Chapter - 4

"Chief-in-Command, Augustus Smith - A Military Genius Or A Mad Man?"

"The War Hero Is Back!"

"Saviour Of The Nation - Commander Augustus William Smith."

"From The Son Of A Poor Merchant To A Legendary Tactician - A Memoir To The Hailed Commander's Life."

"Red Is The Color He Bathes With - The Cruelty Of A Mad Man."

"Hail Viciousness! Hail Malevolence! Hail The Commander Augustus William Smith!"

Vaidehi's heart thumped in her chest. She was not sure if it were the words or the face of the wicked man below them that commanded her heart to do so.

The picture was captured outside the infamous mansion of Jaroslav, the Warlord. With his peaked cap on, his face shadowed, his eyes hung with impassive alertness - the Commander embodied what all the articles unanimously suggested him to be - savage and minacious.

His eyes, dark black in the picture, were trained to the journalist standing in front of him. She was jotting down his answers on the notepad, visibly flustered and Vaidehi sympathized with her.

Vaidehi had known the man for almost a decade, yet the maiden feeling that had bloomed her scarlet the first time she met him never did leave her completely. She had initially believed she would outgrow them; now she was assured she would have to outgrow life to not to feel them.

"Now I know why there was no news about me." she muttered to herself. A knock on the door shook her train of thoughts. She took a deep breath, thumping her chest with her fist lightly. Closing her eyes, she slowly exhaled. "Come in." She ordered as she grabbed the glass of water on her table.

Donna opened the door and bowed. "You have been requested urgently by Countess Merlo."

Vaidehi took a sip of water with a frown. "What is with the urgency?"

Someone shuffled behind Donna. Vaidehi gestured with her hand to ask, 'Who is it?'

"Butler of the Merlo household."

"Arnold?" A fond smile found its way to her lips. "Send him in." Vaidehi pulled back her chair to sit.

"A cheerful morning to you, my Lady." Arnold bowed to her as soon as he entered.

"To you too, sir." She smiled at the young man. "Have a seat please."

"I am afraid we do not have the time to be seated." He stood in front of her desk, shoulder length black hair tied in a low pony behind his head.

"We?" Vaidehi quirked an eyebrow. "Who is this 'we' you talk of, sir?"

"We, as in you and me, my Lady." The young guy blankly stated.

"I do not remember being in urgency to be somewhere, however." Vaidehi placed her elbows on the table, cupping her chin as she looked at the awkward man in front of her.

"The urgency has sprung into existence a few hours ago, my Lady."

"What misfortune birthed it, sir?" She tilted her head to the side.

"Misfortune? I cannot say for sure if it is a misfortune or fortune that bore it. What I know is that the urgency is there and it needs to be taken care of." He stated, thin lipped.

"Go on and ask for its mother then." She waved him off.

Arnold opened his mouth to speak, but words eluded the poor man. He raised a finger but let it fall back to his side. Vaidehi was already fishing out files from her drawer and readying her stationery to start with her office work.

"You are the mother." He blurted out.

Awkward silence followed his words.

"What?" An incredulous laughter almost escaped Vaidehi but she sucked in her lower lip in time. Arnold was too befuddled by his own words to notice.

He cleared his throat, deciding to stick to what he said. "Yes, my Lady. You are the mother. Of the urgency."

"How does it make sense?"

"Truth rarely does."

"Another gem, by yours truly." Vaidehi muttered to no in particular. She shook her head. "Wait—"

Her eyes widened, assuming the size of a saucer, the moment realisation hit her in the face.

"Are you designating me with the title of misfortune?" She gasped dramatically.

Arnold, shocked, looked around. He hesitated. "You are twisting my words."

"You have twisted my pride. What of it, kind sir? Are you even kind?"

"I apologise if your sentiments have been hurt-"

"If? So my plight is imaginary now?" She flailed her hands in the air.

"You are perverting my words!" His eyes widened and rubbed the side of his face, his light stubble prickling the skin of his palm.

"Now I am a pervert as well! Begone sir!" Vaidehi dunked her fingertips in the half filled glass of water and sprinkled the water on him, "I am appalled."

Arnold thinned his lips, with his glasses dotted with water droplets, pinched his nose bridge. "Surely, you jest."

"Yes, for I am a clown."

"Prithee, my Lady, the situation is serious." Arnold was only second away from tearing his hair. He knew she did this, for she wished to rile him up. This would go on until the cows will come home. He knew she loved to agitate him. But did it ever prevent him from being riled up? No.

"Childbirths generally are." As expected, Vaidehi responded with a shrug as she fell back to her chair.

"I beg of you, my Lady—"

"Alright, enough jesting." She raised her hands up, showing him her palm. "What is it, Arnold, pray tell? But please be seated first."

"As I said, not a second for-"

"Not a word you say will crawl any close to my ear if you would not sit. I simply refuse to listen." She raised her hands in the air and shrugged again.

Arnold was about to protest, when his eyes fell upon the front page of the newspapers lying on the desk. He slowly sat down, his hands reaching out for the paper—

"See, it was not quite tough, was it?" Vaidehi smiled at him, folding the newspaper and putting it away. "Please proceed."

Arnold scrutinized her face. Not a trace of discomfort. She smiled calmly at him, two strands of black curls dangling on both sides of her face. Arnold looked away from her face and cleared his throat.

"Mrs. Merlo has requested your presence in the house urgently."

"What for?" Vaidehi inquired.

"I am afraid I cannot tell you."

"Why?"

"Because I do not know either. Only that the situation is grave. Mrs Merlo has been snapping since early morning."

"And? I would not deduce much from it, since she is always like this." Vaidehi tapped at the table.

"More so than the other days, my Lady. She has been pacing her chamber and refuses to eat. From what I know, a letter arrived."

"A letter?" Vaidehi mused, tilting her head to side in thoughtfulness.

"Yes, my Lady. It had royal insignia on it."

Her eyes widened. "Royal insignia? My goodness, what now?"

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Vaidehi was greeted by an anxious Mrs. Merlo waiting for her in the parlour.

"Vaidehi!" She screeched as soon she came in sight.

"Yes, my Lady. Where is the child?" Vaidehi looked around and Arnold groaned behind her.

"Child? What child? Whose child? God forbid, are you with—"

Arnold flinched. How can she even manage to think such abhorrent thought?

"No. It was a jest, my Lady." Vaidehi cut her off coolly, waving her hands at her. Mrs Merlo thinned her lips but chose to speak nothing. "I would have explained but it would take too much of precious time. You seem anxious. What is it?"

"Anxious, yes. Yes, I am anxious. But mind you, young lady, it is no ill fate that rouses such feelings. We have received an invitation. You have received an invitation."

Sudden onset of dread filled Vaidehi's heart.

Royal insignia. The two words echoed in her mind-seemingly cursed.

"For the royal ball!" Mrs Merlo exclaimed in excitement and Vaidehi further deflated.

"Royal ball?" She whispered under her breath.

"Held in the honor of Commander-in-chief, Augustus William Smith."