Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 45: Master and Mistress Mohan~

Jiu woke, it was a morning in early summer, feeling himself groan and turn in the bed; disgusted by how the sheets clung to him from the sweat of what seemed to be the start of a warm summer. A week and a day until the wedding. What a dismal wedding it would be, too. Jiu got up from the bed, rubbing his temples with a slight groan as he made his way down to the dining room. He'd gotten used to life in the manor, and how his days often consisted of nothingness. Usually, he'd try to at least spend a good portion of his day with Leora, but with the wedding fast approaching, Leora had been preoccupied with her lesson with Soren. One thing the two often seemed to discuss of recent, was the box Leora now owned, given to her by Edward. When asking the butler what it was for, he seemed quite taken aback by the question. He'd then informed Leora he'd never told Soren to give her a box, and Soren must have just confused him with another. Though, both Leora and Jiu doubted that; Soren spent as much time as possible with Edward, and for him to mistake Edward with another servant would be heresy. So, whenever they got a chance together they'd continue Leora's painting, or figure out the mystery of the box. The box they still hadn't managed to open, no matter what method they'd try. Leora's paintings had been no success, either. Each time she finished one, she'd scrunch her nose and say it didn't seem to represent what she wanted, yet she'd still refuse Jiu of seeing it. She was on her seventh portrait now.

Jiu sighed, tying his hair into a ponytail as he made his way to the dining room. Yes. Today would be his usual boring day in the manor. He'd gotten so used to it, he'd completely forgotten about his need to go back to the Underworld, and everyone was much too preoccupied with Henry's upcoming wedding to care. Not to mention, the idea of the ghost of Duncan seemed less likely; there had been no occurrences for a while, so, Jiu had naturally forgotten all about it.
Jiu pushed on the dining room door, opening it with a languid yawn," Good morning, Leora and Hen-"
He trailed off, his eyes wide. Leora and Henry sat there, there was no doubt about it, but they themselves looked quite startled by the two people sitting nearby. An elderly couple, who somehow looked old and young all at once. The man was the most age-bitten one; his crisp, silver tufts were slicked back into a flattened style. His skin was wrinkle bitten, and the bags under his eyes made him look shallow and grimmer. He had quite a nervous look about him, especially in such a trimmed and moth bitten suit. To his side was a much more charming old lady, yet she looked somewhat youthful in her own way. Unlike her husband, her hair was plentiful, and reached down to her waist. She wore a sickly green and gold dress, an extremely traditional one, plain yet ornate. Her cold, ice eyes were sharp and lacking in any sort of warmth.

The elderly couple cast their gaze to the ghost stood there, and Jiu couldn't help but feel on edge. He felt somewhat on display. As if he was not welcome in the manor.
"Ah, this is Jiu, Leora's model," Henry stood up, smiling," Jiu, these are my grandparents. Master Mohan and Mistress Mohan."
Jiu smiled and bowed, awkwardly," It's a pleasure to meet y-"
"Tacky," Mistress Mohan stated, scowling.
For a moment, Jiu wondered if he had not heard her correctly. But when he saw her expression, he knew for a fact each word she'd spoken had been exactly what he'd suspected. Jiu recalled Leora talking about her grandparents once before. "My grandfather, whilst he claims to be the greatest of all in the military during his day, hears the slightest thump and cries; thinking a weapon has gone off. Oh, and don't get me started on that old wench!" Clearly, Leora did not like them.
"'Tacky'?" Leora immediately scoffed at the old woman, narrowing her gaze," Like that ugly you dress you're wearing?"
Jiu had to bite down a smile at the way she immediately stood up for him.
Her grandmother clasped her fork tightly," Insolent child, keep your mouth shut tight. How dare you speak to your elders like that."
"Elders!?" Leora laughed, Henry immediately hid his face with his hands," More like Ancients!"

The grandfather did not speak up, nervously fiddling with his own cutlery.
"I have half a mind to beat you," Her grandmother hissed.
"Try me, I could flip your old ass over in an instant," Leora glared back at her," You've lost your strength, you old cow."
Henry cleared his throat loudly, before turning to Jiu," My grandparents have left their area of the house to join us for the wedding and its festivities. The priority guests will be over tomorrow, so."
Jiu nodded, making his way over and sitting down at the table; ignoring the judging and discriminative looks from the elderly couple.
"Servants do not eat with us," Mistress Mohan stated, her tone firm.
Jiu blinked in shock," Sorry?"
"You should be," Mistress Mohan scoffed," It's distasteful for you to sit here."
"You misunderstand, that wasn't an apology," Jiu stated, calmly, setting down his cutlery," I am not a servant."
Leora nodded, eagerly," Jiu is our guest, and he's been dining at this table much longer than you ever have!"
"Is this true, Henry?" The grandfather finally spoke up, in his hoarse voice.
Mistress Mohan nodded, her nose wrinkled in distaste. Henry glanced at Jiu, then Leora, then his grandparents, before finally looking at his plate with a resigned sort of sigh.
"Yes, Jiu is our guest, he is not a servant. If anything, his position in China is stronger than ours. He deserves our respect."

"Are we in China?" Mistress Mohan let out a scoff of distaste.
Henry let out another sigh, glancing away, like some sort of spoiled child with no power, who did what his grandparents wished at the drop of a hat.
"I do not want him to dine with us," Mistress Mohan stated, before turning to her husband," As the Master of the House, forbid him from dining here, dear."
Master Mohan met her gaze with a timid sort of look, as if scared to displease her. Leora stood up, scraping the chair against the floor, which seemed to scare the man, as if he suddenly got some war-time flashback.
"Don't you dare!" Leora cried out.
The elderly man, conflicted, let out a glum sort of sigh; not exactly wanting to butt heads with either of the head strong women at the table.
"He will eat in the kitchen for today, but when the guests arrive he will eat with us," He mumbled.
Leora watched with wide eyes as Jiu stood up, without a word, and made his way out of the room. The girl gritted her teeth, glaring at her grandmother.
"Old hag!" She yelled, smashing her plate on the ground, before storming after Jiu.
Henry took a sip of his wine glass, his gaze lingering on the table cloth, before looking up at his grandparents with an awkward sort of smile.
"Refills? Anyone?"