Bab 30: Chapter 29: Howlett Estate

During Miles's deep slumber...

Back at the Howlett Estate. The next day dawned, and most of the snow had melted away. Its massive courtyard was now in sight again. Its two dirt roads split off, which headed to different parts of the town further down the hill.

As for the mansion itself, it was gigantic. It was as if it was a small town hall. It connected several buildings into one giant one. Just like a castle.

Toward the entrance, a middle aged woman with a stern look currently dressed in a victorian maid dress that was blue in color currently had a look of disapproval in her eyes as she observed a tattered orange-haired girl before her. The girl was in a long white dress that covered most of her body. This girl still appeared young, but was already developing some charm. Girls here turned into adults much earlier due to the lowered life expectancy of the 1800s.

The girl had recently collapsed onto the ground. Dust was in her eyes as she tried to rub it off. In the distance, a boy ran off at a fast pace, appearing more dirty than the girl. He had the look of a rundown farmer. Likely belonging to a poor family.

As the boy ran off in the distance vanishing from sight, the girl coughed. More dirt flung into the air, making her a tad dizzy. She had an apologetic look in her eyes as she gazed up toward the maid.

"I-I'm terribly sorry that you had to bear sight to that, Mrs. Hopkins.", The orange-haired girl tried to say as she coughed out some dust out of her lungs.", The orange-haired girl said.

"You alright now girl?", The maid asked, looking down at the girl covered in dirt.

"I think so...", The orange-haired girl replied, taking a moment to get her bearings.

"Tch. That boy is always up to no good. Same goes for that father of his. Scowlin' away at everyone no matter who. I dunno why Master John insists on keepin' 'em.", The maid said, shaking her head in disappointment.

"Who was that exactly?", The girl asked, trying to stand back up. She pulled the hem of her dress so she wouldn't trip over.

"Thems the Logan's. You stay far away from 'em you hear me?", The maid asked. Her stern look turned even more serious.

"That boy was dressed just like the groundskeeper I saw as we rode here.", The orange-girl responded, nodding her head to assure the maid.

"That was Mister Logan you saw. Both of 'em are always up no go good. More importantly, have you settled into this here place yet?", The maid asked. She reached down, and grabbed a hold of the orange-haired girl, only to pull out a clean handkerchief. She started wiping away the dirt that clung to the orange-haired girl's lips.

"Uh-uh. Everyone 'as been so kind to me. I really sure am grateful for you takin' me in, Mrs. Hopkins.", The orange-haired girl said with a nod of her head.

"Good. Now let me take a look at you. Gettin' all dirty like that. You 're in no way to meet Master John like this.", The maid said, showing a disappointed look again. The orange-haired girl's eyes became downcast. She could see that her white dress was dirty. Plenty of dirt also clung to her face, and it was hard to get it off.

The maid who was called Mrs. Hopkins proceeded to clean up the girl's face, rubbing her handkerchief over it. The handkerchief got really dirty in the process, but it was effective. Her dress was still dirty though.

As she continued to clean up the orange-haired girl, Mrs. Hopkins continued to talk.

"I done you a great favor bringin' you up from that there town. It ain't everyday a girlie like you an' read and write. Shame you couldn't meet Master John durin' the winter. Master was absent.", Mrs. Hopkins explained.

This orange-haired girl did in fact come here during the wintertime when she rode along that open-roofed carriage together with the driver. It was blizzarding then, but it would seem she had made it safely to the Howlett Estate, and has been staying here since. Unfortunately, it looked like the master of the Howlette Estate was absent during the winter. Perhaps having left the town entirely before making a return when spring rolled around.

The time spent was a boring one for this girl. Mrs. Hopkins wouldn't let her meet the other estate workers that managed all the housework. She would tend to her own training, and focused on the skills she was good at, reading and writing. Now that spring had come, the master had returned to the estate, and it appeared this girl was going to meet him.

She just didn't expect to encounter both the groundskeeper and his son before that. All she learned about the boy was the name he had. Everyone called him, "Dog.".

But as to who this orange-haired girl was in particular, she went by the name Rose O'Hara. She, together with Dog and the young master of the Howlett Estate, James Howlett, would soon become best friends during this next year, and this was the start of that adventure.

What many enjoyers of the MCU often forgot about this part of the story though, was that apart from this trio of friends, there was in fact a fourth person. This fourth person was the firstborn of the Howlett Estate and was the true family of Master John. He went by the name John Jr. That meant Wolverine not only had a half-brother that came from the Logan family, but also that of the Howlett Family. Wolverine had two half-brothers.

Unfortunately, John Jr. passed away before Wolverine fully realized who John Jr. was. It was claimed that he was a mutant just like Wolverine, bearing a striking resemblance of the healing factor he had. Even traces of claw marks appeared on their mother's back during an incident that is set to take place this coming year, which caused his death. The entire tragedy was foggy.

In the present time, on the other hand, the girl here in the open courtyard getting cleaned by the head maid was set to meet the master of the entire estate. It was likely she would come across both John Jr. and James Howlett once she gets freshened up.

"It won't be long now to meet Master John, Rose. If you appeal to Master's good side, you'll have a good chance to befriend his sons!", Mrs. Hopkins said with confidence.

"You really think Master John will like me?", Rose asked, showing doubt in her eyes.

"Well girl, that'd be all up to you. Don't you mess it up you hear?", Mrs. Hopkins asked with a serious look in her eyes. Rose could only nod her head.

"I-I'll try, Mrs. Hopkins. Let me go change my dress...", Rose uttered, finally standing up. The boy was now long gone, likely having retreated into the small shack beyond the trimmed hedges that stretched through the entire courtyard.

Now standing on her feet, Rose patted the dirt off her dress and her face was now clean again thanks to Mrs. Hopkins cleaning it off with her handkerchief. Grabbing Rose's arm, the head maid urged Rose to follow her back inside the estate, to where she will likely meet Master John. As to where James Howlett currently was, his figure was at the opposite side of the estate, playing around with a throwing hoop while watching members of the estate ride on horses around the large ranch.

What these folks didn't know at the time was that there was a fox currently in a deep slumber, resting inside a large pine tree beyond the town of cold lake whose soul was bound by a reincarnated person. It wasn't known if this fox will come across these people at the estate after his current evolution is completed, but if it progresses like the original story, James Howlett is set to flee this estate in error after killing the supposed groundskeeper, Mister Logan.

It has been three months since Miles was brought here, and he had roughly nine to ten months before this event took place here at the Howlett Estate. Time was starting to tick down.