Ethereal - 𝔈𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔩

Chapter 11

Chapter 11: A Surprised Ball?
_________________________________________

     Ark look at the back of Noelle as he walk away before turning back to his painting as his grip on the paintbrush tightened.

'trying to frame me again, huh Eros?'

   Ark remembered the time when Eros framed him of bullying him(Eros) on his 16th birthday and everyone believed his lies, even though Ark tried everything to justify and say he didn't do anything.

Such a disgrace .

He's disgusting .

Bullying a noble lower than his status? Horrible man.

He's really a bully.

Good riddance, A shame to the Decroix family.

    Ark was humiliated on the day that was supposed to be his debut to the high society and not even any of his brothers nor his friend Noelle stood up for him.

Even his fiance left him there while he goes to comfort the 'crying' Eros while glaring at him in disgust.

Meanwhile he can see the hidden smile Eros gave to him behind their facade.

Ark was heartbroken and humiliated that night. He ran away from the ballroom and hid in his room for a couple of days.

Ark quickly shook his head trying to remove that memory.

'it hasn't happened yet in this lifetime.'

Ark stopped painting as he look over the lake where fishes can be seen swimming and curled up into a ball, 'if only I could turn into a fish and not worry about anything but food and sleep.'

"Young Master, it's time for dinner, Lord Alessio and Lord Lucius are requesting your presence in the dining room."

Ark look back and saw Xavier, his old butler and the one who framed and put false evidence in his room in his last life.

  Ark remembered how devoted this son of a bitch to Eros and how he followed every whim Eros had. He was the reason as well why all the servants began turning their back on him because of Xavier.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to appear infront of me Xavier... I prefer Alya to come get me."

  Ark had explicitly tried to avoid Xavier for the past month but he wasn't able to get rid of him. Xavier was like a shadow that follows him around!!

"I apologize Young Master but Lord Lucian had explicitly told me to watch over you."

Ark felt a vein popping out of anger before sighing helplessly.

Ark look at Xavier blankly before nodding, "fine, take me there."

Ark then stood up and followed Xavier to the manor quietly as their footsteps echo while the quiet chatter and movements of the maids can be heard.

"Young master, I....I apologize if I had offended you in anyway.... I hope that you won't replace me with someone else."

Hearing Xavier's word, Ark almost snapped in anger, where was this apology in his past life? Where was this when he needed it the most from what Xavier's did to him? Did all his pain, his anger, his blood suffer for nothing?

"Don't apologize to me, I don't need it..... As for your replacement, I already think Alya is better than you." Ark then walk pass by Xedric as he stood there in shock from what Ark had said.

He was replaced?

By a measly maid of all the people?

No...

No.....

No......

No.......

He won't allow Ark to replace him with someone else.

Only he can serve and satisfy the little master.

While Xavierwas left there with his thoughts, Ark arrived at the dining room where he saw Lucius and Alessio sitting there waiting for him.

Both Lucius and Alessio look up hearing the door open and their gaze softened a little bit, Alessio was the first one to break the silence, "took you long enough, sit down."

Ark sat far away from them, silencing everyone before Lucius coughed awkwardly, "why are you sitting far away?"

"I....this is my normal seat....." Ark explained softly, he was confused, Lucius never cared where he seated, afterall he wanted him far away from them.

"Change it, you're too far away, sit here." Lucius then pointed the seat next to him as Alessio also look at him,  waiting for him to move.

Ark begrudgingly moved at sat in the seat next to Alessio instead of the seat Lucius told him to sit out of spite.

Lucius didn't mind and just started eating which makes Ark more irritated. Ark then ate with anger, his cheeks bulging like a hamster.

'Cute...' Both Alessio and Lucius thought at the same time. This was the first time they saw Ark getting angry and for them it's like a cute little bunny or hamster trying to scare the predator.

Lucius then cleared his throat, "Arkian, we wanted to celebrate your birthday.....since we haven't celebrated it properly. So Alessio and I will host a ball for you in two weeks for your debut."

Ark then halted as his heart was pounding. He can feel the food getting stuck in his throat.....it can't be.... It's too early...

A ball.....

A ball....

Ball....

The ball.....

Ark then stood up, slightly startling both Alessio and Lucius.

"I....I... I'll head to my room, big brothers." Ark quickly ran away from there, leaving the two older Decroix worried.

Sitting in silence, Alessio then break the silence, "did....did we say something wrong?....Ark seems startled when we mentioned the debut ball for him."

Lucius just sigh and rub his forehead before he continue eating, "it his first ball, he might have been shock or nervous."

"But still... don't you think he seems....jumpy and afraid?" Alessio retorted back making Lucius also think about Ark's behavior these past weeks after he had woken up from the accident, he seems more jumpy and cautious around them. He also distancing himself from them and thinking about leaving them.

This make Lucius frown slight and the fork in his hand slightly bend as the air became cold.

"Well, whatever's making Ark jumpy, we'll get to the bottom of it but for now, we should discuss about Ark's debut ball later in the afternoon, everything should be perfect."

Alessio frown slightly but didn't push it more and continued eating in silence.

Nothing will go wrong right?