Despite slamming into a wall hard enough to knock me out, I ignore the possibility of maybe having a concussion and go to sleep to ready myself for the next day.
Waking up, I feel better with the soreness in my back being reduced to a dull aching. Still, I was able to move around fine and proceeded to get out of bed.
Making my way toward the kitchen to prepare myself something, I heard a knocking at the door. Still a little drowsy and out of it, I almost called out to ask who is it. Fortunately, I caught myself and slipped into character.
"What is it," I called demandingly.
"Young Master, the Mister and Miss were wondering if you were going to join them for breakfast," a young woman calls out.
Hmm, I don't have a reason not to, but I need time to finish hammering out my plan for getting a teacher. "I'm fine. Tell them I won't be joining them."
"Very well, Young Master. I'll be leaving then."
"Wait!"
"Yes?"
"Tell my father, I'd like to talk to him about something later."
"Very well. Will that be all."
"Yeah. Now get on with it." I let out a sigh as I relax and go about getting myself something to eat.
It's a good thing Layfon isn't such a snob that he doesn't keep around a few easy to make things. Admittedly it's just for when he feels like being a 'peasant slob' and doesn't want to bother with other people. Still, a few easy and quick to prepare ingredients and I have myself some breakfast. I can just sit on the stools and eat at the counter like yesterday.
The real issue I need to think about is how I'm going to get a teacher. I thought about it a little last night as I went to bed, but I need to have a script prepared. What I want is: A) a teacher, and B) to go into Dimensional Fields. The issue is that I have to explain why I want these things and I have to do it in a way that sounds like what Layfon would want or say.
Why would an experienced and arrogant guy like Layfon who has everything he could ever want suddenly want to take beginner lessons and risk his life in a Dimensional Field?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I manage to finish my breakfast without any hassle and clean up when the maid from before comes knocking again. She told me that Robert said he would have time to see me after work and if I wanted someone to come get me when that was. Since I have a shitty sense of time and his ours are irregular, I agreed.
Half the day goes by with me planning out how this conversation is going to go. Once I had everything set, I pretty much must hang out and watched TV.
It was around lunch time that another knocking came.
I mute the TV to respond, but the moment the room goes quiet, a voice calls from the other side of the door.
"Young Master, My Lady requests your presence for a meal."
The voice was one that Layfon's memories instantly made recognizable. He wasn't one to care or remember servants. Personally, I think that's dumb. If you can't be bothered to remember whose serving you, what if an imposter slips in or something? Relying on others to keep up with security or assuming your family makes you untouchable can only take you so far. However, there were a few he bothered to remember.
The head butler…
The head chef…
The two maids assigned to serve Layfon when he's attending school…
And, this one. Head maid and Lidia's personal maid…
Keeping in mind the role I'm supposed to play, I suppress my impulse to hurry to the door and greet them. I rise to my feet, walk over to the door, and open it.
There stands Yulanda Ellana. Layfon himself is fairly tall – almost six-foot –, but I still have to look up slightly to match eyes with the even taller Yulanda who herself is six-feet-tall. Her long, burgundy hair is pulled back into a braided bun on the back of her head. Her purple eyes contained a mischievous glint when paired with her gentle smirk of her purple lips that would seem unbefitting of one in her position. Similarly, though she wore a maid's outfit, it had various modifications that did not fit the sort of stern, professional image I would have for a head maid.
A black, long-sleeved dress reached the floor but had a slit along the side that almost reached up to Yulanda's hip that left the pale skin of her leg exposed and revealing the white, thigh-high stockings worn underneath. The shoulders of the uniform were puffy, but the sleeves clung to her arms before being tucked into equally tight, white gloves that extended up to her biceps. The rest of her dress was equally form-fitting – even the white apron that only reached a few inches past her waist –; it tightly strained against her curvaceous figure and highlighted her generous proportions.
I can't help but wonder how an apron can practically adhere to someone's body like that. The fabric just doesn't seem like it should be that flattering.
While I muse about this, Yulanda gives a curtsy. It really does feel unnatural for her to act so graceful and dignified while looking the way she does. "Greetings, Young Master. Would you please accompany me to eat with My Lady?"
"Fine," I huff exaggeratedly.
The fact Yolanda is here means this is something important…or at least a silent statement from Lidia that I can't refuse. The woman only handled overarching tasks of overseeing the maids, cooks, and other logistics of the house or personal tasks specifically requested by the matriarch.
"Please follow me," Yolanda said with a bow. She then turned and began walking at a casual, even gait.
I follow behind while idly keeping an eye on how Yolanda's dress clings to her ass. Slightly mesmerized by the sway of her hips, my mind begins to wander as we make our way to the dining room.
What did Lidia call me for? If I'd done anything to get in trouble, she'd leave it to Robert to handle. If this was about me skipping 'family time', she wouldn't send Yolanda for it.
Lidia's role in the story beyond being the 'Dragon family matriarch' was really vague. The most I can guess is that while Robert was the de facto head and controlled everything, she was the one in charge of the home. She was the one ultimately in charge of everything, and if anything needed to be done, she would tell her husband who would make a final decision – creating the illusion of him holding absolute power over the household.
…Maybe the maid yesterday didn't buy Alice's impression of me (Aak! Still creepy to think about!) and they found out a little girl is hiding in my room? That seems like something Lidia would handle herself.
As I try to figure out what this could be about, we arrive at the dining room.
"Please, Young Master, after you," Yolanda says before opening the door.
I don't say anything as I step into the room. It looks exactly the same as before except this time, Lidia is the only one here and is sitting at the head of the table.
"A position that's supposed to be reserved for the head of the household," I can't help but think – noting the silent declaration of position.
Maybe I really am in trouble? But what could I have done!? My feet feel heavy as I make my way to a chair and I struggle to maintain my 'arrogant, young master' composure.
I'm searching my brain for everything I know from the story and Layfon's memories, but I just can't piece together why Lidia would call me here!
I grab a chair and start to pull it out when Lidia's voice interrupts me.
"Oh, come now, Layfon," Lidia says sweetly but feels too firm to feel sweet. The typical mom tone of 'I know you did something'. "Don't be so cold to mommy. Won't you come over here and sit next to me?"
Okay, that got a reaction. Lidia's laying it on thick with calling herself 'mommy'. There's an almost instinctive reaction of…annoyance? as my face reflexively scrunches at it.
This is…a good thing, I think. If I had to describe the feeling I'm getting, it would be… 'Oh no, mom's being mom again.' So, maybe this isn't as serious as I thought.
I step back from the seat I was going to take and move closer to the one by Lidia. Taking my seat, I glance over and see Yolanda has already closed the door and walked over to take her position behind and to the side of Lidia.
The Drogo matriarch lifts her hand and some servants bring out some plates of food.
While Lidia takes up a fork and knife to quietly and elegantly begin eating, I glance at my plate…Rich people food. That's the only way I can describe it. Layfon never cared for whatever he was eating so he doesn't know what it's actually called, and I have no idea. Half the plate's some sort of pasta with chopped vegetables and some sort of dressing I'd guess was Italian but I'm probably wrong. The rest is a series of little snake-looking things. About five of them. Hard, small slices of bread with little, black balls on them, some sort of rolls or wraps with meat in them, and so on.
I struggle to keep my face from contorting. I've never liked trying unfamiliar things. But Layfon's never complained, so…
For the most part, it's not bad. I don't like the pasta, but I don't hate it. And the bread, toast, whatever they are are good, but I do not like the texture.
Still, my confusion and concern only begin to grow again as several minutes pass.
Lidia has only kept eating and hasn't said anything yet.
I can't help but try to break the silence. "So, where's Rachel? Why isn't she here with us?"
Lidia's fork stops. Turning toward me for the first time since I sat down, she tilts her head, "What's the matter, dear. Do you not like having personal time with mommy?"
My face twists at the involuntary sense of rejection. "Oh, of course not, it's just-"
Lidia put down her fork as she lifted a hand to her mouth to help suppress her giggling. "I'm only teasing you, Layfon." She then picked up her fork and finished the bite she had taken before continuing. "I just had something I wanted to discuss with you, just between you and me. But to answer your question, Rachel's out with some friends."
"O-Okay," I say – unable to fully suppress a stutter of confusion. I continue eating to avoid saying anything and let Lidia explain.
Fuck these bread-things are weird. The bred part's too hard for my liking and whatever is smeared on top of it feels funny.
A few moments pass while I focus on the uncomfortable crunch of every bite before I realize Lidia isn't talking and I effectively have to ask.
Once I swallow, I ask, "So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"
Swallowing her own mouthful of food, she replied with an oh-so-cheerful smile. "I wanted to talk to you about this girl you were playing around with yesterday."
I was right about to take another bite of food when she said this. Fortunately, I wasn't eating anything just then or I'd have choked. "You mean Zoey?"
"Yes, Miss Zoey Harris."
"What about her?" Seriously, why? I can't imagine anything about my meeting Zoey that would have prompted this.
I'll ignore the question of 'how'd she know?' Probably had me secretly followed or some shit.
"It's just unusual for you. If I recall, you had asked your father to acquire the Harris' company so you could strong arm the girl into pleasuring you. Normally, you would just sleep with her to exert your dominance or whatever petty vengeance you were after, and be done with it. This is the first time you've expressed continued interest in a girl. I was hoping you could tell me more about it." Lidia then leaned closer to me.
I make sure to stuff food in my mouth so I don't have to speak immediately.
Now I know why Layfon's body instinctively reacted the way it did when she was being all nice. But seriously, this is what you made me panic over? Wanting to talk about my goddamn love life!?
Still, I chew my food slowly while I try to figure out what to say. If I screw up, she'll know I'm not Layfon. Plus, as the third son, I may be allowed to do what I want, but that doesn't mean there won't be consequences if 'I don't choose the right girl' or something along those lines. Have to make it clear there's no real romance or anything. I'll have enough trouble keeping track of all the moving pieces I have now; don't want my family getting over invested in something and causing more deviations to events.
Swallowing, I decide to play it straight with the truth. "That's actually what I wanted to talk to dad about. I've been thinking about my future and have made some plans. I was thinking of having her become my secretary for some of it."
"I see~. Why don't you tell me more about this?"
Though it still seems like Lidia's invested in my relationship with Zoey, she seems more serious now…
This isn't a mistake, right?