Ethereal - 𝔈𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔩

Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Time is ticking
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     As Ark return home in a carriage with Alya, the feeling he had earlier became more prominent, he had this feeling that the moment he steps inside the door something would go wrong. Ark doesn't want to feel that he was paranoid so he just ignore his feeling.

oh how that was foolish of him.

When Ark entered the Decroix manor, he was slightly shocked seeing his two brothers waiting on him in the porch. He wanted to avoid them as he did for the past few weeks when Lucius stopped him, "we need to talk."

"Is....there a problem?" Ark asked cautiously, the feeling coming back again, seeing his two brothers.

Alessio just smiled and ruffles Ark's hair, "nothing's wrong, why would you ask that?"

Ark just shrug, "I don't know.... It's not everyday, I see you both......wait for me" seeing this, Lucius hum in agreement, "well we do want to talk to you about something"

Ark look at him confused, did he do something wrong? "About what?" He ran through his memories, searching for something he had done wrong again.

Alessio just smiled, "about what you said at ball, we thought about it and—" Lucius then cut off Alessio, receiving a glare from the latter.

"We will allow you to leave the Decroix estate."

This startled Ark as he couldn't believe they would actually agree, he thought they might try to persuade him to change his mind.

"O....kay..... that's good, I will leave in two weeks" 

Alessio smiled through gritted teeth, "that's great, we'll help you prepare your things then."

Lucius just look at Ark blankly making Ark uncomfortable before Lucius speak, "let us come inside now, dinner will be served in two hours so you have time to rest"

Ark nodded stiffly before walking inside and going upstairs to his room with Alya behind him, the churning in his stomach is much more prominent now.

He needs to stay cautious, he felt that Alessio and Lucius is planning something and that plan has something to do with him.

Maybe they're planning his death?

How ironic will it be. He can't die naturally, he wasn't allowed to kill himself as well as he was followed and monitored tightly,
now they're planning his death.

Ark never trusted them, even if they had greeted him with soft smiles, headpatts and such, he can never forgive them.

He was a fool once but he won't be a fool again.

They might be friendly now to him, but who knows they might go back to their old ways. Ark knew how fast human emotion changes.

He isn't the same little naive child asking for a sliver of their affection,  he will be never be the same.

Alya walk with Ark, seeing him in deep thought slightly worry her. "Young Master, do you want me to prepare a bath for you? There's still two hours before dinner."

Ark snapped out of his thoughts, "oh, um... yes please. I'll take a quick bath, it seems the day wore me down."

Alya smiled softly as she ruffles Ark's hair, "you deserve a bath young master." Alya then went to the bathroom to prepare Ark's bath, meanwhile Ark lay on his large bed, bouncing slightly as he stare up on his ceiling, it was full of painting, he painted from 2 years ago.

He used to look at proudly, thinking his older brothers might look at him proudly but all he received was boredom, irritation and disinterest.

'is this why you disturb me?'

'honestly I have more important things to focused than this'

'it looks messy'

'show it to someone else, I'm busy'

Ark blocked out the words, closing his eyes and covering his face using his arm, he didn't want the memories to reappear again.

He accidentally fallen asleep while waiting for Alya, not noticing Xavier walking inside his room.

Xavier walk towards Ark, staring at the smaller man with fond eyes. He gently brush away the strand of hair covering Ark's beautiful face.

This man is his young master, his sweet, innocent young master, his.

He leaned forward, his can feel the slow and steady breathing of the sleeping young man as his lips almost brush against Ark, suddenly—

"What are you doing Mister Xavier?" Alya's was heard behind Xavier as he felt himself stiffened.

Xavier then straighten his pose as he smiled fakely at Alya. "Well I noticed young master Ark had fallen asleep, I was merely going to put something warm onto him.

Alya doesn't trust Xavier, never. Ever since she was first hired as a personal servant for Ark, she felt cautious around Xavier, there was something unusual around Ark's ex- servant that put off Alya.

"If you say so, I was going to wake Young Master up seeing that his bath is ready." Alya then walk towards Ark, she can feel the gaze of Xavier as she gently stir awake Ark. Xavier then left allowing Alya to let out a breath of relief.

"Young Master, your bath is ready" Ark began to wake up as he yawned sleepily, "oh...I fell asleep, my apologies."

Alya just smiled fondly, "no worries, young master, we did went out early", but inside she felt her heart being shot from how cute Ark's bedhair is. 'Ack! Young Master's hair is so cute! This adorableness is not healthy for my heart!'

Ark stood up from his bed and thank Alya as she left to give him privacy, Ark then took off his clothes and soaked in the warm bath, letting out a sigh, his snow pale skin now tinted pink from the steam.

He knew something is up and he needs to think of a plan to be able to leave successfully.

But how could he plan when he didn't even knew what Lucius and Alessio is up to?

He knew they're setting a trap for him and he wanted to be ready when that time comes.

He stayed in the bath for about thirty minutes before stepping out and dressing up in a casual loose black pants, tucked it white poet shirt and simple dress shoes.

A knock was then heard from his door as he let the person outside come in, a maid came in, "Young Master, dinner is ready, Master Lucius and Master Alessio is waiting for you at the dinner table"

Ark nodded in affirmation, "Thank you Lily, I'll be down in five minutes." The maid bow down and left.

Ark took a deep breath and clenched his fist, 'its now or never, I will find a way to leave this place if its the last thing I would do."

He then stepped out of his room and went towards the impending dinner.

'you won't get me this time 'brothers'. I'll find a way to go back to my real brother Lloyd.'

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End of Chapter

Author's note:

Hey lovelies, I know, I know, I disappeared for a month 😔. I've been really busy with studies and part time job so I have no time to update this.

I've been really putting off this chapter too since I got writer's block and it sucks, really sucks, not only that since I have ADHD, I have problem with my short attention span. So it's another pain.

I know a lot of you are impatient about the story but please, PLEASE, don't rush me, I want to give you a good chapter and not just half assed one,  remember writing is just my hobby and not my job. If you keep putting pressure on me I might actually drop this story. I am really trying to update this as much as I can.

Anyway to those who waited patiently, thank you for the support, I really appreciate it 😊🙏. See you in the next chapter~