Trust and Loyalty

Vasillis cannot help but think of Miss Millington's reaction. The close relationship between Miss Millington and Alexandria Midford was not much of a surprise, it was obvious. Perhaps for him, it was.

Were the two of them hiding their intimacy? Vasillis could not help but think of that question. But it was normal for friendship between women to be as close as they are, there was nothing to hide. "...or is there?" Vasillis muttered under his breath.

If only Vasillis listened to his own friend. If only he took Alexandria's words seriously about who to trust or not to trust. Now, he has difficulty in trusting everyone around him, not even his friends, if there was one. Not even his family who were mentioned to be 'worried' about him.

Not even the Midfords nor Alexander.

He used to think that the twins were too much for doubting almost everyone, but now he understood the feeling that all the people around you might betray you, tell lies to corrupt your mind, put their hands on your eyes to blind you from what is truly happening.

"How can you see the truth if you keep letting yourself be blinded by the lies?"

Alexandria was right, he was too much of a fool. He was too kind in the past and was easily convinced by what was right in front of him. Not knowing that there were people tying a blindfold to his eyes.

He massaged his temples, another headache from overthinking. Even the woman so innocent, so pure as Miss Millington could not be trusted anymore. What was there even left for him to believe?

He looked outside the window of the carriage. They were now traveling the road of the middle line of Arcturus and Capella, the field of flowers, just as Miss Millington said. He did not want to trust her words because of the suspicions that arose, but he had no choice but to try. Maybe she was lying but maybe she was telling the truth. To know whether which one was true, he had to go to the place.

If the place were indeed special for Alexandria, then maybe he could get some clues even just a bit.

The carriage came to a stop and he stepped out and squinted when the light of the sun hit his face. It was a good day to sit under the tree, perhaps Alexandria always did that. Even if she needed to travel all the way here.

His men stayed near the carriage until he had given them orders. He walked towards the tree and looked up to it, "So this is...a special place for Alexandria."

"Let us see what we can get."

~~~~~~~~~~

Before the chaos,

"You finally listened to me," he said. "If you always did that then everything would have been all right from the start."

Bastien Cross furrowed his brow but a smile formed on his face. He looked over at the lady who was still wearing a blank face, but he knew for sure that she was also confused. "What do you mean?"

"I heard it all from Alistair Lockhart." Marquess Midford said with a slight smile yet in a condescending way. "He said you were pleasant to talk with."

Bastien Cross almost laughed but it was fortunate that he managed to hold back. What a lie it was, he was grateful for the son of the duke lying for Alexandria Midford but...of all lies, he chose 'pleasant to talk with'?

Alexandria always kept a formal way of speaking, but because of her straight face that made her words seem so sarcastic all the time, people were always secretly upset. Having a 'pleasant talk' with the lady was new to his ears.

Bastien Cross returned to his normal expression as a butler and it was a good thing that Alexandria Midford and her father, the Marquess, did not notice him stifling a laugh.

"Alistair Lockhart?" Alexandria asked, "He said that?"

The Marquess sat down and put both of his hands on the armrest, all relaxed from the good news. He nodded, "He did, I received a letter from his servant." he said and pointed at the opened letter on the table.

Alexandria stared at it before approaching the table to grab the letter. The butler was right behind her as she read it, the lady and her butler exchanged glances and they put the letter in its place.

Bastien Cross smiled, to think that Alistair Lockhart would lie for her. It will be entertaining to see where this would all go. Whatever the man was planning, it would either benefit them or bring them down.

"You can go now, do not let my good mood go to waste by seeing your face." Marquess Midford said and gestured to the door.

Alexandria did as she was told and left the room together with Cross without uttering a single word to his father. Bastien was relieved that Alexandria did not say anything, he thought that the lady would tell him the truth especially since she disliked telling lies.

"Is it all right that Alistair Lockhart lied?"

"Why would it not be all right?"

"You never liked telling lies, am I wrong?"

Alexandria stopped and turned to the butler, "It was not I who told lies as it did not come from my mouth." she said and continued walking to the dining area of the manor. Bastien Cross smiled and followed her.

It was time for Alexandria to eat and the butler ordered all the servants to prepare dishes for the lady. The servants looked like they were all doing it against their will. They did not like Lady Alexandria, that was why Alexandria does not trust any of them.

If it was not for Bastien Cross, then the servants would never have prepared anything at all even if she ordered them to.

Bastien Cross was the butler that everyone follows orders from, they cannot disobey him or go against his commands. Other than the Marquess, he has the power to assign or remove servants. They would easily lose their jobs.

On the other hand, Alexandria Midford cannot fire anyone, she has no power to do so. After all, other than being a shadow of her twin, she was nothing more than the daughter of the Marquess who disliked her entire being. Despite having the same face as the man that the Marquess favored.

While Alexandria was eating, Bastien Cross could not hold back and asked, "What do you think of Sir Alistair Lockhart?"

"What answer are you expecting to hear from me?" Alexandria asked.

"I can already guess that you do not trust him." Bastien Cross said. He knows the lady he serves well enough to tell.

"Perfect, then there you have the answer." Alexandria responded and continued eating.

What part of this is a 'pleasant talk'?, the butler thought.

"Even so, what if he could benefit us?"

"Same goes for us being a benefit to him."

Bastien Cross did not answer, she was right of course. Alexandria spoke again, "If you think we can use him, did the thought of him using us not cross your mind?"

Alexandria put down the knife and fork and wiped her lips with the napkin. "Whatever we think about doing right now could already be thought of by the other. Do not be confident with just one lie he made for us."

"You once told me that you have known us for so long, you know how wary we are. Yet you cannot think of what to do with a suspicious person, and even try to trust and use him?"

Bastien Cross bowed, "I apologize."

"I do not trust the servants here, and I mentioned I only trusted you," she said, "But for that trust, I meant you yourself...not your loyalty."

"I am unsure of what you mean by that."

"Your loyalty is uncertain." Alexandria stated, "I am not the only one you serve, Cross."

"But also my twin brother."