Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74

~Chapter 10: Tea with Lord Henry~

When Leora had finished with her art for the day, Kong Hun had asked to see it. With a great amount of frustration, Leora had refused and held it protectively to her chest, claiming it was bad luck for him to see it before it was finished. Kong Hun tried to argue with her, but the girl rambled on about needing to go elsewhere and scurried off before he could catch her. So, considering he was now left to his own devices, Kong Hun decided to investigate the manor a bit more. He wanted desperately to dig up dirt on that loathsome brother and Leora's. Kong Hun knew that Henry did not like him, and in all honesty, Kong Hun liked Henry possibly even less. So, the ghost aimlessly wandered through the halls, searching in rooms for anything that spoke of the family or its past. But, the only thing he really seemed to find was washed up portraits of their childhood days. Henry had been dressed up dashingly in each image, with his usual thoughtful and thoughtless frown; with Leora at his side, who looked much softer in nature than her brother, even when the portrait had forced her to frown. Kong Hun was about to give up on all hope, until he spotted Henry pacing about in the empty drawing room, biting his lip in worry. Kong Hun gently knocked on the door, startling the lord, and his usual scowl maring his features yet again.

"Ah, it's you," Henry muttered, almost bitterly, yet he swiftly forced it down with politeness," How are you? Have you settled in?"
Kong Hun stepped in the room, flashing the lord with a charming sort of smile," Quite well, it's such a warm manor."
"Really? How odd you must be. Many find it cold," Henry scoffed.
"I am not many, Lord Henry."
"Evidently."
Henry studied Kong Hun for a moment longer, before begrudgingly gesturing towards the sofa.
"Sit, let's talk," Henry sighed, sitting in an armchair opposite the sofa," I have nothing better to do, and I'm sure you'd appreciate the company."
Presumptuous to say the least, but Kong Hun bit his tongue and made his way to the sofa; sitting down with a small frown.
"You seemed to be...troubled, earlier, if you don't mind me saying," Kong Hun asked, gently," What troubles you?"
Lord Henry let out a bored sigh, leaning back in the armchair," I am a soon to be a married man, that's what. And my bride cannot help but feel the need to change our plans, and then threatens the stake of our wedlock when I oppose it."
"Don't be like that," Kong Hun smiled, sitting forward," I'm sure she is a lovely woman. Perhaps fickle in nature, but I'm sure she has your interests at heart."

Lord Henry made a grunt of disagreement, turning to ring a bell at the table.
"I want tea, will you have tea? No, don't answer that, I can tell you want some too."
Kong Hun watched as the butler, Edward, appeared later with a tray of tea and a few cakes. He wheeled it in between the two, before bowing and leaving the room. Henry took his tea cup, sipping it with furrowed brows.
Kong Hun took his tea cup, glancing up at Henry," What did you and your bride disagree on?"
"Oh, that flounder of a woman wants our wedding to be in this manor," Lord Henry grumbled, staring into his tea cup," Our original plan was for it to be in London, as that's the easiest place for all of our friends to access it. But, no. She was quite eager to meet my grandparents and Leora, and even more eager for them to be at our wedding."
"Did you not want Leora to attend?"
"She's a sheltered child, she would probably be overwhelmed going to a new city. A busy one with poverty at that."
Kong Hun hummed, sipping his tea.
"Were you not originally sad, to not have your sister attend your wedding?"

Henry seemed surprised by this question; he blinked slowly, taking it in, before a rich chuckle escaped his lips.
"What an odd thing to say. Of course not! Why on earth would I want my family to be at my wedding? Surely it should be a thing of friends. I couldn't exactly drink with my grandfather and feel good, but if I did with one of my drinking buddies, perhaps it would feel more like a momentous occasion."
"You don't think Leora would like to see you happy?" Kong Hun frowned, puzzled and a little disgusted by Henry's ideology.
"Happy?" Henry scoffed, setting his tea cup down," Marriages are not happy. It's like selling your soul away. In fact, I think funerals have more life than weddings, don't you? If Leora thinks that, then I shall hope she marries soon and will realise how foolishly naive she is."
Kong Hun blinked in shock, he had not been expecting that.
"You want Leora to marry?"
"Of course I do," Henry sat back, taking out a cigar and smoking it; causing Kong Hun to repress a cough," Leora is a dead weight to me. My younger sister who's only ever lived in the countryside in comfort, and is blissfully unaware of the real horrors of the world. I want some rich man to marry her, he can deal with her ridiculous questions and this stupid estate in the middle of nowhere."

Kong Hun sat forward, eagerly. Now was his time to strike! To find out just why Henry did not want to be the heir of the manor.
"Oh?" Kong Hun tilted his head, playing dumb," But I thought you were the oldest sibling and only boy?"
"I am," Henry sighed, puffing smoke in a dreary manner," You are suggesting that it seems odd for me to give up such a big profit? Well, in truth, I'm not heartless. I want my sister to live a happy life, and she will be happiest in the countryside just as sheltered as before. Beside, I've never been infatuated with the idea of running the farm on this land for profit."
Kong Hun nodded, yet he wasn't easily convinced. The words Henry spoke almost seemed forced and lifeless, there was no meaning to them whatsoever; like he was some student reading a script in a class performance when he detested drama. There was no spark.
"Leora told me your cousin was supposed to inherit this place," Kong Hun gently brought up the subject.
Henry's ears pricked up at this, his eyes wide. He turned to face Kong Hun, looking quite distraught by the topic as he bit his lip.

"That's right..." Henry let out a ghost of breath," His name was Duncan. He was such a charming boy, I was very close with him; hearing about him often tries at my nerves and makes me quite emotional, I am afraid. He was my best friend when I was a boy, Leora was much too young to remember him. One day in the winter, when we were all inside, Duncan went to play by the river bank. He lost his footing and fell in. He drowned to death unfortunately, and we buried him in Cornwall."
Kong Hun listened, quietly. None of it seemed to be a lie, and Henry did look visibly shaken up about the whole situation. Perhaps he was wrong about Henry. Maybe he was this way because of the scarring he'd faced; losing his best friend and parents at such a young age. Henry cleared his throat, dabbing away with a handkerchief at the corners of his eyes.
"I apologize for that. It is not often I get this emotional."
"No, it's my fault for bringing it up," Kong Hun shook his head," I never saw any tears."
Henry let out a small chuckle, yet it was stopped by a ringing of a bell that had been rung on the fourth floor. Henry stood up, abruptly, frowning.
"It seems I must cut this conversation short, it is not often my grandparents summon me to their quarters," Henry muttered, nodding at Kong Hun," I enjoyed our talk. I will see you at dinner."
"And you," Kong Hun murmured, watching as the lord left with an urgency.