Bond

He poured himself a glass of whisky and sluggishly drank it. Everything was so unfair to him, it was never his intention to make Gladys know at that moment...but...

The annoying lady had to turn everything upside down, messing things up for him. Now he wouldn't be able to face Gladys and convince her. She already hated him for ruining her day, he had sensed it in her eyes and action.

He ran his fingers roughly through his thick brown hair in exasperation. He felt like yelling at Rosabel for being so stupid and dumb.

It never crossed his mind even a bit that she would attack his sister. He was trying to make her understand him but she didn't.

He plopped himself down on his luxurious comfy chair while holding the glass of whisky in his left hand.

He used his other hand to massage his forehead in exhaustion. Maybe I should give her an earful so she knows her place and back off, he thought to himself.

It had been two days since he last saw Gladys and it irked him to no end.

A knock at his door pulled him out of his misery.

"Come in."

The door was softly pushed open and in came the butler who gave a slight bow when he approached him.

His white gloved hand stretched out to the duke, holding a white envelope.

Celeste frowned but still took hold of the envelope before dismissing his butler. He carefully opened the seal before taking out the letter which was sent from the king, his brother.

He unfolded the letter and his eyes went from left to right, reading every word, line by line;

Dear brother,

Feels like a month since we last saw each other, I feel restless and quite disturbed. Are you alright? I have a strong feeling you're not ok, the bond we share is too strong I can clearly feel your emotions.

Its messing with mine brother, maybe we should meet and talk about it. You better not harm yourself!

By the way, a week from now we shall be having our grand celebration once again so grab your wand and prepare.

I won't repeat myself again Celeste, get prepared before then. I want us to give our people a remarkable entertainment, something unlike others. Maybe we should all come together and talk about it.

Hoping to see you tomorrow, brother.

- with lots of affection, Theon.

Celeste chuckled lightly and read the letter once more. Theon wasn't lying at all, he really missed him.

Celeste also missed him so much, he missed how they spoke freely with each other. But how could be tell them about his feelings for Gladys?

Sighing, he stood up with the letter and his glass of whisky. Celeste was an introvert, he didn't have friends apart from his brothers and Gladys.

Most times he preferred to talk to himself inwardly than outwardly.

Theon was the opposite, he was an extrovert. Always outgoing and took responsibilities seriously while Nero was in between, he was an introvert and also an extrovert. Lastly, Humphrey. He hardly spoke and always kept to himself. He was a very secretive person. But with the bind they shared, they were able to sense and feel each other's deepest emotions even from afar, after all they all shared the same womb together.

Celeste stared down through his wide glass window, watching how his servants went up and down taking good care of his home.

He took a sip from the strong whisky and frowned slightly as the taste spread round his mouth and ran down his throat, burning it briefly.

Maybe he should pay Gladys a visit and explain. But there was a probability that she might kill him.

An evil smirk graced his face when he recalled what she had done to him, she would've done more but she refrained herself and he was grateful for that.

Maybe he should take a necklace with him to compensate her for the wrong he had done.

A fancy one.

Celeste nodded in satisfaction when he came up with a good idea. He turned round and stepped out of the room after placing the glass tumbler back on the table.

*

He skillfully wrapped the bandage round the little girl's knee cap before holding it in place. He then patted her on her leg with a comforting smile while using his other hand to pull her dress down.

"It will heal in no time," he assured her and she smiled back at him with a nod. He helped her down from the patient bed and she thanked him with her small voice.

Taking hold of her hand, he walked her out of the room to meet her mother who had stepped out of the room briefly.

"How are you feeling Grace?"

Her mother asked in a worried tone as she knelt before her on her light brown colored dress.

"I'm good mama," the little girl answered with a nod and a reassuring smile.

"There's no need to worry ma'am, she'll be good in no time. The injury isn't that deep."

Humphrey explained and the little girl's mother thanked him before leaving the building with her daughter.

He watched them leave in silence and his mind slowly drifted to Gladys. Maybe he should pay her a visit, he thought to himself.

It was time he left work. The young youths he had been training were good to go, they'll relieve him off his duties.

He felt distant yet close to his brothers, he yearned to see them again and discuss like old times.

"Doctor Humphrey."

"Yes?" He turned in the direction of the voice to see one of his trainee of age seventeen. She had a round face and short black hair with pink lips. She had on an apron worn to protect her dress from blood spillage. Her white gloved hands were covered in red blood.

"We successfully pulled out the last one."

"Good! How's the mother?"

"Very good sir." She told him and he patted her on the shoulder which brought a wide smile to her lips.

"Let me have a look, come."

She followed him and they soon got to the room where the operation had been done.

A cow laid on the hay tiredly while her newly born calves suckled milk from her udder thought the teats. They still had some blood on them and they were sticky, the male trainees were drying them one after the other with a clean cloth.

There were six trainees, four males two females.

"Have you checked them to see if they're doing fine? hope there's no casualties?"

"None at all sir."

One of them responded and Humphrey nodded in satisfaction. As he watched the newly born claves he couldn't help but yearn to see his brothers. The calves were four in number, similar to how they were. A coincidence or blessing, he didn't know what to call it.

Humphrey was a specialist in being a physician and also a veterinarian at the same time, so the work was too muck on him.

"Sir, you have a guest."

One of the trainee who left earlier to get some medications returned with the news and Humphrey arched an eyebrow upward in curiosity as to who it could be.

He left them to do their work, after all they did great.

When he hurriedly approached his private room he stood shocked at the open door to see the person he least expected.

Their eyes met and she offered him a smile before getting up from his chair which was behind his desk.

"Gladys."

He couldn't tear his gaze off her, she was dazzling. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun and she had on light make up.

But what she wore was on a whole other level, it was grand as usual and heavily designed. There was a shiny expensive diamond necklace round her slender neck similar to her earrings that dangled and glittered when light shone on it.

The hem of her violet dress had glass stones on it, and so did her chest. He was completely mesmerized.

"Are you heading somewhere Gladys?" Were the words that left his lips and this made her left eyes twitch slightly.

"Maybe" came her curt reply. He watched her carefully and noticed she was glaring at him.

"Did I wrong you Gladys?" He carefully asked with a calm look.

"Yes," she answered immediately and he bit his inner lip, wondering what he had done wrong.

"You look dashing Gladys, forgive me for not complimenting you." He apologized when he found out what he had done and her eyes softened.

"Are you avoiding me?" Was the question he never expected her to ask. He frowned, noticing how serious her question was.

"Am not."

"Then what is stopping you from seeing me?"

The way she sad it sounded so intimate to his ears and he wanted to believe she had the same feelings as him but he pushed the thought aside.

"I was planning to, its not like am doing it intentionally Gladys. Am sorry for refusing your invitation at Nero's auction."

Gladys sighed, Humphrey always had a way of melting her heart and it frustrated her.

"Are you engaged?" She asked.

"Not really, are you planning something?" He slowly walked up to her and it made her heart skip in longing.

"Yes, I want us to step out and take a breather."

This time she wasn't going to take no for an answer even though he was going to disappoint her which she already sensed coming when she saw him narrow his eyes.

"Alright."

She had to blink multiple times to be sure she heard him right. Humphrey watched her for a little longer, he wanted to kiss her so badly but he couldn't.

The probability that she might push him away and glare hard at him was high.