Mᴀʀʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴜᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ sᴀᴠᴇ ᴍʏ ᴄᴀᴛs!?『ɴᵉᵘᵛⁱˡˡᵉᵗᵗᵉ ˣ ʳᵉᵍʳᵉˢˢᵒʳ!ᴍʳ』

VII

Tʜᴜɴᴅᴇʀ, ʀᴀɪɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ʟɪɢʜᴛɴɪɴɢ

M/n sighed as he asked for Clorinde to wait outside of the door while he spoke to his mother. Clémence; M/n's younger sister, runs off to explore the large garden.
"What has you so vexed Mother? You normally don't leave that man's side."

"That man is your father... Unfortunately. I would rather not be near as your father says something inappropriate to the chief of justice."M/n rolls his eyes at this and takes a seat, his mother does the same.
"Then why did you come? Though you gave birth to me you weren't very present in my life. Soon Clémence will know that pain...Then she'll learn the truth of how much you loath that man and that you were sold off to marry him. How could you allow me to be subjected to the same faith?"M/n asked more or less for closure yet he felt that he wouldn't get an answer.
"It's not like I wanted this to happen to you."

"Oh? Seems like you could care less."

"Trust me, if I had it my way, I would have married the man that I loved."Her voice came out tired and airy, annoyed even. This tone wasn't one he heard before, he was used to her indifference but now there was some actual emotion to it.
"You at least love Clémence, right?"

"Of course I do, I love you very much too but the well in my heart is like the desert in my homeland...Vast and dry... However, I believe that the love in your heart will never grow as dry as mine has...Ah, it seems your dumbass father has annoyed Monsieur Neuvillette."M/n blinks at this quick change of topic, his mother's gaze now pointing in the direction of the glass walls of the greenhouse.
"A thunderstorm? How's that possible when it rarely rains-"It suddenly clicked for M/n, the sudden mention of Neuvillette and the rain he experienced the day he brought his cats!

He jumps up accidentally knocking his chair back and rushes to the main sitting room where Neuvillette and Baptiste; his father, are.
"Soon my son, you'll understand what we are too..."

"Mommy mommy!! What's wrong with M/n? He gave off a different scent when he left the area."Clémence rushed over with three flower crowns in her hand. Unlike the rest of the girls in the family, Clémence had her mother's cold silver eyes but he father's Lilac colored hair.
"He's going to fix an issue your father is causing at this moment."

"Is father really that stupid?"

"Unfortunately. Make sure you give your flowers before we leave, Mademoiselle Clorinde could you lead us to the sitting room?"Clorinde steps into the greenhouse and nods but she quickly asks the question that lingered after hearing what M/n's mother said.
"Madame.."

"Laila."

"What did you mean by soon?"Laila chuckles, commenting that Clorinde had extremely sharp ears if she heard what was said under her breath.
"Have you ever noticed how strange the aura we give off is? Like an ever-lasting stillness that soothes the soul?"

🫧🫧🫧

When M/n reaches the sitting room he is out of breath and tries his hardest not to glare at his stupid smug father.
"Father!!"M/n's winded voice sternly calls out surprising both older men and the staff nearby.
"Yes?"

"Shouldn't you be heading off with Mother and Clémence right about now? Neuvillette and I had prior engagements today before you suddenly came over after a same-day notice."There was a noticeable harshness to his words that distracted Neuvillette enough for the pounding rain to slow just a bit.

The hydro dragon stands up from his seat to check on the tired man.
"Why did you run here? Where's Clorinde?"

"*Huff* Left her with my mother and sister. Hold on, I forgot that I don't run often since I was a diver before this."Neuvillette leads his contact lover to the seat and orders the butler to bring a cup of water.
"You should have sent Clorinde instead."

"As if she could stop you from flooding the pond in the garden outside. I only ran because I knew I had to get to you fast. Whew, you'll only catch me running if it's this dire..."