24.3
The rocking of the carriage decreased along with its velocity, shaking John who had been leaning against Kahnira awake from his nap.
“I think we are getting close, master,” sensing him stirring, his maid gestured outside the carriage.
“Yeah, we’re inside the estate.”
“This is my master’s home...”
“Well…it is my father’s place. The Perxin mansion is homelier if you asked me,” John admitted. “Serene is there, so is Uncle Edgar and Aunt Dalene. But calling this place home isn’t wrong either.”
“How are your parents like, master? I’ve rarely heard about your family from you.”
“To start off with… I have my father, mother, and a sister who is younger than me. Then there are my three uncles and four aunts. Father is a…strict person, he disciplines me whenever I do wrong, I suppose it has its benefits... Mother likes my sister more, but you know, that’s how things are.”
John’s answer caused a puzzled expression on Kahnira’s face.
“What is it?”
The maid shook her head as she placed her hand on John’s right palm, gently squeezing it as she looked back at him with her bright scarlet eyes.
“A-and what about your sister? I hope she is as adorable as Miss Serene.”
“Her? Ha!!!” John snorted. “No way, Serene is an angel compared to my sister. My sister is the type of person who would punch or bite me if she doesn’t get what she wants.”
“That sounds…” Kahnira’s beautiful face darkened as her voice trailed off, keeping the unspoken words to herself. She shook her head, dismissing the thought and asked another question. “And what about you, master?”
“What do you mean, what about me?”
“What do your family think about you, master?”
“I…” John paused as he stared at the ground. “My father thinks I am lazy. My mother always compares me to my sister, telling me to do better. And my sister says I am too creepy because I either speak too much or not at all.”
Squeeze…
“Master, that is not—”
“But that’s fine right!?” John rubbed the back of his head. “I am sure everyone else’s family is somewhat like that.”
“…”
The carriage came to a halt.
“We have arrived, Mister Sarvod.”
The coachman announced, shortly after, the door was opened for John and Kahnira, leading them to a humble manor fitting for the modest Sarvod Estate it was built on.
“W-we…” John stuttered as he shook Kahnira’s grip on his hand, placing both of them by the large entrance, ready to open it. “Kahnira, keep to yourself when we enter, I don’t want them to...judge you.”
The maid lowered her head at his words.
“Yes, master.”
Young John took a deep breath, gave Kahnira a deep look and met her scarlet gaze. With a nod from her, they entered Sarvod Residence.
“I am home!”
As he stepped foot into the living hall, John loudly announced.
“Father!? Mother!? I have returned as quickly as ordered!”
Young John’s clear voice throughout the manor and the dazzling smile that had latched onto his voice indicated the heartful excitement of a boy who longed to be home.
Even Kahnira who was only his maid was about to jump with joy upon hearing his hearty announcement.
Naturally, that was the case for her master. What child would not wish to see their parents or receive their attention.
Kahnira however, caught the slightest furrowing of her master’s thick brows. His face, all the while was like a brilliant sunshine, hid the tremor that was in his arms and feet.
She wished to hold his hand like earlier, to assure him that she was by his side. But John gave her specific orders that she was certain came from a place of love.
Despite displaying great joy for returning, Kahnira sensed that something was amiss in her gallant master.
“I came as quickly as I—”
“SHUT UP, will you!?” an irritated voice echoed from beyond the manor. “You have to be stupidly annoying every time you come back!!! No one cares, bro!!!”
Out came a girl whose eyes were as dark as John’s, someone whose hair was as black and straight as his.
A girl whose straight hair grew to her neck, a female who had a similar face shape as John, but none of the distinct facial features he had. Unlike John who had deep hooded eyes and earnest look but this girl had a narrow gaze that accompanied the unkind person she was.
His sister.
“Taelyn? What are you wearing? A-are you going out?” John stammered at the sight of a silk woven dress with quality that was far above and beyond what Serene Perxin had. “W-when did you spend, this kind of m-money…”
“Sigh, can you not ask stupid questions all the time?” Taelyn made a face of disgust as she mocked him.
Just because you are the favorite, doesn’t mean I won’t find out how you coerced Father and Mother to spend money like that on you!
“I suppose I have to tell everything to someone, like you.” Taelyn mused as she walked around him and Kahnira. “Unlike you, brother. I managed to score highly in my school, in fact, I am the top achiever in my grade.”
“I too, am the top of my class!!!” John placed a hand against his chest in defiance. “That means nothing in your case!”
You barely made it to your lousy local school, I made it to the National Academy! And I still get to go to the Sate Academy after being expelled from it!
“I am the first in ranking, unlike you, who is number 10 in your own class. Pleh!” his sister spat at his pants.
John raised a fist at her, “That doesn’t mean anything. You are the top achiever of a substandard—”
“JOHN!!!”
Dun…
A large figure appeared behind Taelyn, causing him to freeze before he could move his arms to retaliate against his sister.
Out came a man whose face closely resembled his good for nothing sibling. A man whose face was a cruel and hateful as the girl who mocked John, Kahnira’s one and only master.
“Dad!!!” Taelyn immediately jumped to the large man who was twice his size and height. “J-John wanted to hit me!!!”
“WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!!! I SAW YOUR FIST!!!”
The man’s voice was a loud as the town bell, his sheer voice alone caused John’s fingers to unfurl from his fists. Even Kahnira who stood a distance away felt the ground beneath her shake.
Master…
She wanted to pull her young master out of the man’s line of sight, but she was under John’s direct orders to keep to herself.
“Were you trying to hit YOUR OWN SISTER!?”
“I-I…” the muscles in John’s arms gave away as he shook. “N-no! You got it wrong f-father, s-she’s the one that i-insulted…me! Look, she spat on me for no reason!” pointing at the spit that was on him.
“I’ve taught you better than to lay your hands on your own sister!”
“I didn’t start the fight! She did!” John pointed at Taelyn who had hidden behind his father as she stuck her tongue out and made an ugly expression at him. “Look! She’s—”
Pang!!!
A flash of white appeared.
Thud.
John fell to the ground before he knew it.
W-what….what did I d-do… S-she’s the one w-who s-started it!!! I was just asking questions! T-taelyn… spat on ME!!!
The invisible chains around his heart tightened, squeezing him of his breath as the 9 year old John realized what happened.
His father, had once more beaten him without good reason.
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“Master!!!”
Kahnira ran to his side before she realized it.
Her soft hands helped him get up to his back as she watched his father flared as words of rage left the man’s mouth, rebuked John for not upholding the ‘values’ that was taught to her master.
“You know better! You are a male heir of mine, you are my eldest born! Your responsibility is to be exercised, so what if your sister spits on you! As her elder brother, you should tell her off! This is about our integrity, your integrity—”
His father droned on and on about empty honor and the ‘horrible implications’ of physically using violence against one’s own family members.
Of the noble ideas the Sarvods of previous generations had passed town to them, of respect and filial piety amongst people who are related by blood.
All of which his family never practiced.
John’s eyes watered.
The man’s rageful voice, the scene of his snickering sister who got away with her insults against him…
They might as well swing an iron hammer at his skull than to disgrace him with such cruel methods.
He could feel the strings of hope from moments ago snapping.
Whatever excitement he had for coming back to his family’s side was replaced by a deep sorrow that he had long forgotten. A sorrow that he was most familiar with.
John’s family were the torrential rain and the horrible typhoon in a devastating storm that tore away any shred of dignity or self-worth that he had.
“Master, master…” Kahnira’s soft voice broke through the storm that clouded his mind like a gentle song, pulling John back to his senses.
“I…”
The hazy expression in John’s eyes abated as he saw the scarlet eyes looking into him.
“I’m…okay, Kahnira.”
His legs shook as Kahnira helped him upright. His mind was torn and ravaged, but so long the soft hands of his maid were around him, John held strong.
His eyes were moist, but no tears came, his body shook like a sickly dog, but he did not scream.
For the sake of no worrying Kahnira, he endured it all with a clear mind.
“We are Sarvods, it is a sin to abuse and beat your own sister because she is of the same blood as you…” his father, watched Kahnira help John to his feet with a disdainful look, one that he often used upon the servants of the Sarvod household.
“I am sorry, father,” John muttered, instantly, the gaze of hatred from Dai’Ne shifted.
“Your sister is also a representative of our family, imagine if you had hit her and a bruise developed on her beautiful face. You would bring shame, shame to us all! Think John, I know you are a smart child.”
Beautiful? Taelyn has only evil in her heart!!!
“We are better people, we are not like them,” Dai’Ne gestured his chin towards Kahnira. “We are Sarvods, we are humans who are a class above others. That is why we do not hurt our own kind, For it is our own blood that we can rely on John.”
The more his father spoke, the more repulsed he became.
For the first time in his life, the fear of his own father was outweighed by his logical mind.
Hypocrite. I did not hit Taelyn…b-but you sent me to the ground because I complained that she spat o-on me… A-and you dare say my Kahnira i-is…
Twang!
The barrier in his mind vanished.
Did he deserve beatings because he ever so slightly misbehaved according to his father’s standards? Or was it because he was the eldest born, and therefore he had to bear to the full brunt of his father’s rage?
None of it made sense.
When he was obedient, his father would complain him of not doing things to perfection.
When he forego all expectations and did things on his own accord—read his own books instead of the schooling material—he would still be beat.
For everything he did, the fear of his own father would creep at the back of his mind, reminding him of the dire consequences of living.
“Enough!” a woman’s voice entered the room. “Taelyn was the one who instigated!”
Mother! John’s heart jumped at the only sound of reason in the Sarvod household.
Of both parents, John inherited most of his genes from her, his mother’s bronze skin, her thick eye brows and beautiful face, it was not just that, but within the Sarvod Household, his own mother was the most reasonable of them all.
“He deserved the punishment, Fenley!”
“No, Dai’Ne! If anyone deserved it, it would be Taelyn. For your son to come who without delay is already a miracle in of itself. What of the bruises that will remain on him? What will you say when your brothers come this weekened?”
“…”
Dai’Ne, John’s father made a face before conceding.
“Mother…” John limped towards Fenley with his arms wide, lunged to her sides and wrapped his arms around her as gratitude.
“Tsk!” Fenley clicked her teeth before quickly pushing John away from her. “Do not cling to me! You are not without faults either.”
“M-me? I just arrived and…”
“Explain this.”
To which, his mother pointed an accusing finger at Kahnira who stood by the side.
“T-that’s Kahni—”
“I don’t care what this thing’s name is, have you forgotten all etiquette after living with the Perxins?”
“But… They told me, you allowed—”
“I said you could, but have you considered asking us before asking the Perxin’s to gift you one of their servants?”
“I…” his voice faltered.
“That’s what I thought, you idiot child.”
“…”
It doesn’t matter if Kahnira is with me for a few days. The both of us will be going back to the Perxin’s soon enough.
He had forgotten that his mother, too, like his father, questioned each and every action he made.
If his father would beat him, his mother would bombard him with ridiculous questions, wear down his sanity until she heard a favorable one that she preferred.
And in this case, she was implying the maid her brought with him was akin to the vermin on the disease riddle streets.
…
“The Perxin’s insisted,” John lied naturally through his teeth. “This servant of mine had also agreed for me to be her master.”
“It appears so…” Fenley shared a gaze with Dai’Ne. “I am afraid we will have to resort to that.”
“T-that?”
“Yes.” Both his parents spoke in unison, causing John to both recoil and blink dumbfoundedly.
“As of today, your room shall be no longer be in his house,” his mother spoke with an unchanging expression, one as cold and as hard as steel. “Your father and I have renovated the small house in our estate, from now onwards, you shall be living there.”
“What!? What do you mean!?” John shouted. “I am expelled from staying in my own home where my family is!? And you just decide that!? What about my books, m-my…”
The small house in the Sarvod Estate referred to the rundown shed that his great grandfather used live in when they first acquired the Sarvod Estate, before the Sarvods made a name for themselves.
The shed was located at the furthest end from the main house—the one he was in now—and took 25minutes if he had to walk here by foot.
Sure, it was close to the old town compared to the main house, but the Sarvods never saw a reason to rebuild or repurpose the old shed given how secluded that place was from the city.
And John was to be assigned there? Even during his brief return before going back to the Perxin’s again?
“I need not such a thing around my house,” Fenley Sarvod uttered without a hint of remorse.
“Listen son…”
His father squatted to face John, his large arms held firmly at John’s shoulders, squeezing young John as he spoke in a soft whisper.
“Recently, the adult world has gotten quite complicated. There have been talks of assassination and backstabbing. That is why your mother and I decided that you should be living there in case anything happens to us in the main house, you understand?”
“But…”
“John, John! I am serious here, you could get hurt, that is why we have to send you there.”
But you’ve already hurt me.
“Do you understand? This is a life or death situation. My heir has to be safe, who else will continue the Sarvod bloodline if your mother and I are met with an accident.”
I don’t see you sending Taelyn away from the main house… This is all because of Kahnira isn’t it!? You all hate her!!!
“Alright? We’ve already moved all your things there, your servant will help you out. There is nothing to be worried about, the old shed is gone, the small house is newly built. We are practically gifting you your own home, John.”
“I…”
“Please, think of this as your father and mother begging you. We are only doing this for your safety. I know I’ve hit you earlier, but you do know everything I do for you is out of love, don’t you? I wouldn’t even speak to you if you were not my flesh and blood.”
John’s fists clenched.
The sting on his face and in his heart had not subsided. Yet, here his father was, speaking to him so rationally, so reasonably that it was almost he was a completely different person.
Was his father speaking the truth? Or was it Dai’Ne’s sickening way of apologizing the beatings he inflicted upon John after the rough beating from earlier?
John could not tell.
Even then, he could not deny his father’s wishes.
For despite all that was said and done, he had a responsibility to his family.
“If it is your wish, father… I have no choice.”
“This isn’t too bad, what do you know? It is a brand new house.”
The moment he and Kahnira entered their new home, John flung one of his bags to the nearest sofa in his view. His eyes fixated themselves on the new house that was allocated to him by his parents.
“Look, Kahnira. Everything is here! Father was telling the truth!” he ran to the nearest shelf by the living room, pleased to find the various trinkets and devices that he once kept in his old room by the main house. “I bet the rest of my books are stored somewhere inside. Come on, Kahnira.”
The young boy excitedly grabbed Kahnira’s hand, pulling her as he broke into a run. The white hair girl had no choice but smile as she went along with her excitable master.
Gasp!
“Look, these are the books I told you about!” John exclaimed as he opened one of the three rooms in the house, revealing the master bedroom painted in soft matte white that was undoubtably his. “The Chronicles of Might, Indebted Glory, Guide for Heroism…”
He continued to read out the various book titles that were neatly placed in his room, fingers running through the spines of his beloved titles as he showed Kahnira the many stories and books that he held dear.
“Let’s go to the other one!”
He bolted with his maid as he ran down the hall, opening the other room across his, revealing a smaller but ample space that had its own set of bed and shower.
“Kahnira, you can use this one! We’ll live across each other!”
John excitedly declared before he moved to open the third room,only to discover that the third space was just and empty room dedicated for storage.
“I suppose we can use that room for something else…” he shrugged before bringing his maid to the very back where the kitchen and a vast garden was.
“Master,” Kahnira spoke before John could continue on his praise for the new home that replaced his private room in the main house.
“Hmm?”
“T-this maid i-isn’t sure…if she wants her own r-room…”
“I…uh…oh…” John scratched his head as he looked into Kahnira’s scarlet eyes. “I mean, you d-deserve your own space…”
Kahnira shook her head, her short white hair fluttered as though it was snowing, “My apologies master! I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, I am overjoyed that master is willing to grant me my own room!”
“What is it then?”
The maid’s scarlet eyes shifted, “T-this maid…might get lonely… S-so, if master permits it…may I…?”
“You mean sleep in my room?” John finished her sentence before she could. “Like in the Perxins where you have your own mattress on the ground?”
Kahnira nodded meekly.
“Of course! Hahaha!!! Is that what you are worried about?” John burst out laughing as he hit Kahnira’s back. “Obviously, you can come over whenever you like! It’s not like you have to sleep alone every night, you are my maid, as long you are happy, I am happy.”
“Masterrr…” Kahnira cooed as she placed her long arms around John who was a head shorter than her. Hugged him as any girl would to their beloved soft toy as she swayed softly. “This maid is glad to have you as her master.”
“Grk… Kahnira…I…can’t…breath…”
“!!!” Kahnira’s arms immediately flew from his neck, releasing John from her grasp as she bowed profusely. “I’m sorry master, this maid—”
“Haha!!! Got you, Kahnira! You fell for it!!!”
In response to John’s little prank, Kahnira’s eyes brows dropped into steep archs, her face however was bearing a smile that was just a devilish as the one on John’s face.
“Master, you naughty boy!”
She had her two hands raised above her shoulders forming a pair of claws as she aimed for his sides, ready to punish John.
“Ahhhh! Kahnira’s going to get me! Somebody—”
Knock, knock, knock…
The master and maid’s playtime was interrupted by a series of heavy knocks on the door, halting the two of them.
“Wait, someone is here.”
“Didn’t he left us, master? The coachman?”
“I don’t know, I think he did? We saw the horses leave right?”
“We did.”
With that, the curious master and maid went to the entrance where one of the servants from the main house waited with bags filled with plethora of cooking ingredients and kitchen utensils.
“Lord Sarvod said that these are for you, young master, John.”
As soon as the servant spoke, John looked to Kahnira with squinting eyes, unsure what to make of so much food.
“What are you talking about? Would I not go to the main house where food is served?”
“On occasions, that would be the case. But Lord Sarvod instructed me to give these to you to ensure you have ample food supplies.”
“I don’t need this much, I am going back in a few days. Bring half of these back and tell my father I don’t need this much.”
“I…” the servant lowered her head. “T-that would be impossible at this moment.”
“What do you mean? Just go back with the coachman and tell him!” John gestured towards the carriage that was behind the servant.
“L-Lord Sarvod has l-left with Lady Sarvod and Miss Taelyn ten minutes ago. T-they went out for dinner, I presume.”
“Dinner?!” John shouted. “Without me? What!?”
“To celebrate Miss Taelyn’s…achivements in her school, young master,” the servant now had her head hung so low that her back was about to snap into half. “I’m s-sorry, y-young master,” the servant trembled in fear as she saw the blood drain from John’s face. “I d-don’t mean to... these were Lord Sarvod’s orders b-before he left.”
“I-I…” John stammered as his feet fumbled backwards. “H-how did…my younger s-sister… S-she’s not even…”
Pomfp.
Kahnira caught him before John moved any further back, holding onto her master with all her might as she spoke in a cold voice, “Take the coachman and move everything to the kitchen through the back, leave immediately when you are done.”
“U-understood!”
Kahnira shut the door tight before she helped John who was barely standing to the sofa.
“Taelyn? H-How did she get r-rewarded and I don’t?”
“I’m sorry master,” Kahnira spoke in the softest of voice as she wrapped her arm around John’s shoulders, holding onto his small hands as he shook violently.
“I-I…came back without d-delay. A-and t-they didn’t e-even invite m-me?” warm tears from John’s eyes trickled down his cheeks as Kahnira used the sleeves to her dress to wipe them off. “I…thought…they loved me… How can t-they…do this?”
“…”
“I am their son! Their eldest child! I-I…am in the State Academy that is ten times better than Taelyn’s!!! I did all the competitions my parent’s a-asked for this year and suceeded!!! Y-yet… WHY?”
John curled his body as he placed his eyes upon his arms, trying to hide his own shameful face from Kahnira.
A boy like him should not weep so easily, and as per the Sarvod’s teachings, it was better for a male to bleed than to weep. He learned the hard way after getting whipped by his father countless times for shedding his tears too easily.
But the more he tried to stop himself, the faster the tears came. Just as the tears exited his eyes, his heart was burned in the hollowness that was left by the realization that no matter what he did, no matter what he achieved, it was never enough to his father and mother.
“W-why…”
Certainly not enough that they would bring him out to celebrate his achievements.
And definitely not sufficient to outweigh his parents’ favoritism towards his younger sister.
“I’ve d-done e-everything… Why…”
With a hollowed out heart and painful tears, John wept in Kahnira’s arms, as his vocal cords choak on his howls of sorrow. His maid, sat silently as she coddled her master like an overprotective crab to her offspring.
“They are unfit to be your family, master.”