His concerns

"What should I do! What should I do?"

She rubbed her head hard while Nemesis began mimicking her.

"Mina. Is something bothering you?" Luciana asked her while noticing her odd gestures.

"N-nothing milady?" She awkwardly switched back to playing with Nemesis.

-"Both of them just began to understand each other...and they had to come to a disagreement right now of all times! Brother will surely get a gist of what happened today."

She broke in cold sweat.

"M-milady why not have some refreshments now? They're already turning cold."

She picked up the tray and suggested her to take a break.

"I guess unnecessary worrying won't do me any good." She agreed and joined them for a brief break.

"Milady...will sister Lilith also be hired?" She asked nervously.

Luciana glanced at her face. Her eyes showed both anxiety and concern.

"Everything will be alright. And if God permits...I might be able find a cure for her son." She reassured her with a smile.

Mina's eyes shone with hope and expectations.

"I believe in milady! Your coming to this place is miracle itself." She spoke words from heartfelt gratitude.

Luciana chuckled and showed lukewarm response to her words. She did not want to be burdened with unreasonable expectations.

"Only if God permits. It may not even be something we need or I might fail too. It's all what fate decides."

"Fate?" She tilted her head curious about the term.

"Fate is a predetermined path of all existence written down by God." She explained her.

"Does that mean Master and milady were meant to be?"

"If that's what our fate is then yes. Me meeting all of you is a part of my fate."

"Then if something bad happens to me...is that also because it's my fate?"

Luciana paused momentarily. It was a disturbing question.

"Who knows... that's how fate works."

She sipped milk from the cup and tried to swallow it. She felt her appetite being suppressed by the uneasiness.

"Let's not talk about dreary things." She changed the subject to flowers blooming in spring.

Erebus had informed Jafar of their departure to the Central Capital by dawn.

Jafar and Blake hastened to prepare for their journey the next day.

The festivital of Sacrifice was halfaay over. He had anticipated that Zavaikal would have become impatient. He feared of a greater loss than before.

"Master, should I bring in the clothes pre- ordered for the ball?"

"Is there even a need for it?" He felt it pointless to carry so many formal attires. No lady ever willing to dance or engage with him in any manner. He never knew how to dance.

Let alone follow the trends of the society.

Jafar and Blake had to carry out the tasks and teach him the ethics and noble etiquette so he could atleast fit into the upperclass society.

"You must master. It's necessary to make yourself presentable to you may be able to form connections that may benefit you."

-"Again with his nagging." He sighed regretting his own decisions.

"Are you even listening to me?"

"Are you done?"

"It would have been better if the lady would have gone with you. I wish to retire from my position. Please reconsider my resignation."

He sighed and asked the servants to move the luggage in the chest.

"And you should start considering of buying a carriage my lord." Blake interfered Jafar who's nagging seemed to have to end.

They looked at the old butler. His suggestion was worth giving some thought.

"But it's expensive to buy them. And they also need a separate management cost."

The butler knew where the talk might go to.

"Ahem! My lord with due respect...if ever there arises a situation where your lady wife needs to travel, are you planning on making her ladyship ride on those obnoxious beasts while she's expecting?"

Both remained silent as the thought of Luciana leaving the fort never struck to either of them.

Blake sighed worrying about their twisted mindset.

"Were you thinking of confining our lady in this place for life?" He asked him with due honesty.

Again they responded him with silence.

-" It's no use. They're hopeless."

"I do not mean any offense but I must say our lady is more gifted in terms of knowledge and wisdom than both of you. And I believe she is more capable of managing this domain than any of us."

"You didn't even hesitate to insult us." Jafar said blankly.

"Then please excuse me for today."

Blake shrugged and left them pondering over his words as a servant asked for him.

"I never knew Blake was more concerned about the financial situation of the domain than us." Jafar said still shocked by his words.

"It just means that I have loyal subjects around me." Erebus grinned and went back to sharpening his axe.

"He meant those words for you master. Atleast go out and inspect the land. Or were certainly doomed to be isolated from the rest of the realm."

"Nonsense. This is simply a beginning."

"I'm already worrying about our future." He sighed as his head throbbed in pain while thinking that it would be a miracle if the domain flourished in ten years.

"So are you really hiring sister Lilith?"

He paused midday and placed the stone on the windowsill where he rested and looked out of the stained glass windows.

"If Luciana is satisfied with her then there's nothing else to talk about."

Jafar knew that Erebus was still uncomfortable.

"Why not search for an eligible midwife or a doctor in the capital?" He suddenly proposed his idea.

"You know they cost a lot. As much as I want to hire one it won't be long before we run out of funds for next winter."

"Why not give it a thought atleast? Who knows if we start earning more now that winter's ending. We have time until next winter. Until then we'll be able to work things out."

Erebus remained silent. He winced while his grip tightened around the small palm sized flintstone.

He rose up from his lalce and left the bedchambers.

"Atleast you're now focused on earning seriously. Having him get married was the best choice I've made so far."