4 Chapter 4: Gareth

Breakfast continued peacefully, with Guinivere's occasional chatter and a discussion between Aurelion and Gareth.

Only Vespera and Neo sat there eating silently.

Vespera wasn't one for small talk in the first place, whereas Neo had many thoughts brewing in his head. The two of them focused on their meals to the end.

Neo cut into his toast, the feeling of his etiquette lessons settling into his movement like a second skin as he began to eat like Nazareth once more.

It was stifling.

He really missed the modern world.

"-And what of you, Nazareth?"

The cold voice of Gareth was sharp and clear as it directed itself to the oldest Odum.

Neo's head snapped up in surprise.

He wasn't paying attention to the conversation between his father and brother.

Sapphire eyes narrowed--looking as judgemental as Neo remembered--and with a sigh, Gareth asked him again.

"How is your study so far?"

How is his study?

He couldn't help but grimace. Second-year of Senior High at the academy was when he became particularly mad and wasted most of his time scheming against his brother. His grades were the worst, and they certainly didn't get any better in the third year. How in the world did he even manage to graduate--oh yeah.

He died the day before the ceremony...

Letting out a small breath, Neo decided to be honest and looked directly into those blue eyes of his father's.

"Not good. I promise I'll raise them up as soon as I can."

There was a brief pause, and if his father's face wasn't already ice-cold, he would have thought the man had frozen in befuddlement.

However, soon enough his expression became one of admonishment and he sternly spoke.

"The school year has started long ago, Nazareth. I do not expect much from you as you are not my heir,"

Neo smiled uncomfortably. That's right. He wasn't the heir. In the past, it was this fact that drove him to insanity. Now, however, he is glad to hear this.

"-but do not forget that you are an Odum. We do not let our studies fall to the point where we must raise them."

He nods his head.

"Yes, sir."

Gareth was most certainly not expecting such a demure response.

From the expressions on Vespera, Guinivere, and Aurelion's faces, they didn't expect this response either.

Neo has brought silence to the table once more.

Realizing that his father was no longer lecturing him, his brow furrowed in confusion. He raised his head, only to meet the astonished look on the man's expression.

Um...

"Father...?"

And then it seems his father realized that he had become unsettled and gathered his bearings once more.

He coughs. "As I was saying, do make sure that your studies are taken care of immediately. If I don't see any improvement soon, there will be consequences." Gareth warns with a hard glare.

Again, Neo complies with a nod.

Satisfied, Gareth doesn't look at him anymore, signaling for everyone else to return to what they were doing.

"Oh, yes, and Nazareth." He says to him again, as if he had forgotten. "Those 'companions' of yours," Gareth sneers, "seems to be one of the primary reasons as to why your grade is falling. Do see to it that you rid yourself of them immediately."

And finally, their conversation stops there.

For a moment, Neo was confused. He had friends?

Oh, wait.

Now that he thought about it, there was that group of people he used to hang out with at this time. They were the sons of shady noble families who he had taken advantage of. Using his connections with them, he had sent people after Aurelion constantly.

God, he was an asshole.

His father had warned him last time when he had found out about his companions as well, but he didn't care.

This time around, he will listen.

Gareth observed his oldest son from the corner of his eye.

Nazareth had appeared to breakfast with his hair cut to his ears and a docile manner to match.

He never paid much attention to this illegitimate child, but it didn't make him oblivious to the schemes of his resentful son. He even knows of the one-sided rivalry between his oldest and his heir and has never done anything to stop it.

It is amazing how no one ever wonders as to why the Odum has never had more than a son and a daughter. The mistake of his youth brought about consequences in the form of that bastard son, and even now, it is his greatest regret.

The chatter ultimately died down, trapping the entire family in a stifling silence.

Aurelion stood from his chair.

"I will be leaving first."

Gareth nodded, giving permission for his son to be dismissed.

Then, Guinivere also stood up. She walks over to Gareth and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

"I need to go as well, father. Anna and Mary have invited me for tea."

"Yes. Have fun."

And she was also dismissed.

The dining table now only has Neo, Gareth, and Vespera left.

It was still very awkward, so Neo finished his coffee and nodded to father.

"Have a good day." He tells the two adults quietly and stands up to leave.

"Wait." Gareth stops him.

Neo pauses. "Yes, father?"

Gareth inspected this child with a contemplating look. There was a war in his head as if he wasn't sure why he stopped him. The strangeness of Nazareth gave him mixed feelings.

With these swirling thoughts in his head, Gareth finally said, "Nevermind." Prompting that he had given up comprehending the situation. With great effort, he forced out three words, "Enjoy your day."

Neo stares at this man with renewed recognition. And then he gives a very small and subtle smile.

"I will. Come, Rainier."

"Yes, Young Master Nazareth."

The servant and master pair leaves.

Alone at the dining table with his wife, Gareth orders the servants to clear up the plates.

"Gareth."

Vespera suddenly speaks, sending shivers down everyone's spine. Her voice, chillier than his own and unexciting as ever, spoke for the first time that day.

Vespera never makes it a habit to speak much, but when she does make the effort, it reaffirms the reason as to why Gareth had wanted to marry her in the first place.

"Good try, but I've seen better attempts."

Her monotonous voice showed that she wasn't very impressed.

And then she went back to drinking her earl grey tea, an amused smile suddenly appearing ever so slightly on her face.

Gareth doesn't ask her why this is. She has met her daily quota of words today.

Resignedly, he stares at the door.

Neo and Rainier made their way towards the foyer.

"Young Master, would you like me to prepare us a carriage."

"En."

A carriage with the Odum emblem arrived in front of the entrance.

The drive stepped off and courteously bowed.

"Where would the Young Master like to go today?"

"St. Achillas Cemetery."

Alyoise Webbers lived and died as a commoner. She was only twenty when she had Nazareth and tried her damn hardest to raise her son as best as she could. In the red-light district, she was the most well-known prostitute and it took quite a large fee to even have her serve tea. When she died of illness at the age of twenty-seven, Nazareth was devastated. It was her death that started him on the path of madness. Gareth had come after she died and arranged her funeral and burial. Placing her in the best cemetery in town--for commoners, of course--was already a big favor. If she were any other whore, she would have been cremated and forgotten, her ashes scattered somewhere to become fertilizer.

Neo boarded the carriage and sat down. Rainier took a seat at the front with the carriage driver.

"Let's go."

The drive to the cemetery was quiet. Neo observed the scenic outside the carriage with a newfound interest.

If he were to compare that modern world to this one, he would say that this world is far less advanced, technologically and socially. For one, the internet doesn't exist and medical science is still seen as the devil's work by the Church.

The social classes are also more prominent and instilled into the people, while the government is still a monarchy with power. The nobility class is above everyone, the commoner work, and the people of the slums do whatever they can to survive. This is the age where humans teeter between being civilized and wild.

Gas-powered vehicles also don't exist and a majority of things he has taken for granted in that modern society would now take time and patience since everything is man-powered.

Neo sighs a little as thinks of this. He really misses his cellular device.

"Young Master."

Rainier called out to him from the front of the carriage, drawing him from his reverie.

"Yes?"

"We are arriving in the town soon. Is there anything you might need before we arrive at our destination?"

Neo thought for a moment.

"En. Stop by a flower shop first. I want to buy a bouquet."

After some time, the carriage enters the town. It did draw a lot of attention from the common people due to the Odum emblem, the party in question ignored the stares easily.

Soon enough, the carriage arrived in front of the first flower shop the carriage driver could spot.

Rainier stepped off first and went to help Neo out of the carriage. The fact that he did this with ease despite the blindfold on his face was very impressive.

After being helped from the carriage, Neo found himself standing in front of a fairytale-like building. Flowers decorated the little shop and displays of arrangements covered the storefront with colorful bouquets. A sign was placed at the front of the shop, with the word 'Graham Florist.'

Hmm, the name sounded somewhat familiar, although Neo wasn't sure why this is.

He opened the door and stepped into the shop.

"Welcome to Graham Florist. How may I help you?"

A gentle voice rung through the store.

Neo paused. Behind him, Rainier also stopped. The two of them looked around.

"Over here."

Their eyes turned toward the source of the voice.

A giant arrangement of gardenias came within their line of sight.

A plant spirit, perhaps?

But then, the arrangement lowered and finally, they could see the person behind it.

Neo was somewhat shaken. It is hard to forget the face of this person. He had tormented him for an entire year.

Soft brown hair messily tied into a small ponytail and placid grey eyes. His smile, small and subtle, but charming at the same time. He is slightly taller than Neo, but only by an inch or two, and definitely a year younger than him.

He is Sutton Graham, the commoner boy who Nazareth kidnapped and nearly murdered.