1 Chapter 1: Four years in passing I

"Your grace, lord Cobalt and lord Cross are in the parlour asking for an audience."

Grand duke Charlton Daniel who was still reading a copy of today's newspaper from 'The Times', a newspaper publishing company he was a part owner of, hummed to indicate that he has heard.

Jack who was once Charlton's personal coachman and bodyguard before being given the position butler of the Suffox' grand palace, did not know what to make of his master's response.

After a while, he recalled that in the last six months, Charlton has already rejected three royal envoys carrying invitations for him to return to the royal capital. So, was it safe to assume that despite Charlton's friendship with the two lords, the same should apply?

"Should I see them off then?" Jack finally asked.

Charlton shook his head before folding the newspaper. "Inform them that I shall be joining them shortly."

"Oh…" Jack could only utter with some confusion. Honestly, he could no longer understand how the mind of his master works. Then again, his master has undergone ordeals that would make even a saint change drastically.

Four years ago, grand duke Charles was sent to prison because of treason. For Charlton who loved and idolized his father since birth, it must have come as a blow.

Then, as the son of a criminal despite his lineage, he was sent to Norfolk on a mission to catch revolutionists. Might he add that it was also another form of exile?

Worse, not even a month after that, his lover, Serena Maxwell, completely abandoned him for his cousin, the crown prince.

Fine. He knew that his master was the 'other man' since he was the one seeing her behind his cousin's back who was her intended, but still. He knew how much he loved and adored her, how much effort he has been doing for their relationship to work, plus aside from those, they were in that relationship together. Not to mention that, as far as he knew, she was the one who lured him in. What a whore, if not for his master, he would've divulged to the world how duplicitous she truly was.

Anyhow, moving on. After two years, news of the grand duke's ailing health reached the grand duchess and she appealed to her brother, the king, to shorten the sentence. Sadly, all she received were visiting rights. Charlton who was performing his mission while in exile, did not know this was happening until another year later.

By the way, since he was with Charlton in Norfolk the whole time, he also did not know.

What he was witness to instead, was how much grit and effort Charlton poured to catch those rebels. And just when things were starting to look bright with all the clues adding up, Charlton received a missive telling him that he was no longer needed in the mission, he was a free man, and he should go home to Suffox immediately.

They could hardly believe it that time. Was the letter for real? Still, though quitting was the last thing in Charlton's mind, especially since he knew that he was reaching a breakthrough on this mission, he did miss home and he wanted to see how his mother has been doing. Thus, without much dilly-dallying, they embarked on a four-day journey home.

Upon arrival, they noticed that on the outset, despite being absent for almost three years, not much has changed in Suffox. It was still peaceful and beautiful. However, as they entered the city and passed through the streets leading to the grand palace, they noticed that there were no children running or playing on the streets. Meanwhile, there were white ribbons tied on about every home.

Well, all their bewilderment did not last long. What awaited them in the grand palace was the grand duke's wake.

He could only presume the gravity of what Charlton felt that time. For him who was only a loyal servant, he wanted justice. He wanted nothing more than to seek revenge, on whom, well, he had his own suspicions.

Considering this, Charlton whose grief must be more immense must be having the same thought in mind. He had no doubts then that a war was imminent and that it was only a matter of time.

Days have passed, seasons changed, and now it has already been a year and about four months.

Sometimes, he wished that the drastic change in Charlton included him being more proactive. Like, maybe he could have rallied them to war right after his father's death? Actually, he could still consider doing so now. Though, there's a high chance of them losing, at least he (Jack) could finally take a bloody strike on their coward of a king. Oops, did he think of that out loud? Oh, thank god he did not.

His master's mother was still the king's sister. Who, by the way, still defended to the end that her brother was innocent. That he would never kill the grand duke. She even went so far as to convince everyone, and that includes the grand council consisting of Charles' most elite and loyal men, that they should put down their arms and instead make peace with it.

Well, God damn it, you woman. After proclaiming that you loved the grand duke with every bit of you, you just let his death pass just like that.

Jack shook his head. Again, his common sense was just that of an ordinary folk and he only understood after a while why the grand duchess made that choice. A month after the grand duke's death, although there was no amnesty given, Charlton inherited the title grand duke without contest. Also…

"Jack, I said you can go." Charlton exasperatedly said after failing to catch Jack's attention by clearing his throat twice.

"Oh, yes, haha, sorry. Alright. I'll go inform them now your grace." Jack, finally shaken out of his stupor said.

--

Charlton sighed. Jack has been absent-minded as of late. Was the position 'butler' too tough on him? Considering his previous occupation as his personal coachman and bodyguard, it was very likely. Still, he has no plans of rescinding his delegation.

Given the circumstance and his future undertakings, there was no man he could trust more to take care and protect, if need be, his home and mother.

A year ago, he came back to Suffox only to be welcomed by the sight of his father's corpse. Initially, he felt bafflement. Were they playing a sick joke on him? For how could his father, a former war hero and a completely healthy man die just like that? He even had to ask his mother.

Then he felt the immense grief. His father, the man who carried him on his shoulders, the man he loved and looked up to the most, was dead.

Finally, there was rage. How and why did it happen? Although he was never a man to condemn another person easily, nor was it his style to blame another person for all the miseries that came his way as he believed that people may only be victims of their fate, there was something gnawing on his chest, clawing, shouting, as if to proclaim that someone was and should be responsible for his father's death.

And who were the ones capable of doing this to his father? As there were only but a few, it was not that hard to speculate.

Charlton hated like he never hated before. He wanted to slash their limbs, break their bones, stab their chests, and burn them on a stake. In fact, he would have impulsively tried to do just that if not for his mother stopping him. She insisted that her brother had nothing to do with Charles' death, that she was there when Charles was sick to when he took his last breath. That Charles last words were for them to live peacefully, let matters go and for them to understand that his death was solely decided by fate.

Charlton was not convinced. He did not doubt the authenticity of the words, but he knew his father. He always shielded him and his mother from anything that might cause them potential harm. He always protected them. In this case, it was obvious that he did not want them to seek vengeance for his death, for what reasons, one could easily imagine.

First, the primary suspect was the king, his mother's full blood related brother.

Second, their military force alone was not enough to topple the monarch.

Third, they could continue to live in peace and luxury if they just let matters go.

Knowing these reasons only cemented the fact that his father's last words should be honored. Also, there was his mother who was still beside him to consider. She was grieving, lost, and begging him not to leave her like how his father did.

So, what choice did he really have at that time?

He had to make peace and live with it, at least on the surface.

--

TBC