Chapter 50

I held my breath when he walked.

My gaze never strayed from my feet, but in my peripheral vision, I caught sight of the cape following him. He had genuinely dressed for the occasion.

It was minutes after he sat down and took his first bite, the conversation had finally started and I lifted my head.

I found myself avoiding Cain and gazing at those tattoos once again. The patterns look like a foreign script. Where they summons?

I knew little of magic. Nobody spoke of it here. So I was at the risk of not only embarrassing myself but shaming the Goldier name by asking about them.

But why had nobody cared for them? They were frightening enough.

"Unfortunately, you had to take on such heavy responsibility from a young age", the elderly man began sympathy that didn't quite sit well with me in his voice. It sounded... Forced.

"Indeed. Unfortunately, my father had such a misfortune happen to him. Well beyond his time", Cain, however, played the injured son like a pro.

The older man gave a sympathetic smile. But nobody else said anything, much less moved a facial muscle, except to take a bite of food. Naomi was right. They eat a lot.

"I must say I found his death quite... Strange" the man's sudden words had my back straightening ever so slightly.

I felt my throat dry. But I forced myself still. Calm. Stay calm. It's just speculation.

"I thought as well", Cain's voice held no sign of worry.

"I suppose you may have" there was a silent accusation in the man's words, and for the first time, one of his companions spoke up.

"Ignore him, Duke Goldiar, the old man hasn't seen much action these last few months, so he's sensitive to whatever he hears of" it was the woman who spoke, voice spilling like water and her captivating emerald eyes giving Cain a reassuring nod.

Cain met her gaze with a forced smile. It was purposely looking like that.

"There's no need to dismiss his worries. I've had the same suspicions myself, but after thorough investigation and medical examination by Baron Zebediah, we've come to the conclusion it was a disease that is common in our bloodline. My great grandfather met the same fate it seems" the voice dripping with raw emotions had everyone engaged in his words—the whole room listening intensively.

"May I say a toast to the duke" the hooded man spoke up. He was taking the room by surprise and excitement.

Kassie had been correct. He was the hero Kendrick.

"Count Kendrick. Please, it would be an honour" I knew Cain enough to know that his words were genuine.

The hero stood up, swirling a glass of champagne, as he towered the room.

His glowing eyes looked...crestfallen.

"I had met the duke two decades ago, and he had been the most generous host. You see, I may have saved his life by pure coincidence, but he had been so grateful he invited me to his home. He had treated me as well as any noble, even though I had no title back then. The duchess..." his throat seemed to constrict, and he cleared it, "she had made me believe that I had a chance to become a great person. She had given me a gift that had made me become the person I am today".

When he finished speaking, his eyes walked across the maids and servants, clearly searching for someone, and it was evident from the way his lip frowned that they were absent.

He lifted his glass, followed by everyone on the table.

I found his words a bit questionable—the vagueness of the gift bringing up many questions in my head.

Was it related to those tattoos? A voice whispered at the back of my head. It was gnawing at me to find out.

"That was beautiful, Count Kendrick. I'm sure they'll appreciate such a toast."

"Please. I owe them a lot".

"Well, you have saved all of our lived, so I will assume the debt has been paid", Cain joked, lips curling.

"Please, Kendrick sat on his arse the whole time. I did most of the work," the feminine man said.

"Ha... You did "most" of the work?" the woman raised a brow at him.

He threw narrow eyed glare back at her.

"You have something to add, Bell dear?" he snarled back at her.

They were friends.

"That's Rosabel to you", she shot back.

"Now, now you too. Pipe down already. We all know Rick has a few questions for the duke, and you're wasting everyone's time," the older man piped up. Although he scolded them, he had a twinkle in his eye, as if he enjoyed the scene very much.

The two quieted immediately, though still glaring at each other.

Kendrick cleared his throat to speak.

"Your highness, once again, I apologise for the losses you've had over the years. I grieve the loss of your parents deeply, but I must expose myself and say I'm in search of someone" the Count's words were full of shame. As if he had felt this shame every day of his life.

"You had motives?" the duke asked. He didn't look surprised as he took a sip of his water.

"I'm ashamed to say. I noticed that there is a missing person among your staff. Though I'm sure many have retired, they promised me that they would await my return".

I knit my brows in interest and glanced to Kassie, who threw me a puzzled look.

"And who might they be?" Cain's voice was suddenly full of suspicion.

"A maid. She must be in her mid-forties now. Her name is Diana", his voice was full of guilt and longing.

But at his words, I had blanked completely—shock rippling through me.

D - Diana? That was my mothers name... And she would be in her mid-forties if she had lived past her thirties.

But there was no way.

"Many go by that name", Cain quickly replied. But I was well aware that he should know too that the woman was likely my mother, "Let's discuss this later in my study", he proposed.

I knew instinctively that he knew it was my mother at his words. Though I found it relieving he decided to keep the conversation private, I was also suspicious.

Suspicious that the reason he wanted to keep it private was to keep it from me.

My list of plans for tonight expanded so much that I noted that I might not be sleeping much at all.