Night Weavers

One Closed Book

"Wake up, sir. You need to have lots of preparation for the ball today."

"It's not a fun ball. I'm just there for businesses. I'll be going right after the deal is closed."

"Everyone's gonna go there. Maybe you should make friends to grow the business."

"I don't need it."

"There's a chance you might meet your 'princess' if that's what motivates you."

"You know that's just a story my father made up."

"Sure. Just eat your breakfast, sir. It's ready in the dining room."

...

As groggy as I am waking up at an early hour in the morning, I still need to stand up to go to work. I don't really like doing these but I need to provide for the house and the helpers around the mansion.

It's really hard staying independent since my father is travelling to very far away places I haven't even been to or heard of. He doesn't take me with him because I need to look after the family house, more or less I didn't even care. The butlers and maids were there to organize and take care of things in here. I do the more important things, family business, contracts and other businesses.

My father comes back every after travels with something in hand, either gifts or souvenirs. I'm still waiting for him from his trip in a faraway place. It's been a while since I last saw his face, like a year ago or so. Usually he'd be back by this time. I wonder what he's gonna give me from the trip. It's always a surprise. He sends me letters every month just for me to make sure he's alright.

My mother, whom I have never met, is said to have a really great mind, studying everything that passes by her eyes and how beautiful she was while observing the little things. My father once said that at a grand ball, out of all the flowers in the garden, she was the most beautiful flower of them all. She was the star of the show, the envy of all. Funny how my father got her. I shrugged. Sometimes, the helpers say she's a strong woman, being able to jump from high places and lifting at least 3 huge bears. Of course, that was for laughs. But I want to believe them too, that she was strong and beautiful no matter what the circumstances are. I envy the people who tell her life stories, because out of all people, I wanted to meet her.

...

"What do we have today?" I asked.

"Eggs and bacon, bread on the side and coffee for breakfast, sir."

I sat and ate on the table with only my maid at my side to talk to. I prepared for the things I need to do today. Morning practice for sword fighting and archery, shopping for the ball, and grooming myself on the afternoon, and the main event for the evening.

"Am I going to spar with him again?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then let's get on with it then."

Another morning or training with swords and bows. It's always fun doing these since all the butlers watch us spar and cheer for both of us, the maids are always out in the gardens cleaning up and planting every time I go to training. 

Shopping is what I really don't like doing, I have to go around and look for things that differs in everything. We try it on or we have free tastes, then we eventually say no after all the explanation the sellers have to do. It's exhausting and I don't really like tiring myself just for a ball. All I had was business. Looking at everything was also not my taste so I just let my maids pick a suit for me.

Me and the maids finished early and arrived at home at a nice hour of the day when I can go and take a nap again at my bedroom.

"Why is being a master so exhausting? I'm so tired. Ugh. They should've let me inside the house all day and let me rest."