Chapter X - My Surprise, The Debut

Noah woke up and prepared for the Twin's Debutante Ball, He only wore his simpler clothes as he went out his room. He needed to take a trip outside the Castle, his ordered part of his gifts were finally done as he regretted not preparing them in advance but he was glad it was prepared before the ball.

It has been several weeks since Noah argued with Vincent and being defeated by said man and now he got permission from Vincent to step out of the Castle with a promise that Noah does not leave his side in the evening of the Ball.

He walked outside and went left towards the stables to look for Klein, he passed by several maids in a hurry for the last minute preparations needed and gardeners making sure that the maze, garden and outside venue was perfect, making sure nothing was out of place and none would cause danger for the arriving noble families later on.

He also noticed that the usually packed training ground for Vincent was clean and no knight were training, just as he was about to pass by he bumped into Harold, the Captain that reported the incident with Stella several weeks ago.

"Captain Harold. My sincere gratitude for your help." Noah said as Harold finished adjusting several sword scabbards and fire magic stone stored in a pouch.

"Lord Wisteria, this captain does not deserve the gratitude. I believe that without our help you could've solve everything by yourself." He said as he laughed nervously. Noah smiled and nodded.

"You are correct, but with the interference you all made. It was easier to calm Vincent, enough that Stella was not punished of death." He answered and bid Harold a good day as Noah walked towards the separated stables to see his Linette. Harold only shuddered in defense, he certainly did not expect to see that.

"Mr. Klein, are you here?" Noah asked as he already saw Maximillian's peaking snout. Just in time, Klein as gotten out of Linette's side of the stables and was leading her out. "Oh..My Linette is still as lovely as I remember." Noah said as Linette bowed her head.

'Your praise is wasted on me, Master Noah.' Linette replied in his head, Noah just brushed it of with a smile and caressed Linette's mane.

"Linny, you are my valuable stead. Do not lower yourself like that." He said and Linette answered with an affectionate nuzzle. 'If my master wished for it, I will comply.' came the reply.

"Lord Wisteria, I have received earlier of your instructions. I wish you a safe trip in town." said Klein as Noah nodded his thanks and jumped into Linette's saddle. With a brush in the white horses name, she began to gallop in a moderate but steady phase.

"Linny, we will use the eastern route. I don't want to bump into a carriage of a noble in this early hour." Noah said and the horse changed her direction at once. "I never imagined to be back in here, and to use the route that caused me to have a fever for a few days." He said as he laughed, Linette only snorted.

'Master was really foolish when he was young, often times that Lord Vincent was the one who gets angry for your stead.' His horse replied of a fond memory she witnessed. 'But I must say Master, you are quite a manipulative child back then. I was more afraid of you than Lord Vincent, that is for certain.' she added that made Noah laugh again.

"Linny, why must you remember such accounts of my younger self in details? If I am to defend myself, I would say that I never changed in the slightest." He said proudly that earned him a snort for the horse.

"Turn to the shopping district, I placed an order of a pair of earrings and a brooch for the little kids back in the mansion." He said as they arrived in the town of the Leondale Territory. Linette quickly navigated her way and soon the both of them have arrived in the jewelry store Noah managed to convince to make such a rush order that it was practically impossible to finish.

"Wait here Linette, I will be back in a minute. But if anyone dares to take you away, kick them and alert me." He ordered as he entered the establishment. He was immediately greeted by the owner and was presented by an simple but ornate silver casing of a brooch and earring. "These are wonderful." He said as he examined it and confirmed that it is the exact size he wanted.

The owner was fidgeting and couldn't help to make a remark,"It was made by our best artisan young lord. But I cannot help but ask why you did not request a stone to be in laid in both jewelries?" Noah handed him the cheque he prepared earlier.

"I do not need some gems in these, I already have the perfect thing to place in these." He answered as the owners eyes widen, "H-House Wisteria! I apologize for not recognizing Lord Wisteria earlier." He bowed as Noah payed it no mind and walked out of the store. He noticed that Linette was fine and showed her what he had picked up.

"I will placed a magic stone into these and engrave a spell of Protection, Mana control and Communication." He said as he once again climbed and sat on the saddle. "We must get going now, I have to meet up with her grace after this." He said as Linette nodded and sped along.

At his room in the left wing.

"Why must you order a scrap metal like this when we can just create one for you?" Sistina said, a water spirit Noah is contracted with. "Tina, I just wanted it to be pretty but not as eye catching to other. I wanted to protect the twins and not endanger them so something of this scale is only suitable." He explained as Sistina pouted.

"Besides, this is very valuable. A Supreme Councilor such as myself is never allowed to give gift as it would be considered as favoritism, but this time I can give it as Noah Wisteria. Just a second son of a Marquis." He said as Sistina stopped pouting and flew in front of his face.

"Noah, you know we are sorry, right?" She said as Noah panicked when his two other contract spirit emerged with a sad look. "We're sorry, because of us you got tied down. We never meant to make your life like this, we just wanted a friend." She said as Zechariah an Earth spirit and Sophia a light spirit nodded their heads.

Noah smiled fondly and tapped gently on each spirits little forehead and breathe out a sigh of relief. "Do not say that, I have agreed to this and I will not choose otherwise. Sistina, Zechariah, Sophia and Vernon I would never regret to meet the four of you." He answered all four spirits, because Vernon was eavesdropping all lounged at Noah's chest and hugged him.

"Don't ever say those words again, any of you. It hurts me that you think that way, I would never blame anyone of you." He said as all the spirits nodded and promised.

"Now that all four of you are here, why don't you help he place these magic stone I've engraved with? I only enforced it with little spells." He showed them the three stones he craved into, one was a size of a silver coin was the other two were in the size of a copper coin.

"It will be no problem Noah, since silver is a metal, I can bend the prongs and but them back securely." Zechariah said.

"Vernon and I can polish the gems." said Sistina as Vernon shyly nodded.

"And I can cast a simple spell to make them glow a little bit in the dark, that way they can be found." Sophia added and joined the team that made Noah laugh at their way of making the mood happier.

"Then, I'm very happy that these spirits will help this poor me. These are going to be a lovely surprise for the twins, since I'm scheduled to leave today or at dawn tomorrow." He said, as the spirits began to do their works hey assigned themselves.

Noah didn't like his feeling, he felt that something will happen later, that is why he requested an audience with the Duchess. Since this is a special day for his two students, he wants this to go without any mishaps and trouble. This feeling of his is giving him something to be alert to.