Beautiful Stillness ✔️

Chapter 13: Expensive Drinks

Chapter 13: Expensive Drinks

"The tea!" Lord Damond blurted out, breaking the tense atmosphere.

Ulysses shuddered as he was startled. [I am sorry, did I interrupt you with something?] He tried to ask as if nothing had happened, attempting to change the heavy ambiance.

"Oh, no, Ulysses. We are good!" The Lady Estella answered instead. She probably noticed how tense the men were.

[Then, I will have to go] Ulysses was about to leave when he hit a cup, causing the tea to overflow.

"Oh gosh! Are you all right?" the lady exclaimed worriedly.

"Ulysses..." Lord Damond's voice echoed in his mind despite its low volume.

Ulysses desperately bowed and signed, [I am sorry, I am fine. Please, do not worry about me. You can continue what you are doing, I am good.] He needed to get out of the place; he was about to cry.

"You were probably hurt!" Lord Edmund blurted out, grabbing the servant's hand.

Ulysses tried to take his hand back. [I am fine, my Lord. Please enjoy the morning.]

"What is going on here?" The Matron finally arrived, immediately questioning them. She walked past Ulysses and approached the elites. "My dear masters, why are you not having the served teas yet?" she asked, referring to the aristocrats.

"Good morning, Matron," Lord Edmund greeted and hugged her. That was probably how aristocrats greeted each other or other people; no malice in anything, they were just naturally sweet. That was why Ulysses should not give a different meaning if they paid attention to him or treated him well. They were probably just curious about him because he was mute; he would actually do the same if he were in their shoes.

Ulysses breathed a sigh of relief because Matron Aurora did not scold him, and her appearance had also broken the strange wind that had intervened between the three of them. Ulysses could not understand what wind had gone through them, but he was not comfortable and had no plans to understand anything further.

The Lady Estella offered a cup to Lord Damond, and the young master accepted it gracefully.

"What do you need, son?" The Matron asked the young master again, then gave Ulysses a questioning look. She seemed doubtful of the atmosphere.

"Whiskey, Matron..." Lord Damond replied.

The Lady Estella gasped and Lord Edmund giggled. It was too early to have whiskey! Why was Lord Damond asking for such a drink early in the morning?

"I will just order"

Lord Damond cut her off. "No, what else is my servant here for? He should probably get the whiskey for me, though he might get lost," he said and laughed. It seemed like Ulysses would get lost in search of his whiskey. He was never at the alcohol section; he roams around the mansion to clean, but he has never been in the room of spirits.

Matron Aurora turned to Ulysses. He could tell she did not want to let him go either, but she could not do anything because it was the young master who ordered it.

"There you go," she pointed to a door. The mansion was really huge and Ulysses was afraid what Lord Damond said would come true, that he would really get lost. "When you see an archive, of course it is not there. In the other chamber, there is a storage room, of course not there either. When you go straight, you will see a room of wines and alcohol. Just go in there and look for the whiskey."

Lord Edmund laughed at what the old woman said, while Lord Damond just leaned over Ulysses. He could do nothing but step toward the door the Matron indicated. When he looked back at them, they were back at the table enjoying the tea and talking to the old woman. Lord Edmund turned to him and smiled, and Ulysses was really quick to look away when Lord Damond looked at him as well, glaring.

His steps doubled as he walked down the quiet halls. Ulysses could not help but be amazed because there was nothing ugly in the place. The cream walls, tan brown doors and gold knobs, the highly sculpted designs of the windows, the curtains... everything feels awesome and good. He will never get tired of admiring the mansion personally renovated by the young master. He passed the library and actually saw the chamber of wines in front of the storage room. Its sliding door was open, announcing that wines were often taken in the area because the guests of the Theodores often drank expensive vintages.

Ulysses was already worried, and he became more anxious. When he entered, he was exposed to different types of alcohol. He could not determine which one to take or where the whiskey was located. Fortunately, the drinks were labeled. There was rum, vodka, whiskey, and more. Perhaps all kinds of spirits were actually present because there were so many. He went to the whiskey cupboard, but again he was discouraged because there was no whiskey stamp on the bottles. He did not know what kind of label to get there, though he was pretty sure the drinks were the finest whiskeys.

Ulysses was amazed to read the variety of whiskey there: Glendronach, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, Highland Park, Legend Bourbon, Ardbeg Traigh Bhan, Balvenie, Glengoyne Legacy Series, Colonel E. H. Taylor Amaranth.

Ultimately, he could not decide what whiskey he would take. Ulysses had no knowledge about spirits; he was actually surprised when he got there and saw the different types of drinks.

[Oh God] He sighed as someone squeezed his waist and slowly led him to another cupboard of whiskeys. Ulysses trembled as his heart pounded, especially when the person took one of his hands and guided him to reach for a bottle, Johnnie Walker.

"What is taking you so long?" The young master whispered in his ear. Ulysses almost fainted from nervousness. Why did Lord Damond come all of a sudden? He was not even prepared to avoid him. "I see, no idea about whiskeys, huh."

Ulysses shivered and unknowingly leaned against his young master's chest because he felt weak. Lord Damond's mouth traveled the intervening space to his ear, and in his very ear, he whispered. Ulysses swallowed as his young master tightened his grip on his waist and continued to guide his hand to reach the Johnnie Walker.

Ulysses trembled as he slowly reached for the drink. When he finally got it, he hugged it tightly so it would not fall because he was really weak in Lord Damond's presence.

"If you do not know what to pick, just get this one for me," Lord Damond whispered again in his ear. Ulysses crouched down and slightly avoided him, though he could not get out of his arms because the grip on him tightened even more. "You have to remember this, yeah?"

Ulysses swallowed and nodded. [Sorry,] he said against him.

"Too young, too innocent... I wonder how your mind acts so opposite of your looks."

Lord Damond let go of him and walked away sharply once Ulysses was no longer comfortable. He shuddered as he faced the young master and handed over the bottle he was holding. Lord Damond frowned at him and stared longingly.

"Now you know what my favorite drink is. This is what you will take when I order you again," he said and turned away from him.

Ulysses nodded quickly and repeatedly. This meant this was not the last time he would be ordered to do this. He closed his eyes tightly and sighed. Would he be tortured if he avoided him from here on? This was probably not right.

He breathed a sigh of relief as Lord Damond finally left him alone in the chamber. It was not really easy to collide with Lord Damond, especially now that he was confused about their relationship. He was not good for his health; he was not good for his heart. Ulysses stepped out while caressing his chest. It was still beating fast and unstoppable. Since then, Lord Damond never left his mind.

What is the meaning of this? Why is Lord Damond giving him red flags? This is too much for his fragile heart.

[Lord Damond... Why does loving you hurt so much?]