Timetheo was as good as his word. Just as Thea and Ginaveve were closing up the library, a carriage with the Chronwright crest on it arrived. A few people who still milled about on the street stopped to stare. It was hard not to notice that a noble’s carriage had come to the eastern district, which was strange enough, but the crest itself was notable as well. Only one crest in the entire empire had the image of the imperial clock tower on it. Thea’s father might only be a baronnet, but he was a famous one here in the capital.

Ah, this will get a bit tricky later. Most of the people who saw her on a regular basis thought Thea was a wealthy commoner–not that she necessarily hid who she was, she just didn’t advertise it. She worked and lived quite humbly, but now, there would be those who would know she at least had ties to a noble and famous house. So much for blending in.

Thea helped Luin up into the carriage before pulling herself up onto the step. “Thanks for finishing up at the library, Gina. Wish me luck!” Gina stood at the doorway, seeing them off.

Gina waved. “You promised to invite me another time, so it’s no problem. Best of luck!”

Thea noted the mischievous glint in Gina’s eyes, but had to just smile as she shut the carriage door. With a tap on the roof of the carriage, the driver set off. The ride was twice as long as the one she and Luin had taken the night before. A thick silence filled the carriage as it steadily moved from the eastern district and into the central one. Had either of the passengers cared to look outside, they would have noticed a distinct difference in the architecture. The buildings became grander. Even those of shops and cafes were finely built. Those who still roamed the streets wore finer clothing as well.

As the carriage noticeably slowed, Thea finally peeked out the window. They had turned into a residential area that she recognized. Her parents’ estate was not far. Luin is being so quiet. Wouldn’t he normally have some questions for me? It was still hard to read the boy. He was normally quiet and not very expressive.

Luin caught her staring at him and met her gaze.

Thea tried to give him a consoling smile. “I know you may be nervous, but I’m sure things will be fine. Is there anything you want to ask me before we get there?” Thea hoped that Luin wouldn’t pick up on her own worry. She knew her parents were reasonable and compassionate people, but she still wasn’t entirely sure they would be alright with her remaining Luin’s guardian. But she knew Luin was very intelligent–possibly a prodigy–so it was possible that he already had thought of that.

Luin frowned for a moment before his neutral expression returned. “You said they were good people, so I’m not really worried. But…family members are ones that you trust the most, right? They want what is best for you?”

Luin’s voice sounded so dubious that Thea had to hide a cringe. “Some families are like that. I’m lucky that mine is like that, but not everyone has good family members. People can be good or bad regardless of whether they are related to you. And some people become family even when not related. Hmm…I guess it's a bit complicated. But yes, I trust them, and they do want what is best for me. But that doesn’t mean that my desires for my own life are secondary. I’ll still push for what I want for myself even if they don’t always agree.”

Thea couldn’t tell if her answer satisfied Luin or not, but at least he did nod. The carriage came to a stop then. The door opened, and Thea recognized the man who had opened the door.

“Greetings, my lady.” Mr. Hennison, her father’s aide, secretary, and sometimes butler, gave Thea a small bow and a smile. He looked nearly the same as the last time she’d seen him, except perhaps that his hair had gone a bit grayer, especially on the sides. He was dressed in butler attire this evening.

“It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Hennison. I hope you’ve been well.” He helped Thea down from the carriage. She turned and held Luin’s hand as he hopped down . “This is Luin, my charge. I hope you’ll treat him well while we’re here.”

“I’ve been quite well, thank you, my lady.” He turned to Luin and bent down just a bit. “This must be the boy that Lord Timotheo mentioned. It is nice to meet you, Luin. I am Jonnis Hennison, aide to Baronnet Chronwright and head butler for this estate.” Thea was relieved to see that Hennison gave Luin a genuine smile like one might give to a small child they thought was cute.

“Nice to meet you Mr. Hennison,” said Luin, bowing his head slightly.

“My, what good manners,” Hennison said as he straightened. “Please follow me. Dinner will be served shortly. Would you like to head straight to the dining room or freshen up a bit first?”

“I’d like to freshen up a bit and change. And if a set of clothes can be found for Luin to borrow for dinner, it would be appreciated.” Thea noted how Luin clutched her hand tightly while his gaze roamed around when they entered the main house. She gave his hand a little squeeze.

“Of course, my lady. I’ll see you to your room, and I believe a clean, old set of Lord Timetheo’s childhood clothes may be available if you don’t mind them being a bit musty from storage. I’ll have them aired out and pressed as quickly as possible and brought for the boy.”

They passed by a few of the other estate staff, eliciting greetings and curious looks, but soon, they arrived at the suite of rooms Thea had occupied before she had moved to the Eastern District to be closer to work. She still stayed over in these rooms when she visited, but that was perhaps a handful of days in a year, and usually only for family birthdays or winter solstice. Nostalgia and old memories of being smaller always washed over her as she entered these rooms, but now she felt a bit self conscious because Luin was now following her into them. Even her brothers weren’t allowed to casually enter her rooms, and hadn’t since she was very little.

Hennison left them to fetch clothes for Luin, and they stepped into the room.

The mana stone had already been activated and the lights were already glowing warmly as they entered, revealing all of Thea’s childhood possessions. A music box, a plush toy, and a box of letters from her school days were out on the vanity. Her wardrobe stood open with a few dresses already laid out for her across the bed.

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Thea watched Luin, gauging his reaction, but he only looked around the room as he’d done when they entered the manor at first. He let go of her hand and went towards the vanity. He looked closely at the music box and the elegant, tiny woman in it before giving the foot of the plush bear toy a small squeeze.

“You grew up here?” Luin asked.

“I did.” Thea wondered if the question was laden with curiosity, envy, or sadness. It was so hard to tell, but she wouldn’t put it past an orphan like Luin to feel some resentment towards seeing the nice room she grew up in. “It’s practically a guest room now, but only for when I come over to see my parents or brothers.”

“I see. So you have a lot of memories here.”

Thea wasn’t sure what to make of that statement, but she decided to just agree. “Yes, quite a lot of memories, but I also make new ones every day, and I look forward to more that I can make in the future.”

Something seemed to click for Luin then–Thea could see it in his expression just the slightest bit–and he nodded.

Hennison returned with the clothing for Luin. It was a formal, silk shirt and a navy pair of trousers, along with a white and blue waistcoat.

“Would you mind helping Luin dress, Mr. Hennison? The study may be a good place for that. I’ll dress as quickly as I can out here.”

“Of course. This way, Luin,” said Hennison.

As the butler and Luin entered the study, she saw him look back at her. “It’s alright. I’ll be right out here until you’re done, and we’ll go to dinner together.” She sighed when Luin nodded and followed Hennison into the study and shut the door.

Now that the man and boy were out of the room, she quickly grabbed a green, chiffon gown from her wardrobe. The ones laid on the bed were a bit too showy for her current tastes. The green tea gown was much more comfortable as well as toned down in color and decoration. It was also a plus that getting into it herself was much easier. She could call for a maid, but her current habits left her willing to forego that if she could.

Thea was finishing the last of the hooks on the collar of her gown when there was a knock from the other side of the study door. She latched the final hook, and said, “I’m all finished. You may come back in.”

Hennison stepped out of the study with Luin in tow. The boy looked quite nice in Timetheo’s old formalwear, and Thea couldn’t help but smile.

Luin frowned. “Do I look odd?”

“Oh, no, not at all!” Thea denied. “In fact, I may ask mother if we might keep this set of clothes for you. They look quite nice with your hair and eye color.”

“Ah, okay.” Luin smoothed his hands over the waist coat. “Your dress looks nice too.”

Thea smiled at the tentative complement he offered. “Thank you, Luin. Shall we head to dinner now?”

At Luin’s nod, Hennison led the way to the dining hall. Barronet and Lady Chronwright, along with their oldest, Thea’s eldest brother, Darcin, sat at the head of a long dining table. Thea swallowed hard as her parents’ and brother’s gazes fell on her and Luin, but she did feel some relief that they’d arrived before Timetheo and possibly the commander.

“Welcome home, Thea,” said her father. “I’m glad you could join us.”

Thea’s mother smiled at her even as her gaze took in Luin as well. She lifted her hands and signed, “Welcome home, my dear. I hope you’ve been well.”

Darcin simply gave her a stoic nod before sipping from the water glass in front of him.

Difficult to read, as always, she thought as she smiled to Darcin in return. Kind of reminds me of someone now. She glanced at Luin and noted that he didn’t seem concerned, so they walked forward and took seats beside her mother.

“I’ve been well. The library has been keeping me busy.” Thea signed and spoke at the same time. Her mother could read lips, but she knew her mother preferred signing when possible.

“Is that the boy Tim has told us about? The one you’ve taken in?” asked Darcin.

“Darcin, don’t frown so. You may frighten the child.” Thea’s mother signed to Darcin, who scoffed and sipped again at his water. To Thea, her mother signed, What’s his name?

Thea sighed inwardly, though she didn’t think Darcin had meant anything harsh by his questions, at least she found answering her mother’s question a bit easier. “This is Luin,” and she spelled the boy’s name out with her fingers. “He came to the library yesterday requesting books to read. He’s read several that are on the level of fourth year academy books already. He’s quite bright. But he didn’t have a home to go back to, so I offered to sponsor him and be his guardian for the time being.”

“I see. Poor child.”

Though Thea was ready for the inquisition, no further comment was made on Thea taking care of Luin. Surely her family was filled with things they wanted to say to her, questions as to why she took him in instead of to the temple, of if she could really manage to take care of a child, of what her plans were for if he needed her guardianship longer than a few weeks or months? But at least, for now, it seemed that they wouldn’t ask those questions in front of Luin.

Mr. Hennison appeared at her father’s side. “My Lord, I’ve been informed that Lord Timetheo and Commander Hollendale are on their way. They have instructed me to say not to wait on them to begin dinner. They did not wish to hold up the meal for everyone just because their work held them up.”

“That’s quite considerate of the commander. I’m sure the message was his idea rather than Tim’s.” Thea’s father gave a sardonic smile, and there was no disagreement from around the table. “If you can send a message back, do so, and pass along my thanks to the commander. We’ll begin the meal as they suggested.”

“Very well,” Hennison agreed.

The food was brought out and laid on the table. Two maids came forward and began to serve some of each dish onto their plates.

“If there’s anything you don’t like, you don’t have to eat it, alright?” Thea said softly to Luin who was eyeing the food on his plate as if he’d never seen something like it before. Thea couldn’t help but smile at his nod. She looked up to catch her mother looking at her with a soft expression. Thea felt her cheeks warm and turned to her own food. But, as if to only fuel her discomfort, her thoughts turned to the soon-to-be-arriving commander. The next two empty seats were directly in front of herself and Luin, so presumably one of those seats would be taken by her brother and the other by the commander.

I wonder if he’ll sit in front of me? But that stray thought only made her already nervous heartbeat speed up.

Just as the last of the drinks had been poured, Hennison’s voice sounded from across the room. “Commander Hollendale of the Royal Knights and Lord Timetheo have arrived.”

Thea’s head snapped up. She saw the commander–now dressed formally in his Royal Knight’s uniform–step into the dining room. If he’d looked nice in casual, street clothes that afternoon, he now looked quite dashing in his uniform. She tried to calm the staccato of her heartbeat, but it was no use. Intrusively, she began to think that her easy-to-get-on gown was now not formal enough.

She heard the chair slide back as her father stood up, but the commander waved them to stay seated. “If you stand now, my gesture to suggest you start without us would have been lost. Do not worry about formality for my sake. I am glad that it seems we aren’t that late after all.”

Timetheo walked quickly behind the commander. He was just in time to begin introductions. Once Thea’s father, mother, and eldest brother were introduced to the commander, they took their seats.

Commander Hollendale did end up taking the seat in front of Thea, causing Thea to grip her spoon more tightly than she intended in her panic, while Timetheo took the one in front of Luin. As he pulled out his chair, the commander smiled at Thea. “It is nice to see you again, Lady Thea.”