Disappearance of Roselei Hawthorne

Chapter Two

"I... I suppose." Lillia wasn't sure how else to respond. This was Gideon After-Frost, heir to the After-Frost fortune! She knew she couldn't tell him no, but she also wasn't sure what a conversation with him would entail.

"Good. I wanted to apologize for my father's behavior." Gideon bowed to Kallen and Lillia, but only slightly. He didn't want his family to see him bowing down to someone who was 'beneath' him.

"You want to apologize?" Kallen raised an eyebrow. "But we were the ones who bumped into you!"

"Maybe so, but it was an accident." Gideon pointed out. "Why should I be angry with you over something you didn't mean to do?"

"Well... I guess you've got a point there." Kallen folded his arms across his chest. "Auntie Lillia? What do you think?"

Lillia, who had barely spoken a word since Gideon approached them, was beginning to turn slightly pale. She was in shock.

"B-but... I don't understand... " She finally spoke. "You want to apologize to us? But I thought you were an After-Frost?"

"And what does my family name have to do with anything?" Gideon looked a little confused.

"It's just... its just... " Lillia stuttered.

"I think what she means to say is that the After-Frost family isn't exactly known for apologies. Even if they are warranted." Kallen finished Lillia's sentence for her.

"I see." Gideon pushed his white-framed glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Then I suppose you might call me the black sheep of the family. You're not wrong, my father isn't the best at apologizing when the situation might call for it, but I'm not my father."

"True, but you have it admit its a little out of character for you to apologize." Kallen pointed out.

"Bold words for someone who doesn't even know me." Gideon chuckled. "It may be out of character for me to apologize in your mind, but that's only because you've built a caricature of me in your mind based entirely off of my father's demeanor. And as I previously stated, I'm not my father."

"R-right... sorry." Kallen was slightly surprised by how quick-witted Gideon was. Shoot, I didn't mean to offend him or anything. I hope he's not mad, Kallen thought to himself as his cheeks turned pink with embarrassment.

"Don't worry about it. Now, if you would, follow me." Gideon began to walk off and motioned for Kallen and Lillia to follow him.

"Where are we going?" Kallen asked sternly. He held out his arm to prevent Lillia from following Gideon.

"Kallen, c'mon. He's nice. We can trust him." Lillia patted Kallen's shoulder comfortingly. "But," she said as she turned to Gideon, "I too would like to know where we're headed."

"I'm taking you to the second story. There should be an available room for us to talk in." Gideon explained.

The second floor of the Grand Hall was a place that very few witches had seen. It was only accessible to wealthy families, and occasionally the guests of said wealthy families. From what Kallen had been told, the second floor resembled an inn. There were short hallways branching off in several directions, and several rooms along each wall. There were ballrooms, bedrooms, and all sorts of other private places for royals and nobles alike to spend their time in. Lillia suspected there might even be a restaurant up there too.

"The second floor, huh?" Lillia eyed it with interest. "Even Roselei Hawthorne herself never got to see the second floor of the Grand Hall."

"Roselei Hawthorne. Haven't heard that name in a long time." Gideon gave a slight nod to the guards, who then allowed them to head up the stairs.