Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 138: Ms Janet’s Shop.

Chapter 138: Ms Janet’s Shop.

Midday.

Theodore Mansion.

Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire.

*******************

The midday sun filtered through the drawn curtains, casting golden rays across the cottage bedroom as the weary figure of Hound, who has finally returned home after days spent tirelessly searching the city for the runaway maid.

His muscles ached with exhaustion, and his mind buzzed with thoughts of the bashful girl who had slipped through his fingers like grains of sand.

With a heavy sigh, Hound began to undress, the layers of his uniform falling away one by one, revealing the weariness etched into every line of his form.

His hands moved with practiced precision, unbuttoning his coat and loosening the ribbon that had constricted his throat for far too long.

As he shed his garments, a sense of relief washed over him, the weight of his responsibilities lifting with each discarded piece of clothing.

Naked and vulnerable, he stood before the full-length mirror, his reflection a testament to the toll that the past few days had taken on him.

With a weary smile, Hound made his way to the adjoining washroom, the scent of rosewater mingling with the steam rising from the marble basin.

The sound of running water filled the air as he filled the tub, the warmth seeping into his tired bones as he sank into its welcoming embrace.

As he bathed, Hound’s thoughts drifted to his beloved, Shi’Enz the daughter of the Marquis whom he had waited to see in secret beneath the cloak of night.

How was she now?

Her image danced before his mind’s eye, her laughter like music to his ears, her touch igniting a fire within him that burned brighter than the sun.

Despite the slightly forbidden nature of their growing affection, Hound yearned for her with every fiber of his being, his heart aching with the weight of their clandestine affair.

He longed to hold her in his arms once more, to lose himself in the depths of her gaze and forget the world outside the space where their breath mingled.

And so, as he soaked in the fragrant waters of his bath, Hound made a silent vow to steal away to her side under cover of darkness, to risk everything for the chance to be with her once more.

For in a world ruled by duty and honor, their affection was a rare and precious treasure, worth any sacrifice they might be forced to make.

He didn’t have to go through the gates, but he was going anyway.

*

* *

*

Noon.

Office, Theodore Mansion.

Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire.

***************

"Conan, you took your time" Theodore pointed out after a quick glance at the opening door where his friend and knight walked inside. "You look like shit" he added.

Conan gruntled. "Bad night, where is lady Theodore?"

"Out she is" Theodore replied briskly.

Conan trying to appear relaxed and merely curious asked. "Without you? Where did she leave for?"

Theodore looked away from the bunch of stationeries scattered on his desk. "Conan we have work" he deadpanned.

"Ah yes, of course Theodore"

Theodore hid a grin with a cough as Conan took his seat.

They spent more than an hour working before Theodore dropped his pen and looked at Conan. "We are going for patrol tomorrow" Theodore announced.

Conan grinned. "Like old times, I remember"

His reply made Theodore narrow his eyes "What do you mean old times?"

"Since you got married I have become despensible" Conan retorted with a roll of his eyes

"You have always been dispensable sir Conan" Theodore confessed, his eyes filled with mirth.

"But never to you Theodore" Conan said matter exactly.

"You flatter yourself too much" Theodore countered leaving his seat.

Conan does the same and they started to walk outside. In sync and from years of being together, they knew it was time to take a stroll with announcing it.

"Mother has been healed" Conan let out as the walk continued.

Thedore paused. "That is wonderful news" he admitted. "You found a powerful witch and it was not my mother" he added with schrunched brows.

"Your mother was she the witch you were looking for all this time?" Conan asked in surprise.

Theodore remained silent.

Conan tapped his shoulders. "You never hated the witches?!" he asked wide-eyed.

"Do you even know me? I am vigorously hurt at your implications" Theodore exaggerated complained. "They come to me with ill intentions and I merely curb it or remove it completely" he shrugged.

"Why we’re you looking for your mother? Apologies that is a nonsense quest-"

"I needed her to heal your mother, with the amount of research I made they were barely strong witches left in the empire and only she could revoke her curse"

Conan became silent, he knew Theodore was looking for a witch, he would always question whatever which he caught and ask them about someone they all never knew and they never left the mansion. He didn’t know Theodore was actually looking for a strong witch to help with his mother.

He wondered what guilt Theodore must have been holding in.

At the prolonged silence Theodore cleared his throat. "So Helena is a powerful witch" he mumbled.

Conan drew a deep breath. "It appears and she is gone" he gritted out.

"Mmm"

Conan paused in his steps, he faced Theodore before asking. "Why do you not sound surprised? Does Lydia know?" his eyes are narrowed yet hopeful.

Theodore ran his fingers through his hair. "You shall have to be patient" he let out.

Conan looked to the sky then directed an accusatory expression to Theodore. "You are keeping a secret... from me!" his eyes widened further. "About me!" he growled.

Theodore tapped his left shoulder. "Relax! You are okay" he assured his friend.

"No I am not, I need to know if she is fine" he wailed but Theodore was an unmoveable rock. "Where did she say she is going to?" Conan whispered.

"No where, you cannot force information that I do not possess out of me" Theodore grumbled.

"Let us eat then, I am famished"

They headed back in for lunch with Conan knowing Theodore knew something and with Theodore knowing what he knew.

*

* *

*

Afternoon.

Dressmaker shop.

Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire.

***************

A ding and gets rushed into Janet’s dress shop. Janet is quick to attend to them as she didn’t want any trouble for the lady of the city.

"Mademoiselle Janet!" a screech settled into the shop attracting the attention of it occupants.

Lady Jerald slides inside the shop. "I was surprised to see you have customers, so I came to see who they were, they must be lost" her comment is sharp and delivered with a smile.

Ms Janet chuckled lowly. "I make quite the dresses and I am glad you have been drawn to me" she retorted

Lady Jerald scoffed. "Drawn to you? In your dreams, where are the customers?" her eyes are searching and asking for the audience she had seen stepping inside.

"What dress would you like Lady Jerald?" Ms Janet insisted.

"Is she being a Janet, again?" a voice interrupted them as lady Lively stepped inside the shop, her chin high and mighty.

Her fan sprang open. "Of course lady Lively, what else can she be? She has refused to show us see her new customers" lady Jerald replied scornfully.

"You are sure that you caught a glimpse of someone stepping in" lady Lively whispered her eyes scanning the shop.

Lady Jerald glared at her before responding. "Yes I am, two of them"

She had been across this shop when she surely saw two ladies drop out of a fine carriage without glancing the corners they’d stepped inside and she knew she needed the inside gist.

Ms Janet was stealing customers or keeping witches.

"Then let us shop" Lady Lively ordered staring Ms Janet down.

A shuffle was heard before a question. "What is the nuisance about?"

Lydia emerged from behind the curtains where she and Helena had been testing a stocking when they heard the streams of jabs.

"Nuisance? Do you have any idea who you...lady Theodore" lady Lively’s eyes widened at the sight of the lady of the city before she quickly acknowledged her with a screech, a bow and regret.

"Lady Theodore" lady Jerald followed. "Goo... Good Day lady Theodore" she wished.

Lydia smiled, pretty as always. "Indeed it is a good day"

Lady lively grabbed onto Jeralds arm. "Yes, We shall leave now, it was nice meeting you, lady-" Lydia interrupted the escape speech.

"Oh no no, I shall not let you leave without getting anything, I dare not interrupt your shopping" Lydia was smooth with her reasoning approaching the loathing ladies with a smile.

"I... no... lady Theodore you do not have to bother" lady Lively continued shaking her head.

Lydia pause, held their gaze and breathed. "I insist"

"Of course then carry on, I shall look at the racks" Lady Jerald got her bearing quickly shook Lively off as she responded.

Lydia said no more but turned back into measuring and testing room, Helena sat smirking and attentive.

Lady lively’s eyes were wide when she pulled Lady Jerald to a corner. "Why did you agree?" she whispered angrily.

Lady Jerald looked around. "Are you a retard? Did you not hear about what happened to the jewellery shop after it offended her?" she asked her eyes condescending.