Chapter 41: The name he heard for the first time

Liechael looked at his reflection from the mirror. He then lifted his sleeves and scanned himself in the mirror. He pulled a white hoodie from his closet before approaching the door. As soon as he stepped outside of his room, he saw Vlad standing next to him.

The man bowed. "Young Master, do you want to bring your car?" he asked.

Liechael looked at his wristwatch. He still had 30 minutes before the said time. "No need, I can just ride the bus," he replied and was about to walk down with Vlad following him when the door from the left side of the hallway opened.

The door creaked, and it spat a middle-aged woman wearing a gray dress up to her knees. She had curls in her gray hair, wearing eyeglasses. From her left ear, Lucielle placed the phone to her right ear, and it made her eyes glimpse her nephew walking with his butler.

Liechael nodded. It seems like she's talking about an important topic from the other side of the phone. When she clearly saw how the young lad was dressed, a secret smile stretched across her face. Lucielle distant the phone from her ear and mumbled, "If you're going to hang out with your friends, bring the car and the driver,"

"I don't need it," Liechael immediately protested.

Lucielle shakes her head and eyes her nephew with sharp eyes. "Bring the driver and the car with you unless you don't want my permission," she said for the last time before going downstairs.

Liechael got glued there, speechless. He almost forgot that at this time, he's a 16-year-old boy who still needs some help and care before going outside and hanging with friends.

The word FRIEND rang in his ears. Come to think of it, even if he's a 24-year-old man, he has never experienced having a lot of friends. Liechael hates socializing since he was a kid and this is the first time that he'll go out with the friends he himself formed in the school.

Vlad cleared his throat. "Young Master, I will ask Ethan to prepare the car for you." He stepped forward, facing the young lad. "Where do you want to ride the car, in the parking lot or in the front gate?"

The mansion was wide and it almost cost like you are running around in a maze if you decided to take a taxi in front of the front gate. Besides, he didn't want to gather so much attention. "I will go to the parking lot alone,"

Liechael didn't wait for a reply. He halted his heels forward, making Vlad catch his pace. They reached the parking lot and the first car Liechael saw was an ordinary red. From the driver's seat, a man in his 23's stepped out. Slick back black hair, thick arched eyebrows. His thin lips formed a smile as he bowed his head. "Greetings, Young Master, I am going to accompany you today," his voice was smooth and calm.

He's taller than Liechael, so he leaned and opened the door, "Please go in, Young Master,"

Liechael didn't say another word as he immediately jumped into the car. He leaned his cheeks on the window and stared outside until the car left the mansion. Ethan didn't even say a word, but he's smiling in the rearview mirror. His hands swiftly made a turn. "Where are we going, Young Master?" he asked.

Liechael shot a quick glance at him, "At the riverside park," he said, shifting his gaze to the road. Come to think of it, Ethan was always taking care of him whenever he's fetching him from school or somewhere. He always had this smiling face that even Liechael could even guess what he's thinking.

"I'm glad Young Master is going out to hang out with his friends," Ethan spun the wheel when the green light turned on. He looked at the young lad from the rearview mirror. He couldn't help but be happy. Liechael was always alone, even if he had schoolmates inside the school. Hanging out is a different thing.

"Am I that gloomy to you?" Liechael asked, not even glancing at his driver.

Ethan chuckled, exposing his dimples. "I apologize," He said. "It's just that I am glad you're doing better now, Young Master," he added.

Liechael paused, his fingers tracing the window glass stopped. From the man's smile, it seems like he's relieved to see the 16 year old Liechael making a foot outside the mansion as if it's the first time of his life.

"Ethan, right?" Liechael pushed himself upward. "What do I look like back then?" he asked then looked away. 'Is it too obvious?' he thought.

"You're always smiling, Young Master. Even if you're clumsy sometimes and causing trouble, I can clearly tell," he looked Liechael in the eyes, "You look very sad back then"

Liechael sunken back, speechless with his lips closed. "Is that so?" he uttered.

Ethan made another U turn, "Yes, Young Master. When the chairman left you in the mansion with Madam Lucielle for the first time, you looked very sad alone, but when I waved my hands at you, you immediately smiled," he sighed. "You're still a kid. You don't need to hide your emotions," he mumbled.

'Am I really a kid to you?' Liechael was surprised. He never smiled for such a long time and imagining himself smiling again is quite different for him. "Am I really smiling?" he asked.

Ethan goes slower. They reached the entrance of the said park. "Yes, you smiled a lot, Young master," he nodded at the two guards before moving forward. "Even Mikhael can see the difference,"

'Mikhael?' Liechael thought. A new name he heard for the first time. He fell silent for a while as he looked out of the window. Liechael saw different stalls with different foods and items like a bazaar. He checked his phone and read the text he got from Justin, their meeting place. It is stated that they're beside the river.

The door finally opened. "We are here, Young Master," Ethan stated, bowing his head.