Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 215: The Restlessness Spell.

Chapter 215: The Restlessness Spell.

Works, Theodore mansion.

Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire.

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Finally, the use of the glassmen arrived the next day, led by the esteemed Mr. Jeremiah Glassford. Lionel was a man of few words but immense skill. He oversaw the delivery of the enormous glass panes, each one a marvel of clarity and strength.

"Gentlemen, these panes are the heart of our work. Handle them as if they were the most delicate treasures." he sounded off, his eyes catching Theodores as he kissed his wife before leaving for work. He tips his head in a courtesy gesture before returning to work.

Using cranes and pulleys, the glassmen lifted the panes into place. The frames, crafted by Reginald, held them snugly, and Jeremiah’s team secured them with expert precision. The glass gleamed in the winter light, transforming the parlour into a space of ethereal beauty.

With breakfast, lunch and dinner passing in a blur because of how busy the day was, it was finally the day for the finishing touches.

"Are we inviting a decorator?" she adjusted her brown dress as she asked her friend.

"No, Lena dear, I am a decorator myself" Lydia boasted, picking the hair the maids had so delicately made into a bun.

With the fact she was a decorator realized and the glass installed, the temporary decorator Mrs. Lydia Theodore, a woman with a keen eye for detail, led her team of Joyous, Mathilda, Helena excluding Dorothy who was somewhere cleaning and washing. Lydia directed the placement of new drapes, light and airy to complement the glass. The furniture was returned, polished and shining.

"Let us bring in some greenery. Plants will thrive in this light and add a touch of life to the room." she said before she remembered she would have to touch the garden herself, else Hound would be pissed.

Large potted ferns and delicate flowers were soon placed strategically around the room, adding to the fresh, inviting atmosphere.

When Theodore came back from work that day, grudgingly he said. "Well, it is starting to look acceptable."

Lydia smiled, her perfect teeth white and attractive, "I am glad you think so, dear."

The final day saw the arrival of the building inspectors, the sixth day. Unsurprisingly, they came with Jeremiah, it was as though the glassman looked for any and every reason to come into the mansion. They scrutinized every aspect of the work, from the stability of the supports to the quality of the glass installation.

The inspector nodded, "Everything looks in order. This is a fine piece of work, respecting the mansion’s history while embracing the future."

Theodore and Lydia entered the transformed parlour that morning and their eyes widening in delight. The room, that was once shrouded in darkness, was now a haven of light and tranquility. They could see the gardens in their winter finery, the frost glistening on the bare branches, turning the outside world into a scene of serene beauty.

Theodore, still a bit grumpy, grumbled, "It is different, that is for sure."

Lydia smiled and took his hand "It is more than perfect. It’s a masterpiece. And soon, you shall see how wonderful it truly is."

They sat together by the new glass wall, enjoying the light and the view of the distant flower garden, grateful for the skilled hands that had turned their vision into reality. Lord Theodore, despite his initial reluctance, began to appreciate the change, his grumpiness fading as he saw the joy it brought to his beloved Lydia.

That day, Ms Janet brought a cart load of clothes to the mansion under the order of the lord and Lydia could only shake her head, they were so busy that she asked Blanc to park it somewhere with the cart till they had eyes for them.

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Afternoon.

Theodore Mansion.

Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire.

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"M’Lady I brought flowers" a voice said to the lady of the mansion, she wondered why he would call her m’lady after everyone had been told it was Lady Theodore.

"Oh... for who?" she asked.

Jeremiah shuffles. "Take them they are for you, my dear"

My dear?

"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice tight.

"Pardon?" he asked her, wondering why she wouldn’t be elated by his gesture.

"Do you wish to die?" she countered.

"I simply wish to make my Lady happy and also apologize for putting you in the vex of the Lord" he said trying to sound like a victim.

She turned to face him sharply but her gaze remained downwards as though she was avoiding his gaze, "I was not in the vex of the lord, you are overstepping boundaries, It would be appreciated if you stay professional and stop going around the mansion"

He grabbed her arm placing the flower roughly on her chest so that she had to grab it instinctively before it fell, "Lady Theo-" she cut him off.

"Move out of my way!" She yelled, pushing him backwards with a bit of magic that had his eyes widening, because he finally realized this wasn’t Lydia afterall, she was a witch who looked similar to the fool he’d intended to harm.

Helena of Critic-Ishelm.

"Seize him!" a voice barked from the other side of the corridor, Theodore with the supposed victim trailing after him.

Gabriel who has significantly improved with all his funny charm back walked towards the shocked Jeremiah with Tom trailing behind him. Jeremiah snapped out of his haze and rushed for a window but Gabriel was quick as he pulled the man and pressed him to the wall, his arms squeezed behind him.

"Take him to the dungeon and make sure he stays there, have Red guard the entrance" Theodore directed with a frown.

"Yes lord Theodore" Tom agreed picking the glassman’s shoes.

Lydia took the flowers from the floor and was examining it when Theodore sighed. "I knew he was suspicious," he said.

"This is not the time, Theodore I feel on fire!" Helena hollered.

Theodore was taken aback by her outburst so with narrowed eyes he looked towards his wife who looked pale and guilty. Shit. He looked at Helena and she was rapidly growing red.

Whatever was happening to Helena had been intended for Lydia and that alone scared the shot out of him, what was it that made the world hate their coalition so much?

"Conan," he called to the knight who was rushing back up with labored breathe.

"Where is he? He just might have an antidote" Lydia finally snapped out of her shock. She didn’t understand the meaning of the flowers but Hound would.

"Sleep is the antidote, he casted a restlessness spell on you thinking we would need him" Conan announced moving towards Helena.

"Ehh we do, Sir obnoxious! I am restless as intended" Helena wailed showing him her arms.

He grabbed both her arms, his eyes searching hers. "How are you?" she simply shook her head, her eyes unfocused.

"Where is Hound?" Theodore asked no one in particular.

Helena answered sharply. "He has been in the kitchen all day trying to perfect something I do not care about, where is the weasel?" She was being overactive.

"He took his own life before we could pose any questions to him." Conan answered as he rushed up the stairs having heard what happened from the twins.

"Conan! Conan! Conan!" Helena chanted, her eyes darkening as she tried to pry out of her dress.

"Helena you need to calm down, come"

"I cannot!" she screamed and a gust of wind rushed into the mansion, windows clasping shut, causing creaky noises with a chilling air.

"Hey, Helena sweetheart look at me" he whispered, grabbing her face between his large palms. it blocked sounds from rushing into her ears and calming her for a while.

She snapped her gaze to him, "Conan?" she called as if she had noticed him only then.

"Yes," he replied, his eyes attentive.

Her gaze intensified, "He is coming, he... she is coming for all us," she sounded unfocused but scared.

"Who is coming? Helena, come on, let us get you inside." he let her face go and grabbed her arms to draw her closer.

"I swear, I swear, all of us!" She insisted his hug helped but she couldn’t calm down, her body was heating all over and she kept pulling backwards and reaching for her zipper. She squatted, her back resting on the wall as she grabbed her head, her fingers deep into her hair, gripping a bunch of it.

"Can all of you give us some space please?" Conan wailed at the presence.

Lydia couldn’t just leave, she felt guilty for whatever was happening to her friend so she tried, "But I need to-"

"Lydia" Conan warned and Theodore knew it was time he stepped in. "Do not talk to my wife like that, take care of her and if it gets out of hand drag Hound up here" he snapped before turning away with his reluctant wife.

Helena continued, experiencing a panic attack as she hyperventilates, "The arrival, the claim, the fight, no!... Co-"

Suddenly silence descended, the weather significantly dropped from the excess chill wind when Conan pressed his lips to Helena’s, she froze, her arms falling limply by her side. Conan had just pressed his soft yet firm lips on her cold and lost one, her eyes that were wide opened and panic fluttered shut as her heating body dropped to a breathable warmth, she returned his kiss with a fiery need he couldn’t reject, his palm cupped her neck and he drew in closer, she melted when he sucked on her bottom lip with the need to be warm from the heat rushing to his groin, she had equal energy nibbling and kissing him back, soon they were dancing with their tongue, her arms that rested limply now wrapped around his shoulder pulling him closer by the neck and pressing for more with all of her, he kissed her with a foreign hunger and when her kiss became sloppy he snapped back to reality.

He eased out of the kiss with a new light in his eyes, protection for his delicate yet dangerous witch of his.

"Azul is coming" she sighed before going limp in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder. His face held a frown as he rose to his feet with her in his arms, the ache on his thigh from when he bent to meet her eyes didn’t reoccur when he stood up and she wondered if it was her doing.

Dorothy giggled in the corner drawing Conan’s attention as he moved for his chambers, he glanced at her and when he caught the blooming of her cheeks before she covered her lips with her whole he shook his head before walking ahead.

She really is a case.