Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 146: Gabriel Felt Fear.

Chapter 146: Gabriel Felt Fear.

Noon.

Lakeside, Theodore Mansion.

Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire.

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

"Lady Theodore, Lord Theodore, something is wrong!" Dorothy alerted them, her hastened steps coming to a stop beside their couch.

"Now, What on earth is it?" Theodore gritted out.

"Your presence is required by the lake please" the maid responded eagerly, her attire and posture one of submission and respect.

Theodore stood up with ease, his figure and demeanor oozing with confidence and nobility.

"Come" he whispered to Lydia as he offered his hand.

Lord Theodore and Lady Theodore stepped out of their mansion, the sun casted a golden glow upon the sprawling darkness of a building.

With each step, their elegant attire billowed gently in the breeze, a testament to their noble bearing.

They followed Dorothy’s urgent summons and made their way to the tranquil shores of the lake, anticipation mingled with concern settled in their hearts.

What could it be?

As they approached the designated area, they were met with a scene of intrigue, their presence required for a mysterious occurrence unfolding before them.

"The tree, it is gone" Dorothy announced dramatically.

"How helpful of you" Theodore mocked.

"Theodore" Lydia scolded, her elbow a jab to his tight stomach.

With a sense of duty, they prepared to uncover the secrets hidden within the tranquil beauty of the cotton tree.

It was no longer a tree.

"Would you get us Helena please" Lydia ordered Dorothy who turned quickly. "Of course lady Theodore"

"I have a theory"

"Shade" Lydia gasped at the unannounced presence.

Theodore’s gaze darkened. "What are you doing here?"

"The rush of emotions called, master" he explained softly, Theodore grinded his teeth keeping down a reply he was tempted to give.

"Please tell us what is your theory" Lydia commented.

Shade took a deep breath. "This is a peculiar cotton tree unlike any other, master, lady Theodore"

Lydia nodded in agreement as she glanced at where the tree had once stood tall and proud against the backdrop of their dark mansion.

"This extraordinary plant had defied convention, growing into a towering tree in defiance of its shrubby origins" Shade pointed at the plant.

Theodore sighed, wishing they was a wall he could rest on, Shade talked a lot when giving the opportunity and this might just be it.

Shade open his arms in explanation. "As this tree was secluded within the grounds of this grand mansion, the cotton tree’s branches reached skyward, their twisted forms stretching towards the heavens in a silent plea for sustenance" He paused, looking skyward, for a dramatic effect perhaps and Lydia was hooked. Her beowa furrowed in concentration.

"In such a land where water is not scarce and the air held secrets of its own, the plant should’ve grown we’ll but no!" he ended the sentence with a bark, making Lydia blink her heart caught.

"Instead it is as if the tree had adapted to its surroundings, its roots delving deep into the earth in search of life-giving moisture, it’s branches strong and skyward looking for something, it is not water anymore, that I a sure you" he is focused on Lydia because she alone looks invested in his theory.

Lydia nodded.

"If you remember," he glanced at Theodore who was looking elsewhere. "For years, the cotton tree had stood as a solitary sentinel, its knotted trunk bearing the scars of countless battles against the elements" he continued, his smile small and confident.

"It never blossomed or looked normal, it appeared malnourished, no?"

"Stop asking my wife questions Shade" Theodore snarled.

Shade ignored him before continuing.

"It never had leaves, never once vibrant and green, they bore the telltale signs of drought, their edges curling inward as if in defiance to something, but they started again only a few weeks ago" Shade completed.

Theodore started. "So you are saying, something changed, is it-"

Suddenly all the cotton reappeared, they seem to come alive making him pause.

"You see". Shade pointed out and the couple turned in unison to the side his index was directed.

Helena.

"As she nears they blossom better" he said. "She is the water it needs" Shade exclaimed, his smile bigger and prouder.

Lydia’s brows furrowed. "Helena?"

"Yes, lady Theodore, she touched it last week prompting it to blossom" he confessed not meeting Theodore’s gaze.

"And I believe now because she lived here all night the energy became stronger and they assumed their original state" he narrated.

Helena emerged from the mansion, her presence as enigmatic as the ancient magic she wielded.

Helena indeed was a practitioner of the arcane arts long criticised by society, had returned to the estate after a prolonged absence, her arrival heralding a shift in the natural order.

"Now I would like to continue but-" his voice disappeared along with him as Helena approached the group.

Theodore sighed in relieve at his abrupt absence as he watched Helena with narrowed eyes.

She moved toward the area and a sense of anticipation filled the air, the very atmosphere tingling with the promise of magic.

Not even with a wave of hand or incarnation her presence alone had guided and nourished the plant.

As if in response to her command, a gentle breeze began to stir, the blossomed cotton following the wind.

With each step she took, the air grew heavy with wonder at how Helena would reacts to this revealation but she would not be.

*Last night*

Helena would not be surprised because last night as she had stealthily left the room she was given, her heart pounding and mind restless she had went to where she felt drawn to.

The tree, and then it had happened.

The cotton tree, sensing the arrival of its savior, began to undergo a miraculous transformation.

Its branches, once twisted and parched, began to relax and unfurl, rejuvenated by the abundance of energy that surrounded them.

In a mesmerizing display of magic, the tree began to shrink and contract, its towering form gradually receding until it resembled the familiar shrubby cotton plants that populated this area of the mansion.

And so, the cotton tree that had once stood as a towering anomaly vanished into the mists of history, its story an evidence to the enduring power of magic and the transformative influence of the natural world.

As Helena watched the scene that had unfolded before her, a sense of satisfaction washed over her, knowing that she had played a part in restoring balance to the delicate tapestry of life.

*Present*

"Helena" Lydia called out to her friend, her face bright as she squealed. "The cottons!"

Helena smiled, her eyes warm at the joy she saw in Lydia’s eyes, she couldn’t believe someone else was thus happy for her. "I am very lucky" she whispered.

Her head turned and she met Theodore’s icy sky blue eyes.

"I shall be inside" Theodore grunted and he was leaving.

What is Helena’s connection to his beloved? He thought.

"What would you do?" Lydia invited after watching the area for awhile.

"Make money sister, that is what I shall do" Helena tried easily.

"It is not that easy, what if nobody supports it?" Lydia countered suddenly realizing they how they weren’t exactly an appreciated pair.

"Oh they will, I shall hold onto my optimism" Helena declared.

Lydia nodded. "Okay, I am going to do something that has been on my mind"

Interested, Helena pouted. "What might that be?"

"Gloves" Lydia breathed out, her cheeks red.

Ms Janet had chided herself for forgetting to provide Lydia with that during her work in the mansion as she was equally grateful Lydia came to her.

Helena paused before she started to laugh all together.

Lydia shook her head, quick to explain. "Now that I have gloves I have an unexplainable urge to wear them" she said.

"And you can do just that" Helena encouraged.

"But the weather, it is just cool enough that I don’t need it" Lydia whined.

"Fashion does not need a reason" Helena quoted.

Lydia’s smile mirrored Helena’s smile as she turned to the mansion after glancing at the magical cottons one more time.

*

* *

*

Meanwhile, Noon.

Back, Theodore Mansion.

Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire.

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

"What letter is that?"

Gabriel startled and he swiftly tucked the letter away, his movements fluid and practiced. He had been sitting on the weathered steps of their building with his gaze was fixed on a letter, its parchment crinkling softly in his grasp.

His twin brother appeared, mirroring his features, they both wore a frown.

"From lady Theodore’s sister" Gabriel answered after a clear of his throat, he didn’t bother lying because Tom would just catch it.

Tom’s eyes widened. "You connect with her?!"

"Keep your enemies close" Gabriel, with a shrug.

"She is not your enemy but the lord’s and lady" Tom pointed out angrily.

"Tom-" Gabriel started perhaps to explain but Tom cuts him off.

"No!, come on we are going to report this to the lord" he said moving down.

"We need the money" Gabriel whispered pointedly.

"We do not even know if she is still alive!" Tom barked, his chest heaving.

Gabriel nodded. "That is what you believe?"

His face growing livid and he felt betrayed. "All this time? You do not believe she is Alive?!"

Tom looked regretful instantly, so he started. "Gabriel -"

"No!" He cuts him off. "Meceline is alive!" he yelled to Tom’s face before moving towards the mansion.

"Where are you going to?" Tom asked.

"Gabriel!" Tom yelled running after him but as soon as he grabbed his arm, Gabriel snatched it out of his brother’s grip.

"What on earth is happening here?"

Lord Theodore.

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