LINEAGE

Chapter 2

The sun was shining brightly in the clear blue sky as Lucian, Katarina, and Elianna stepped out the front door of their mansion.

Their mansion was elegant and beautiful. It was made of white stone, with a gray tile roof and large brown wooden double doors on the front. The driveway was made of red brick with a large fountain in the middle. The driveway was surrounded by the beautiful front yard that was full of potted plants, bushes, nicely trimmed hedges, and trees scattered throughout. On the right side of the mansion was a small stable with two carriages out front and two caretakers outside, maintaining the area.

Katarina smiled warmly at Elianna and knelt in front of her. She ensured Elianna's small pink tennis shoes were tied and straightened her sundress. She moved to make the final adjustments to Elianna's hair when she looked at Lucian curiously.

"Are the carriages not ready yet?" Katarina asked.

Lucian, who was watching his wife and daughter lovingly, looked toward the stables. He sighed, seeing staff members currently getting horses harnessed to the carriage. "No," Lucian said, sounding irritated. "It seems that they aren't. They're still harnessing the horses."

Katarina smiled a little humorously, knowing how impatient her husband can be, "I'm sure they will be done soon."

"Still," Lucain grumbled as he crossed his arms and watched the stable staff members like a hawk. "They should know better by now."

"Well, staring at them is not going to make them move any faster," Katarina jested. Katarina stood up and reached out to Elianna, who gleefully took her hand. "I'll go ahead and walk Elianna to Isabelle's. Just have my carriage driver meet me at her residence."

Without taking his eyes off the stable workers, Lucian nodded. Katarina chuckled at her husband before giving him a light kiss on the cheek. Lucian looked at her and smiled affectionately, watching her walk off with Elianna.

Katarina held onto Elianna's hand as they left the front yard of their mansion and entered the large cul-de-sac where they lived. At the edge of their property, to the side of the entrance, was a sign with their mansion address and their last name, "Vail residence," written on it.

The cul-de-sac was large, with the Vail's mansion at the end of it. Nine Mansions that housed nobility were built all along the cul-de-sac, with one mansion on either side of the Vail residence and six more mansions going down the cul-de-sac road, three on each side of the road, until the cul-de-sac merged onto the main thoroughfare. The road itself was made of smooth gray cobblestone.

Making a left turn out of their residential property, Katarina smiled at Elianna, "Are you excited to see your friends, sweetie?"

Elianna nodded energetically, "Yeah!" She smiled competitively, "I hope we play tag again. This time, I will get Tyler and win."

Katarina looked at Elianna humorously, knowing she could be a little aggressive when it came to playing games, as she didn't like to lose. "Well, try not to get your dress dirty. Last time, you were covered in dirt."

Elianna looked to the side and pouted, "I fell. Then stupid Tyler tagged me."

Katarina's lips curved down as she tried not to laugh, "Ah. So that's why you were so sour yesterday."

Elianna looked at her mom inquisitively, tilting her head slightly to the right, "Sour?"

"It means you were in a bad mood," Katarina informed.

Elianna hummed, looking down, and mouthed 'sour' at herself. Katarina laughed lightheartedly as she watched her daughter, and they continued their way down the cul-de-sac. They walked for some time, making their way past the first two mansions on the left, and approached the middle mansion.