Chapter 12 - One of the Worst Mistakes of my Life (2)

After arriving in Zyon City, we decided to head over to the Manor there, where we would end up staying. 

The manor reminded me of a dark academia-style mansion from the Renaissance. The front courtyard had hedges lining the walls of the Manor and at the entrance near the doors to go inside was a circle in the middle of the carriageway. The circle had Camellias, Dahlias, Gardenias, and Peonies. The flowers were a deep crimson, A dark purple, and the Dhalias were black, they looked beautiful and complemented the aesthetic of the estate very well.

Victor then opened the carriage door and stood behind me on my left. I then heard the Coachmen say something to Victor and then he went off back to the Csilda territory.

"Shall we go inside now?" I asked extending my hand out to signal for him to lead the way.

"If you shall allow me, then I will lead the way," Victor said.

"..."

'Thats what I was signaling asshole!'

"Please do…"

"Then follow me please," Victor said starting to walk inside.

Going inside, I could abridged staircase, that had stairs on both sides of the room. It was carpeted, the colors being black, red, and purple. In the middle on the two staircases, on the floor of the entrance door, were three photos. One was of my adopted father it was placed on the right, the one on the left was of Duke Oryn, and the one in the middle was of me.

'How do they already have a photo of me?!'

"Greetings my lord," Voices rang out through the hall.

Looking properly in front of me, I saw servants lined on the left and right, and then 5 in the middle on the two rows at the end.

"And you 5 are?" I said gesturing with my head to the 5 in the back.

"Apologies for my ignorance my lord, My name is Diarmaid, i am the head butler of this estate." Diarmaid introduced himself with a hand over his heart and an arm behind his back.

Diarmaid had long dark magenta hair pulled into a braid over his shoulder, and droopy greyish-reddish eyes, he was wearing a standard butler's uniform with two tails in the back. I also noticed that he had pointed eyes, fangs, and sharp nails covered by his gloves. He looked to be about 6`5

'If I remember correctly in the novel he was an exile of the demon world, and fled to the Quare kingdom where he swore his allegiance.'

"Tell me, are you a demon?" I asked to check my information.

"It seems as if you are well informed of the features of my kind, and yes I am. I am a refugee from the demon realm, I now serve whoever is the resident of this hear estate." He explained.

"I see…And you two to the left, what are your names and jobs here?" I ordered.

"My name is Ziven, and this young lady is Eun Sim. I am the head gardener here and an Elf, Eun Sim is one of the Main maids that does the most of the work around the estate." Ziven responded.

"It is wonderful to greet you, Young master." Eun Sim said.

Eun Sim had jet-black hair and silver eyes with a kind gleam in them. She was wearing what seemed to be the generic maid's uniform for the estate, the uniform was black and purple. She had pale skin and looked to be around 5`5.

Ziven was tall with long light cyan hair that was tied back with an Aster flower, he also had mink eyes and elf ears. He was tan and was wearing the standard butler uniform, which was also black and purple. 

"And the two of you to the right are?" 

"My name is Brielle, I am the main healer of this estate, i am also a half-elf," She said with a curtsey.

Brielle had long light pale green hair in a braided crown, with gentle mink eyes. She was wearing a Victorian-style nurse entire, minus the hat though. She also had a small bag at her side, which I guessed were runes. She looked to be around 5'8. [1]

"And i am Alvaro Malyen, captain of Zyon cities guards," He commented.

Alvaro had brown hair and yellow eyes, he was wearing his guard's uniform with its cape, in had an Opinicus on the back. He also had a long sword at his right side, and a hunting knife on his other side. He looked but be around 6`6 and was quite muscular.

"...And what about the head maid?" I asked in a solemn voice.

"We currently do not have one, but we have been trying to figure it out." Diarmaid expressed.

"..." I then turned my head and looked at Eun Sim, "Eun Sim is from now on the Head maid, no objections." I then went to the staircase and stared up it, Victor followed.

"Wait wait wait, With all due respect Young Master you don't have that authority," Brielle said.

"...As of this day forward i am the owner of this estate and the land around it, so what gives you the right to tell me what i can and cannot do?" I ordered.

"I-I am terribly sorry your Grace" Brielled stammered, every servant in the room then bowed again.

"It's alright, it was simply a minor mistake, right? I'm sure it won't happen again, now back to work everyone. Diarmaid come and show me to my office, and Eun Sim please bring me a cup of tea, and kind is fine." I said sternly and then continued my march up the stairs.

***

"This is the office you will now be working in Your Grace," Diarmaid said handing me the key to it.

"Thank you, please wait outside for a bit until I call you in, I'd like to have a chat with my guard first," I commanded

"Very well then, i shall await your command."

I then unlocked the door, went in with Victor, and closed it firmly behind me. I then went and sat on the chair at the desk.

"Haaaaaaaaaa, that was so nerve-racking. When Duke Oryn told me that they would be a little rebellious i thought he was only joking." I said slouching, "Oh yeah, you can sit down if you'd like."

"Thank you My Lord, but are you really sure you want to take over as the Lord of the City?" Victor asked with concern.

"Oh i'm sure, i don't want to be weighed down by society or my family." I answered.

"I'm sorry but i don't quite understand what you mean"

"...I'm not sure if you noticed but, everyone in society looks down on those of people without fully noble blood. So i decided that instead of taking over my family and acting as they're stuck up adopted son, i'd make a name for my self."

"Haaaa, My Lord, no, Lev. I say this as your friend and closest confident. You have already done enough, theres no need to leave the Griffins estate." Victor tried to assure me, though i had more motives then what i had told him.

"Its not about what i've done, and i'm not just leaving the estate. When i said that i would make a name for myself i was being serious, i'm removing myself from the Griffins family lineage entirely." I said with a laugh. I then stood up and took something out of the bag i was carrying with me.

"What's that my lord?" Victor asked.

"Files for my adoption, and my name. I'm going to change it, and i'm going to put myself back up for adoption." I explained

"Hold on! Can you even do that?!" Victor raised his voice and stood up.

"I don't see why i wouldn't be able to, i mean i already have inherited this estate and the land around it. Plus i also earned a title when it was handed over to me, and i wouldn't have to worry about them taking it from me when i change my last name since i signed the papers using both my current one and the one i'm going to change it to." i reassured. [2]

"..." Victor was silent for a while as i delt with the papers, he then said, "Fine, if that is your will then i will follow you until the end!" Victor said stepping in front of me and kneeling.

"Hah, good. From now on you will serve as my right hand and follow my orders as if they were the law, do you understand?" I commanded.

"Yes Your Grace, i will follow it as if it were life or death." Victor swore.

"Good, now please call Diarmaid in here and station your self outside." 

Victor then stood up and nodded, he then went out the door. Soon after Diarmaid came in with a teaset, and some snacks as well.

"Your tea M'Lord, oh and i guessed that you were hungry after you journey and talk so i had a maid bring some snacks as well." Diarmaid said while entering the room and placing them down on another table in the room.

"Thank you, i appreciate it alot. And um, did you happen to hear any of that?" I asked with nervousness.

"Just the last bit, that is a good plan M'Lord, and its quite admirable to want to take your stepps without the help of family."

"Haaaaa, I fear that you demons have to good of hearing..but i do have one question, would you be able to help me with these papers?"

"Haha, of course. I will help you with anything you may need, wither assassination or office work." Diarmaid said with a smile.

"...I appreciate it, though i doubt i'd need anyone assassinated." I said, i felt a few drops of sweat go down the back of my neck.

"Well just know that i'd do anything that would benefit you, now, you said you wanted to change your last name right?"

***

A couple of days later after getting situated, and solving all of the problems related to work for the estate and politics, i decided to start completeing some of my plans. And i would start by sending letters to The Griffins county, The casilda Dukedom, and The Royal Family.

"My Lord, if you don't mind me asking, what exactly are these letters for?" Eun Sim asked. She was in charge of getting the letters to the deliverer.

We were currently in the green house, and i had asked her to some and take these letters to a mail carrier for me.

"Heh, i'm actually glad you asked. The one for my family is to tell them about my decisions regarding succession and housing, i'm also skiing that they bring Miss Avery over." I explained.

"If you don't mind me asking, who exactly is the Young Miss?" Eun Sim asked.

"She's an orphan i ran into on the street a few days ago, she's a decendent of Baron Scott. I decided to take her in, perhaps because i felt some pity."

"I see…That was very kind of you Your Grace. You know your nicer than what we essectially thought, at least on the first day." Eun Sim said.

"Oh please, that was simply the first impression i wanted to give." I announced i then continued to say this, "There was once a man who had said, 'it is much safer to be feared than loved because ...love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails." [3]

"I see, those are most definitely wise words."

"Indeed, the man who said that was very wise." I then continued to explain what was in the letter, "Oh and continuing with the content of the letter, the rest of the letter for my family is an invitation to a banquet. And the One to the Casilda Dukedom is also an Invitation and a thank you. While the one for The Royal Family is-" I was then cut off by some barging into the green house.

"My Lord, a letter from the royal family has arrived!" Victor announced.

***

[1] So humans have mana, while elves have more elemental energy. But essentially half-elves have both, which is dangerous for they're abilities, they could go out of control due to the collision, so they tend to use runes instead. I forgot to explain that when Avery came in

[2] I get that typically people don't change their last name very often, and especially After being put back up for adoption. But there is a certain aspect of the story that need that done :) 

[3] That is a quote from Machiavelli's "The Prince"