Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 107: A Jest~

Henry stared incredilously at the couple, his eyes mainly raking over Leora as they sat in the little parlour on the second floor. Edward was handing out generous servings of tea and cake; as the rest of the room seemed to be cursed in silence. Henry broke this.
"Explain," He muttered, glaring at his sister.
Leora frowned, tracing her finger over the rim of the tea cup," What is there to explain?"
"Why you would defy me like that, I think that is a good need for an explanation."
"Don't take it so personally, dear brother," Leora gave him a cold smile," It was for personal needs, not to spite you and all of your wonderful efforts."
Henry let out a long, weary, self-pitying sigh as he set down both his plate and cup on the table. He glanced at Jiu, hoping for answers. Jiu met his gaze, but chose to remain silent.
"Be that way," Henry uttered, grouchily, glancing out of the window," Reverse all of my many good deeds as you have done, Leora. Disrespect my hospitality, Jiu. My patience is running rather short with you both. Perhaps, Leora, when you wed Lord Bramston you will-"
"Ah, right," Leora hummed, aloud, a proud smile morphing onto her face," I'm afraid to say, Lord Bramston and I parted ways."

Henry fell deadly silent.
"...Pardon?"
"Lord Bramston was a cheater," Jiu spoke up, taking a sip of his tea as he met Henry's gaze with a collected one of his own," Last time I checked, this family seems to pride itself on purity? That's what your grandmother seems to cry about, at least. I'm quite certain a man like him would have dragged your name to the dirt. You are quite welcome, Henry."
Henry's face flushed with anger, but he seemed to swiftly bite back the urge to scream, and instead turned to Leora.
"That's why you went to London? To leave him?"
Leora shrugged," He seemed quite content to."
"Liar," Henry hissed, standing up and passing anxiously towards the window," He's a man who's been a bachelor for too long and prides himself in his estates. To lose our family connection and a future bride would be like losing a priceless trophy. Not to mention, he and I had rather close ties in our industries."
Henry glared at Leora.
"So what if he cheated? You should have accepted it. Besides, didn't you..."
His eyes raked over Jiu for a moment, before glancing back at Leora.
"Practically do the same?"

Leora scowled," I have no idea what you're talking about."
Henry smirked, coldly, seeing the way his sister fidgeted anxiously with her hands.
"You would say that, wouldn't you? But I'm not so easily fooled. Your dirty little secret could land you in much trouble, considering your status. I wonder, how would Scotland Yard would deal with it; hm?"
Leora furrowed her eyebrows. Henry shrugged, and smiled, satisfied.
"A jest, naturally."
Even after he said that, the girl seemed a little unsettled, and tried to pay it no attention. Jiu frowned, glancing at Henry.
"Leora, go to your room," Henry muttered," I would like to talk to Jiu alone for a moment."
Jiu blinked in shock, startled by such a request.
Henry chuckled," Do not fret, I won't have a go at you. Merely a conversation between mature men."
Leora glanced at Jiu, to check he felt sure. Jiu nodded weakly and the girl stood, making her way out of the room with Edward, and gently shutting the door behind her. Henry sighed, settling back down onto the sofa opposite him, and smiled.
"You look nervous."
"You don't say..." Jiu mumbled, glancing away.
Henry sighed, picking up his cake and eating it," I wanted to talk to you about the Yule party, I'm sure you've heard about it?"

Jiu nodded.
"I'll be hosting it in two weeks time," Henry stated," I refuse to have many guests this year, it would be too much for us all, I think. Just a few, close people."
Jiu nodded thoughtfully, before meeting Henry's gaze once more," What does this have to do with me?"
Henry seemed a little surprised by this question.
"Isn't it obvious? I want you to be there for my little sister."
Jiu nearly dropped his tea cup in shock at the words that had fallen out of Henry's mouth. They were so abnormally sweet, coming from such a vile mouth; like a Siren. Jiu narrowed his gaze at the man, suspiciously, but Henry didn't seem to care much for it.
"I will, naturally," Jiu uttered," But why do you want me to? I thought you wanted me far away from her?"
Henry set his plate down and stood up, pacing around the room.
"Don't act like you don't know, Jiu. You of all people should. This will be her last Christmas."
Jiu froze, a dark expression fading over him as he felt his chest tighten," Y-You... don't know that..."
"Don't I?" Henry stood beside the door," She's dying, Jiu. Her little words of comfort to you? They fall on deaf ears. They mean nothing. How can they? How can she choose to just 'survive' tuberculosis? You've seen how ill she's been getting. She's dying."

Jiu stared at his lap, trying to keep his emotions in check. He knew her reassurances weren't truly reliable, he knew she had no control over whether she lived or died, but he thought she would have had longer.
"But the electroconvulsive therapy... isn't it helping?" Jiu whispered, almost scared to think such things," She's looked so much better than she has. Isn't that something on the road to recovery?"
Henry frowned," Jiu, I am a man of science. I am enthralled with human anatomy, whether the body or the mind, or anything as long as there's sound logic and truth. Electroconvulsive therapy is such a new treatment, yet we haven't ever truly proven for it to cure ailments. It can cure the basic daily issue: like lack of motivation, or constipation, or a stiff limb. But tuberculosis? We have no concrete evidence. We just know it numbs the patient's pain, takes the edge off it. Leora deserves to not be miserable as she slowly crumbles, don't you think? That's simply all it does. It may not cure anything definitively, it simply softens the blow."
Jiu felt his heart constrict slightly at the thought. She was out of pain, that was good. But all of his hope that she'd been recovering had been...meaningless? Henry opened the door, casting one final look back at the general.
"Give my darling sister a Christmas to remember, Jiu."
And with that, he left the general in the little parlour to mull over such a heavy wish.