Chapter 26: Movement From Martha
AN: After all the action with Alduin's awakening ceremony, I thought it'd be nice to have a chapter that gives you all a breather, but also contains an interesting drop of character interaction. You can think of this as a semi-interlude if you like.
Next chapter is 3.2k words though, so enjoy the break while you can muahahaha!
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As Head Maid, it was Thora's responsibility to supervise the servants of House Buné under her watchful, vigilant eye while they worked. At least when her primary responsibility, Alduin, was away.
While she was observing her subordinates go about their cleaning duties, the household's Young Lord was currently in the process of undergoing his awakening ceremony in the company of Lord Buné himself.
And as a result, Thora physically couldn't be more distressed.
She knew for a fact that there were only two possible outcomes.
Alduin would either come back to her with a pair of draconic horns proudly resting atop his head, or he wouldn't come back at all—and the only person she'd see step through the manor's front door would be Sebastian, who was the reason she didn't even get to wish Alduin good luck before he departed at the crack of dawn.
Just thinking about the possibility of losing him was enough to make it feel as if an anchor had attached itself to her heart. She'd looked after Alduin ever since he left the womb, after all; moreover, she'd be delusional not to admit that the distance in their relationship had closed a great deal as of late.
And it was set to grow even closer, especially after Alduin disclosed the deal he had made with Serafall and Sirzechs to her.
The fact that she couldn't even be there to support him on what could be his last day infuriated her in ways she couldn't even begin to describe.
She understood that only Buné's were allowed to enter the clan's sacred grounds, but when it came to Alduin, she couldn't bring herself to sit still and be content with such a ruling even if it was handed to her by her employer.
No, I have to have faith. The Young Lord won't lose to such a thing, he's not the type to be defeated that easily. She reminded herself, her lips quivering in anxiety as she folded her hands in front of her apron, clenching them fiercely.
Almost as if she were trying to use the pain to distract herself.
Only to fail, miserably.
No amount of physical stimulus was capable of derailing her train of thought, not when it bothered her this deeply.
Even the maids and butlers around her, who were all tending to the residence's furniture with mops and dusters in hand, could see cracks in her usually impeccable stone-cold expression.
Of course, none of them dared to voice that observation. Lest they wanted to end up with their own cleaning utensil shoved down their windpipe.
Flap! Flap! Flap!
Thora's ears began to twitch, the sound of a familiar pair of wings beating against the air inching closer. With a rhythm she recognized all too well.
Promptly, she clapped her hands, demanding the attention of all the attending servants.
"The Lord is making his arrival. I shouldn't need to tell you what to do."
Like cats that had been sprayed with water, their postures stiffened, each of them scurrying towards the front door of the manor and lining up in neatly arranged, parallel rows on either side of the entrance.
While Thora herself took to the center, in preparation to offer Sebastian a verbal welcome.
She felt her heart skip a beat. The moment of truth she had been waiting for since she opened her eyes this morning was only seconds away. Her palms were considerably clammy, the sight concealed only by their purposeful positioning.
Young Lord! Please tell me you're safe!
Preceded by a simple click, the doorknob twisted open.
"Welcome back, Lord Buné." Like she had done countless times before, Thora performed her typical, courtly bow. Greeting Sebastian for the umpteenth time.
"Mm." He replied with his usual, plain hum of acknowledgement. Expressing an apparent lack of interest in any of his servants, Thora included.
Yet, she remained unbothered. In fact, her mood had improved significantly; a smile tugged at her lips, which she hid by facing the floor as she bowed.
"Waaaaaaah! Put me down! Put me down! I'll burn you! Stinky geezer!" Squirming around on Sebastian's shoulders was a young man who shared his likeness to a frightening, almost uncanny degree.
Though his appearance had undergone a drastic change, Thora recognized him as clear as day.
As expected of the Young Lord.
It was Alduin. New, dragonified, and improved.
And also a little power drunk, from the colossal surge of draconic energy that entered his bloodstream following his successful ceremony.
"Brat, isn't it about time you gave up?" Sebastian breathed a deep, exasperated groan. It was evident that this had been ongoing for quite some time.
"Hah! Never!" Alduin puffed his chest, his cheeks inflating like a squirrel.
Fwoosh!
To the shock of all, the Young Lord unleashed a torrent of scorching, bright-orange flames that spewed from his mouth straight onto his father's face. The heat of which was enough to cause each of the servants to retreat in fear of being charred, even if the flames weren't directed at them.
Although Thora remained undeterred, she couldn't help but widen her eyes in awe. Instantaneously recognizing the ability Alduin had just used, one that was leagues above mere flame manipulation.
It was draconic breath, a power unique to the apex species revered by all.
The flames began to dissipate, leaving behind the ashy face of Sebastian, who clearly hadn't taken any damage whatsoever, despite taking the attack at point-blank range.
Slowly, he rubbed his palm across his face, wiping off the accumulated soot and flicking it onto the floor. A vein was throbbing out of his forehead as his lips trembled in frustration.
"Hahahaha! How do you like that? Shitty geezer!" Alduin pointed at him, laughing childishly in a way that reminded Thora of his early days.
As proud as she was that he was putting in the effort to mature, part of her couldn't help but miss those times in a strange way.
"Alright, that's it!" Sebastian grabbed him by the scruff, reeling his arm back and flexing his bicep. "If you want me to let you go so badly! Then I'll grant your wish!"
"Eh?"
With all his might, Sebastian proceeded to hurl Alduin across the room like a pitcher that had just thrown his best fastball. Putting his son on a hasty collision course with the walls of the estate.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Thora! Help me!"
Sorry Young Lord, but there's absolutely no way I can react to that kind of speed. Besides… I think you might be a little bit too heavy for me to carry now.
Before the freshly awakened Buné could make impact, a branch crept up behind him from the corner of the hallway, a soft bed of leaves bursting from its tip—cushioning Alduin before his back could slam against the wall.
"Oh… that didn't hurt as much as I thought it would," Alduin scratched his cheek, his drunken trance convincing him that his back had, in fact, collided against the wall. "Bwahahaha! Old man! You throw like a girl!"
"Young Lord…" Thora sighed in trepidation. "You may wish to look beneath you."
"Huh?" He did as she suggested, shocked to find himself comfortably situated on a canopy that had appeared seemingly out of thin air. "Woah! When did that get there? I don't recall using my Wood Manipulation…"
"Of course you don't, foolish child of mine." Heralded by the sound of light, graceful footsteps echoing through the hallway—the Lady of the house made her presence known.
The only person within the Buné Territory with the necessary level of casting speed to react to Sebastian's throw.
"Mother? What are you doing outside your garden—"
"Hush now, your voice isn't needed today." Martha put her index finger to her lips, and within a matter of seconds, Alduin's eyelids shut, sending the Young Lord into an immediate slumber. By courtesy of some kind of hypnotic, Sage Arts technique.
Though he didn't want to admit it, Sebastian was thankful for her assistance. Dealing with Alduin while he was still drunk on draconic energy was going to be a chore like no other. It was best to keep him asleep until tomorrow, when his body and mind had a chance to acclimate to the changes fully.
Granted, he shared Alduin's curiosity. Martha never left her private reserve unless something warranted her personal intrigue; thus, her presence suggested she had an agenda of some sort.
"To what do I owe the pleasure? Secluded wife of mine." Sebastian crossed his arms, eagerly awaiting her response.
She blinked, widening her eyes and wearing an expression of plain confusion. Or to a more trained eye, a rehearsed one.
"My cherished son successfully passed his awakening ceremony, as his mother, isn't it only natural that I come to congratulate him? This is a big step towards a prosperous future for our house after all."
Cherished son my ass… Thora fought the urge to scowl. Like any rational person, she too felt a deep sense of gut-wrenching unease and dread whenever she was in Martha's presence.
Each word that left the woman's mouth made her stomach churn, and each movement she performed, no matter how subtle, caused another bead of nervous sweat to drip down her skin.
Deep down, she couldn't be more glad that Martha chose to spend most of her time outside of the household. She wasn't sure her mind could handle being exposed to the woman around the clock.
The Young Lord truly is special… to have spent every morning of his life with her and still remained so headstrong. It's almost supernatural in a way… out of all the people in the Underworld, I feel as if he's the only one who can keep up with her… Hah… whatever that means.
Sure, Sebastian was her husband first and foremost. But ever since Alduin had been born, he had hardly spent a hundredth of the time Alduin had spent around Martha.
"Yeah? And how do you plan on congratulatinghim while he's asleep?"
She chuckled lightly. "What use is there in my offering him anything while he's in this state? I doubt he'd even remember my words. Which is why I'll save them for when he's of sound mind. In the meantime... I'll look after him in my reserve. You're worried that there might be some complications because of his mixed bloodline, aren't you? You can count on me to take care of them should they arise."
Sebastian breathed a deep hum, his brows knitting together as he contemplated whether or not to challenge his wife's decision.
All things considered, Martha did have a point. He couldn't say for sure that Alduin's Sallos and Buné blood wouldn't collide even post-awakening; there was still a torrent of draconic energy running rampant throughout Alduin's body, and until it had fully settled down, Sebastian refused to let his vigilance slip.
"He's scheduled to visit the mosshead's territory tomorrow to get his Evil Pieces."
"I'm well aware, you needn't worry—I'll take him there myself first thing in the morning."
Both Thora and Sebastian did a double-take, wondering if they needed to have their hearing checked.
"You're… going outside?" He stammered, his tone packed full of bewilderment. He could hardly even remember the last time Martha exited the Buné Territory.
"Yes, is there a problem with that?" She asked calmly, despite knowing precisely why her husband was so taken aback.
"No… it's just surprising. That's all."
"I see." She flicked her wrist, causing the branches carrying her son to animate and follow her as she returned towards her garden.
But, not before shooting one last, parting glance at the Head Maid, causing Thora's body to freeze up as if she had been encased in the Satan Leviathan's ice.
With a simple action, Martha invoked a fear so primal in the maid that she could feel the life start to drain out of her legs, nearly causing her to fall flat on her rear.
Martha smirked at her, and simply continued to make her departure shortly afterwards.
W-what… was that? Thora shuddered, internally panicking like never before.
Naturally, Sebastian picked up on her state of inner turmoil.
"Thora, since you apparently won't be accompanying him tomorrow. You can go ahead and discuss with the head chef to reorganize Alduin's dietary arrangement. From now on, he'll need to consume at least double the amount of food he usually eats."
"U-understood… My Lord." She bowed and left to go handle her assigned duties with more haste than usual.
Don't tell me… has the Lady figured something out? No… that can't be, she hasn't interacted with me even once since Sona Sitri's birthday, and as the Young Lord instructed—I haven't said a word about it ever since we returned, not even in the absence of company.
Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to be exceptionally cautious of Martha. This was the first time she had ever seen House Buné's Lady become so—active, and she'd be a fool to think the woman was doing so merely for her own amusement.
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