CHAPTER 1: Just Like Any Other Day
Ekiel sighed in disappointment. Despite the cooling morning breeze welcoming him as he strolled with his horse in the vast areas on his domain, he was frowning all the way until he got back on the ranch.
Today, he managed to find two knots on his horse's hair. He believed that a fairy strolled the vast areas of the Ulyss domain all night with his horse.
With his small body, he easily hopped out from the horse and softly caressed the horse's mane until he felt a knot on its mane.
"A fairy played with your hair again, Din?" Ekiel said softly as he untied the knot from his horse's hair.
Since he was little, he was often told stories about the tales on their small town by his beloved mother. And from hundreds of stories he heard from her, his favorite one was he legend of the "Fairy knots" that can be found on their horse's mane everyday.
It is said that the Fairy Knots were all made by the fairies who searches for their ideal horses. Fairies tends to twist its mains until it formed into a knot and run on the widest field on their land all night. Horses would come back before the dawn breaks and Faries would disappear, leaving the knots on the horse's mane.
He also always wondered of how the fairies looked like. He heard from the servants on his mansion that the fairy's beauty is very unique from its peculiar color of hair and softness of the skin. They'd wear small dresses adorned with golden threads on the hem to contrast their beauty more despite the Fairy's gender.
It is also said that Fairies are small and they had a pair of shining transparent wings and the wings emit soft stardust that makes everything more magical and beautiful.
And right now, Ekiel was disappointed for the fact that he hadnt caught the fairy yet. For once, he wants to know how they looks like and maybe he wants to have a new friend.
Since they all turned their backs at him when something horrible happened 5 months ago.
"Say, just like the tales, did you ran on the wide fields with the faries all night too?"
Hearing Ekiel's question, The horse snorted softly and nudged the kid to feed him. The sudden action made Ekiel break into soft giggles and immediately complied to his horse.
"I should go after this. I need to visit my sister and meet my tutors again." Ekiel whispered as he softly set the apples on the bucket and gave it to his horse with a smile on his face. As he turned his back, the horse immediately bit his shoulder softly, telling him to stay.
"Im sorry, Din. After I turn 15, I'll be in need to attend the university at the capital as a senior student for 5 years so I can rule father's domain. So, i need to learn quickly. I dont want Grendell to have more hard time because Im incompetent of being a baron in my father's domain." Ekiel said as he patted the horse head with a sad smile. "And if I do become a baron, then I'll make my work efficiently and fast as I can so I can play with you on the field once again."
A month after the death of Ekiel's parents, he was already appointed to be the Baron of their domain. But, when his parents had left the world, he was still 12 years old with his 10 month old baby sister in the crib. So, for the time being, the one who did all the Baron work was Grendell, his father's most trusted right hand, as well as his mother's dearest brother.
Since then, as Grendell did all the paper works for the sake of their domain, Ekiel has been taking lessons from private tutors everyday. Ekiel would learn in swordmanship trainings, philosophies, etiquette and the list goes on, in order to become a perfect leader of their domain.
Ever since the 12 years old young master started learning, he's having a hard time playing with his bestfriend, Din, everyday. But then, he got a solution for the problem where he and Din would run through the green field early in the morning before even the rooster call every people to wake up.
"I wished father and mother is still here..." Ekiel whispered as he looked down to see his mudded boots on the ground. The image of his happy parents made his eyes water slightly and his lips quiver and the mushy feelings started to intensify on his chest.
Its just really sad.
Since they both died in the middle of the ocean when they are headed to come home from the other continent.
The horse lets go of his shoulder and soflty hits his head twice and bit his shoulder again. It was like a pat of assurance to the 12 year old boy.
"You wish too? I know. Thank you, Din. I should go now—"
The horse emitted an annoyed voice and pulled Ekiel closer.
"Alright, ill stay until you finished eating." The horse then lets go od his shoulder and started munching on its breakfast.
Ekiel fondly looked at his horse and thought of how strong their bond was. Din has always by his side when he was still a year old baby on his mother's arms. Now, he treated Din like his brother who was always there for him.
Just like a human, Din managed to comfort the young boy just by listening at the boy who vents his anger and pressure that he received from the funeral.
After a few minutes of eating, the horses emitted a satisfied huff and nudged Ekiel to now go back on the mansion. Ekiel laughed softly and patted Din's mane in return and muttered thanks.
♡︎♡︎♡︎
As Ekiel returned at the mansion, the maids rushed into him and started dressing him up. The other two maids immediately prepared for his breakfast while the headmaid, Yor, softly brushed his head.
"Did you found another fairy knot on Din's mane again, young master Kiel?" Yor asked softly as she dismissed the maids who finsihed dressing the young boy into decent clothes.
Yor's soft caress on his head made Ekiel smile in relief. The headmaid has been with him for as long as he remembered.
"Yes!" Ekiel exclaimed as he looked at the 40 years old headmaid. "This time, I saw two!"
"Then, did Young master Kiel found the fairy?"
The question made Ekiel blinked for a few times and turn his back on the headmaid to let Yor brush his hair again sullenly.
"I see..." Yor softly chuckled and patted clean the boy's shoulders. "What about going to stables a little bit early than 6 am?"
"That's right...!" Ekiel exclaimed happily as he stood up from his seat with excitement on his eyes.
"Now, now. You should eat your breakfast before it turns cold. The tutors would be here by 7 am."
Ekiel happily complied as he fate his breakfast with a happy face. For now, he should finish eating and greet his tutors who'll arrive here after a few moments.
He cant wait for tomorow.
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𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿!!
𝗘𝗸𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗨𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘀 (𝟭𝟮)
-Has a navy blue hair, purple eyes. The first son of Baron Ulyss
𝗬𝗼𝗿 (??)
- Has a brown hair and black eyes. The headmaid of the household and Ekiel's close friend/nanny. Has been serving the Ulyss household since she's at her 20s
𝗗𝗶𝗻 (??)
-Ekiel's white horse