The Baron and his Lady

Epilogue

A week later

Lucian was helping the crew with the logs that arrived from the next town. They ordered these last week for the barn. The delivery truck came in just in time. They just finished preparing the gear for the repair they had to do. Apparently some of the pillars were eaten by wood insects and were dying from the inside. It was dangerous. Any day now and it'll collapse.

The men started grouping by two and had manually hauled the logs by themselves. Lucian refused to just stand on one side giving orders. He stripped his shirt off and pulled out the logs all by himself.

The women in attendance stopped to gape. Not that they weren't used to seeing managers help from to time time. But seeing a lovely specimen actually do physical labor was a huge turn on. Abs were a common sight but a long haired, blue-eyed , red-lipped man was something they only saw on magazines. The girls chopping potatoes for lunch halted ultimately. Their knives paused in mid air while the poor vegetables started to get dark circles on them.

Lucian was either used to the attention or was just focused on the task at hand. He gave no indication that he hated the stares he was getting. But he grew aware of the silence. Even the men gave curious glances. He thought that they probably thought he couldn't pick up a log alone and they were simply astonished. It was not until he stopped to wipe his sweat and happened to look at the women's direction that they hastily started chatting and chopping once more.

A young boy came running to him with a paper in his hand, "Sir! Sir! Someone's looking for you."

He smiled at the boy and took the paper, "Thank you Bastien. Go ask your Momma for candied plums. I told them if you're a good boy you can have some."

Bastien's smile was ear to ear. He ran away and went directly to his mother who was much glad to give him sweets.

Lucian excused himself and walked back to the Manor. Once inside, he felt cooler. He opened the paper and stared at the name in print: Hudson Trilby.
***

Ovido Heights
Krista's pov

I just got back at Dina's place. For days I had nothing on my mind but my 18th birthday ball. Everything still felt like a dream.

We decided to come home and arrange my school stuff. And also to give Lucian time to get back at the work in the Manor. We agreed to meet during weekends or he can come over sometime. Both my parents gave their blessings.

"Someone looks happy." Dina noted while we were having breakfast.

I pursed my smile and pretended to drink my milk, "So are you."

"Well, I can't help it. Everything seemed to fall into place." She sighed with satisfaction. "I'm getting a regular job and will be earning my own. I no longer have to depend on your Dad's alimony money. Plus, Oogy and I have finally reached a truce."

"You did?" I stared at my dog who was happily eating in his new bowl. Inside Dina's house. Oogy looked up and gave me a small bark as if to say 'thank you'. I guess no more eating outside for him then. "That's wonderful, Mom."

"It wasn't easy. But he's actually a real doll." She looked at my dog with loving eyes.

"But Mom, I thought you and Dad are patching things up. Or am I wrong?"

She looked away before answering, "Well, things are indeed better between us since...and we agreed on the arrangement about you. But this time around, we want to take things slowly. Explore the obstacles together before jumping immediately. Like adults."

I smiled. They were quite young when their parents forced them to marry each other. It was a tradition on Dad's side, that parents get to pick their wife. Mom's family was well-off as well but didn't have much businesses. She had a great academic record though and they chose her since the other rich girls were taken and Dad was not in a hurry to get hitched.