"Ellis, what you just said about being able to see the future… is that true?"
The Viscount discarded his black mask on the cushioned seat next to him as the carriage began to make its way out of the palace gates. Confirming they were out of the palace with his own eyes, Ellis drew the curtains; the faint light coming from the window of the carriage was blocked, making his face appear shadowed.
I don't know.
"Yes, Father."
The Viscount folded his arms in front, examining his son. Ellis's father was even more intimidating than his own father; he couldn't help but become tense, his back habitually straightening up.
"Ever since the day you came back, Ellis, it's been really difficult to guess what's on your mind. You've never caused me any trouble before, so I've been wondering if something changed that day."
"..."
Not just something, he was a completely different person. He didn't know how the old Ellis behaved or talked, but his father obviously took notice of the changes.
"About the marriage… forget it. For now, you should recuperate. Let's go back at the earliest opportunity tomorrow morning; you'll still need to visit the church weekly until you've been given the saint title, but Ellis, what you just told me, I think it's best if you don't tell anyone else about this."
"Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes, Father."
Ellis knew his father didn't believe him, but he was still being nice to him. Ellis's father was already a whole lot better than his own father; maybe it wouldn't be so bad to be more open to the Viscount.
"Father, can you do me another favor?"
"What is it?"
Swallowing nervously, Ellis tightened his fists as he spoke up.
"There was an accident with Prince Alastair… but he seemed too drunk to recognize me—"
"That's why you wanted to run away?"
He couldn't finish his words before his father cut in between. Ellis nodded slowly, gauging the Viscount's expression, which was the same as ever. Calm and exhausted.
"I'll see what I can do to help you conceal your presence tonight from Duke Alastair, but you messed with the wrong person, Ellis; there's no way he will be fooled so easily."
Duke Alastair?… Was the prince a duke now? He got demoted? Why? As the sole prince of the kingdom, he should've been named as the crown prince by now… no wonder… I was just constantly rubbing salt in his wounds, huh…
"Ellis, just what happened with you and Duke Alastair?"
†††
After playing dodgeball with his father the whole ride back home, Ellis was physically and mentally in the grave. Barely managing, he locked himself in his bedroom as soon as they arrived back at the manor. Mila knocked stubbornly on the door as he tried to sit on the stool in front of the dressing table unsuccessfully. He was over everything; he just stood there instead and untied his mask, only now revealing his face stained by his tears.
"…wow…"
Placing the mirror and the broken parts of the collar in a separate box, he locked it and hid the key in his jewelry box, dropping the earring into the same box. The sight of him in the mirror was revolutionary, truly. Mila's red under-eye makeup suited his new face. Ellis brushed the sweat-soaked strands of hair from his forehead to the back as he sighed and dropped onto the bed.
His entire body was burning with a fever; not having the energy to even remove his shoes, he sank into the bed and fell asleep within seconds. And as a result, he woke up feeling even more disgusted. By the time he took a bath and packed his stuff, his father had already taken care of everything, and Ellis only needed to throw himself in the carriage once again.
"Tired? Did you not sleep well last night?"
Despite having multiple carriages, Ellis and the Viscount always traveled in the same carriage. Ellis nodded while yawning again. The Viscount, sitting opposite him, came over to sit next to him; Ellis instantly backed into a corner.
"Sleep some more."
The Viscount awkwardly patted his own shoulder, avoiding eye contact with him. Ellis blinked repeatedly, belatedly realizing what his father meant. If he declined, his father would surely be embarrassed…
Moving towards the Viscount, Ellis rested his head against his father's shoulder, or more like the side of his arm since he was shorter than his own father, and fell asleep in a rather comfortable position.
From the kingdom's capital to the Vale of Lysmere (the Eastern valleys), it took approximately six hours to close the distance. Ellis leaned slightly out the carriage window after being awoken by his father, his hand pressing against the sill. The scent of wet earth and distant jasmine filled the air. The pollution-free fresh air was what Ellis appreciated the most in this world.
They arrived at the Montfort estate in the afternoon. Under the orange sky, the servants lined the courtyard in neat rows, heads bowed as the Viscount descended first. The steward, an aging man with sharp eyes, approached the Viscount.
"Welcome back, my lord. The manor has been prepared for your stay. Young Master Ellis's chambers have been freshly aired."
The Viscount nodded curtly, already striding toward the main doors. Ellis followed behind his father, sticking close. The Montfort estate rested upon a gentle rise overlooking the endless shimmer of rice paddies that stretched far into the misty horizon. From a distance, it looked almost ethereal—the pale stone manor mirrored in the flooded fields below, surrounded by slender willows that swayed with every passing breeze.
Ellis's chambers occupied the west wing of the manor, overlooking the garden and the pale shimmer of rice paddies below. The new addition to his room here was that he had a balcony and many windows. The room was spacious but soft, filled with sunlight filtered through sheer drapes of cream and blue. While Mila was busy unpacking his clothes, he secretly took the hand mirror lying on the bedside table and quickly checked his nape.