When Adonis came down to the breakfast table everyone was already seated.
He sat on the Head seat and the maids started serving them.
The atmosphere on the table was quite heavy. That made Adonis's heart stuffy because now he was used to eating on a table full of laughter and chattering.
After everyone was done, Adonis gave a meaningful glance to Isolde. But she just turned away, refusing to admit to her mistake and apologize to a butler who to her was just a servant, nonetheless. If she apologized, her fragile pride as a noble would shatter.
Adonis stood up and spoke,"Rosie."
"Yes, Young Master."
"I apologize to all the false slandering you had to listen to. It was my fault as the Master that you weren't able to defend yourself. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I really do apologize from the bottom of my heart."
Rosie didn't know what to do at the sudden apology.
"N-no, sir, Master, Young Master. Please don't embarrass this servent. Please stop apologizing. It's not sir's fault in anyway. I consider myself blessed to have the chance to serve you."
They smiled at each other.
Isolde fisted her plams under the table so hard that her nails left red marks on her skin.
She abruptly stood up and left the table.
Juno looked concerned,"Ado, your complexion doesn't look good? Are you not feeling well?"
All the other nodded.
Adonis went and hugged his sister.
Yes, she is his sister. The one who he ignored, married off to some tryant without properly checking about him but she was concerned about him till her death day.
I'll apologize to you with my actions.
Juno caressed his hair and said,"What is wrong with our lovely little brother? Do we need to call the Doctor?"
"Sister. I'm not a kid."
Adonis pouted.
She smiled and said,"No matter how big you grow, you'll always be my lovely little brother."
"I think Young Master might be still hungover. That's why he has a bad complexion."
"Wait for me, Ado. I'll brew ginger tea for you."
"Lady, you needn't do that. I'll have someone make it for the Young Master."
"It's okay, Rosie. I'll go make it for him."
Juno quickly brought ginger tea for Adonis.
Lucia came near him and whispered,"Brother Adonis, I was quite nervous when you were sleep yesterday. You always worked on that table. How come she didn't find anything?"
Adonis said,"We got lucky on that. Because of servants, I only did the work there, after that, I kept it in the drawer below my bed. I didn't yesterday because I had to go. Seems like Lady Luck is on our side."
Mila raised her eyebrows,"What drawer? there aren't any drawers."
"You remember the time, I changed I bed?"
She nodded.
"Doesn't the new bed seen thick?"
All of them widened their eyes and nodded.
Rufus commented,"Intelligent of you."
"But Young Master, the Lady seems angry. What if she does something?"
"We'll worry about that when that happens. Let's be at peace for now."
All of them were sitting on the sofa when they heard footsteps coming down from the stairs.
Isolde came down from the stairs and directly went infront of Rosie.
"I'm sorry for my behaviour yesterday. My words must have hurt you, Rosie. I apologize. It's just that I care about Adonis a lot."
Rosie said, "It's okay, Lady. Please don't be concerned about it."
Isolde smiled.
But unlike others' smiles, her smile made everyone uncomfortable.
Later that evening, Adonis was walking along the stone way, smiling.
Crocus, Primrose, Tulip, Pansies and Viola bloomed along the way. The ground was proudly showing off what she had birthed, raised and nurtured.
He bent down and stared at those beautiful little flowers, touching their petals with his fingertips, gently.
"What is this?"
The sharp and annoyed voice made him turn behind.
Isolde walked towards him with a displeased look and said,"What are you doing here playing with a flower? Are you a little girl? Is this what I had taught you since you were little?"
"Can only little girls play with flowers, sister? These are beautiful, anyone who wants to can play with them."
They stared at each other for a while and Isolde sighed.
"You've changed, little brother. You really have changed and that has hurt me a lot. You are not my same little brother."
Adonis could look at her anymore. He turned around, with a bitter smile on his face.
"Have I?"
"Yes, you aren't the same little brother you used to be. Since I came here, I've only been disappointed. You didn't see my letter and instead of receiving me, you got drunk. Then you never took my side. You even made me apologize to the servant. With passing time, you only disappointed me. The little brother who loved me has disappeared."
Adonis's heart tightened. He felt like he was locked in a tight space with no air.
[How could you even say that, Isolde? How can you? I changed? I? And to whom do I owe my change to?]
"I still love you very much, sister."
It was true. Adonis still loved Isolde.
She was his own sister. Even if he was nothing but just a stepping stone to her. To him, she was precious. So he couldn't even bring himself to suddenly hate her.
All he could do was draw boundaries and suffer.
Ignorance really is bliss.
Loving and being betrayed at the same time made it hard for him to even breathe. There were so many emotions in his sick heart that it couldn't take it sometimes and he would feel extremely stuffy.
Him knowing all that, just amplified the pain more.
And those, "You disappointed me again." "You aren't the same person you used to be." "The brother I knew has disappeared.", made his body and soul tired.
It was harder than he had thought it would be.
Rufus's Bar opened but they couldn't go to their own bar's opening.
Rosie informed them that the bar caused quite an uproar due to it's delicious drink, sophisticated interior and charming Manager.
"Brother Ado has become thin. I wish I could just kick her out already."
"It'll be his birthday in a few days. After that everything will be alright. Ado doesn't even smile like he used to, nowadays."
"I hope these days pass soon and everything goes back to normal, happy."
All of them nodded their heads as they saw the dispirited Adonis talk to some maids.
"Rosie."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Has…has there been anything sent for me?"
"No, Young Master. Nothing special. Have you ordered something?"
Adonis laughed without even meaning it.
"Only if I could order it. Never mind, thank you so much."
Rosie nodded and left.
This Lady who ruined his happy and beautiful Master's day really needs to be sent away soon.
Adonis went to his room, locked his doors, opened his drawers and stared at those letters.
Why hasn't he written? Is he busy? Maybe he was thinking about Adonis and didn't want to put him in an uncomfortable position.
He took out those letters and hugged them, lying on the ground.
He laughed hollowly.
"Who am I even kidding? I'm trying to deceive myself. He didn't write because he didn't simply want and need to do so. He has someone he loves."
He curled up in a ball, clenching on those letters and said,"I wish I could hug you like I do in my dreams."