Last Born Of The Desdemona

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Meeting with Sophia [2]

Chapter 43 – Meeting with Sophia [2]

Cassius saw Océane for the first time again, and she was so thrilled to see him that she almost forgot the etiquette that had been drilled into her since she joined the Desdemona household.

He was equally glad to see her, but didn’t have the luxury of sharing much time as the Butler was already waiting to lead him to Sophia, the Matriarch.

He still made a few pleasantries with Océane, asking how she was doing and whether the carriage home was ready.

Afterwards, the Butler took him away through a secret, deserted alley.

The Amaris were not foolish enough to let Cassius — a member of another family, and the Desdemona at that — wander freely inside their domain. Anything could happen. And Sophia was the type to be paranoid about anything touching her family’s prestige and security.

Which explained why instead of walking, the Butler — whose Aspect Cassius guessed with mild surprise was tied to Space — created a wormhole in front of them.

It was all black, roughly the size of a large shield, swirling continuously upon itself. A strange aura poured from it, and Cassius felt his senses tilt slightly.

”Have no fear, Young Master.” The Butler said, calm and steady, wearing a stoic smile. ”No harm shall come to you. Enter with a clear mind, and you will find the Lady on the other side.”

Cassius looked at the wormhole for a moment, then turned to the Butler with a relaxed smile. ”This is an interesting Aspect. Have you never thought about a change of position?” He asked leisurely, as though discussing the weather.

The Butler’s face twitched for a fraction of a second before he recovered himself smoothly.

He looked closely at Cassius, finding only an innocent expression. ’Is he...? No. I’m overthinking it.’

He answered next with professional composure, still gesturing toward the wormhole.

”I am very blessed to serve the Amaris Household.” He nodded. ”I would not dare dream of something else.”

”How admirable!” Cassius exclaimed. ”Truly enviable! I am certain any Tier Two or Tier One Family would be very pleased to have someone as loyal and professional as yourself.”

The Butler’s body gave a barely visible shiver. But Cassius had already stepped forward, his body beginning to wrap into the wormhole.

”But oh well, I suppose each person to their own luck.” He said at last. ”I hope the Amaris Household treats you very well.”

Those were his last words before he disappeared inside. The wormhole closed behind him immediately.

The Butler was left alone in the deserted alley, his mind unable to stop replaying Cassius’s words like the whisper of a demon.

”Tier Two and Tier One... Family?” He echoed quietly, and for a brief moment the image of a glorious life filled his mind — the prestige, the honour, the standing that would come with serving such a house.

Especially...

”The Desdemona.” He ducked his head, face twitching hard, fighting off a grin. ”With the ties they have to the Royal Hood Family...”

They were the perfect ladder to climb.

But,

”Patience, Leo. Patience.” The Butler shook his head and steadied his breathing. ”As written in The Tales of The Fool: a hasty man creates hasty things. And hasty things never survive the first wind of trials.”

With his composure restored, Leo the Butler walked away and continued his duties as the faithful servant of the Amaris, a seed of dream planted inside his heart.

...

Cassius exhaled, feeling his body phase through something sticky that seemed to hug him from all sides.

The sensation was deeply unpleasant, twisting his stomach instinctively. However, it didn’t last long as light returned, and he found himself standing in a field of purple flowers.

The scent hit him immediately, sweet music followed coupled with the rustling of wind oddly in tune with the song being carried by black crows hovering over a river flowing endlessly upon itself.

Cassius was struck by it, his body relaxing without him meaning to.

Until a voice drifted through and landed perfectly inside his skull.

”Welcome to my garden, Cassius Desdemona.”

He turned toward the sound.

There she was.

Sitting on a black mat, wearing black-purple eastern clothes that left part of her collarbone visible, Sophia Amaris — Matriarch of the Amaris Household — fixed her ebony black eyes on him.

A smile edged her lips. And Cassius couldn’t tell for the life of him whether it was genuine or not.

’This is going to be a fucking pain.’

He knew it instinctively and his mind went straight onto guard.

Still, Cassius smiled and bowed his head.

”I greet the Matriarch.” He said. ”The honour is mine.”

”Oh, sweet boy, the honour is certainly mine.” Sophia chuckled, waving toward a mat set a couple of metres before her. ”Come sit. Don’t stand there.”

He obeyed. Seconds later he was cross-legged in front of her, managing his expressions carefully.

”I hear you will be returning home after this meeting.” Sophia said, summoning two cups of tea from her space ring. ”Did you enjoy your stay? Was everything to your liking?”

”Very much so, Matriarch.” Cassius nodded, murmuring a thanks as he received his cup. ”Everything was to my liking. Though if there was one thing I would say I liked the most...”

Sophia arched an eyebrow, catching the beautiful, warm smile breaking across his face.

”...it is certainly your daughter, Isolde Amaris, Matriarch.”

Sophia hid it perfectly, but something twisted with surprise inside her at those words and that expression.

”Oh my. Is that truly so, Young Master?”

”Of course. I would not lie about it.”

”Then you have no objection to taking my daughter as your wife?”

”Haha!” Cassius laughed softly, then let uncertainty bleed into his voice, lowering it as if struck by sudden doubt, his acting clean enough to fool her completely. ”I should be the one worrying about it. Will Lady Isolde even accept me, Matriarch? I have been... struck by her, I admit. But I can’t help wondering whether I am truly good enough. My age, my—!”

”None of that matters.” Sophia said, inwardly delighted at the sight of Cassius pining over her daughter, a clear path already forming in her mind. ”My daughter is obedient. She will marry whomever I tell her to. And...”

She smiled, her features so alike to Isolde’s that Cassius was briefly caught off guard.

”...it just so happens that I quite like you, young master.”

”Oh.” He blinked, as if the words had genuinely disarmed him. ”That is something I have never heard from anyone outside my own family.”

His eyes shimmered and he looked at her with overwhelming gratitude and relief, his smile wide and open. ”Thank you, Matriarch. Thank you for having faith in me with your daughter.”

Sophia’s eyes widened for the briefest moment.

Not because of his looks, but because of the innocence and relief in that expression. And how completely unguarded it was.

’Oh. He is just a child, after all.’ Sophia thought, her understanding of Cassius quietly shifting. ’Everything about him is because of his family. His soul is pure, isn’t it?’

[The Dragging Tempo of Dawn nods her head, watching the white-haired young man with understanding in her eyes.]

[The Dragging Tempo of Dawn says a child should not be held responsible for the deeds of his parents. And bloodline does not define a man.]

Sophia nodded once, imperceptibly, a whole new perspective settling over her view of Cassius.

’If he is like this...’ her thoughts sharpened, ’doesn’t it mean he would accept whatever I want, as long as I show him warmth and affection?’

She barely stopped her face from cracking into a pleased smile, looking at Cassius the way a farmer eyes a golden egg that promises a fortune.

And the fact he was genuinely pleasant to look at, with a certain resonating charm about him...her demeanour shifted entirely.

She tilted her head and smiled warmly. ”It’s settled then, you and I are going to be family. But I still know so little about you. Tell me about yourself, my dear.”

Cassius looked at Sophia, and found himself silently thanking his dark years on Earth, with all those days spent performing daily just to earn a little attention and warmth.

’Queen’s skirt! I knew nothing in life is wasted. Every experience matters!’ He squealed internally, turning his most innocent smile toward Sophia.

”Of course. And... how should I address you?”

”Oh, my dear, what do you think of Mother-in-law?”

”Mother-in-law, then.”

’Oh, I like this boy. He looks like a lost puppy searching for someone to pat his head.’

The easiest kind to handle.

’Now, Queen, feed me my most pitiful yet dignified memories to share with this gentle old woman, and help me collect some affection points.’

[What do I gain from this?]

’My affection.’

Ananke scoffed, then did it anyway.

And so the meeting took a bizarre turn that neither of them had anticipated.

—End of Chapter 43—