Lucian and Jax walked through the busy streets of the city, the mud from the road splashing onto their boots as they dodged carriages and pedestrians.
They noticed a group of people crowding around a notice board, pointing at it curiously.
"Let's see what's going on," Lucian said, making his way toward the crowd with Jax following closely behind him.
The notice was pinned in the middle of the board. It was an official-looking document, stamped with the Rochefort crest, and it was written in elegant calligraphy.
'By decree of Duke Rochefort,' the notice began. 'Following the untimely death of the former Duke, a period of mourning has been declared for the entire duchy. All citizens are expected to adhere to the following guidelines for three months:
1. All public celebrations, festivals, and gatherings are hereby suspended.
2. Music, loud laughter, and excessive festivity are to be avoided in public spaces.
3....
These measures are being implemented to honor the memory of the former Duke and to show respect for the grieving family.
Let it be known that the Rochefort family remains steadfast in its commitment to the welfare of its people, even in this time of sorrow.
Signed,
Adrast Rochefort, Duke of Rochefort.'
Lucian lived with the knowledge that his parents would pass soon due to the illness, so he was prepared for it in a way.
He made the most of the time he had left with them while also mentally steeling himself for their passing.
He also understood that not everyone had time to prepare for death, especially those who were expected to live for much longer, like the former Duke.
Celine never talked much about her family and was more interested in talking about their adventures. So he didn't know how she was affected by this. Was she the type to put on a brave face and hide her pain? Or would she break down and cry?
As he was thinking about her (like always), he searched for a letter they would usually exchange through the notice boards.
He already had his up, about a botanist looking for a special kind of moss. She would usually have something about gemstones or minerals, disguising herself as a merchant looking for quartz.
For example, first floor, room number four, would be encrypted into a phrase like '...one medium cut, size four...' in the notice.
He would then visit the biggest inn in the area and retrieve a small note hidden behind the top part of the wooden door frame.
The small letters didn't contain any sensitive information, but it was enough to know they were safe and thinking of each other. It was also a fun little game for them.
Lucian had been traveling from place to place, and there was nothing. Celine had gone completely silent. A few months had passed, and she still hadn't written to him.
It made him think that her Grandpa's death had happened earlier, not recent news. So the notice was more of a formality.
It made Lucian a bit impatient, so he used his connections to join one of the merchants that did business with the Rocheforts, offering his goods for cheaper if he took him along.
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Lucian gulped nervously, a cold sweat running down his back as the massive gates of the Rochefort estate loomed over him.
Not even Marquess Blackwood's house made him feel this small. And that man lived in a castle.
The Rochefort estate was on a whole different level. It was more of a fortress, designed to withstand a siege.
Here and there, guards were posted with their spears held at the ready. Their eyes scanned the merchant and his entourage, looking for any signs of trouble.
The merchant, Graff, had been doing business with the Rocheforts for years, so he was allowed to enter the estate without much trouble.
The carriage ride to the main building was long, giving Lucian a glimpse of the vastness of the place. They owned so much land that they could afford to leave large areas of it empty, showing off their neatly cut grass.
'Do they love to make others feel small or something?' Lucian thought as he looked up at the main building.
The grandiose main entrance to the palace was made out of polished white marble, with stairs that led up to a set of tall doors made of dark wood and decorated with gold and silver.
The horse pulling their cart snorted and came to a halt before a secondary entrance for merchants, deliveries, and staff.
Lucian followed the merchant out of the carriage, carrying a chest to help blend in, when his eyes widened in surprise.
The swing hanging from the branch of a large tree swayed gently in the light breeze. She was sitting on it, pushing herself back and forth with her feet.
She was wearing a black dress that flowed down to the ground, her long hair tied in a tight bun. A small hat with a veil on top of her head shrouded her face, hiding her expression.
"You don't plan to come here in the winter too, do you?" Her twin brother approached her, draping his cloak over her shoulders. "What's here to see besides carts and workers?"
"A lot," Celine replied, and her voice reached Lucian like a quiet whisper, "They are dirt poor and work like animals. That's why I must come here, to remind myself how lucky I am to be born a Rochefort…"
Lucian's heart almost stopped when he saw her. 'Don't tell me she had been waiting for me.'
A small moment of eye contact happened between Lucian and Celine, and her feet stopped pushing the swing.
'Since when?' he thought. He told her he would visit her. And here she was, waiting for him at the servants' entrance. The most likely place for him to appear. 'Did she visit this place daily just for a chance to see me?'
"Follow me," the Rochefort staff said, directing them to the storeroom, where they would be paid for their goods.
Lucian quickly followed, his eyes still on Celine as he walked away.