3 Chapter 3: Odum

Unbeknownst to Rainier, Neo understood the unmoving posture of the servant and couldn't help but give a self-deprecating smile.

He had been cruel when he gave the man the blindfold.

It was because of his eyes. He despised the valet because he had blue eyes.

The man wasn't even an Odum, and yet, he can have a pair of blue eyes and he couldn't?

What Neo regretted most with Rainier wasn't just the implementation of the blindfold. It was what came after.

As Neo, he had a lot of time to think about what kind of person Nazareth had become. He had inflicted injuries on Rainier after giving him the blindfold, and this was what evidently caused him to lose the man's loyalty.

And Neo could only blame himself.

He was a horrible person who did horrible things.

Rainier stood still for the oldest Young Master as he felt a pair of hands undoing the tight knot of his blindfold.

The hands were nimble, and he couldn't help but suck in air when he felt the cloth slip slowly from his eyes, revealing--revealing...

He blinks.

Blinks again, his eyes adjusting to the light. He looks around.

It's been a long time since he saw the oldest Young Master's bedroom.

A cool hand touches the side of his face; the thumb, close to the corner of his left eye.

"Rainier?"

Neo saw what was hidden beneath the blindfold. Black lines decorated Rainier's face, almost like a painful brand.

They covered the pale scars, and Neo knew well where they came from.

"Sorry..."

Rainier peered down and was almost shocked silly.

Who in the world was this youth?

Clean and neat-looking hair, vermillion eyes, and small smile...

"Young Master...?"

The youth answers, "En."

He felt the youth's hands tracing the lines of his old scars. What was this scummy troublemaker doing? He looks at him in confusion.

Neo pursed his lips as he saw the healed wounds. Even after three years, the brand was still there.

Ah, he had been really cruel, hasn't he?

Sorry, Rainier. I've hurt you.

"What are you doing?"

Rainier's voice interrupted him from his musings.

Neo shakes his head and peers at the man.

"Just looking."

He admitted, a tight smile on his face that was meant for self-ridicule. "You don't have to wear it if you don't like it."

At those words, Rainier's bewilderment soured and turned into resentment.

Did the oldest Young Master want him to reveal the scars for everyone to see? What kind of humiliation was this?

Without the blindfold, it was easy to see the hatred behind his eyes.

Seeing this, Neo could barely keep his expression from falling apart.

He retracts his statement.

"It's okay if you don't want to." He tells Rainier, giving him back the blindfold. "But, I would like it very much if you can keep it off when serving me."

Rainier snorted. Was this another form of bullying then? Did the Young Master want to look at his scars with a sense of accomplishment? And why in the world was he being so polite?

"As you wish, Young Master."

He complied with gritted teeth.

And of course, Neo was aware of the building bitterness in the man's words.

"Whatever you want. It's not an order."

As the clashing feelings of bewilderments and resentment stirred inside him, Rainier ultimately wondered what was wrong with the oldest Young Master today.

Neo couldn't look him in the eye, so he stared at the door.

"We should go. I think we are late for breakfast."

Young Master Nazareth is known for his sharp tongue. Whatever happened to it today?

"Yes, Young Master."

Rainier covered his eyes once more and finished making Neo look presentable.

Once everything was ready, they left for the dining room.

Walking through the winding corridors, he knew he had many things to think about.

He had come back to his second year of senior high at the noble academy. It is spring, so the school year has only recently started. That commoner boy enters the school next year, and within a year, he is going to die. The events that led up to his death were crimes and schemes he had committed against many people. Not only did he offend the wrong group of people, but he had ruin many lives along the way and caused misery everywhere.

In Neo's heart, it didn't matter if he evidently dies again, but what he wants is to make up for all he had done. He wants to repent. Repent for his sins. Grovel and kneel and pray. Wash himself clean of these evil deeds, or at least, make up for his crimes. God, please let him repent, please forgive him. Please, please, please...

"Young Master, we have arrived."

Rainier's voice broke Neo's musings.

Standing in front of the dining room entrance, the youth looked at him with a blank stare for a moment, almost as if he was seeing something else, before schooling his features back into a passive expression.

"En."

The dining room was beyond this threshold.

Neo took a breath and slowly stepped inside.

All heads turned to him.

From the servants to the four figures seated at the table, they all stared at the youth with bafflement clear across their faces.

Neo smiled awkwardly. "Good morning."

They looked exactly as he had remembered them.

It is a blatant fact that the Odum Ducal is a very attractive family.

Officially, the family was made up of four members before the Nazareth came into the picture.

Neo stared at this table and looked as if he wanted to commit each member of the family into his memories.

There was his father, Duke Gareth Altarius Odum, who still continues to look like he is at the prime of his life.

His features, long, jet black hair, pale skin, and sapphire blue eyes were marginally inherited by his second son and heir, Aurelion Briseis Odum, who's cold temperament was similar to his own. Neo briefly peered at this half-brother of his, and nostalgia overcame him.

Aurelion was a year younger than him and the presumed favored son. Not only did he look the most similar to their father, but him being the heir was what drove Nazareth into committing his crimes in the first place.

Looking at the boy now, he realized that Aurelion didn't really look all that similar to their father.

Unlike the Duke, who wore his hair long, Aurelion had no patience to maintain such lengths and sported short locks instead.

His face was also softer compared to their father, his eyes more narrowed.

He was his own person and not an imitation.

Speaking of differences in features, Duchess Vespera Odum nee Arcadia, although she married into the family, is still just as beautiful and deserving of the title of the Odum Duchess.

This ageless woman did not need a pair of sapphire blue eyes to be an Odum. Her tranquil demeanor and detached gaze was enough.

Dark brown hair, almost black, without a hint of grey, and pale blue eyes that were more green made her into quite a beauty during the prime of her life.

Her face was fair and lovely, and she still looked as young as the day she wed the Duke.

Lastly, there is the little Young Miss of the Odum, who looked like snow.

A trace of fondness entered Neo's eyes as he glanced at this little sister.

Guinivere Isolde Odum.

His little half-sister, who is two years younger than him, was born with white hair and very pale skin. If not for the sapphire eyes inherited by all members of the Odum bloodline, she could have been another black sheep in the family. Her disposition was similar to the rest of the family, cold and aloof, although at times, her innate childishness would reveal itself. It was very cute, but he never bothered to let her know.

She was innocent, and nearly became a casualty to Nazareth's schemes.

Neo retracted his gaze and looked at the members of his family.

He was back.

Seated at the head of the table was his father, his gaze on Neo--sharp and refined, his cold exterior as chilly as ever.

"You are late."

"I am."

Neo apologized primly, almost quiet as he bowed his head slightly to mask the purse in the lips and the nervous expression on his face.

"Come sit down."

His step-mother told him monotonously. She sounded just as bland as he remembered. He used to hate her a lot.

"Yes."

Neo pulled out a seat, three chairs down from Aurelion--who sat beside their father--and laid claims to the spot. The distance he put himself between him and his family was obvious to everyone.

The servants came from behind him and arranged his plate while the rest of the Odums pretended they didn't notice the unusual change in the oldest son.

A maid walked over and went to pour him a cup of tea.

Neo stopped her.

She paused, staring at him with wariness in her eyes.

Neo smiles apologetically. "Can I have some coffee, please?"

Clang!

Aurelion dropped his cutlery.

Something was wrong with Young Master Nazareth today.

This was the first thought that Lillian had when the Young Master requested for coffee.

Holy shit.

Was the second thought that Lillian had when the Young Master said "please."

The rest of the Odum family looked baffled, although they are masking it quite well under the frosty appearance that they are known for, going back to their breakfast as if nothing was wrong.

Lillian did as the oldest Young Master requested, bringing over the coffee pot that the Duke often kept with him on busy days, although it was hard to hide her bemusement at the strangeness of Young Master Nazareth attitude today.

She is very uncertain of why he is rejecting blue earl grey he often likes for the Tea of the Commoners, it was far more bitter and energy inducing compared to the teas that the nobles drank for the sake of the luxury of loose tea leaves, but she chooses not to question anything. If the Young Master wants to drink coffee, then he will drink coffee.

Neo was silent as Lily poured him a cup of coffee. He looked at the neglected cup of tea and sighed quietly to himself. Tea just won't cut it when he is already so used to black coffee in his life. He had drunk so much of this stuff back in the modern world for the sake of staying awake that he got addicted.

"Thank you."

He told the maid--Lillian, he remembers. She wasn't a personal servant, but a very capable one, who often served his meals.

His gratitude was met with awkward silence.

Neo looked over and saw that the maid was staring at him with an intense gaze. He tilted his head in question. She looks at the ground and acts as if nothing is wrong.

"It is no problem, Young Master." She responds belatedly. "Would you like some sugar and cream?"

"No thank you."

He didn't need it. He deserves the bitterness anyway.