"Your family wishes to hear your voice..."
The winds of the seas were loud and forceful. However, the youth with dazzling eyes of silver could hear nothing. His ears were absorbing those words, and his mind, torturously slow, processing it with all its might-heartbeat quickens. A strangling sensation imprisoned his heart, but a river of relief and disbelief pours into its emptiness. Moulin could not believe what he was hearing. His small mouth parted, but no words were spoken. Not even a whisper.
His family wanted to hear from him again? What does this mean? Are they... Did they want to talk to him about something? Perhaps, question him? To once again reprimand him, is that it?
Or...
Did they just want to know how he was faring?
Moulin's pupils quivered. His heart ached. His departure from his home was most painful. He acted so arrogantly and confident before he left. Do they hate him?...
Guilt filled Moulin's chest. Did he hurt them?
His thoughts ran chaotically. It filled his mind painfully, making him more and more distressed. It was Hadrian who brought him back to the present with his deep worried voice.
"Moulin?" Lord Hadrian said. The golden rings within his eyes deepened in color once he saw the distressed expression on his beloved's face. Quickly, he gently caressed Moulin's cheeks. The softness of the youth's skin glided on his rough knuckles. Hadrian helplessly stared at his lover, whose tears threatened to fall. "Are you not happy? If you don't want to, you can decline. They wouldn't blame you."
Hadrian explained softly. 'But of course, that would be more pleasing.'
"I..." Moulin furrowed his brows. The tremble of his fingers on the Lord's back was evident. "I... Why? W-Why do they want to talk to me?"
Hadrian exhaled. The worry on his eyes deepened. "I do not know... "
"..." Moulin clenched his fists. His gaze lowered while he pressed his lips together. He didn't know how to face his family. He didn't know what to say to them when he meets them again. Will his brothers give him those looks of disbelief and horror? Will his father be disappointed with him?
"They will not hate you..."
Silver eyes widened at Hadrian's words. Moulin lifted his gaze to meet the lord's golden gaze. The wind whooshed past the balcony. Curtains fluttered, sun catchers twinkled, and the sound of crashing waves faintly noised.
"They won't?"
Hadrian smiled. "How could they hate you? They love you so much. Don't worry..."
Slightly appeased, Moulin unblinkingly released a faint sigh. Although he was barely comforted, he trusted Hadrian's word. Moulin lowered his head and let the tall man embrace him, slowly relieving his heart.
After a moment of hesitation, Moment finally spoke. "When?..."
"Whenever you are ready..." Hadrian nuzzled his head in Moulin's hair, and he slowly stroked the youth's back. Moulin could not see his expression. An expression of cold indifference. "You will be communicating through the one of the relics in the treasury. They could not visit us, nor can you visit them..."
Moulin opened his eyes wide, and he lifted his head. "Why?"
Within a few seconds, Lord Hadrian Hercullio scrutinized Moulin's expression. He truly loathed the people that had captured Moulin's attention. Finally, he knitted his brows and sighed as if he could not bear to keep the answer any longer. "The Kron has breached the estate. Ten knights perished altogether a yesterday. The estate is restricted. Imperial sentinels have taken over."
