Chapter 334: Tense Relations Between Family

Lady Andromeda Crowel liked to keep things clean and organized—everything in its proper place and sight. When news of an ill-bred child came along… but the child was a male, she loathed it. Him. Whatever.

There were certain dislikes that one couldn't exactly erase.

The House Crowel would have succumbed to a fall if she hadn't been around and yet where was the thanks that she deserved? Already, the title of becoming the head of the house would be given to her younger and less prepared brother—so it was fair that she spent most of her days outside of the House.

And yet sometimes, no matter how insufferable the situation was cut out to be… Andromeda had to think about it from a logical standpoint. It wasn't the boy's fault that he was born or that his mother slept with her father.

Perhaps it was a mistake that he was born, but he didn't ask for it.

If she really wanted to have avoided this—no, it was still unavoidable. This was that old man Gesth Carter's fault for sending a message to her father. The position was meant to be hers, she was respected and even slightly feared.

So it didn't come as a surprise that when she entered the household… he encountered the annoyingly now taller young man. Timothy 'Cook' stood in front of him—and that was despite her seeing a maid servant practically cower away from the hallway.

While Andromeda liked his resolve and attitude, that didn't stop her feelings.

"Hello there, dear brother. What can I do for you?" 

"Is it true that you dole out punishments to the servants?" he asked with a flat expression.

"Punishments?" Andromeda tilted her head. She wished she could capture that expression and put it in a painting. He was starting to look like their father if he continued to be like this.

"When a servant fails to perform a task, they're treated unfairly by giving them even more work than what's required. A maid servant tasked to clean the stables, some of the stableboys asked to join the House's army to scout and hunt in the perimeter. Tasks that aren't clearly within their capacities?"

"Punishment's quite a strong word—there are some penalties and disciplinary actions, but we're not as terrible as you're making it sound to be." 

"They're people too—you just can't ask them to do something dangerous or too much more than what they're being paid for." 

Andromeda raised a hand to her face. "Father will be so disappointed to learn about this."

"What do you mean...?" Timothy frowned. The man was usually distant and yet never seemed to have raised his voice in anger before. 

"The plights of these people aren't that big of a concern of yours—perhaps when you're the Lord of the House you can make all of these changes you clearly want to do. But if you want to help them, then focus on doing what a young Lord like you are supposed to do. Prove yourself worthy of the family name."

"That's…"

"I supposed the kind of young man who'd make promises like buying the necklace that he originally pawned off and insisting upon it would be like this."

"I'm not sure if you recall it, perhaps it's your age getting to you—but I gave it up in the end."

"Yes, to keep whatever you have in your possession." Lady Andromeda Crowel smiled at him. "So if you know what's good for you, quit bothering me with those nonsensical requests. People learn how to perform better if they know what's at risk if they fail to do—being kind and understanding will let other people take advantage of you. Surely you understand that much?"

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Later at sunset, the Crowel House family gathered together for dinner. There were mage-lights that kept the dining hall lit up, the long banquet table properly arranged and lovely to look at… but it was empty.

More than half of the table was empty, unoccupied save for the three seats.

Andromeda sat on the left side of Lord Crowel while Timothy sat on the right. Their dinner was a sumptuous meal of a deer steak and served by the chef himself—no fancy magical carts to prepare it.

And yet the Lord Crowel complimented the chef for a fine dinner.

Over the past weeks, Timothy wasn't still exactly used to the silence… and yet he also ate quietly. He made sure to check out the cutlery and that he used the right one, eyeing the one that his older sister, Andromeda was using just to be safe.

"How did the day treat both of you, Andromeda? Timothy?" Lord Crowel inquired after he set down his goblet of water. The man was much older than Timothy's mother, possibly by around five years or so—his hair was still dark and neatly arranged, but Timothy wondered if that was magical dye or something.

There were deep creases and worry lines on his forehead that didn't seem to disappear even when the older man smiled or laughed. 

"Everything has been good, father. I've met up with the local village heads around the area and the Thistlethorn Forest's trespassers have been dealt with."

Timothy raised his head. "Goblins?"

Andromeda and his father both eyed Timothy in surprise. He was never one to offer a word in conversation and yet now he had. Timothy couldn't help but remember the ones that he, Old Man Joe and Han met up while travelling through Oaken Ashwoods and wondered if that was the same.

"No," Lady Andromeda answered. She raised a napkin to her lips and shook her head. "There were some illegal acquisition of woods and other resources within our territory so the Thistlethorns were sent there to deal with the people." 

"That's…" 

"What's your perspective on this, Timothy?" His father asked. After some weeks Lord Osbert Crowel finally memorized his name. 

Timothy managed an awkward smile. "Oh, I was just reminded of a forest back in my village… it's near ours and we just take whatever we want there. Deal a little with the gigantic spiders and other monsters there, but all in all, it was just ours."

"Oh, yes. That isolated place… almost like ours." The man murmured.

"Well, our territory isn't as far-fetched as theirs when people clearly still try to enter the Thistlethorn Forest in an attempt to stay there or take what isn't owned by them." Andromeda was quick to interject with a smile.

"That's true as well." 

Timothy bit back a sigh and continued eating his dinner. He remembered what his half-sister said earlier… If there was anything that he wanted to change then it was supposed to happen after he succeeded the man.

"What about the ball preparations, Andromeda?" Lord Crowel glanced at his daughter.

"Everything's going fine, father. Invitations were made and even Timothy's portrait has been made for the occasion." 

"Wonderful." A tiny smile crossed on the man's lips before he continued dining with them. The man sliced the steak into porsels and chewed quietly. "This upcoming event is what a young man your age tends to be excited about and will be a chance to welcome you to society. You're bound to make a great impression."

"Yes… Lord—father." Timothy replied. "I'll do my best."

"You have to be or all those tutors who were hired deserve to get fired." Andromeda quipped. "We've already delayed it quite some time to get you used to how our people work, but you need to put in some effort." 

"Yes, I understand that much." 

"Good." 

Timothy really had to stop himself from sighing. He didn't want to complain about his situation—but landing himself with the eccentric and even elusive Crowel House wasn't doing him any favors. It was obvious from the set-up that this was something they were looking forward to more than himself.

Did he like this?

Obviously not.

But then Timothy cleared his throat. "By the way, have there been any responses to my letters? I sent a couple a few weeks back, but there's no reply."

Lady Andromeda raised her brow. "Then that's your answer, Timothy."

Timothy frowned but nodded. "Thank you." He didn't think that Han would suddenly just straight-up ignore him… well, he had to leave extremely fast because of his sister—but that didn't mean the guy would bear a grudge, right?

As far as he could remember—he was the one who was supposed to be upset at the guy for selling his necklace to Lady Andromeda in the first place. And yet Han wasn't the only one who he was concerned with.

"By the way, I have another question."

"What is it?" Lady Andromeda asked.

"This upcoming event… everyone from the Nobility to even the Royal Family themselves will be attending right?" Timothy drank his water and tried to seem interested for once.

"Yes, naturally." Lord Crowel answered. "The Sargon family is still related to us, no matter what they try to do. They have to keep up appearances by visiting us, or else it'd be a public opposition to us."

Lady Andromeda sent Timothy a look that seemed like she was going to send her pet crow to gouge out his eyes. Timothy pretended that he didn't notice that at all and instead asked again. "So… how related are we again to them? First cousins of sorts? Kind of like that?"

He didn't think they were going to be that close to Iola, right?

"You would have learned that if you were paying any attention to your lessons." Lord Crowel frowned. "But I suppose it must have slipped your mind… it's vital for you to know how our relations stand amongst the rest of Nobility, Timothy and why the upcoming ball is a good reminder for them."