LUNAFEY

CHAPTER 29

After Belmont left, Angus came upstairs to inform Cedric of Belmont's departure. I followed behind Angus, hoping Araminti hadn't told Cedric about my pregnancy. Cedric maintained a straight face when Angus broke the news.
"Let's leave then," he said. With our bags in both arms, I accompanied them. Araminti commented, "Wonder why you need to pack so much.
You're going to our brother's estate; they've got everything there, you know." She finished her sentence flatly. Cedric retorted, "Eh, not everyone is a freeloader like you, Araminti." Araminti just threw her hands up in the air.

Upon arriving downstairs, we found Bay sitting alone by the fireplace, his shoulders slumped, while Maël and Marie had already finished packing and stood nearby.
Cedric approached Bay, his head tilted to the side, and asked, "Bay, why are you sitting there, looking so dejected?" Bay's expression transformed as he excitedly rose from his seat. "You wanted me to come as well?" he asked, hurrying towards us.
Just then, a knock at the front entrance interrupted the moment. Everyone's gaze shifted towards the large castle doors. Angus volunteered, "I'll see to it," and walked towards the door. "Probably the delivery man," he muttered, pausing almost at the entrance. He turned back to Cedric and inquired, "What do we tell him, Master Richer?" Cedric remained silent, following Angus instead.
As they opened the door, a chorus of greetings and pleasantries filled the air. Cedric maintained his signature stern look, a expression he always wore when dealing with outsiders.
I wondered why people still came to his sanctuary, despite his intimidating demeanor.
"Richer!" The man exclaimed, his excitement palpable as he enveloped Cedric in a warm hug. Cedric responded dryly, "Yeah, yeah, good to see you too, Author," pulling the man away from him.
The man turned towards us, waving enthusiastically. "It's a full house, more than I've ever seen," he observed, his gaze darting between Cedric and our group. Then, he bowed, addressing someone behind me. "Your Highness." I turned to look, wondering who had caught his attention.
Araminti and Bay smiled, their eyes sparkling with amusement. I pondered, was it Araminti or Bay who held royal title? Someone in our midst was royalty, but I had no idea who.

"Ah, you're going to confuse poor Luna with all your rambling, Author," Cedric said with a hint of amusement, placing his hand on Arthur's shoulder. "Let's see what you've brought, shall we?".
He led Arthur towards the door, slightly dragging him along. "I should bring them inside," Arthur protested, trying to break free from Cedric's grasp.
Cedric shook his head firmly. "Thing is, we're going on a trip, and we don't know when we'll be back. So, I'll have to trouble you with taking all of this," Cedric explained, his expression turning serious. "You can give them to your family, friends, whoever you like, As you can see, we're on our way out." Arthur nodded understandingly. "You arrived rather early this time," Angus said,  "Yeah, my wife's family came visiting, and I was going to ask Cedric if they could come around," Arthur said, turning to Cedric. "Well, next time," Cedric replied, his tone surprisingly warm and gentle, completely different from his usual cold demeanor.
"Well, we should be off," Cedric said, walking towards me and taking my hand in his.
"That's Arthur,", Cedric said to me, "he brings me whatever I ask for, so I don't have to leave the castle often," he explained, leading me away. "From books to clothing and foodstuffs, he's always reliable."
"But Cedric, I didn't get to pack anything," Bay  said cutting in, his enthusiasm waning.
"Don't worry, you'll have everything you need at my brother's estate," Cedric reassured him.

Bay scanned our luggage, his eyes widening. "You've got quite a lot of stuff there, don't you?" he asked.
Cedric's response was cryptic. "Just some things I might not find there." Bay raised an eyebrow. "Might?" he repeated.
Cedric let go of my hand, picked up the bags, and handed them to Bay, who reluctantly accepted them. "He hates to impose," Araminti said with a knowing smile. "Are we going or what?" she asked, pushing open the massive black door with golden filigree. A chill and mist escaped, accompanied by a whooshing sound.
"Don't forget to lock up, Angus," Cedric instructed, and I found myself wondering about Angus's story - how he ended up serving Cedric.
Cedric grasped my hand, his eyes locking onto mine. "Ready?" he asked. "The first experience is always overwhelming," he warned.
I smiled, feeling a sense of familiarity. "I always seem to have a lot of first experiences with you," I said, and Cedric's face didn't waver from mine. "And I mean that in a good way," I added, earning a gentle smile from him.
The door creaked open, revealing a misty expanse. As we stepped inside, Bay followed closely behind us. The vast space stretched out before us, punctuated by numerous doors. I glanced nervously over my shoulder, concerned that the others might get lost in the mist. "Don't worry about Bay, he's done this before," Cedric reassured me, his smile soothing. But what about the twins? I wondered, my mind drifting to Maël and Marie.

"I believe the door we want is the north door, up there," Cedric said, pointing as we ventured further into the mist. The air cleared, revealing lush green grass beneath our feet, and the sweet scent of flowers filled the air. With a few more steps, we found ourselves standing on an ice bed, surrounded by gently falling snowflakes. I halted, gazing up at the delicate flakes dancing around me. The beauty of the moment captivated me, and I felt no chill, only wonder. At that instant, Cedric released my hand, allowing me to fully immerse in the enchantment. I sensed he wanted me to savor that moment, to let its beauty wash over me.
I turned to Cedric, who was radiant with his most beautiful smile.
Over his shoulder, I saw Araminti opening the only door in the midst of the vast ice bed - a glasslike door adorned with delicate snowflake patterns. "Shall we?" Cedric asked, taking my hand again.
As we strolled further, the scenery remained unchanged, but Araminti waited patiently in front of the door.
"I'm so hungry, Cedric," she said, her voice lighthearted. The three of us - Cedric, Araminti, and I walked in, followed by Bay and the twins, who trailed behind, their eyes wide with wonder, scanning the surroundings with awe.
Their mouths were agape, and their heads turned from side to side, taking in the sights. They seemed even more surprised than I was.
Upon entering the door, we stepped directly into a grand, all-white hallway. People bustled about, carrying books and trays laden with an assortment of food - fruit baskets, delicacies, and more. The aroma of various cuisines filled the massive room, Al I could think of was food, my mouth watering.

Before us stood a tall, handsome man with long silver hair, despite appearing to be in his late thirties. His all-white robe was elegantly designed with intricate aquamarine lines, and his striking golden eyes sparkled with warmth. His facial features were remarkably similar to Cedric's, a testament to their familial bond. I surmised that this must be the brother they had mentioned, given the uncanny resemblance. The only notable difference was his hair color, and the absence of the signature black attire that the other three wore.

Beside the man stood a woman with beautiful, long blonde hair, reminiscent of my own. "Sybil!" the man exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. He strode forward, embracing her warmly. "I've missed you," he said, holding both her hands tenderly. "North!" she replied, her voice trembling as she sniffled, on the verge of tears. "I've missed you too," she whispered, her emotions raw and genuine.

The woman stepped forward, her eyes warm with welcome. "We've been waiting all day for your arrival, Araminti," she said, placing a gentle hand on Araminti's shoulder. "Mauve, I'm so happy to be back home," Araminti replied, her voice filled with affection.

Just then, the man, North, turned to address the others. "Richer, Bay, and... Angus," he said, noticing Angus's arrival through the door. "I see you've brought guests with you, Richer," North observed, his gaze drifting to Cedric's hand still holding mine, he smiled

"long story," Cedric said, North gave a wider smile with a hint of curiosity. Cedric remained unfazed, "Then tell me all about it," North said to Cedric, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.

Cedric introduced us, his hand still clasped around mine. "This is my older brother, North," he said to me. "And this is Luna." North's smile broadened as he welcomed me. "Welcome to the family, Luna."