2 Chapter 2: Rainier

There was a knock at the door before the smooth voice of a man was heard.

"Young Master, it is time to wake up."

And Neo knew exactly who that voice belonged to.

"Come in."

The oldest Young Master called to him in a soft voice today, and wasn't that just frightening?

The young man standing on the other side of the door smirked sarcastically, wondering what schemes the young master was plotting today.

Rainier was appointed as the oldest Young Master's valet when the boy was first brought into the household by the Duke many years ago. He had also been a young footman at the time.

He had thought they could have a friendship alike to what one can have between a loyal servant and his master. He thought he was so lucky to serve a child of the Odum Family.

He was wrong. The oldest Young Master was never kind.

Throughout the years, Rainier was a victim of Nazareth's sharp tongue and humiliation. There was never a kind word that came from the Young Master, and he was treated lower than a slave.

Nazareth has never laid a hand on him, but being his servant was already a great burden.

Rainier witnessed his Young Master's envious hate and the spiraling madness and resentment in his eyes.

Alas, the straw that broke the camel's back originated from his eyes.

Rainier had been serving dinner. The Young Master has a frustrating day--his scheme hadn't worked out as he had planned.

After taking one look into Rainier's eyes, he poured the wine onto his head when he lowered it to take the plates away.

Rainier's eyes were blue, a cornflower blue that could never compare to the sapphire eyes of an Odum. His Young Master could not distinguish the shades. His Young Master was insane.

The second Young Master Aurelion came to him that night.

"Are you not tired?"

"What?"

In the corridors, he met Young Master Auelion while he was heading towards the servants' quarter.

The Young Master Aurelion had always had a cold deposition, but today, in particular, he looked colder.

"You've been suffering under his abuse for years. Do you not wish to rebel?" It was a demand.

Rainier shook his head, dumbfounded.

"Young Master Nazareth is merely dissatisfied-"

"-because I am not dead."

There was silence.

But then, the Young Master Aurelion slipped a piece of paper into his hand.

"That cruel being cannot be my brother. Father brought home a demon who wishes to kill us all."

Rainier looked down at the piece of paper and widened his eyes in shock.

"Young Master Aurelion, I cannot possibly betray Young Master Nazareth. This is a breach of trust between master and servant!"

He objected to the other.

"Rainier, I've seen what kind of servant you are. You are loyal and dedicated and trustworthy. Father was a fool to give you to him when it is clear that your master does not appreciate you. "

Young Master Aurelion told him succinctly before turning around.

"Do not forget that he poured wine on you, and all other forms of humiliation he had you undergo throughout the years."

Rainier was left in the corridor to contemplate his decisions.

He is loyal to his master. Isn't he?

It was the evening after when he realized how far his loyalty can go before it breaks.

He was in Young Master Nazareth's bedroom, preparing the Young Master for bed.

"Cover your eyes."

"What?"

Young Master Nazareth glared at him after tossing a black ribbon at him.

He smirked cruelly.

"From now on, I don't want to see your eyes." He ordered, his eyes cold and unfeeling. "I expect you to cover them when serving me."

Recovering from the initial shock, Rainier picked up the black ribbon and looked at it.

"But..."

His Master's face was cold as ice, but he learned to detect the simmering anger beneath that facade.

"Put it on, or I'll pluck out those little blue eyes of yours and make you eat them yourself."

He threatens in a clipped tone of voice, impatient.

Rainier did not doubt that his master would do it.

His hands shook as he brought the ribbon up to his eyes. They continued to shake, making it slow for him to tie the ribbon around his head.

"Is this alright, Young Master?"

Silence met his words. Rainier was nervous. In the darkness, he could not see a thing.

"Does... Does this please you, Young Master?"

He heard footsteps drawing closer to him. They came closer and closer, and with each step, Rainier's shaking got worse.

He felt a hand land gently on his head and he sucked in a breath of air.

They coaxed him to lower his head so that he was leveled to his Young Master.

He was nervous.

His Young Master may be a small child, barely thirteen in age and shorter than he should be, Rainier had long learned that he was cruel.

He was disappointed.

The gentle hand that was on his head became a death trap that gripped his hair harshly. The next thing he knew, the Young Master had beaten him into a bloody pulp on the floor.

The skin around his eyes burned. Cuts were intricately sliced across the upper portion of his face. Rainier could do nothing but writhe in pain.

And when the Young Master was through with him, he said one word.

"Leave."

Rainier left, feeling blind and in pain.

And found himself standing in front of the entrance of Young Master Aurelion's bedroom.

When the second Young Master opened his door, Rainier was met with silence.

The black ribbon was held tightly in his hand, clenched within a fist.

He saw the branding spell on the fabric, and he was beyond furious.

There was hatred in his eyes.

"About that job,"

He met the cold stare of the second Young Master with his own.

"Where do I start?"

With a series of excuses involving him having potential as a truly capable servant of the Odum Household, Rainier was sent to the servant academy to learn.

He spent his student years studying things that only true household servants can learn. The second Young Master made him into one of the most capable servants of the Odum Household, and a capable spy against the oldest Young Master.

After three years, he graduated and came back to work for the Odum Household.

The oldest Young Master still hasn't changed a single bit. He was still as cruel and as wicked as before.

Upon his arrival at the household, the oldest Young Master threw a black ribbon at him.

It was an ordinary piece of cloth this time, but the oldest Young Master still saw his eyes as unsightly.

"Put it on."

"With pleasure."

And like any capable servant, he did so.

Rainier learned many things at the academy and suffered under the stares of his peers and teachers. The marks on his face were unsightly and a reminder of his hatred.

Serving the Young Master with a blindfold on? Sure, he can do that. It is every servant's job to serve to the best of their abilities. He did not waste three years for anything.

And so, he began to spy on this scummy troublemaker for his second Young Master. He reported back every scheme and all the information he can gather.

That foolish boy doesn't even realize that he was a mole. But that was fine, too.

After all, it was all for the sake of ridding everyone of this demon.

When the door opened up, Neo saw an elegant-looking man with a blindfold covering his eyes.

His hair was cropped short and his head was slightly lowered, but the effect of his submissive posture was ruined by the sarcastic smile on his face.

"Rainier."

Looking at the man who had betrayed him, who suffered years under his abuse, Neo's heart shook for a moment.

Seeing the blindfold, he almost wanted to reach out and take it away.

"Young Master." Rainier greeted him, but the suspicion in his voice was not entirely hidden.

"Would Young Master like me to tie up his hair today?"

Due to the blindfold, Rainier was unable to see Neo's new hair cut.

Neo stared at his reflection.

"There's no need."

Rainier almost sneered.

Do you think that wild mane is going to look dignified?

Unlike the Duke, who wore his hair down to give off a noble air, Neo's hair was slightly more mane-like and was better off tied, or chopped off entirely.

When Neo was reborn, this realization made him want to slap himself silly. What dignified look? He looked like a madman!

Neo gathered up the whirlpool of hair on the ground and threw it away while Rainier picked out his outfit.

If there was one thing he can trust about Rainier, it was his clothing taste. Blind or not, he was a very, very, good valet.

"What would Young Master like to wear today?"

Neo stared at the window and saw the nice weather outside.

It was spring. He would have lots of flowers to choose from for her gravestone.

"Something black."

Rainier, his hand that was reaching for a red coat, paused.

Neo continues. "Nothing bright, unless it's white."

"Is there an occasion?" The question was asked with a hint of wariness.

The Young Master merely shakes his head.

"I'm just tired." He sighs, before looking at the window again. "Accompany me to visit Mummy later."

The servant was uncertain of what was wrong with Nazareth today. It was unusual for him to wear monotone colors because he thought they were ugly. And who in the world was "Mummy"?

Neo was aware that he was acting out of the ordinary, but can you blame him?

He wasn't Nazareth anymore, and he will never be Nazareth again.

"Of course, Young Master."

Rainier came out with his clothes.

Within a few minutes, Neo donned a pair of black slacks and a black coat line with gold thread. Under the coat was a black vest, which covered a white blouse.

"Young Master, your shoes."

Rainier put his shoes on and tied them.

Neo looked at his reflection and saw a mourning youth.

A sardonic smile hooked his lips. Well, he was mourning for a lot of things. The clothes just justified it.

"Rainier."

"Yes, Young Master?"

"Can you come closer?"

The servant paused.

But then, mechanically, he lowered his head to reach what he presumed was Neo's height.

He was right, by the way. A good servant must always presume right.

"Like this, Young Master?"

Neo hummed. "Mm."

Slowly, he reached out his hand and placed them around Rainier's head.

The man suddenly froze and dared not move an inch.