Chapter 205: Third Young Master Moumou? A Servant?

Moulin frowns.

The soft sheets beneath his body crumpled as he turned to sleep on his side. The gentle morning light from the windows bathes his slumbering form. Flawless skin glowing with warmth. The light gently touches his closed eyelids.

A crease appeared between youth's slender brows. Slowly, Moulin's eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light of his surroundings. A soft sigh escapes his lips as he did. 

"…?"

Moulin felt the drowsiness leave his body as he slowly rose from the bed. His fingers curled on the furred blankets covering his body. Eyebrows furrowed in confusion, Moulin found himself staring at the open glass doors of the balcony. 

A frown decorated his face. He recalled waiting for Hadrian at the balcony. Did he fell asleep? Did Hadrian move him to the bed?

Dismay flashed in his eyes. Hadrian told him he would explain everything to him when he returned last night, and yet he didn't. Instead, sleep overcame Moulin, and Hadrian didn't even bother to wake him up. Even when he woke up, the man's figure was nowhere to be found. Moulin's shoulders fell as he lets out a sigh. 

"Honoured guest…"

Moulin abruptly shifted his attention when a voice spoke to him. His eyes caught the figure of a woman. With her hands clasped together, she smiled as she approached the youth on the bed. The young girl behind her followed her steps while hiding the disdain in her eyes. 

Moulin recognized them as the people who had attended him last night before he went to join Hadrian and his grandfather for dinner. He nodded unfeelingly when she saw the head maid near his bed. 

"Honoured guest, we are here to assist you. Please, come and cleanse yourself before you join the masters for the meal." Her voice was gently as though she was coaxing a child.

Moulin stared at her few a few seconds before nodding. "Please…"

The head maid attended to him after he bathed and picked elegant clothes for him to wear. Moulin silently let himself be assisted. However, when he saw the clothes brought before him, he frowned. They were too extravagant to wear for a mere breakfast. Gold cuffs, satin sleeves, accessories of the rarest stones, and gold jewelry for his hair, ears, and neck. Confusion flashed in his expression as he stared at the clothes.

What did they think of him as? A proud imperial prince of the palace?

Moulin was reminded of the time when his brothers brought him trunks of luxurious garments and jewelry. He accepted all of them so he wouldn't have to see the pitiful look on their faces. Moulin's face softened. Longing for his family came crashing inside him like a surging tide. 

"Honoured guest?" The head maid looked at Moulin. Concerned filled his eyes. "Is it not to your liking?" 

Moulin snapped back from his thought. His eyes immediately met the woman's gaze. A smile graces his face as he spoke, "May request another set of clothes? Can we have something simple and comfortable to wear?"

"Ah…" The head maid blinked at him. She then smiled and chuckled, "Yes, we do have a few, young master…"

Afterwards, she beckoned the young girl and told her to fetch some of the simplest and comfortable clothing for the young master to wear. It did not take long for them to finish. Finally, satisfied if his clothes, the head maid led Moulin to the doors. The young girl trailed behind them with quiet steps. She kept silent as they walked through the empty yet bright hallways. 

Moulin's eyes stared straight ahead. His expression was hard to read. The head maid could not determine his thoughts at all. 

'Where is Hadrian?' Moulin thought silently. There was no one else he was familiar with in his fortress, and he would rather spend his time with someone he knows the most. Moulin's mood grew depressed. Even Snow and Keir was nowhere to be found. 

Suddenly, a young man, panting heavily, ran across the hallways once he found the head maid's figure. The head maid looked at him in surprised. The man stopped when he saw the guest. His eyes widened, and he bowed quickly with a greeting. Afterwards, he didn't waste a second to report to her about the problem they have in the kitchens. Moulin watched them curiously. 

"Oh, dear…" The head maid worriedly looked at the male servant. She lowered her head as though she was in deep thought. She needed to escort the young master first but hurrying would be rude. 

Sensing the worry and confusion in her eyes, the silver-eyed youth slowly approached her and spoke, "It's alright. You can go…"

Gratitude filled her eyes; she bowed before him with relieved eyes. The man next to her didn't expect Moulin would actually let the head maid go so easily. With bright eyes, the older woman turned to the girl behind her and instructed her to lead Moulin to the dining halls without trouble. 

Although she was reluctant, the girl could only nod in obedience. She and the white-haired young master silently watched as the head maid hurriedly went away with the servant boy.

"Follow me…" The girl glanced at Moulin before she walked ahead. 

The rudeness in her voice was evident. Moulin slightly narrowed his eyes as he stared at the back of the young woman. He started his steps as he followed her warily. 

This is why he didn't want to stay inside another person's abode. Honestly, he groaned internally.

They made a turn to the right hallway at an intersection. Their footsteps echoed, sounding loud in their ears. The silence between them was awkward, but Moulin didn't mind it. Why would he try to soften the situation if the other person clearly shows their hatred towards him? Instead, Moulin wanted to applaud them for their boldness and smack their faces.

The young girl shuddered when she felt a cold breeze brush her body. She eyed the windows in confusion. Strange; the windows were closed. Why did it feel cold?

She mentally cursed as she shot a glanced at the youth behind her. Her disdain grew. Look at him. Looking so proud and yet pretending to look pitiful. Honestly, no one could be more shameful than him. Does he think that with the Lord doting on him, he would be more superior than Lady Heizea herself? Tsk!

A smirk appeared on her lips.

She planned to make Moulin arrive late at the dining halls. Afterwards, she would appear as though Moulin was being arrogant and proud as if he was the one annoyingly trying to be late. As a servant trying to escort the guest, she would act pitiful and tearful. Countless times had she practice this move on several nobles. Let's see how the masters will treat him then.

A few long minutes passed. The hallways seemed to look more unfamiliar the longer the time passed. Moulin started to feel something off. At last, he spoke up.

"Where are you taking me?"

"To the dining halls, young master." She answered without looking at him. 

Moulin frowned. Did she think he wouldn't notice the suspicious tone of her voice?

Silver eyes narrowed darkly. It looks like she's trying to lead him away even further. Moulin sighed as he tilted his head up to stare at the ceilings. 

How bothersome…

He glanced at the side and found another empty hallway. Expressionlessly, Moulin raised his brows. His steps slowed as he glanced at the young girl who was unaware of his actions. Without further ado, Moulin nonchalantly turned and headed to the other hallway. He walked with light steps, softening the sound of his footsteps. 

Unaware of Moulin's movements, the servant girl continued to walk through the marble hallways.

............

"Is he coming?" Lord Hendrick turned to his grandson, who sat at his right. 

The Lord lifted his golden eyes, watching his grandfather glance at the door for the nth time.  On the long dining table laid various delicacies. Lord Hadrian knew Moulin would find it pleasing. 

Hadrian gazed at the tall doors. One would find it difficult to read the emotion on his stern expression, even grandfather Hercullio could not discern his grandson's thoughts.

Several minutes came to pass. Every servant within the dining hall could not help but hold their breath. Lord Hadrian's eyes were as dark and as menacing as a furious beast's.

Hendrick Hercullio finally casts his grandson a meaningful look. The Golden lord met the older man's gaze. Hadrian lowered his head, eyes dark. He nodded to his grandfather as he stood up from his seat.

The moment he stood up from his chair, the doors suddenly opened with a smooth creak.

Lord Hendrick's eyes brightened, "Finally..."

Golden eyes lifted. They stopped on the figure that entered the doors with a cowering bow. An insignificant female who stood with trembling shoulders as she kept her head lowered. Hadrian's eyes moved to sought the familiar figure of his dear lover. However, he saw none. Not a shadow of Moulin.

The girl suppressed a smile underneath her bowed gaze, "We behave arrive-"

"Where is he?" Lord Hadrian coldly spoke. The aura he exuded was menacing and suffocating.

The girl abruptly stiffened. She lifted her head and immediately looked behind her. She expected to see the arrogant youth standing behind her; however, all she sees was the questioning gazes of the servants who opened the doors for her.

She paled.

T-The young master is gone?!

"Where is he?" Hadrian spoke again. One would cower in fear of the darkness in his voice. Lord Hendrick narrows his eyes in suspicion.

The girl darted her eyes to seek help. However, no one moved to meet her gaze. She was mercilessly stuck within the center of the masters' attention. Panic welled inside her chest. The blood on her skin drained. Her confidence vanished in an instant as she became the focus of the Lords' dark gazes.

"H-he... It's b-because he..."

Golden eyes narrowed dangerously.

A spark of golden electricity crackled around his hand.

......................................

Somewhere within one of the not-so-empty hallways of the building, Moulin pretended to be one of the servants in the castle. His simple garb made it easier for the others to recognize him as one of them. However, it was the youth's hair that made them suspicious.

While wandering the hallways, Moulin got to see different sides of the fortress scenery beyond the windows. His feet kept moving as he walked beside the tall crystal windows of the hallways. A the vast lands of green stretched as far as the eye could see. It was then that Moulin realized how beautiful it looked when treeless fields touches the blue skies. 

However, he was left confused. There was a layer of white that covered a small part of the grounds around the fortress. Silver eyes blinked.

Snow?

Moulin could recognize it at one glance. Does it snow near the coastal cliffs of this country? 

Moulin stopped. He realized he didn't even know where this fortress was located. He had heard of its reputation, but he didn't put importance to its location. 

After a while, Moulin found himself nearing the end of the hallway. The walls were made of stone and black bricks, and a small number of people crowded near the only doorway within the area. The sound of arguing could be heard from where Moulin stood. Hesitation flahed in Moulin's eyes. 

Should he turn back?

Out of the blue, a hand pointed at him along with the booming sound of a loud voice.

"Ah! You there!"

Numerous gazes then began to turn to the direction the man was pointing at. They settled on a strange-looking young man with silver eyes garbed with plain clothes.

Moulin stopped at his tracks. He blinked and slowly pointed a finger to himself. "Me?"

"Yes! You!" 

Moulin wasn't able to speak a word when the man began to grab him and push a tower of plates in his arms. He glanced at the others, who were also carrying heavier things. One had in his thickly-clothed arms a massive pot of hot soup. One bulky man carried a large barrel on his shoulder.

"Alright, those huge beasts aren't going to feed themselves! Let's go!" The man that had dragged Moulin clapped his hands before he marched out the stone doorways. The group of people began to follow him. "Damn, knights. I should let them eat grains next time!"

Helplessly, Moulin was pushed forward as he struggled to balance the plates on his hand.