Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 68: The Muckraker Is Back.

Chapter 68: The Muckraker Is Back.

Afternoon.

Parlour, Theodore’s Mansion.

Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire.

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

Lydia stared at her sister in silence unable to form a sentence, she knew Shi’Enz knew nothing about her actual father, her mother or father would never talk about him, she was simply an abomination, an embarrassment on the Statham.

The story the society knows might be different about Lydia being illegitimate, and naturally, people would assume it was from the father’s side. Marquis Julius Statham had cheated on his beautiful wife but that wasn’t the truth.

Lydia isn’t an abomination from the father’s side, but from her mother who had birthed her for another man in the house of her husband, the story had been that a slave had sneaked into her mother’s room and taken advantage of the woman. The family of three had travelled to Critic Ishelm to come back home and soon became four because Geogina had gotten pregnant and abortion in the empire is frowned upon more than having an illegitimate child yet you would be dragged for keeping the child.

It was Julius who had always roared about how a slave took advantage of his wife whenever he was pissed, the rest were whispers and as Lydia barely went out she was not tainted by the words or attacks of the young people who added gossip and try to know who her supposed mother might be. The fact that Lydia only had her mother’s hair went out of the window because if Lydia didn’t resemble Julius then she had to resemble the homewrecking outside woman. Little did they know

"I have always been curious Shi’Enz" she whispered. "Mother would never talk about it and Father hated it whenever I ask" she continued, just like on the day she was to be wedded she had asked her mother about her father but Julius had interrupted them. Perhaps there is more to the story, her father and perhaps it isn’t only love that made Julius keep Georgian.

"How many times did you ask?" Shi’Enz asked with a frown.

Lydia avoided her eyes "Twice." she said.

"And you are giving up on knowing who your father is?" Shi’Enz asked her whole body curious why Lydia wasn’t deeply interested in uncovering the truth about her father.

"Whatever do you mean Shi?" Lydia asked her eyes locked with Shi’Enz’s brown ones.

Shi’Enz told quickly. "Find a way to ask mother again"

Lydia looked at her teacup. "Father said he was a slave, he might have been killed now" she said. "Do you not think perhaps father had been so angry that they would have hanged him?" she added.

"Then why does nobody talk about it?" Shu’Enz sounded more stressed than Lydia was about it. Perhaps she had been thinking much about it after Lydia had left the estate.

"Because it is an abomination and it happened in Critic Ishelm" Lydia

"I happened in Critic Ishelm, Shi’Enz we shouldn’t talk about my father, if he is alive he probably would prefer to never hear about me"

"You wouldn’t be an abomination to him at least," Shi’Enz said.

"Or maybe I am" Lydia whispered seconds later.

Lydia that maybe her slave of a father would rather she died than have a burden he cannot take care of, she would be a responsibility he wasn’t ready to own up to. A slave without dignity and perhaps a home too, she cannot find him.

Shi’Enz watched Lydia draw back into a sad contemplating mood, she felt horrible she had talked so much and that question had simply slipped out of her. Now she has turned a perfect afternoon into a pain session

She sighed, reclining on her couch.

"Lady Theodore, the painter" a voice enters the room breaking the impossible silence.

Lydia smiled, a very noble one. "Oh Conan, you are fast, thank you" She stood up.

"I am the painter, my lady" the painter introduced himself with a shaky breath, he looked dirty and about to piss himself.

Why doesn’t he wash the paints away from his body? Lydia thought.

"It is Lady Theodore" Joyous entered the conversation pointedly. The painter nodded frantically.

"What shall you be called?" Lydia asked him.

"The painter," he said, he looked so pale and fear-stricken that Lydia wondered if he would be able to carry out this job at all. She could not risk asking him so she simply guided him to the place she intended to paint. The library.

"Come let me show you," she said.

Conan bowed before a clear of his throat. "I shall be with Hound, Lady Theodore," he said.

Shi’Enz’s ears twitched at his name, her heart interested in going with Conan.

"You will be rewarded if you make the man smile," Lydia said quickly, her eyes serious.

"That is impossible," Conan said pointedly.

Lydia shook her head. "You are a knight, you should be able to make the impossible, possible" she spoke strongly.

Conan chuckled. "Lady Theodore, you tease me"

Lydia shook her head, if Conan knew how serious she was he would not chuckle so easily,

The group reached the library, Lydia, the painter who might have been too frightened to tell his actual name, Shi’Enz and the maid Joyous.

"Where is Dorothy?" Lydia asked Joyous, her steps ahead of the said and the painter.

"Dorothy is at the lake getting water for the house" Joyous informed with a glance at the cat, she would faint if that thing were given to her, she would rather quickly go get Dorothy instead of collecting the per from her Lady, she thought her eyes narrowed on the cat who seems to have snickered.

"I shall leave soon" Shi’Enz said as they reached the library.

Lydia frowned "How soon, it is not evening yet, you should leave in the evening" she persuaded.

"I... okay" Shi’Enz agreed, she had wanted to leave early because meeting Lord Theodore twice in a day would make her lose a good amount of her energy, one she needed to save, to be able to listen to her sister’s complaint about Liza and mother and the Emperor which always falls back on Lydia.

Maybe she would just stay the night here, she mused.

"The painter, I need you to paint this room before the Lord arrives"

The painter paled further as he quickly started to work, he was meticulous despite being hurried and before the Lord arrived he had left the mansion, happy he survived such a day.

*

* *

*

Early Evening.

Marketplace.

Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire.

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

Theodore is seen on the streets of Critic Arley’s marketplace, it’s the same one he had brought Lydia to have lunch in their first week of marriage. He is also cloaked and covered in warm attire as he brushes through the area.

"Lord Theodore!" a voice reaches him, making his has tighten. He had warned the men of the council to never announce his presence wherever they see him but some are just slow.

"Lord Theodore, My lord!" he yelled making Theodore stop, if he continued this fool would draw unnecessary attention to him.

So, Theodore resigned and turned to be met with the egg-headed magistrate. "Shut up you dimwit why are you yelling?" he asked with a frown.

The magistrate glanced around. "I’m sorry My lord" he apologized "My lord, we need to talk" he whispered.

With a raised brow Theodore asked. "What is it?"

The magistrate looked around the area, suddenly sensible. "A favourable area would be-"

"Solomon, what is it?" Theodore cuts him off.

"Okay, I think it is best we talk about it in the city monthly meeting" Solomon the magistrate suddenly said.

Theodore let out a chilling laugh "Do not stop me so irresponsibly ever again" he warned.

The magistrate paled. "I apologize Lord Theodore"

Theodore turned and continued his walk in the market to his destination when the man’s voice came again. "Whatever are you here for My lord?" Theodore ignored him, his pace rapid.

"What is it, I can help you find it" lord Solomon added.

"It is none of your business" Theodore said coldly.

"Yes, my lord" Solomon agreed.

"I am not your lord"

"Why are you following me?" Theodore pointed out.

"I thought you might need an escort," the magistrate said with a bow.

"Please disappear" Theodore sighed.

"Thank you, Lord Theodore"

Theodore shook his head as he continued his walk around the market, he had something he wished to purchase for his wife.

Theodore had always been treated for his ruthlessness and a certain rumour that had escalated long before when he had been younger.

Lord Theodore is a monster who killed his mother, and his enemies and threatened the then king now emperor.

Theodore had been alone and younger when he started going to war and defending their kingdom, he was known for his ruthlessness until it was cloaked in treason. One that was never clarified.

He was alone before Conan joined him, he had always been his friend but then he specifically chose a side by being with Theodore instead of the citadel, and then he had found Hound in this same market after the second to the last war that the empire had gone to.

Theodore heard a loud clear of throat and there was an announcement. "There is news, the muckraker shall return to Critic Arley tonight!"

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