Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74

~Chapter 8: Guest of Gwendolyn~

Leora woke in her bed the next day, bleary eyed with a wide yawn. She glanced around her empty room, trying to remember the previous night. She had such a weird dream that night; summoning a ghost just for her own art project? She laughed a little thinking about it. Surely she wasn't stupid enough to do something like that. She had faith in herself to actually be responsible and think about it before acting upon it. She stretched, hopping out of bed and skipping over to her bedside table, where Helga had put her morning outfit. Humming a happy tune she'd heard before, she started dressing herself, before brushing through her knotted hair. Leora made her way out of her room, skipping down the halls of the manor house until she made her way to the dining room. Henry sat there; wrinkling his nose at something he read in the newspaper, whilst furiously buttering a piece of toast; he had not noticed his sister's appearance.
Leora hummed aloud, sitting down opposite her brother," Good morning to you too, Henry!"
She flashed a cheeky smile at him. Henry glanced up from his paper, raising a slightly exasperated eyebrow.
"My, already so full of energy?" Henry leaned back in his chair," I thought you were tired from the party last night."
Leora scoffed," I'd hardly call it a party, dear brother."

Henry hummed in response, taking a bite out of his toast, before pointing his butter knife at her.
"I hope you thought about what I told you."
Leora tilted her head.
"About marriage."
Leora rolled her eyes, dramatically," Ugh, you sound like an old man!"
"I mean it, Leora," Henry muttered," Grandfather and Grandmother rarely see you and I'm about to get married myself. I can't be babying you your whole life."
Leora shrugged her shoulders, looking dull from the conversation. Henry studied her for a moment, before caving in with a sigh.
"Fine, fine, I'll give it a rest," Henry chuckled, taking another bite of his toast.
As Leora was helping herself to her own breakfast, the butler, Edward, came in. Edward, unlike stereotypical butlers, was decently young for the job and dashing. His father had been the original butler of the house, but died early at fifty four, leaving Edward to the house.
"Lord Henry, Lady Gwendolyn has come to see you. Shall I let her in?"
Lord Henry looked bored by this, he let out a loud sigh.
"If she must. Yes, yes, let her in; Edward."
The butler nodded, stepping out.
Henry grumbled, miserably to himself," Was last night not good enough for that social butterfly? I could do without the constant yapping of that old dog."

Leora rolled her eyes at her brother's sulkily attitude. He'd always been like that, charming in person, but miserable behind their backs. It was odd, the girl had the faintest sense of deja vu hearing that Lady Gwendolyn was visiting that morning. Though, it didn't seem unlikely that she'd done it before. After all, she was quite known for dropping in unexpectedly.
"So, Leora," Henry started, after all, Edward had not yet returned," Did you dream about anything odd tonight?"
Leora blinked herself out of thought, before grinning widely at her brother.
"I did actually!"
"Surprise, surprise..."
"Oh don't sound so bored, Henry. I promise you it was a funny dream this time. And it was the same guy."
"The same guy? Twice in a row?"
Leora smirked, leaning forward to tell him, like some sort of rumour," Yes! In my dream, I summoned him in a séance in the old drawing room on the third floor. And the funniest part was, it was all for the sake of my ar-"
The door opened again, and Lady Gwendolyn stepped out, looking quite bleak. Beside her, was someone Leora immediately recognised and made her story cut short. His long and dark hair, had been tied up into a ponytail. He wore a hanfu, except it somehow looked different to before. How did he even get another one? His boots were the same and he still had a piece of string tied around his finger, and she could finally see the one around his neck marking where it had been severed. Nevermind, she was stupid enough to do something like that! She had done it, it was no dream. She should have never had faith in herself to actually be responsible and think about it before acting upon it.

Kong Hun smiled, staring straight at Leora, almost mockingly; to Lady Gwendolyn's side.
Henry frowned, confused, wiping his mouth," Back so soon, Lady Gwendolyn? Who is this? Are you feeling alright, you look a little...upset?"
Of course, Kong Hun was using his manipulation on Lady Gwendolyn! Leora had realised how dull it made people go.
"She's fine!" Kong Hun smiled, gently patting Lady Gwendolyn's shoulder," Just a little under the weather."
He leaned down, for a sneaky whisper, winking," Just her time of the month, you know?"
Leora had to stop herself glaring at the ghost general.
Henry frowned, confused," Right..."
"I'm Kong Hun!" Kong Hun smiled, holding his hand out for Henry to shake.
The lord took it, raising an eyebrow; looking as if this was the last thing he wanted to do," A...er...pleasure...?"
"Kong Hun is a friend of Lord Bernard's, and now a friend of mine," Lady Gwendolyn stated, her tone quite rigid; Henry glanced at her," He's a young boy from China, nobility of that sort. He's infatuated with art, and I told him all about Leora."
Henry frowned, seemingly puzzled, pulling his hand away from Kong Hun," You told him about Leora...? Why?"

"She's a budding artist," Lady Gwendolyn hummed, sounding a bit more natural, clearly Kong Hun's manipulation had set in without him needing to do it; she was back to herself but now she believed it," It's such a great opportunity. Kong Hun wanted so desperately to be her subject. And he was so inspired by the sites here in the countryside. It would be cruel not to let him come, Henry."
Kong Hun turned to Leora, holding his hand out and bowing low with a cheeky smile.
"May I?"
Leora blinked at him in shock, before glancing away and gingerly giving him her hand, clearly much to her older brother's disapproval. Kong Hun took it, smirking as he pressed his lips against the back of her hand. Leora felt a blush creep upon her features, as she stared at him with wide eyes. He knew what he was doing, and she had to stay silent about it and pretend this was the first time she was meeting him. The kiss lingered a second longer, and he gently pulled back, turning to look at Henry.
"I hope you don't mind me staying here, my lord?" Kong Hun asked.

Henry looked skeptical, but he gave in with a half nod," I suppose. Edward will take you to your room. Leora draws at 9am till 2pm, you will join her during those hours. You will join us for meals too. It would also do you much good to not set a foot on the forth floor, even Leora steers clear of there; it is our grandparents floor. Lights out for you is at 9pm, we expect you to be in your room by that point. When you are allowed to exit your room in the morning, Edward will knock on your door. The rest of the day you can do whatever you want, as long as you stay away from the fourth floor and my office."
Kong Hun bowed with a nod, before leaving with Edward. Leora watched him go, before glancing down at the back of her hand, her gaze softening.