"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention?"
Standing at the bottom of the glamorous stairs, Derek Roderick announced his presence, dressed in all black with a matching shiny black mask with golden lines around it.
Every guest halted all their activities and placed their attention solely on him. The whole place went silent.
"Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, Citizens of Zariya! Thank you for coming to this celebration! I am glad that I could see so many familiar faces joining us on this special occasion," Derek spoke, his baritone voice carried easily in the silent ballroom.
"Today is our founding day where we all join together and celebrate the prosperity of the years!" He hollered and the guests joined the cheers, clapping and laughing.
"I've been very proud and happy that I was born here, and I'm sure everyone of you felt the same way. So," Derek paused and raised the glass of red wine in his hands. "I will cut short to prevent creating a boring speech and raise my cup to toast to you all! Let's start this celebration with happiness in our hearts and the promise of prosperity of our town. Cheers to Zariya!"
"Cheers to Zariya!" All the guests gave a round of applause and cheered, toasting.
Satisfied with his own speech, Derek gestured to the guests to continue enjoying the party and a sweet melody played out, drifting through the room.
"Ah~ I really hate parties like this," Derek grumbled under his breath, tipping his head back to take a sip from the glass of wine and Lynn felt a tick in his head.
"My Lord…"
"Look, look," Derek signaled Lynn with his eyes. Lynn glanced with the corner of his eyes and saw who Derek had placed his target on.
The family of Lloyd.
The whole family moved like a horde of ants with one tiny brain. They moved from one to another, said a few greetings, and moved on.
"Bunch of hypocrites…" Derek uttered before panicking in the next moment. "Shit, shit! Cover me!"
The horde of ants were moving in his direction. Derek hunched his shoulders in and hid behind Lynn, all the while dragging Lynn by his arm towards a dessert table.
Lynn could only roll his eyes at his master's childish antics. Derek's golden eyes flicked through the busy room for any incoming attacks.
These greetings and small chit chats were what his beloved used to face, and now he had to do it all alone. Crying internally, his golden eyes scanned the area wildly, looking for an escape route.
"My Lord, you are the host, escaping isn't allowed, but greetings are," Lynn whispered lowly, exclusively only for Derek to hear.
He had predicted what Derek wanted to do. When the Lady was alive, Derek always used this opportunity to escape and let the Lady handle all of the greetings alone.
Now, since the Lady wasn't here, the job fell onto Derek's shoulder.
"Shut up, Lynn. You know how much I hate these arrogant bastards-- Shit!"
Derek ducked his head under Lynn's shoulder to avoid making eye contact with Malakhi Zero, who looked like he was in search of something, while dragging his daughter all along.
He pulled Lynn with him until they were under the stairway, hiding underneath. Derek made Lynn stand in the light while he himself under the shadow.
He took a deep breath. "Finally, I have achieved the highest degree of tranquility."
He glanced lovingly at the glass of red wine in his hand and swirled it, watching the ruby red liquid sloshed according to his movements.
He brought it close to his nose and inhaled the strong aromas. "Raspberry and cherry, maybe a hint of vanilla in it. Overall, balanced and enjoyable."
Taking a sip from it, he closed his eyes and moaned at the taste. "My sense of smell is splendid as ever--"
"What are you doing here, Old man?"
SPLURT!
Derek covered his mouth to avoid spilling the wine on the ground, however it backfired to him when the wine surged up his nose like the force of a foreign train. The hot burn sent stars behind his eyes and his head felt like it was about to explode.
"My Lord, young master is here--"
"Too late, Lynn!" Derek coughed as his eyes watered. He fisted out the handkerchief from his inner suit to wipe off any remnants of the previous inelegant reaction.
He sent a glare in Lynn's direction who he guessed was snickering underneath that poker face.
"Father, we need to talk."
Derek pulled his attention away from Lynn and turned to his son.
Zeke wore a dark blue vest and high turtleneck white undershirt. Over it was a large navy waistcoat with gold threads that line themselves over the edge of his cuffs.
A navy cape draped over his left shoulder. It hung from his shoulder down to his thighs, decorated in golden chains that overlapped each other. The black knee high leather boots clicked everytime he walked through the marble tiles of the ballroom.
What's more?
That vivid blood red mask he wore, with golden markings running intricately the curve of his cheekbones.
Derek silently praised himself for being able to bring such a handsome son to this world.
And…
This brat just called him 'Father' and Derek twitched at that. Snotty kiddo must have wanted something from him.
"Talk later, my dear son. Can't you see your father is busy?"
"Busy hiding, you mean?"
"Hush, son. Go dance and leave your old man alone," Derek shooed Zeke away, pushing him out of the shadows. "This is my spot."
Zeke laughed at his father's antics. It reminded him of how he and his father used to find a spot to hide during parties like this, leaving his mom to clean up their mess.
Smirking, he roamed his eyes over the guests and stopped at someone in particular. Taking deep breaths, he called out.
"Lord Zero! Aren't you looking for Father before?"
His smile widened even more when he saw Malakhi Zero snapped his head in his direction and nodded vigorously.
"What in the world-- What are you doing, son?!" Derek hissed. "How could you sell out your father like that?!"
Lynn scoffed.
"Have fun," Snickering, Zeke tipped his head towards Lynn and left his father.
Hello hello!
How are you all? Have you been doing well these days? Please tell me about your day, I hope all of you are fine, safe, and healthy!
Thank you for the powerstones, likes, and comments! I felt really happy receiving all of those!
Stay safe and healthy! Luv You lots!
This novel is currently on hiatus and under mass edit, thank you
Zeke walked.
Walked until he reached the dessert table. He eyed at the colorful cakes lined in symmetrical order, various cake pops and cookies, and as usual, Zeke went for those with chocolate flavor.
He munched on it and savored the taste. He was munching on one hand and thinking on the other hand. He had planned to ask Jian Yu for a dance, yet he managed to stumble upon their conversation.
He felt his insides twisted when he saw Jian Yu and someone unfamiliar to him so close. It was like sprinkling salt on his wounds when he watched both of them hugged so tightly and longingly against each other.
He stood there, holding two glasses of wine, one to offer Jian Yu, but this guy beat him to it.
An omega, nevertheless.
He clicked his tongue irritably and watched the scene unfolded.
Imagine the relief he felt when he realized they were brothers. It was like a huge boulder being lifted from his shoulder.
However…
Those eyes.
He knew those kinds of eyes, how it shone with unshed tears.
It was filled with love, burning with intensity. It was love… But not that kind of love.
He gnashed his teeth in frustration. When Jian Yu was in his presence, he looked rigid, too polite. But here, he was smiling happily and letting his expressions go free, unrestrained.
Zeke's expression contorted. He wanted that smile only for him. He wanted to clench his fist, wanted to throw this glass of wine, anything!
A growl broke out of his throat, earning a few looks from some guests. He pressed his lips flat and ducked his head awkwardly as a greeting before fleeing away.
He downed both glasses of wine and handed them over to the waiters.
'Take it slowly, step by step,' He thought to himself.
Before he could court Jian Yu openly, he needed the contract marriage eliminated.
When he realized that, he turned to find his father.
First, he needed to cancel that marriage.
"..."
He had gone and came back empty-handed. Well, at least he made his dad pay for what he did today. Have fun handling these hypocritical egoistic human beings.
He munched on the chocolate sweets angrily and a dark figure was caught in the corner of his eyes as he darted around the second floor.
XXX
"A Barolo Villero, one of the best and expensive Italian red wines, you haven't changed at all."
A man stopped in front of Derek, holding the glass of red wine in one hand.
The full moon shone above them, surrounded by thousands of stars, complementing the silent night.
"Shouldn't you be enjoying the ball I had wholeheartedly arranged?"
The water from the fountain made a low sound similar to that of a waterfall so people were able to enjoy conversations without being overpowered by the water fountain.
The man scoffed, his silky black mask glinted under the moonlight. He eyed the bottom of the fountain.
'Memoirs of Icarus Roderick.'
The man dipped his head to pay his respect before placing himself down beside Derek, sitting on the edge of the fountain.
"Then I should have thanked our lovely Lynn over here?"
Lynn coughed and hid a smile behind his hand. "You flatter me too much, old friend."
"Are you only going to show yourself during annual parties like this?"
"Don't tell me… You missed me, my friend?" The side of the man's lips curved upwards.
"Oh, he missed you so much that he couldn't sleep at all thinking about how he should greet you," Lynn helpfully replied. "You actually saved him the trouble by meeting him like this."
"Nonsense!" Derek spluttered and huffed angrily, but the smile on his face betrayed his tone.
All of them laughed out loud like best friends that had separated for years finally reunited again. There was no tension and was full of happiness.
There was no terrible imposter fashioned from greed, fear, vanity, sloth, and selfishness. The absence of these emotions brought a harmonious atmosphere.
"How's… The kid?" Derek asked.
"Doing well. Hasn't remembered anything yet," The man said, bringing the glass of wine to take a sip. "Sangue Bevada~ I missed this taste."
Derek huffed, a soft smile graced his lips. "You haven't changed at all either. So, what about the other one?"
"The other one?"
Seeing Derek nodded, the man sighed. "I really hope he was coping as well as he portrayed himself."
"Having your sub-gender altered was not something as simple as changing your name. Not everyone can accept that reality as well as him," He continued.
"These two kids… I hope we are doing the right thing," The man sighed.
"They are strong kids, let's not worry so much," Derek patted the man on his shoulder. "Our wrinkles are overcoming our handsomeness."
The man chuckled.
Three of them, two sat by the fountain and one standing not far away, enjoying each other's presence in the silence, accompanied by the soft trickling of water.
"I believe you received it?" The man asked softly.
"I did."
"It's nice working with you again," He thrusted his hand out towards Derek.
"Likewise, Inspector Han."
Derek reached out to grasp Han In Sik's hand and gave it a shake.
"Let's end it for real this time," Derek vowed.
"For real. No more deaths, no more sacrifices," Inspector Han agreed. "Cheers to Zariya," He lifted his glass.
"Cheers to Zariya," Derek clicked Inspector Han's glass with his.
Before they could click their glass together, shrieks of terror startled the three of them.
"FIRE!!"
***
NB:
Sangue Bevada means blood potion in English. Han In Sik said those to compliment how this red wine tasted magnificent and it brought nostalgic feelings to him.
Barolo Villero - an Italian red wine, rich complex aromas of fruits; violet and red fruits, cocoa, and liquorice.
The Barolo Villero is expressed in a characteristic uplifting scent accompanied by a dry taste, while at the same time giving a lasting impression of warmth and elegance.
Hi!! How are you all?
Here is a chapter for you to enjoy during your free times, HEHE
Who had expexted that Inspector Han, Derek, and Lynn are friends? Tell me about it!
Anw, Thank you for the powerstones, collections, comments, and all the support!
Love you lots, stay safe and healthy!
This novel is currently on hiatus and under mass edit, thank you
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