Silent Heart

Chapter 11

Earlier...

As Leo returns to the manor from an important errand, what he plans to do is check on Abelia and propose an outing around town. He would use his familiar, which took the form of a shadow, and scoured its way towards her room.

There, he discovers her and his mother together over breakfast and grows curious about whatever intention she has with her. Though her shadow would do its best to keep his familiar out, he discovered that his mother wished to teach Abelia the ropes regarding the nation's aristocracy and mentally admitted to some truth to her words.

Given his status as heir of the Crawford Family, he wouldn't always be there to protect Abelia against potential threats and recalled his disdain towards Abelia's excuse of a mother and distasteful sister.  

Therefore, she'd benefit from his mother's offer since she knows the ins and outs of female aristocracy. But what surprised him was that in return, Abelia would view her as her loving mother, a rather childish request especially when Leo stifled himself from snickering at the thought.

Then again, it wouldn't hurt for his mother to take that role herself since Abelia deserves better than her treatment under the De'Chaulet House. 

As he continued to eavesdrop upon their conversation, he soon heard his mother's voice, "I thought I taught you not to eavesdrop, Leo. She may be your fiance, but that doesn't mean you can look out for her from afar. Come see me later,"

Leo just sighed and recalled his familiar. Knowing his mother, he'll be expecting a lecture from her. But while he's on that topic, he may as well get an opinion of her proposal to Abelia.

Manor Garden...

As Leo arrived, he found his mother tending to a batch of geranium flowers since they were her favorite since childhood. She didn't need to turn to her son, for she felt his presence when he stepped within her vicinity, "Leo,"

"Mother," Leo greeted back, "You wish to lecture me?"

"No, I wish to speak with you," Esmae clarified as she put down her watering can, and finally turned to her son, "About Abelia, that is,"

"What about her?" Leo questioned,

"When I first sent my shadow to study her origin, much like your father, I had them spy on Abelia of her activities as she stayed at our home. As timid as she appeared to be, I didn't expect her of all people to make Silas feel so childish, especially with their little coin game and snack feeding," Esmae remarked, then she giggled to herself when recalling her son's reaction,

Leo also finds his brother's reaction amusing as well, especially when he teases Abelia by nibbling her fingers as she offers that biscuit the other day. Though he stifled his amusement as he got back on track with the important topic, "So what do you think? Does Abelia fit your expectations?"

"Not yet but find her presence and character quite appealing, but what do find distasteful is that family of hers. How dare they treat such an innocent girl with such contempt," Esmae bluntly remarked, "And she's their firstborn? How atrocious of them,"

"From what I've been able to pull from certain sources, Abelia's mother, Carine De'Chaulet is from the Dolion Family," Leo revealed, "A relatively small family with a Count as the head. However, when De'Chaulet and Dolion had their children under an arranged marriage, Gram was made a Marquis a year after he married Carine,"