from being involved with her. That's a scandal waiting to ignite," Osha soon regretted his words. He could see Ian's eyes shined with excitement as soon as the word 'scandal' came out. Knowing Ian all these years, Osha could tell from that glint that he was about to do something incredibly stupid again.

"No wait-" Osha tried to correct himself but Ian was already standing up. He made up his mind in that instant and decided to pursue it immediately. Ian's head was spinning and he quickly grabbed the table to stabilize himself.

"Thanks mate. Oh, would you look at the time? I need to go now," Ian said as he stride towards the door.

"No you don't," Osha begged as he tried to catch up with Ian. Unfortunately, Ian had long legs and a much more fit physique that he had. They were both tipsy but Ian paced with ease while Osha stumbled about. He cursed his multi-talented friend. If Ian wasn't so good at everything he could've gotten into big trouble a long time ago with his reckless behaviour. Osha is a loyal friend, so whenever this type of situation occurred he tries his best to help mitigate the problem.  So there he was, desperately following Ian out of the tavern.