a gorgeous white by Heather_anare

278: Take me with you

"Jagra!" Moulin yelled, alarmed at the sight of his friend tumbling down the stairs. Moulin hurriedly leaped, eyes narrowing as he stretched out his hand to catch his falling friend.

Crack!

The crisp sound of breaking bone sounded. The wooden railing cracked and broke. Splinters flew in the air. Moulin was in time to catch his friend. However, he lost his footing, his heel slipping down the edge of the step. Suddenly, he felt a gust of wind brush his face. Strong hands caught his frame, and he felt his back rest on something solid. The beating of a heart pressed against him.

Hadrian stabilized the both of them and glanced at the missing part of the wooden railing. They were a few steps to the top of the staircase; the fall was quite dangerous. Golden eyes stared at Moulin, assessing the youth.

"Are you alright?" He asked. His voice is soft.

Moulin nodded unblinkingly. He turned to Jagra, noticing the silence of his friend. It turns out Jagra was too embarrassed to even utter a word.

"Your friend is quite... clumsy," Hadrian said.

Moulin restrained a glare when he noticed the pause between Hadrian's words. It was quite evident for Moulin that he was trying to think of something not offensive to describe Jagra. Moulin mentally rolled his eyes. Jagra flinched at the High Lord's words, feeling more and more embarrassed.

Finally, Hadrian settles them back to the top floor. As Moulin carefully placed Jagra down the floor, he heard his friend hiss. His right leg was bent at an odd angle, and once could understand the pain just by looking at it. Surprisingly, Jagra was calm, only hissing at every tiny movement.

Out of the blue, three pairs of footsteps approached their location. Pola, Varick, and Sarion overheard the noise and hurried to check the situation. Perhaps, it was Ghana trying to balance her way up the stairs with several bottles in her grasp. Unfortunately, it wasn't what they were expecting. The moment their eyes fell upon the three people. One is sitting on the floor and leaning back on the railing, one crouching in worry, and one wearing a solemn expression as he stared at the crouching person.

They froze in their place. The silence around them was hauntingly filled with shock. As though they were as stiff as statues. Varick, the calmer person of the three, was more frightened.

When Hadrian's golden gaze turned to them, they forgot to breathe.

Hadrian: "..."

It was Pola who first broke the silence. Lord Hadrian might have always intimidated her. However, she wasn't afraid of him. Nevertheless, she shared the same fear with the man: Not being able to see Moulin.

"Y-Young master!" She called and hurried to Moulin's side. Moulin began to explain what happened and was too distracted to greet the other two people in the area.

With wooden steps, Varick approached his master and bowed. "Greetings, My Lord..."

Hadrian tilted his head slightly. His expression didn't change. "I see you are immersing in your comfort. Good for you, Varick." There was a bit of ice in his voice.

Varick could feel his palms sweat. His Lord's favorite part of the day was returning to his quarters and spending the night with the love of his life. That was why whenever the sunsets, and he still isn't finished with his work, his mood would plummet to an impossible degree. Varick had felt the burnt of it several times already. To think that the High Lord wasn't relaxing in his chambers but accompanying the third young master for the night. It was understandable that his master would feel spiteful.

Sarion, who was standing a few meters behind Varick, swallowed. He only hoped his father never finds out about this.

Suddenly a particular person was gleefully carrying ten bottles of wine in her arms. She grinned like a pirate captain who had successfully obtained her treasure. Ghana emerged from the hall beneath the staircase while whistling. When she noticed the crowd above, her blue eyes blinked.