Marco VII

Catherine Ashwood arrived wearing a new sunhat and the same brilliant smile that seemed to brighten her face by tenfold. She carried a retinue of three guards around her and a basket of oranges from their orchard. The Ashwoods owned an extensive part of Gallagher, mostly farms to the north. They managed plantations and cattle.

Mother exchanged pleasantries with her, asking, "Catherine, my ball of sunshine. What brought you here?"

She seemed to scramble for an answer. "Well, my lady, didn't Marco tell you?"

Marco plastered a smile on his face. "I just asked her for history lessons. She has great memory. It's good for my training."

"I hope you pay attention though; you tend to easily get distracted when you're together. Don't enjoy each other's company too much. I'll prepare some snacks for the... two of you." She left.

Did she buy my excuse? 

"I hope I won't be forbidden from visiting here after today. Promise me this won't affect my family's standing," Cat implored him, suddenly unnerved, "I am basically lending a hand to a person disowned by my liege."

"I am your future liege. I will always remember this favor."

"Stop acting like you're so cool. You just lied straight to your mother's face. It doesn't bode well for Gallagher, I fear."

Marco sighed, "You can't back out now. I already told Lucas. He's expecting us."

"Lucas," she tried the name on her tongue. "It feels like meeting a secret brother of yours."

"You've never seen him before?"

"No, is he better-looking than you? I bet he is."

Lucas was waiting in Marco's room, the daylight splashing color to his pallid complexion. Marco lent him a pair of neater clothes than the ones he usually wore. Even the ones in Lucas's closet were hand-me-downs from his big brother.

"Oh, you're already here," Marco said, closing the door behind him. "Have you had breakfast?"

"I had." A lie. I'll ask the servants to bring in food now.

"This is Catherine Ashwood. She's my friend, " he introduced them.

"I'm Lucas." He bowed crudely in the gesture that commoners addressed the noble. "It's a pleasure to meet you, my lady."

Cat seemed to have lost all the light about her, seemingly stunned. She was well aware of all the rumors and the incidents that plagued the Vermilons. Not a second later, a forced smile crept back to her lips. "The pleasure is mine."

Marco could not say that he did not expect her reaction. Even to Marco, Lucas remained an enigma. His little brother had an air about him that was simply unsettling.

"I believe your brother told you why I'm here. I will be teaching you specific concepts the exam is focused on."

"I understand."

"Then we can begin. We have a lot to cover."

Marco stayed by their side, reading on his own. A servant called from outside the door, bringing a tray of cookies and a jug of milk. "I'll take it from here," he told the servant, grabbing the tray from her before she could glimpse the inside of his room.

"Dig in." He laid the food on the center of the table. "Fuel for your thinking machines."

A few more minutes ticked by when suddenly Lucas interjected, "I don't think this is right."

Catherine straightened abruptly. "What's not right?" She sounded insulted. Her memory was perfect. She could not be wrong.

Lucas glanced meekly at his brother before setting his gaze on his pale hands. "I understand that I lack... knowledge, and I might not make the exam but I still want to give it my best. I'm sorry if that offended you." 

So, he had realized. Marco closed the book in his hand and laid it on the table. Though it worried him, he regarded his brother in better light. "That will be hard, Lucas. You might miss this chance."

"It's alright. I want to prove that I can do well, too." He lifted his gaze, his face steadier, more determined.

Indeed, all this time a bad reputation had preceded him. It was time to forge a new path in this opportunity to turn over a new leaf.

"Well, I'm glad you think that way," Catherine interfered, "but your brother and I had an agreement."

"It's fine, Cat. The agreement still stands. You can help him but just don't give him the specific questions."

She sneered, "Oh my, all that holy power I burned just to be in vain."

"I'm sorry, my lady." Lucas frowned.

Catherine chuckled. "Don't be. I'm just kidding. You and your brother are more similar than I thought. Both of you can't take a joke."

Because of her remark, Lucas's lips arched into a smile. He lowered his head, trying to hide it. Marco caught a glimpse of it.

Come lunchtime, they had to leave Lucas by himself. Marco wanted the meal served in his room so he could share some of the turkey with his brother. Mother however insisted to gather at the dining table, 'to dine properly with his guest'.

"How is your study going so far?" She asked Catherine, handing her a bowl of skinned potatoes. "Here, the cook dipped it in cheese."

"Marco is catching up on the Third Crusade on the Lost City of Atamar," Cat answered carefully. It was true that he was reading the book on the Third Crusade. Albeit only by himself.

"Is he giving you trouble?" Mother craned toward her, speaking more softly Marco could barely hear.

"Just the usual," she replied. 

Mother hacked onto the turkey vigorously. She knows. But she doesn't want to talk about him. She doesn't even want to acknowledge his existence anymore. Lucas is just a ghost to her now.

Meanwhile, the Earl did not seem to care. He ate in silence. Whether he knew what his grandson was up to, Marco could not tell.

"I couldn't breathe!" Catherine blurted when they were back at Marco's room. She threw herself onto his bed. "I thought the potatoes were going to stay lodged in my throat. Why, why did you make me go through such suffering? Miss Anastasia hates me now."

Marco walked over to Lucas who was writing notes just like Catherine told him. "I'm sorry I couldn't bring you something to eat. I'll get some more biscuits."

"It's alright. I'm not hungry," Lucas said. Truth.

"In the Academy, you can eat whatever you want. Look forward to it." He cheered him up.

"Marco, can you show me to the garden for a minute? I need some fresh air. Your room reeks." Catherine called him over. A lie. She wants to talk.

"I hope you get pollen allergy."

"Are you cursing me?"

"Would that I could," he said, leading her out. She knew the way to the garden herself; so he just followed behind her. "What is it?"

She turned to him, the sunhat casting shadow over her face. "Rupert's youngest daughter is also entering Demach. She will pass. She has talent for it."

Marco picked up a yellow tulip. "I know. She might cause trouble for him." He handed the stalk to her. "Here, you said you wanted a flower."

She accepted it, twirling her finger over the petals. "More than trouble. Did you know why Earl Wolfram decided to disown your little brother? I think you should mull over on that."

Marco had a slight idea. Having lost the Vermilon name, any harm done to Lucas would not constitute as grounds for conflict or war. But then the core reason he wanted to bring Lucas along overruled any fear.

Marco played with a small bud of rose that was yet to unfurl . "The Arayan capital is a new beginning for him. There he has a chance. Then he will become more than just the Ghost of Vermil."