Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 66: Call Me Zachary, He Growled.

Chapter 66: Call Me Zachary, He Growled.

Afternoon.

Flower garden, Theodore Mansion.

Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire.

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"If I live here, I would only sleep" Shi’Enz said with a smile, untangling her arm with Lydia’s to open her arms.

Lydia giggled. "That is ridiculous, there is so much to do" Lydia pointed out.

"How is everyone?" Lydia asked her sister the moment they sat on the wooden garden chairs.

Shi’Enz started with a smile "Mother is fine, a bit confused but fine"

"Father is livid and calculating" she added, shifting in her seat, Lydia listened.

"Mira is going crazy and depressed at the same time," she said nodding.

Before she then sighed and uttered. "Liza is now going to the Citadel"

"Why did she get a job?" Lydia finally said, a question.

Shi’Enz shook her head "No, the emperor came for her" she said in a whisper.

Lydia’s eyes widened before her face became owned by a frown. "The emperor was in Critic Arley?!" she asked.

"Yes, He was at the estate," her sister said.

"Why what happened?"

"Thank you" Lydia whispered to Joyous who just dropped a tray of tea and cookies.

"We are unaware of his reasons, we could do nothing when he came" Shi’Enz retold.

"What is to be done now?" Lydia asked feeling uneasy.

Shi’Enz shrugged as though carefree but she was also confused. "Father has travelled too, I think he will go to the citadel from there"

"He was supposed to marry Mira" Lydia pointed out with a frown.

What is the emperor planning?

"I know, the emperor seems very fickle and with that amount of power a lot of people suffer from it" Shi’Enz complained with a pout.

"You sound so learned" Lydia teased her sister.

"I am learned, mother gets me books now that you are gone" Shi’Enz said with a palpable grin.

"I am not gone, I am just..." Lydia trailed off.

"You are never coming back Lydia I know, and it is ok, I would be a selfish brat if I ever asked you to be in the Statham estate" Shi’Enz said.

"Thank you"

"The tea tastes nice but Lydia have you forgotten I prefer milk?" Shi’Enz countered with a frozen.

"I did forget, you shall get milk" Lydia laughed softly. "Thank you for coming" she expressed.

Before Shi’Enz could come she had secretly prepared a carriage that was not from the estate and then she asked her mother for permission, but of course, her mother had been indecisive and overly rational, she had been sceptical about Lydia letting Shi’Enz in after not being close to her before, that she advised Shi’Enz to stay back but aside coming to see Lydia there was a presence Shi’Enz missed so she sneaked out and came to the Theodore’s Mansion.

The two sisters spend time talking about everything and anything, Theodore wasn’t back so no one interrupted them, Lydia laughed freely at Shi’Enz’s storytelling, Shu’Enz is a good storyteller, who narrates from word to word however it happens if given the opportunity, one her sisters never give her, lest Lydia and the deaf maid.

"How is Mathilda?" Lydia asked suddenly remembering the maid who had been her friend back at home.

Lydia started to feel horrible she had completely forgotten her friend after getting married she could only imagine what Mathilda thinks of her now or how she is being treated for having been close to Lydia.

"She is fine, we have gotten closer" Shi’Enz mumbled, her mouth full.

"I do not only talk to El anymore" she added after swallowing.

El is the deaf maid.

"That is lovely, please when you get back say hello to Mathilda for me," Lydia said, her cup of tea in hand, she took a sip.

Shi’Enz hummed "Okay, you could give me a letter if you want" she offered.

Lydia’s eyes glimmered "What a nice idea, I shall do that" she proclaimed.

Shi’Enz moaned as she ate more id the cookies. "I shall go home with this, who made them?" she asked but before Lydia could answer, A movement beside them made Lydia look up to find Joyous standing as she relayed "Lady Theodore, The carpenter wishes for you to come to see his work"

"Oh Shi’Enz I need to leave you for a while, you can look around the mansion," Lydia said to her sister. She stood up before saying.

"Joyous please tour her" her voice firm yet soft.

"Yes, Lady Theodore," Joyous said but still dutifully escorted the lady into the mansion,

"Where is Red?" Lydia asked, as she knew the maid was behind her.

"He is with Dorothy," Joyous told.

"Oh? She took him still" Lydia asked with a chuckle, she had overheard Dorothy swearing and quarrelling with the cat yesterday about how she shall never take the pet or talk to it and it had been purring and groaning so intently a listener would think she understood the animal. And now she is carrying it.

"Yes, Lady Theodore" Joyous confirmed as she turned to go help Shi’Enz tour the mansion.

"Lady Theodore, please... come" Solomon’s voice invited her, he sounded so bright she found herself smiling, Conan should be back soon.

*

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Early Evening.

Vegetable Garden, Theodore Mansion.

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Hound is undisturbed and engaged in weeding and harvesting in the mansion’s vegetable garden, he had started this garden of vegetables the first week he had been brought to the mansion by Theodore who was five years older than he was. He had been elated to have a fertile and empty land waiting to be brought to life and he had brought it to life like a happy farmer would like.

He is clad in brown pants and a white long-sleeved shirt that he has rolled up to his elbow before putting on a leather hand glove and despite the impracticality of a white attire for manual labour, it is known by all in the mansion that Hound likes white clothing’s for his gardening and now beddings too.

His large palm is equipped with a sturdy how and a wooden-handled rake, and with it he meticulously navigates through the rows of vegetables. The earthy scent of freshly turned soil filled the air as he carefully removed weeds, ensuring the garden remained tidy and well-kept.

He is precisely harvesting the vegetables, using a sharp knife to delicately cut the ripe produce from the plants. His movements are deliberate and measured, reflecting the emphasis on meticulousness and craftsmanship characteristic that Hound possesses, and despite the challenges presented by his white long-sleeved shirt Hound carries a sense of dignity and respect for his surroundings, intertwining the practicality of labour and enjoys it, because somehow despite not knowing anything but chaos all his life before Theodore and earlier with Theodore he still craved some serenity and life.

He loved the idea of creating something that wasn’t before and guiding it to life. The garden of flowers in the mansion is also his handiwork, a girl had gifted him with flower seeds in the market as she had caught him staring at the sachet in a stall once. He had been younger and poor, right after running away from the slave system that he had grown to be a part of after his parents sold him off. All he had known was darkness and pain, that girl had brightened him up before Theodore picked him after a battle.

The girl had stolen from her family to make him smile that day and he vowed to never forget her. That girl is Shi’Enz.

He perceived her before he saw her, spiking his heartbeat into excitement.

He stood up and turned to meet her honey-brown eyes, her beautiful eyes that she seemed to be insecure about.

"Hello," she whispered.

"Shi’Enz" he breathed before he looked away.

He felt lethal and destructive, having woken up from a rest he had not intended to take, he had been attacked by his nightmares and darkness alike, he had seen the things that he had managed to keep at bay for years and as he faced them he felt wounded and open again, luring his protective and assailing side outside and he would rather hurt her feelings than hurt her physically so he turned his back to her, picked up his tools and started to leave her presence.

"Where are you going?" she asked urgently, wondering why he was leaving.

He ignored her and directed for his cottage, the mansion on his right side.

She is behind him, coming after him, engulfing him with her scent, he hears her and wants it but he doesn’t stop, determined to preserve her he walks off.

"Hound!" she wailed and he stopped abruptly.

"Don’t call me that" he thundered.

She walked slowly to him, his cottage right behind her now as he faced his entrance.

"What then shall I call you?" she asked, peering at him from her height.

"By my name" he growled, holding her gaze, refusing to look below.

She licked her lips "What is your name, stranger?" she asked.

His lips twitched. "Zachary"

"Call me Zachary" he growled

"Zachary" she whispered and his jaw tightened.

Only she can call him Zachary.