Tyjur sat in a room that could only be described as overly lavish, even by his standards. The carpet was woven from the finest material, collected from the Frofen sheep that live exclusively on the Iceline Alpes. Nothing could hold up to its quality, not even the mightiest of magic could synthesize anything quite like this. The curtains were made with the best silk that money can buy, imported straight from the distant empires of the far east, and put in the hands of the best tailors within the kingdom of Reinocha, only the best of the best. The same could be said of every other piece of furniture in this place. Although they lived in their hometown of Mercini, this manor in the capital is still considered to be their real home.
Within the capital, in the Kais district along with all the most influential nobles, like any other manor in the district, it serves as the means to demonstrate the wealth and prestige of the noble’s family. His father would often host parties and welcome many of the most powerful nobles, and not to mention his majesty himself from time to time, therefore anything other than the absolute best would only tarnish the Debouf family name.
Everything was for the image of the family.
Being the third son, he was free from the ridiculous expectations that were placed on his older siblings. There weren’t many restrictions for him, for the most part he could do whatever he wanted as long as he did not bring shame to the family. His brothers however, were both heavily involved in politics with the government and the army, living in the shadow of their father. Petty politics was the reason why he chose to stay at Mercini in the first place, away from it all and simply enjoying the luxuries that wealth could provide without any of the nuisance.
Life was easy, until now.
His knees were weak, his arms were heavy, and cold sweat poured from his face. He used a handkerchief to wipe it away, the color of the handkerchief changed with the heavy load of moisture it absorbed from his face.
There's no way that his father would overlook this, he had failed the only task he was given, to protect his sister Ashel. Given his father’s tendencies it could all end here, he always stressed the fact that this family does not need useless fodders. While his other siblings always held their fathers favoritism, Tyjur was always the odd one out. Ambitionless and weak his father would always say, just like his mother.
Those words have never stung as much as they did now.
The sound of the opening door jolted his body off the sofa.
“Oh, it’s just you.”
It was his servant.
“Yes, Lord Tyjur. I pray that you can wait a bit longer, your father is still at the meeting with his majesty.”
“Tch, it's fine, fetch me some cold red orchid tea in the meantime.”
“Of course my lord, if you will excuse me.”
With a sigh of relief, the sofa absorbed his entire mass.
As much as he wished his father would take his time coming back, a part of him had wished that his father would have been the one bursting through that door, to end this insufferable interim.
The wait wasn't the only thing eating away at his nerves, this room was far too humid and warm for someone who’s in their proper attire, he was sweating profusely, in no way that a proper gentleman in this setting should. Perhaps it was his father who ordered for things to be this way to torment him.
There has to be some way for him to redeem himself in his father's eyes. Tray Ashen Debouf isn't cruel, but he was a strict military man. To him the only thing that mattered had always been the result. When you succeed you will be rewarded lavishly, but when you fail the punishment would be equally devastating.
Is there even a way to undo such a blunder?
The door behind him opened once more and he couldn’t be more grateful, the tea would help him calm his nerves.
“That was quick. I hope that tea is cold like I asked.”
“You useless oaf! You dare to show your face here?!”
Tyjur practically jumped on his feet hearing that voice: “Fa—father?”
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His father was considered a large man by every stretch of the word, even in the military there were very few who could stand side by side with his father and not look like a dwarf in comparison. To Tyjur he seemed just like a raging bull charging right for its target.
“You insolent fool.”
“Fa—father please let me…” before he could even finish speaking, he was struck so hard that almost every piece of him was shattered on the spot.
“After everything I had given you, all the training, all the money and power, for what? To fail in the only thing you were in charge of? Useless, absolutely useless. The old sayings always have a point, no matter how masterful a craftsman, garbage will still remain garbage. Even if your mother were still with us, she would be ashamed of your existence.”
“But, father.”
“Save your breath, do you have any idea what you allowed? Our kingdoms are about to wage war once more. How will the people trust in our military might if we just let our enemies come into our territory and kidnap their symbol of peace. How can we tell the people to entrust their safety to us if we can't even protect a single person?!”
“I—I can,” Tyjur tried to speak but he saw the error in his ways, any words spoken by him only acted as fuel that burned his father's rage even further.
“There’s nothing you can do, get out of my sight.”
“I can still track them down, father I can bring Ashel back!”
“As if I’d entrust that to you, as of today you are no longer my son, our family doesn't need failures dragging its name in the mud. You are to be stripped of your titles and of your name. Call yourself whatever you want, but don't you dare use my family’s name in vain. Take whatever personal belongings you wish and leave, now.”
This is bad, this is bad, what am I gonna do, I’ll just end up being a nobody, working like all our servants living day to day in their mundane affairs. No, no, no, NO!
This was it, his entire life was about to slip out his hands. His father was that kind of man after all. He clenched his hands and played his sole remaining card.
“I know the people who took Ashel, I’ve fought them in the manor. I can still help you track them down and—”
“So you know what they look like, so what? What good would that do? They would be long back to Bereene by now.”
“That's the thing father, I don't think all of them were from Bereene, I have reason to believe that there were a few spies that were working with those bastards from Bereene.”
It may not have been entirely true, but anything goes at this point just to raise his value in his father’s eyes.
Lord Debouf walked slowly and purposefully to the window facing the courtyard before continuing.
“If war is what they truly desire, then it wouldn't be unlikely for a few of those spies to stick around, especially in the capital. Perhaps you might have some use after all.”
Yes!
“But, those whose faces you have seen wouldn’t likely stick around, how do you plan on finding a lead?”
“I don't have a concrete plan yet fath—”
“It's Lord Debouf, and you shall address me so.”
So that's how it's gonna be already.
Tyjur swallowed audibly before continuing: “Lord Debouf, I pray that you can spare me a few days worth of time, I shall present you something worthwhile then.”
“Hmph, save those plans for yourself, just show me the damned results. This will be your last chance of redemption, do not fail me again. Do you understand?”
“Yes thank you, my lord. I shall personally deliver those spies to you my lord!”
It's not over yet, if he could just complete this task, he could still get back to his easy going life, living without a care in the world.
Nothing will take it away from him.
“No, not that, you will be tasked with something else.”
With visible confusion written all over his face, Tyjur asked: “And what would that be?”
“It was your mistake in the first place and you shall rectify it on your own, bring Ashel back, no matter what it takes.”
“But…” Tyjur stammered. To find the spies was one thing but to bring her back was another entirely. However if he was given the tools available it would still be in the realms of possibility.
“Use whatever resources are available to you. Bring her back without so much as a scratch on her, only then you call yourself a Debouf. Until then don't you dare show your face around here.”
The difficulty rating of things just climbed considerably, but it’s still not impossible. He still had a considerable amount of money, hiring someone for this was certainly the wisest way to go. With the lead he has, that's every piece of the puzzle laying right before him. Putting them together is all that's left.
“Given the seriousness of the situation, could I be granted access to the Phantom unit?”
“Denied.”
What!?
Every bit of Tyjur’s being wanted to scream in frustration, but now was not the place nor the time.
It's Ashel, his sister they are talking about, everyone knows just how important she is to the family, so then why would his father reject this request without even a moment of thought?
“But father, their skills are honed specifically for missions like this, why would we not utilize their skills now?”
“You're mistaken yet again, I never said I wasn't sending them out on this mission. They simply will not be made available to you.”
“What?”
Lord Debouf turned around to face his son, the look on his face was a familiar one— for Tyjur that is, one tinged with disgust and regret.
“Did you really think I would leave the fate of Ashel in your hands? The Phantom unit will investigate this incident on their own, as will you. Like I said, this is your last chance to prove your worth as a Debouf.”
Those words sent a cold chill that rattled his core, all optimistic expectations vanished without a single trace.
A chance for Tyjur to redeem himself, his father is quite the jester. He might as well have sent him away to begin with. It doesn't matter what he does now, there's no way he can compete with the Phantom unit that his father has brought to hell and back over the years.
That's what father meant by proving his worth, that's the Debouf way after all, to make the impossible, possible.
“Roso!”
“Yes my lord?”
Tyjur turned to see the source of the voice standing by the door, a rose haired man bowing.
So he was already here, leader of the Phantoms.
“Please see Tyjur on his way out. After you get an accurate description of those spies, I want those criminals to be known and captured as quickly as possible.”
“Yes my lord. Tyjur, please this way.” With a bow, he gestured for the doors.
The smile on Roso’s face taunted him, like a man laughing at the wild and unattainable goals of a child.
Away with my honorifics already huh.
Hmph.
I”ll be the one to get those two bastards first!! I’ll make him eat those words.