The youth's movents froze montarily. His ears rang a continuous numb tune, echoing the woman's words like a shout resounding endlessly in a deep cave. Then everything beca louder as the silence beca heavier.
Tessley's eyes widened at the news and she turned expectantly at the stunned silver-eyed youth who stood beside her. However, Moulin seed too shocked to react.
"Moulin?"
The young woman who had announced the news, had finally caught her breath. A sweaty sheen glazed her forehead. "Y-Young master?"
Moulin blinked, startled back to reality. His mouth finally moved.
"Mother's awake?"
Bang!
The doors to the room was forcibly pushed opened, startling the nurous people who were busy within. Several heads turned to witnessed a tall handso young man who looked as though he had ran for a thousand miles, panting heavily enter the room. The tips of his dark brown hair clung to his moist forehead. And his concerned eyes were wide, brimming with excitent and anticipation.
His elegant garb was in disarray but he cared less.
His voice sounded hoarse as he spoke, "Where is my mother..."
"My Lord, please catch your breath."
One of the nurses ca to attend him but Lord Emlen Fraunces brushed him off and he hastily headed towards the bedroom. But before he could push the door open, the healers stopped him.
"What is the aning of this-"
"My lord, please wait. The lady is being attended. She does not wish to look unsightly. We are simply honoring her orders. So please, wait patiently. You wouldn't want her ladyship to see you like this.
Please compose yourself."
A vein in his forehead pulsed. His gaze beca cold.
'For many years, I have waited.' He wanted to roar. But for the sake of his mother's wishes, he restrained his emotions and let them lead him to a sofa to rest.
The healers rushed in and out of his mother's room during the last lt five minutes. His emotions finally eased and his thoughts beca clearer. Emlen fumbled with his fingers as he waited patiently. He wondered why his eldest brother and Colahn had not arrived. And what of his father? Had he not awakened yet?
Suddenly, the doors to the entrance of the room opened with a creak. Emlen lifted his head to look and recognized his precious aphrodite brother entering the room in a hurry. His lustrious white hair fell ssily on his chest and his bright silver eyes are like beams of desolate moonlight. Moulin was accompanied by two familiar guards who excused themselves to observe in the far corner of the room.
The news his eldest brother had delivered to him this morning, resonated in the depths of his mind. His fists clenched unconciously as he watched Moulin approach him in haste. Emlen stood to recieve him openly.
"Elder brother..." Moulin called with anticipation. "Mother?"
Emlen sighed and held Moulin close to him in a warm embrace. "Calm yourself brother. You wouldn't want mother to see you like this. "
The surrounding eyes glanced at Emlen strangely.
Moulin nodded in his brothers arms and pulled away, trying to catch his breath. His heart pounded heavily within the cage of his chest as he watched the healers enter the bedroom with calm expressions.
A nurse approached the two brother and Moulin readily asked, "My father... Is he well?"
The nurse offered a gentle smile upon encountering those captivating eyes. "Young Lord, I regret to inform you that his lordship has not yet regained consciousness. However, be assured that he is in good health and under attentive care. The healers and seers have initiated their examinations."
"And my mother? Is she well?"
A female healer, just erging from the chambers, ca forward and responded, "She is well. Furthermore, she expresses a desire to et her two sons now."
Moulin and Emlen exchanged looks. The healers poured out and the brothers stepped into the room. A strong dicinal scent with a faint rosy fragrance welcod noses.
The first thing that greeted their eyes was the frail figure lying on the bed. Large pillows supported her back allowing her to sit up and set her gaze on the two people gradually crossing the threshold. The woman on the bed tilted her head and squinted her eyes, looking unsure of the two familiar n entering the bedroom.
Moulin felt a warmth in his heart, and powerful emotions stirred within him. Although she looked pale, a robust radiance graced her cheeks, and she retained the sa beauty as the last ti Moulin beheld her. It appeared as though she had not undergone a recent brush with death. She carried herself with a regal and commanding deanor befitting a lady of the court.
Upon recognizing the two gentlen, her eyes widened in astonishnt. She gestured towards them, attempting to speak, yet found herself montarily speechless.
Moulin helplessly smile. His eyes felt eyes felt hot, piercing in the soft corners of his vision. He approached the bed and gently held her outstretched hand.
Lady Maxiel's eyes widened. Her voice is hoarse as she struggled to speak, "Moulin?"
He felt her squeeze his hand and he squeezed back before carefully lifting her powerless fingers to his cheek. He closes his eyes briefly and feeling the softness of her touch.
"Mother, its ." Moulin spoke. His silvery eyes shone tenderly. Lady Maxiel furrowed her brows. This was clearly her precious youngest son. However, he looked... older, more mature.
And even more exceptionally gorgeous. His aura seed more potent.
She turned to her elder son standing not far from the bed and staring at her with trembling eyes. Emlen looked much older now. Her strong capable and mischevious son.
With a helpless sigh, Lady Maxiel reached for him with her unoccupied hand. "Co now, Emlen."
The mont her voice reached him, Emlen strode towards the two people. He sat by the bedside and held his Mother's hand.
"Tsk." Her forehead wrinkled when she got a closer look at the elder brother. "Why do you look so unkept?"
The man's ears reddened. He looked away and unconciously straightened his sleeves. "I was in hurry."
A gentle smile adorned Lady Maxiel's serene expression as she observed her two sons while warding off the drowsiness creeping into her. "You've both matured handsoly, my sons, and grown strong. It appears I can find solace in that assurance."
Tenderness overflowed inside Moulin. He couldn't resist chuckling. "It is different without you, Mother."
"Oh, my dear." She shook her head slightly. "You do not need to hold your hand throughout your life. You are already doing well on our own. Of course, I would give up anything just so I could stay by your side."
"Stay..." Moulin urged and embraced his mother gently. He didn't care if he was acting like a child. Burying his face into his mother's neck, he spoke. "Always stay with us..."
Lady Maxiel's gaze softened significantly as she caressed the head of her youngest son. She then turned her attention to Emlen, extending an arm in an inviting gesture. Without any hesitation, Emlen surrendered to her embrace.
The touching scene could warm the hearts of even the coldest people. There was comfort in the long silence. Moulin could feel his mother's heartbeat and her steady breaths and it was all the comfort he needed in the world.
However, their touching mont was interrupted when a healer hesitantly knocked and entered the room. When she saw the tender scene before her, she paused. A part of her didn't want to disrupt the family of three.
It was only when Emlen pull away from his mother's embrace did the healer hesitantly spoke.
"My apologies, my lords. But we must give her ladyship her rest. The examinations and administered dicine will soon induce drowsiness."
The two filial sons obediently withdrew. Their concerned gazes filled their mother's vision.
Lady Maxiel nodded and admitted, "I am already feeling quite sleepy."
"Please rest, mother. We will wait for you to wake. " Emlen spoke while he and Moulin tried to tidy the blankets.
She felt her eyelids began to grow heavy so she leaned back and made herself comfortable. Only after her eyes finally shut did Moulin and his elder brother discreetly leave. They cast a final look at the slumbering figure on the bed before quietly closing the door behind them.
"Brother... We must tell eldest brother..." Moulin said as he kept his gaze on the bedroom doors. "Why hasn't he co?"
Emlen placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "He must be busy. But don't worry, he will co. Mother would wake up by dinner, let us share a al together. I reckon she will be ready with a thousand questions."
Moulin's eyes brightened eagerness. But before he could speak, a voice interrupted them.
"Forgive , Lord Emlen. But the young lord must be escorted back to his chambers before dark. "
Lord Ordan approached with a crease beteeen his brows. He understood how important this must be to Moulin but they must not forget their duties. The young lord must be heavily protected during nightfall.
"..." Emlen frowned. He had almsot forgotten his youngest sibling's special circumstance.
He protested, "It is just one al. How dangerous could it be?".
"Brother, its alright..." Moulin hastily searched Emlen's stubborn gaze. He sighed helplessly. "I'll... join in another ti."
Emlen's pupils trembled in unwillingness. He wanted to speak more but his little brother's conceding expression made him swallow the words threatening to burst from his mouth.
Moulin stayed for a few hours before he was finally urged to leave. Despite his hesitance, Moulin had no choice but to acquiesce. The evening was settling in, and his al awaited in the chambers. He ibade goodbye to his elder brother and silently followed Tessley and Ordan out of the room.
...
"I'm sorry..." Ordan apologized to the youth in the middle of their al, breaking the heavy silence surrounding the room.
SIlver eyes lifted from the steaming bowl of soup and settled on the tall inexpressive man sitting across the table.
"There is no need for you to apologize," Moulin replied with a sigh. "You were simply fulfilling your duties."
The sentinel expressed a sound of understanding and thanks nd did not attempt to lengthen the conversation. Tessley was frustrated with him but she could do nothing. Thus, she only tried to distract Moulin by sharing so interesting gossips from the sentinel quarters.
The night deepened.
Ordan and Tessley politely excused themselves and moved into the two rooms allocated for them, situated near Moulin's quarters. They would be near enough to detect any abnormalities that might occur in the young master's room.
With a sigh, Moulin, garbed in his nightclothes, sat at the edge of the bed listlessly. His eyes drifted to the dimly twinkling lights of the districts in Helios visible through the window. He stared silently. While he was montarily lost in his thoughts, his fingers fumbled with the tips of lustrous wavy hair that fell on his lap.
Suddenly, there is a shift in the air. It was discreet enough that it failed to trigger his guard's awareness.
Moulin remained completely unresponsive, maintaining a composed deanor, as a notably formidable presence filled his lonely chamber. Only when the person drew near did he turn his focus.
Striking golden eyes t his silver ones. Moulin thought Hadrian looked quite handso and relaxed in his loose night clothes.
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