Lovely Laio Manor

Sar, Laio Estate

The carriage started slowing down, stopping in front of a large iron gate. The gate was tall, larger than the carriage. Wide enough for two carriages to pass through.

It opened slowly, two men on the other side of the gate pulling it open. The carriage proceeded.

Yezekael had a few questions to ask, like how rich Natalia was for them to own a gate this large. But her father sat in the front, and he had to keep the image of a servant tight.

The gatekeepers walked toward the carriage, opening the door at the front and the back. 

Yezekael and Caelum ran around the carriage, holding Natalia's hand to get her out.

"I'm not a kid. You don't have to let me out like this," Natalia said, sounding a lot meeker in front of her father.

Her father stepped out.

It was a man in his forties, tall with large shoulders. Like his daughter, his hair was straight and blonde, a bit of a darker blonde, parted in the middle.

Wrinkles formed around his green eyes.

He wore a bit of a light beard, so you could see that if it were shaved off, he would look at least a decade younger.

"Forgive my daughter's snarky behavior. You men are doing just fine," He nodded his head with a light smile.

He's humble. For a guy with an estate of this size, I would expect a bit of an ego. Maybe even some ruthlessness. But he has neither.

Yezekael thought for even longer.

Wait… so where did Natalia get it from?

Caelum and Yezekael's eyes met.

"The mother."

They snickered.

Natalia eyed them.

They were walked to the main house by some guards, all armed with swords, though bearing the attire of a butler, just like them, with light armor.

The large doors opened, and you could only describe the scenery as supreme royalty. Something that made even Caelum gasp.

Turning back to see their exasperated expressions, Natalia smirked, flipping her hair back. Her walk became more of a saunter.

. .

.

"No disrespect to your father, but letting two boys into your room is a little risky… don't you think?" Yezekael stepped carefully, looking around.

The interior was very regal.

A white fluffy carpet covered 75% of the room, centered in the middle. In the back middle of the room, a king-sized bed stood. Both the bedsheets and pillowcases were made out of white silk, while the blanket was made out of thick wool, black in color.

The bed framing was made out of a black wood, and a black curtain fell down.

Posters of different scenery were loosely scattered around. On the right, there was a desk covered in books. On the left, there was a door that led to the closet.

Natalia had already escaped from her uncomfortable dress. Instead of wearing it, she wore the same nightgown that she had worn in the hospital, except this one had a different design. It was striped, pink and white.

Her hat bared the same design, a tall hat that drooped due to the cotton ball weighing it down.

The comedic, almost cartoonish made Yezekael snicker. He quickly turned his head to avoid being seen.

She collapsed into her bed, sinking into it. She then kicked off her heels, nearly hitting 

"I told him you guys were extremely efficient and skilled in just about everything. And I would prefer it that way. He trusts me enough to appoint my own bodyguards. Goodness, do you guys think I'm a child, or something? You have the audacity to kidnap me, then treat me like this?"

Her tone got more aggressive as she continued to speak. Caelum and Yezekael stared blankly. She sighed, pressing her fingers to her temple.

"Instead of asking all these questions, be grateful. Guard me, as you should."

"I do have one more question. The Laio, I've definitely heard of them. But just how rich are they?" Caelum suddenly asked. 

After a few seconds of contemplating whether she should speak or not, she sighed again.

"My father is a diplomat, an individual a part of the legislature, and my mother is a doctor, specialized in healing mana. My eldest brother is basically a renowned swordsman. My other older brother is a professor at one of the major universities down here. My eldest sister is a mage studying to become one of the greatest, and my other older sister is a real estate agent."

"Wow. What an amazing family. So rich, and talented, yet you guys aren't even royalty. Well, with wealth like that, you guys might as well!"Caelum praised.

"Amazing, indeed. But what do you do?" Yezekael asked innocently. Her eyes immediately wandered around the room.

"W-well… I want to become… a seamstress when I get older."

She spoke quietly.

"Huh?"

The two of them got closer.

"What did she say?"

"I said I want to become a seamstress!" She yelled out this time, startling both Yezekael and Caelum. 

The room grew quiet.

Natalia sat up, reaching over toward her desk for a rectangular, wooden box, with a copper horn sticking out of it in a curl pattern.

She then reached into a drawer below, grabbing carefully a black disk with the smallest lines on it. She placed this disk underneath the horn, allowing it to make contact with a small, sharp point.

Then, she pressed a button. Noise escaped the horn.

"Woah..!" Yezekael's eyes widened.

"A device that allows sound to be stored? Sar is more innovative than we thought, Yezekael."

Natalia suddenly interrupted "It's a recent invention. A music player."

She sat back on her bed.

Caelum and Yezekael sat on the carpet, listening to the soothing sounds of the music player. Their curiosity faded, and they were now only interested in the music.

It was not an orchestral piece. The only two instruments included were a string bass and a piano, slightly off tune. 

Not graceful notes. Dissonance. Though, it still kept its classical-esque, calming, and soft.

An invention like this… I'll have to bring it… back to… to…

Caelum found himself getting sleepy.