Lucas's POV

It has been a week now.

A whole week since Lucas's life changed, though if it was for better or worst he still can't tell.

As always, the meals were always a strange time for him. Duchess Seraphina's presence at meals was a constant source of tension for Lucas. Her piercing gaze seemed to dissect him with every glance, making him acutely aware of his every move.

One evening, after an especially quiet lunch, the Duchess turned to him, her voice as cold as her stare. "Lucas, do you find our hospitality lacking?"

Lucas looked up, startled. She usually never talked to him, even Elliot and Isabella were a little surprised.

"N-No, Your Grace. It's just... everything is so new to me."

Why is she starting a conversation with me? I know she's my stepmother, but I have no idea what to say to her.

The Duchess's lips curled into a faint, inscrutable smile. "New, indeed. I suppose you're not accustomed to such... grandeur from where you came from."

Lucas felt the weight of her words, laden with unspoken judgment. "I'm grateful for everything, Your Grace."

"Gratitude is good." she replied, her gaze unwavering. "But remember, here, actions speak louder than words."

Lucas nodded, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety as the conversation ended.

"Hey, Lucas, are you free after this? Do you want to play with me?" Elliot asked, his voice alone making Lucas feel better.

"I'm sorry, Elliot. I have a lesson with Count Alistair right after this."

"Aww." Elliot pouted, his disappointment palpable. "Can't you postpone the lesson?"

"Elliot, of course he can't!" Isabella interjected, her tone gently reproachful. "Don't be selfish."

"Well, I'm sure I can play once I'm done with my lesson, Elliot! So wait for me until then." Lucas spoke, putting a smile back on Elliot's face.

Elliot's face lit up, his earlier sadness forgotten. "Really? It's a promise then!"

As Elliot's joy filled the room, Lucas couldn't help but notice the stark contrast in Duchess Seraphina's expression. Her green eyes, though still veiled in cool composure, betrayed a flicker of something darker—displeasure mingled with a hint of disdain.

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After lunch, Lucas made his way to the study room. In there, he found who he was expecting there waiting for him.

Count Alistair, an imposing figure with a stern face was waiting. His attire was as meticulous as his demeanor, every detail in place, from the polished buttons on his coat to the perfectly aligned spectacles perched on his nose.

There he is....

Lucas wasn't a fan of the man, but he would be lying if he said he didn't somewhat enjoy his lessons. Lucas discovered he likes learning about history.

"Ah, there you are Master Lucas, you're a little late." Alistair remarked as Lucas entered.

"S-Sorry." Lucas apologized, he wanted to say he got a little lost on the way here, but admitting that would had been embarrassing.

"Anyway... Today, we shall delve into the geography and governance of the Tarragon Duchy, the one which your father is the sovereign ruler of."

"The Tarragon Duchy.....that's where we are right now, correct?" Lucas asked as he took a seat at the large oak table, the map of the duchy spread out before him.

"Correct, that is where we are located, north of the Kingdom."

"Are there other Duchies?" Lucas asked. The more he learned, the more he realized how little he knew of his country.

"Well...Currently there is another Duchy to the South, the Tedia Duchy, though once upon a time there was a third one to the west."

"Oh? What happened?"

"That's not really our lesson right now. I'll just say that it's been destroyed after its ruler fought against his majesty, King Alaric von Valtoria III, in the civil war. The King made sure to destroy it after he won the war. The house that once ruled it is no more."

Lucas wasn't sure how to react to that. Alistair could tell the boy was shocked.

"Luckily for you, your late grandfather sided with the King, which is why you and the rest of your household are still here."

I'm even more curious about that civil war now!

"Now, enough of that. Let's start talking about the trade routes here in Tarragon..." Alistair began, Lucas tried his best to keep up, though he found this lesson much more boring as it didn't tackle much history.

Alistair explained how the trade routes are vital for the duchy's economy, and how they let them connect with the rest of the Kingdom.

Once the lesson was finally over, Elliott wasted no time standing up. Usually he would leave the room right away, but this time he had a different kind of question for the Count.

"Count Alistair, how come you don't you ever join us for meals?"

This occurred to me just today. Won't it make sense for him to eat his meals with us? He is also nobility.

Alistair paused, his gaze steady on Lucas. For a moment, he seemed to weigh his words carefully. "You should know why, Master Lucas."

Lucas's brow furrowed in confusion. "I'm not sure I do...."

The Count sighed, removing his glasses and placing them on the table. His eyes, sharp and discerning. "Boy.... You haven't been here long, sure, but even you should figure this out. It's her Grace, the Duchess. She would prefer to keep her distance from me."

"Huh? But..."

"Before you ask why, it's due to my role here right now. For the time being I'm serving the role of a teacher to you, her husband's bastard. Do you get it now? In a sense, me teaching you is betraying her." Alistair explained more.

Lucas felt a pang of sadness at the Count's words. He had sensed the Duchess's disdain, but hearing it articulated so clearly made the reality more stark. "I didn't ask for you to teach me." He said quietly.

"You didn't, but your father, the Duke, ordered me too, so I must." Alistair spoke as he looked out of the window in the room. " Remember this, Master Lucas, to the Duchess, you are a symbol of love between her husband and another woman."

A symbol of love? Don't make me laugh. There is no way father actually loved mother. I'm not a symbol of anyone's love.

Lucas walked out the room, not bothering to say goodbye to Count Alistair.

"I see I need to teach that boy some manners as well on top of history." Alistair spoke to himself.

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Lucas felt a heavy sadness weighing on him, but the moment he saw Elliot, it began to lift.

"Elliot! There you are." Lucas called out, his voice brightening as Elliot bounded over.

"Yup! I've been waiting for your lesson to be over! Are you free to play with me right now?" Elliot exclaimed, grabbing Lucas's hand with a gleeful grin. "I was so bored waiting for you! Haha!"

"...Sure, let's play!" Lucas agreed, he just needed something to keep his mind busy right now.

I'm really glad I have Elliot here with me right now, I imagine life without him in this place would had been much harder.

As Lucas and Elliot played a spirited game of tag in the gardens, their laughter carried through the open windows of Devereaux Hall . Unbeknownst to them, Duchess Seraphina stood watching from her balcony, her eyes narrowing in displeasure.

She descended the stairs, her steps quick and purposeful. Finding Lucas alone in the corridor, she cornered him, her voice low and icy. "What do you think you're doing?"

Lucas looked up, startled. "W-We were just playing, Your Grace."

"Playing?" She repeated, her tone dripping with disdain. "Playing? With MY child? What are you up to? Why are you getting so close to Elliot?!"

Lucas swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her words pressing down on him. "I-I'm sorry, Your Grace. I didn't mean to upset you."

"Oh, please! And don't look at me with those eyes! I hate those eyes of yours!" Duchess Seraphina snapped, her composure slipping for the first time since Lucas arrived. "They are the same eyes THAT woman had!"

Lucas was taken aback. "...W-What?"

'That' woman? Does...she know mother?

"Mother? Lucas?" Elliot found the two and approached them, sensing something was wrong.

"Just like THAT woman, you must be up to something! Stay away from my Elliot! What do you want from him?! Are you planning on taking his place as the heir of the Duchy?!" Duchess Seraphina snapped, her words sharp and accusing. Both Lucas and Elliot were stunned into silence.

Stolen story; please report.

Elliot's face twisted in disbelief, his shock palpable at the mention of Lucas being the heir. It was a face Lucas didn't recognize.

"N-No! I'm not planning any of that!" Lucas protested, his voice shaking with confusion and disbelief.

"Don't lie! That must be why you're here!! You're here to steal from my Elliot, just like that whore did from me!" Seraphina grabbed Lucas's shoulders, shaking him. Elliot stood frozen in place behind her.

"...Let me go!" Lucas demanded, his voice choked with a mix of fear and indignation as he managed to free himself from Duchess Seraphina's grip. He wasted no time running away, with no destination in mind. He simply knew he couldn't be around her right now.

As he ran away, the Duchess broke into tears. Elliot watched her in silence.

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Lucas ran and ran.

He didn't know where his legs were taking him.

He kept running until he reached a certain room, where he went inside and closed the door behind him.

It was the Harmonic Chamber. Lucas heard of this place, but he'd never been here, not that he cared right now to admire it.

He sank to the floor, his back against the door, and buried his face in his hands. He tried to hold back the tears, tried to be strong, but the emotions overwhelmed him. Her accusations, her anger—it all felt so unfair, so crushing.

He didn't know how long he sat there, crying, lost in his grief. Time seemed to stretch and warp, the minutes bleeding into hours. He was too hurt to think, too exhausted to move. The weight of her words bore down on him, making him feel small and powerless.

She called my mother a... whore. How could she? How could she say that? How does she even know mother? And all that talk of being the heir....It's not my fault! It's not like I asked father to bring me here!

The light outside the windows gradually faded, and the chamber grew darker. The once vibrant daylight had given way to the deep blues and purples of twilight, and eventually, the inky blackness of night. The room was now only illuminated by a moonbeams slipping through the high windows.

He was dimly aware of the quiet stillness of the night settling in, the manor falling into a hushed slumber. He didn't want to leave this room; he didn't want to face anyone.

I don't want to see anyone. I don't want to talk to anyone.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, spilling a thin line of light into the darkened chamber. Lucas looked up, his tear-streaked face reflecting a mixture of fear and resignation. He half-expected to see the Duchess again, ready to continue her tirade.

But it was Isabella, beautiful Isabella, who stepped into the room, her eyes soft with concern. She approached him cautiously, her footsteps light on the polished floor.

"Lucas, everyone's been looking for you." She said gently, her voice a soothing balm to his frayed nerves. "I'm so glad I looked here."

Lucas wiped at his eyes, trying to pull himself together. He didn't want to let a girl see him cry. "I... I didn't know where else to go." He admitted, his voice breaking.

Isabella sat down beside him on the floor, her gaze unwavering. "I'm glad you came here. You don't have to hide, Lucas."

Lucas shook his head, the tears threatening to spill over again. "She hates me, Isabella. Your mother hates me. I don't want to be part of this family anymore."

Isabella's expression softened, sadness touching her eyes. "Oh, Lucas... I can't even imagine how you must feel."

"She said.... She said something about being an heir and stuff. Something like that never even crossed my mind! Not once!"

Should have that been something that crossed my mind? I truly doubt father wants me to inherit his titles. Why would he when he has Elliot?

"I... I've heard a little about what the fight was about...I see the topic of inheritance came up, huh? I can't say I'm surprised. You see, Lucas, in families like ours, that's always a popular topic, for better or worst." Isabella spoke, her voice and face full of sadness.

"...Do you hate me? Do you feel like it would have been better if I didn't show up?" Lucas asked Isabella. As he sat here in this room, he couldn't help but think how this wouldn't had happened if he didn't show up.

"Hate you? No, Lucas, never." Isabella said firmly. "Please, don't think that. If anything, I'm curious about you."

"Curious?" Lucas echoed, taken aback.

"When father suddenly told us about you and that you'd be coming to live with us, it was... complicated. Mother was heartbroken, of course. Elliot was thrilled to have a new brother. And me... I was in the middle. I didn't know how to feel or react. But I was curious—curious about the brother I'd never met. So, will you please tell me more about yourself?"

"...Why do you want to know? What's the point?"

"I just want to learn more about you, that's all. What was your life like before you came here? What was your hometown called? Did you have friends there? Please, tell me anything."

She wants to know more about me?

Lucas was a little conflicted, but he decided to open up. In a way, talking about his life before this place might very well remind him of simpler, happier times.

"My village is called Fern Hollow." Lucas started, his voice soft and reflective. "It's a small place, tucked away in a valley far from here, at the very south of the Kingdom. Life there was simple, not at all like the grandeur of this place."

Isabella listened intently, her eyes fixed on Lucas as he recounted his past.

"We lived in a modest cottage at the edge of the village." He continued. "Just my mother and me. I loved her so much. The village wasn't wealthy, we didn't have much, but it was home. People worked hard, tending their gardens, raising livestock, or crafting things to sell in the market. Despite the hardships, there was a sense of community. Everyone knew everyone else, and we all looked out for each other."

He paused, a faint smile crossing his lips as he remembered the familiar sights and sounds of Fern Hollow. "Mother was everything to me. She worked as a seamstress, sewing clothes for the villagers. Honestly, she wasn't the best at it, but she always tried her best to learn. Her hands were always busy, stitching and mending. She used to hum while she worked, and I'd sit by her side, listening to the rhythm of her needle. She had the most beautiful voice."

Isabella nodded, encouraging him to continue.

"It was her who taught me how to read and write, how to appreciate the little things in life. We didn't have many luxuries, but she always tried her best to give me what I need. She was hoping one day we'll gather enough money to move out of the village and into a better off town, though that never happened..."

"...Did something happen to her?" Isabella asked, feeling hesitant to do so.

"...Yes, she died." Lucas answered, making Isabella feel guilty for asking.

And it was my fault. It was my fault dear mother died.

Lucas's gaze grew distant as he delved deeper into his memories. "I had friends in the village too. There was Millie, the baker's daughter. We used to play by the river, catching tadpoles and skipping stones. And Tom, the blacksmith's apprentice. He dreamed of becoming a knight one day, and we'd spend hours pretending to be heroes, saving the village from imaginary dragons."

He chuckled softly, the memories bringing a brief glimmer of warmth to his heart. "Life was hard, but it was also full of simple joys. We had festivals where everyone would come together, singing and dancing around the bonfire. Those were the best times. Mother always said that the stars seemed to shine brighter on those nights."

"How lovely." Isabella added, a smile on her face.

His smile faded as he thought about why he was no longer there. "Though that happiness didn't last. Once mother died, I was all alone. The people in the village tried their best to take care of me, to be my new family, but it never felt the same."

"Lucas..."

Lucas's voice trembled, the pain of loss still fresh. "When she passed away, I felt so lost. The villagers did their best to help, but I didn't know what to do. That's when my father's letter came. He said in the letter he'll be sending someone to get me to my new home."

"....And that was Walter, correct?"

"Yes, it was Walter. And he brought me here, to this place so far from home..." Lucas looked up at Isabella, his eyes filled with uncertainty. "I didn't want to leave Fern Hollow, but I had no choice. Coming here was supposed to be a new beginning, but it's been so hard."

Isabella reached out and took his hand, squeezing it gently, causing the boy to blush. "Lucas, you've been through so much. I'm glad you told me about Fern Hollow. It sounds like a beautiful place, and I can see why it means so much to you."

Lucas nodded, a small but genuine smile forming. "T-Thank you, Isabella. Talking about it helps, I suppose. Remembering the good times makes me feel closer to home somehow."

"Well....Now that you told me about yourself, would you like to hear a little about me?"

Lucas blinked, taken aback. "Huh?"

"I feel it's only fair, after you've told me so much about yourself." Isabella spoke as her gaze drifted to the grand piano, remembering happy times.

"Y-You don't need too....Though I would like to learn more about you, if it's okay." Lucas spoke honestly.

Isabella's eyes sparkled with a hint of nostalgia as she spoke. "You see, Lucas, in this very room we're in... I met my first love."

"What?!"

She laughed softly at his surprised reaction. "Haha, I suppose calling it 'love' isn't accurate. It was more like an innocent crush a young girl had on her piano teacher."

Lucas listened intently as Isabella began her story, her voice gentle and filled with wistful recollection.

"It was a few years ago." Isabella began, her eyes tracing the elegant lines of the grand piano. "I was only 12. Father had hired a piano teacher for me, a young man named Adrian."

Lucas could see the flicker of fondness in her eyes as she spoke his name. "Adrian was... different. He wasn't like the other tutors or servants in the manor. He was kind, patient, and incredibly talented, but also a strict teacher when he needed to be. When he played the piano, it was like the music came alive. I was captivated from the very first lesson."

She smiled, lost in the memory. "He was in his early 20s. There was something about him—his passion for music, the way he treated me with respect and genuine interest—that made me look forward to every lesson. He wasn't just a teacher; he became something of a friend to me, though I'm sure he only ever saw me as an annoying little sister."

Lucas listened, imagining the scenes Isabella described.

"We spent hours in this very room." She continued, her voice softening. "He taught me not just how to play, but how to feel the music. We would play duets, and he would tell me stories about the composers, bringing their works to life. He was so smart. In a way, he had opened up my small world."

Isabella...

Isabella paused, her expression growing somber. "But Adrian had his own struggles. He came from a poor family and had taken the job here to help support them. His mother was ill and they were struggling to make ends meet. He felt so much pressure to succeed, to provide for them. He was always so humble, never complaining, even though I could tell he carried a very heavy burden. I wanted to help him, but there was little a 12 years old girl could do."

Lucas's heart ached for her as he saw the pain in her eyes.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Then, one day, he didn't show up for our lesson. I waited and waited, but he never came. Later, we found out that he had left the manor, returning to his family. His mother had taken a turn for the worse, and he needed to be with her. He never came back. He left without saying goodbye. I don't know what became of him since. I doubt I'll ever see him again."

"Oh...." Lucas wasn't sure what to say, all he could do was be sad for Isabella.

"Never getting to see him one last time really hurt. It was what taught me how easy it is for people to just.... disappear out of your life just like that, as if they've never been there. It made me afraid of getting attached to people." Isabella admitted.

"I see... Thank you for sharing that with me." He said softly. It felt a little crazy to Lucas earlier in the morning he felt there was a wall between him and Isabella, and now it's gone as if it was never there.

"Sorry, I feel I've made both of us feel even more down now." Isabella spoke as she stood up. "But I know just the way to cheer us both up."

Lucas blinked, confused but curious. "What do you mean?"

"Come with me, Lucas!" She called him.

Lucas hesitated for a moment, then got up and followed her. Isabella settled onto the piano bench, patting the space beside her with an encouraging smile.

"Sit here." she beckoned. Lucas obeyed, albeit a bit awkwardly, feeling a sudden wave of self-consciousness.

We're so close...

"What are you going to do?" Lucas asked, though he had a good guess.

"Play the piano. Playing it always makes me feel better, and I hope it'll make you feel better too." Isabella answered, a smile on her face.

As her fingers hovered over the keys, Lucas watched in quiet awe. The room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the first notes to fill the air.

Isabella began to play, her fingers gliding effortlessly over the keys. The melody started softly, a gentle cascade of notes that resonated with a haunting beauty.

Lucas sat beside her, mesmerized. The piano's voice was rich and full, each note a delicate whisper that spoke to the deepest parts of his heart. As the music flowed, he felt a wave of emotions wash over him—sadness, yes, but also a profound sense of peace.

Lucas didn't think he'd be able to feel peace today, but Isabella showed him otherwise.

Isabella played with a grace and passion that seemed to transform her. Her eyes were closed, her expression serene, as if she were somewhere far away, lost in the music. The piece she chose was both melancholic and uplifting.

There was something magical in the way she connected with the piano, how each note she played felt like an extension of her soul. Lucas could do nothing but stare at her.

It was there, in the Harmonic Chamber, under the moonlight.

Isabella played the piano, her melody reaching Lucas's heart.

Elliot, oh Elliot...

I think I understand now why you're possessive of her.