Innocent People

There was an uneasy feeling that Calus couldn't understand. He didn't know what it was. He just felt like his heart would explode if he didn't see the little one today. Was it because she's been occupying his mind for the past few weeks? Or was it because he had imagined the baby's image being a grown-up lady? Either way, he doesn't know. His feet acted on their way. Before he knew where he was, his eyes roamed to see different paintings attached to the walls.

The frames were made of gold. The paintings were different old men. They were portraits magnificently painted. Some were paintings of sceneries, and the others were fruits, while in the middle was a massive painting of the Ferrer family. The Duke within the painting exudes power and posture. He was standing. His look was serious. His hand went to his chest while the other remained at his back. Ismael was on the other side. He wasn't smiling nor frowning. He was looking straight. The Duchess was in a wooden seat. In her lap was a baby. It was Herena. Both the ladies didn't have sad or happy expressions. They just looked as if they must look at the artist. They both wore extravagant noble clothes. The painting implores how powerful the Ferrer household was.

Calus looked around to see that he was already at the front of the household. He thinned his eyes. He clenched his fist and unclenched them again. Then he shook his head. He began walking with a goal set in his mind. He needed to find the wildcat.

Meanwhile, the three people who stayed behind greatly looked at each other. Their eyebrows creased while their eyes widened. To them, they thought they had seen a ghost. Calus wasn't like that in the past, except when his friends would bring up Arianne's name. However, for the first time, the three people witnessed a different side of Calus. So there was still a soft side of him that he would show other than to the lady he loves. The three people thought.

Since they knew that looking at each other with shocked expressions wouldn't do much for their situation, Gavin started his thought

"I think his changes had something to do with the wildcat he had always mentioned, right?" Gavin said. He thinned his eyes. He composed his figure like he was an investigator. He put his hand under his chin with his elbow resting on his other hand across his chest. He stood, signifying that there was something odd about Calus.

Victor followed the same. He copied Gavin's move and spoke

"Does Ismael or his household have a wildcat?" Victor asked.

"You mean does Ismael owns a wildcat, Victor?" Servous asked. Like the other two, he did the same posture. Then the three of them heaved a sigh. Then at the same time, they shook their head

"We must be insane if Calus would think of a wildcat as a replacement for lady Arianne. There must be something, like you've said earlier, Servous," Gavin said. His voice was somewhat like a whisper. Gavin felt a little tired. The other two seemed to notice it. Before proceeding to Victor's words, he asked Gavin

"Gavin, are you alright? You seemed tired all of a sudden," Victor said. He was concerned. Servous knitted his eyebrows. He followed to ask after Victor

"Gavin, did something bad happen again?" Servous asked. Victor's eyes thinned. Then he looked at Servous

"Again? Do you mean within his household, Servous? Or his parents?" Victor asked. His voice became high in pitch. After the young man guided Gavin to sit on one of the long seats in case Gavin wanted to sleep, he walked in front of Servous to ask those words. Victor knew he shouldn't speak of Gavin's parents loudly. If Gavin heard that word, he might faint like usual.

Servous nodded slowly. However, Victor could see some doubt on his face. Victor couldn't help but raised one of his eyebrows and thinned his eyes again. The situation is indeed odd. First thing, Ismael ruined Calus and Arianne's moment, which Gavin and the others had planned. Second, Calus changed. It wasn't for the better or the bad but neither can guess what change transpired to their mysterious friend. Third, Calus had sought advice on how to tame a wildcat from Gavin. Fourth, Gavin was acting tired.

Victor couldn't piece out the puzzle. It's too many to look at and analyze until he heard Servous sighed

"I think before concluding something, we need to find the answers. That's what we should always do. It's what Gavin would always tell us, Victor. A lot was happening, but we should start on Ismael. We wouldn't understand the situation if we didn't do anything about it, you know that, Victor," Servous said. His voice sounded truthful. He was currently focusing on Victor, who seemed down for a moment. When Victor looked straight at Servous' eyes, he nodded

"I think we should truly start with Ismael. Before that, what do you think about the wildcat here?" Victor asked.

"You know I'm not the planner here, Victor," Servous said. Then his eyes looked to Gavin, who seemed to be asleep.

"If there's someone who should always start a plan, it would always be Gavin, for sure. But this time, you suggested spying on Ismael, right?" Victor said. Previously, Victor was serious, but after following Servous' gaze, he seemed to be a bit calmer.

Servous understood Victor. He was indeed the one who was transparent within the group. He was the elder among the four young noble boys. Though they all have the same age, Victor was the one who was born months earlier than the four. So he was still considered the eldest. That's what Servous thought. The orange-haired young boy looked at Victor. He was influenced by the latter's smile. Servous smiled widely after looking at how Victor chuckled and went to sit beside Gavin. Like an elder, Victor would always care for the youngest. That's why whenever Gavin fainted or slept because he was tired, Victor would put Gavin's head on his shoulder and caress his hair.

Servous would always become a witness to that scene, just like what's happening in front of his eyes. The room would never become warmer and homelier than what he was looking after. He gazed at his two friends in their long seats. During that period, Servous wished for the time to stop and capture the nostalgic scenery. As the sun descended on the two figures, Servous sat on the other seat and sleep as well. Like the light of hope, the dark room became warmer by the sun's brilliant light. They may never know what the future has in store for them, but they know that their choices for the moment define what they will become

***

Calus was familiar with the household. He had been within the house for years since he met Ismael and the others. They would naturally hang out within the house, talk about the things they wanted, and usually, they would plan what they would do. Gavin would always start with his words. He's the best planner the group could ever have. They stayed friends for many years. As Calus reminisced the familiar feeling he couldn't get out in his mind, Duke Ivian Ferrer and how he looked at their first encounter occupied his thoughts. The Duke was a scary person back then. He had a stern face and green eyes that looked like he was glaring at everything. He had that first impression of Calus.

As Calus looked at the huge painting in the middle of the entrance of the household, he thinned his eyes when he saw the Duke. His first impression never changes, even if the Duke's features change. The Duke was becoming old. But then, there was still the terrifying look in his eyes even after this time. Duke Ivian would always look towards Calus like he was glaring at him. That had never changed

With his mind preoccupied with some thoughts, he didn't know that he was already in front of a room. He creased his eyebrows. Was this the room he had went when he followed Ismael, who was looking at his sister? He asked himself. He knew it wasn't. Maybe his feet had acted up once again and brought him there. He was about to leave when he suddenly heard an intense, familiar and horrifying voice.

"Have you checked everything that was needed, Galiore?" Duke Ivian asked his old butler within his household.

"Yes, My Lord. The young masters and the crown prince were within the previous room where young master Ismael would always reserve," the old butler spoke with reverence.

"Hmm, it seemed as if that child never learned what I would always say to him, Galiore," Duke Ivian said. His voice was usually deep. For others, it was terrifying, but for the old butler, it sounded like a good melody in his ears.

"My Lord, it seemed that young master was busy, so he might not have time to do what you have asked him," the old butler said.

They walked past the place where Calus was

"Busy? Is that about that little sister of him? I guess I haven't yet threatened him enough, right Galiore?" Duke Ivian said. Then he thinned his eyes. He halted. Then he looked at the door where he usually stays at.

He felt as if he had seen someone's shadow there

"Y-Yes, My Lord," the butler said. His whole body was trembling. The Duke sighed. He averted his gaze from the door and immediately walked away, followed by the old butler

Calus, on the other hand, was shaking. His eyes widened. His hands tried to cover his mouth. Then he peeked at the place where he had seen the Duke earlier. He was gone together with the old butler. Calus was only glad that he had a place to hide. If not, the Duke would undoubtedly question Calus' validity of why he was at the place.

He closed the door once again. It wasn't locked. Then he leaned on it. That's when Calus discovered. The household was using Ismael and Herena for the noble adults' benefit. Calus couldn't explain his thoughts. It was then, that when he entered the room, he saw an extensive library. Thinking he shouldn't have entered the place, he was again brought by his feet to look around only to see an opened book

~If there were an engagement between a crown prince and a duke's daughter, there would be no possible annulment unless mutually agreed by both parties, the emperor and the duke~

Calus had read. Then his eyes thinned. As usual, the Duke had a plan for Calus, which maybe was Herena's use for the old man.

After knowing some of the truths from the Duke, Calus revised his plans within his mind. This time, he would help Ismael and Herena. He wouldn't just show it. He had read in a book that it's better to deceive one's friends first to make the enemies believe.

As if nothing had happened, Calus walked away from the room and searched for the little wildcat until he saw a scenario in front of his eyes, he was within the garden of the household. That's where he had seen, Herena and Ismael laughing at each other.

Right after gazing at the scene, did Calus move away. Perhaps, witnessing the moment between the two brought him back to reality. He didn't want to ruin their moment. Even if Ismael destroyed Calus' moment with Lady Arianne, he knew he could never do the same to Ismael. He had finally learned that Ismael indeed had a reason for doing that. Servous was right in his word. After Calus heard the Duke, his doubts went away. Maybe if he hadn't toured around, he wouldn't be able to know the truth. He would still hate Ismael for doing things that he hated. But this time, it significantly changed.

With the corners of his lips rising, Calus was only glad to witness Herena happy within his brother's arms. That's where he went to where the other three were. For he had discovered that Ismael and Herena are innocent people

***

Ismael had brought Herena into their household garden again. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't say no to what Herena had requested. He loves his sister to object to her. Though he never brought her near toward the small pond again. He instead went to the arc of roses and gently lifted the baby in his small hands.

Each of them stayed and teased each other until Ismael had thought

"My precious little sister, do you want to change your name?" He asked. Her name sounded like their mother. Serena Ferrer. They didn't like her. In the first place, the lady wasn't a mother to them. So Ismael didn't treat her like one.

As if Herena had understood her brother's question, she pouted and shook her tiny head.

"My little sister doesn't like it?" Ismael asked. He asked based on his sister's responses

Herena nodded and smiled. It made Ismael smile. Even if his sister was a genius or anything, he didn't care. All he cared about was she was safe and sound

"Alright, if that's what my little sister likes, then let's never change it," Ismael said. He laughed and gently pinched his little sister's cheeks again. Then looked around the surrounding. The rose's petals were falling to them. That's when Herena's eyes glimmer than usual

Herena never liked to change her name. It wasn't because it resembled their mother, who never cared about them, but because it was the name his brother first uttered that she had heard off. It was a memorable name that only her brother would lovingly say to her. It means a lot to her and her memories. That's why she vowed to give justice and make the right choices.

As long as she was with her brother, Herena knew that the future would always be in their favor.