The new School day starts and Drak was leisurely walking to his Classroom where Eleonora already sat on her seat waiting for him. Her stare nearly burned a hole through his skull and he did not even know what was wrong this time.

Sitting in his place he was just arranging the Documents for the next day when a Note was given to him secretly. Eleonora wanted to talk again, so Drak prepared himself mentally for what might come.

‘Why are girls so exhausting? Is this what it means to be friends with girls of my age? Scary…’

—

“So, what do you need this time, Eleonora?”

“Elly!”

“I am sorry, Elly, what is it?”

“What in tartarus did you do to me? Suddenly I see some strange things and when I was having nightmares they just popped into reality when I touched people and then it took longer, while I do not understand why, then suddenly the whole ordeal stopped while I have finally found out how to use it and now I have not even an inkling of what to do without this, as I understood how I am surrounded by snakes and crows, while also being scared of not being able to see who is Crow and who is Snake as my Crow Uncle, wait, not Crow but my real Uncle could be in Danger just because I can not see who is who and accidentally reveal something to a Snake and endangering my Family even more-”

“STOP! Could you please start from the beginning? I have no Idea what you are talking about!”

While finally interrupting Eleonora, Drak looked directly into her eyes. Her fury and confusion was slowly fading away from Eleonora’s face and Drak saw small crystalline pearls of tears start to grow on the corners of her eyes. Noticing this Drak had even less of a clue what to do. In a panic he looked at his Maids, but they quickly looked away to make it clear it was not their problem.

“Elly, please do not cry. I do not understand what you are talking about, so could you explain it slowly?”

“Drak, you- No I understand, let me start from the beginning.”

Eleonora started to explain all her grievances in detail with the start of her feeling strange after the Theatre and how she had a Nightmare prophecy right after. She did not hide anything and explained how she suddenly saw people as golden scaled snakes and black Crows after touching them for a while. Also what had happened with her now confidant Spymaster ‘Crow’.

“Huh. This is…”

“Master, you should explain it clearly to her. She is your friend, is she not?”

“Yes, you are right Claire. Now let me explain, Elly. What you are having are some kind of ‘side effect’ of touching me too much.”

Eleonora got red and was sure Drak was mocking her before Drak put up his hands.

“No, please let me explain. You held my hand a bit too long in the Theatre. Your powers are Clairvoyance and seeing truths hidden. When someone touches me he gets a boost of their powers. As you are seeing things, it appears not only in a dream but while you are awake too. With even more of my Magic, you seem to have an ability to see the truth of things while touching them. That is what I think at least.”

“As Master said, your Powers had just temporarily overcharged and are now back to where they normally are.”

Seria acknowledged Draks words with her own. The other three Maids all nodded their heads. All knew all too well how the Magic of their Master was working.

“So I can only see those things, when I have- um- skinship with you?”

“Yes, so do not worry, it will not happen again and scare you.”

“But I NEED to have this! There is a possibility my Uncle will die! I can not let that happen! Please hold me!”

Drak widened his eyes and his Maids had all different reactions. While Alice was hiding her mouth, Raja was looking angry, Seria suppressed successfully a chuckle but was caught doing that and Claire got rosy cheeks.

“Not like that! Hands! Holding hands, so I can see who is who around me!”

“...fine, but do not make it too obvious. Now to the problem you had with the incense. You think there is something wrong with it?”

“Also… I need your help with something else.”

“You are rather demanding.”

“I know and I am sorry, but right now I can not trust many people.”

“And you can trust me?”

“You… are my only friend.”

Again Eleonora got red and after breathing a bit she told about the incense and what she is worrying about. Drak was shocked to know how caged Eleonora really was and how dangerous her life can be. While not fully sure on how to help her, Drak asked Alice to take a small part of the burned incense from her Ring and said he will think about what he can do.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

—

The days were quiet and relaxed. Nothing seems to have changed, but every now and then a certain Teen behind Drak and Eleonora noticed how they were touching hands. His rage was at a boiling point as while it was made to look accidental, the length of how they were touching was way too long and the frequency too often.

Gnashing his teeth of how they blatantly were not only talking casually but now even going into such intimacy made his gums itch and more than once close to explode. But he had to endure. He had gotten orders from someone to be patient and careful. Something big is going to happen and not only would he play a key part in it but later on play with that upstuck Imperial Princess in every way he wanted.

It was dangerous for sure, but for the humiliation he never had felt before from Eleonora and even a bastard son like Drak, he was willing to gamble. Promise for Rescue if needed was given not only to himself but to the Family.

‘The Empire is rather cruel to let her fall, but I do not care. I have my way before she is someone else’s plaything. Be glad I show you the ropes, wench!’

Meanwhile Drak and Eleonora worked on their own agendas. Drak had to worry about how he needed to visit his half siblings while on the other hand he had no Idea what to do about the snakes Eleonora had spotted everywhere.

—

“Master, get up! We have to be ready or Seria will scold me for being unable to get you out of bed!”

Claire was busy shaking Drak out of his slumber while the other Maids got ready for Visitors.

As finally Drak came out of the bed his mood was not quite what it normally was. Not only was he rather silent but even a bit lethargic, not really wanting to even have this day in the first place.

“I still hate myself for accepting this meeting.”

“...Master. I know you hate to think about it and I am also worried about this, but please be sure we will always be by your side. If anything happens, just ask me to pummel them and I will do my best to not kill them, alright?”

“Thanks Claire. When will they be here?”

“Three hours from now, if they don’t make you wait.”

“They would not dare, it was their request in the first place and also they wanted to make everything right since that time. The only reason they have is fear, not remorse.”

“Alice said they have remorse.”

“And that is what makes me wonder. I would never believe it, but Alice said it is true. Are they really changing, or are they somehow deceiving themselves? I have no Idea how to…”

Drak started to shiver. Not even a second later Claire was hugging him hard.

“Do not think too far. I myself can not think so much, but I know too much thinking is also not good. We are all here for you and whatever happens, you are our most beloved Master. Let us carry some of your burden, okay?”

With trembling hands Drak hugged back.

“Thank you. I will overcome it. With all of you I will overcome it.”

“That is the spirit! Now breathe and when you have enough cuddling, please make yourself ready. The Guests can wait, but you need to look proper, okay?”

“...okay.”

After a few more seconds Drak finally let go and started to clean himself up. While he still had only the student uniform with high quality material, his hair, face and hands could still be polished to perfection. After the basic grooming, Seria came into the Room for more professional details to make Drak not only look fine but exceptional.

Different Maids and Servants are working through the Home to clean everything up while at the gate a rather early carriage arrived. The Driver not only disembarked the Carriage but apologized with a courteous bow to the Gatekeeper for being so early, as his Masters were eager to be as early as possible and would love to wait for the Master of the House.

The Guard was a bit perplexed. He knew this Driver and the last time he did not even deign to look at him, now he was overly friendly.

Opening the gate the Carriage and a smaller one for Servants were slowly and purposefully driving to the Main Entrance. After the Main Carriage stopped the Servants got busy. While the Driver of the Main Carriage readied the Stairs, the Servants disembarked quickly and started to unload the presents like Cake, Fabrics and very elegant writing utensils.

Albeit the Servants were working diligently the quivering of their bodies and fear they emanated was rather obvious. After the final Servant was in its place the Coach opened the door to let out a Man and a Woman.

While the Man came out first he gave his hand to help her out like how it is teached by Nobility. Looking around they saw the rather old Mansion in front of them.

“So, Brother lives here?”

“Yes, while it does not look impressive, it is his own for now. The place, where he maybe finally can feel at peace, better not look down on it.”

“I won’t! I just thought if he needs something bigger or maybe… No, it is his own home. He chose it himself and had his reasons.”

“Better not let him wait too much. Albeit we are rather early, he might not even know we are already here.”

Going to the door a Servant stepped forward to knock when Luke cleared his throat. Quickly the Servant looked at his Masters and saw their demeanor was not the best. Seeing the slight movement of the Head of Luke ordering him back into line the Servant with cold sweat on his face got back where he came from.

Breathing deep Luke readied himself to knock himself. As he was lifting his arm the doors already started to open. Inside were two Servants pulling the doors wide open while in the middle of the Walkway Seria was already standing and started to bow.

“Welcome to the Berklin Residence of Drak Berklin. Please follow me to the waiting chamber, as our Master is still preparing for the Visitation.”

Elizabeth hurriedly courteously bowed back in Nobility fashion before talking.

“Thank you for the hospitality. We brought some presents for your Master our Brother. What will be made of them is all in the hands of the People of the House.”

Phrasing it like that just meant ‘If you throw it away we would not complain, we are just happy to give something’.

Entering the House the Siblings were nervous, but the Servants felt like they were going into a Lion’s Den. The many weeks after the last visit of the Half Brother of their Masters were the most horrible times they had to endure. While they were no slaves and could theoretically just quit their Workplace, the truth was always a bit different.

Entering the waiting Area on the table was already tea and a bowl of fruits waiting. The Servants were quickly working on making their Masters comfortable while giving the Presents to the Servants of the house.

Seeing how they shivered and how some had a hard time with specific details because of something hidden made Seria slightly smile.