Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 89: Flirting With Joyous.

Chapter 89: Flirting With Joyous.

Afternoon.

Bedroom, Theodore Mansion.

Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire.

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

"I thought I was the one who liked girls" Tom poked fun at his brother.

Gabriel shrugged still smiling. "But I was barely even doing anything" he confessed.

Tom shook his head. "This is not the time I tell you," he said seriously.

Tom doesn’t think they have the privilege to be after girls or flirting, they were homeless and jobless, perhaps if they had those then feeding and a bit of fun could come.

Gabriel nodded, agreeing. "But she looks so cute trying to be stern, she’s modest" he commented.

"She is stern and works in the mansion" Tom pointed out with a shrug. She is to be modest.

Gabriel tapped his brother’s shoulder. "Let’s get back to work, It will waste our time if we eat first"

Tom nodded in agreement. His eyes met his twin and they both synced the nodding.

As they nodded, their eyes seemed to complete a conversation as they held each other. They turned and took the seat Joyous had set up for them.

"We should eat" Gabriel invited resigned,

"Yeah," his brother agreed.

The identical twins, sat at a polished mahogany table adorned with delicate lace tablecloths that the maids had set gracefully outside the imposing mansion.

The table was adorned with fine china plates, intricately engraved silverware, and crystal glasses, gleaming in the midday sunlight.

Tom, with his curly full chestnut hair and a crisp white shirt, leaned back in his chair, a faint smile playing on his lips as he sipped from a porcelain teacup.

Gabriel, his mirror image in appearance but with a slightly mischievous glint in his eye, reached for a silver platter piled high with cucumber sandwiches, a favourite delicacy of the empire.

Birds chirped in the nearby trees, and a gentle breeze carried the fragrance of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers, adding to the serene atmosphere.

As they conversed in hushed tones, their laughter mingled with the rustle of leaves and the distant chiming of the mansion’s clock, they missed the persistent presence watching them from the mansion wall.

They finished dining and sat still to rest.

"Tom we need to get a permanent job here" Gabriel whispered. "We would be the lords boys and the lady is quite lovely too" he continued with a grin.

Tom nodded. "I know but if you piss that girl off too much, she could put in a word or two " he smirked, pointing out his brother’s fuck up.

"She will not, she shall be smitten soon" his brother replied confidently as he went on to ask after a beat of silence. "Are you gonna do the honour then?"

"Of what?"

"Asking for a permanent job, brother" Gabriel reminded.

Tom answered his brother with a shrug.

They ate lunch and then went back to work, the Mansion was vast and the area was even larger.

There were so many buildings, at some point Tom thought it’d never end

As they worked, shafts of sunlight filtered through the dense canopy above, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow across the verdant landscape.

The mansion loomed majestically in the background, its imposing facade softened by the beauty of the meticulously tended gardens by Hound and now clearing of bushes by the boys.

With each passing moment, the twins’ task neared completion, and the once chaotic grounds began to take on a new sense of order and tranquillity.

Their reflections shimmered on the surface of the nearby lake, mirroring their shared sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

As the afternoon waned and the sun dipped towards the horizon, the twins stepped back to admire their handiwork.

The mansion now stood surrounded by a lush tapestry of greenery, a testament to the twins’ dedication and skill.

And as they gazed upon the fruits of their labour, they knew that together, there was nothing they couldn’t achieve.

Even pleading with the lord to give them a job was possible, if only they stopped being under the umbrella of fear of the unknown and nervousness.

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

Early Evening.

Parlour, Theodore Mansion.

Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire.

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

Conan and Helena had been in the mansion for more than an hour now, Joyous hadn’t immediately called for the lady because she had heard of their little fight, the couple should be given more time to bond, she had thought. But now it appeared as though they would never come out.

Helena bent her head to stare at Conan, her eyes narrowed and contemplative.

"Do you think you should be sitting here with me?" her question.

The question made the knight look at her for he was on the afternoon tea. "Whatever do you mean?"

She pouted, before spouting. "You are not a guest, I am assuming you should be standing by the doors or something" she pointed out her reasoning.

He turned away. "I am not a doorman" he bellowed.

She shrugged. "The mansion needs one," she said with a giggle.

"Lady Clingy" he called through gritted teeth, a warning.

"Yes, Sir Oblivious" she purred and he made the mistake of looking at her face.

His heart did a double take and settled for drumming in his chest.

She was adorable, he thought. His eyes darkened at that thought.

She might be adorable but so is she stubborn and a witch and clingy and so fucking attractive, she licked her lips and his gaze trailed her features there, those kissable lips and those pinchable chins. She is adorable.

She gasped. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

He gulped now holding her gaze. "Like how Helena?"

She licked her lips and his eyes flickered to them before back to her captivating ocean-blue eyes. "Like you hate me but you hate yourself more and you are unaware of what to do with me" she whispered.

He neared her. "Because you are -"

"Helena!" Lydia’s voice interrupted the mood, making Helena pout.

Conan blinked finally able to draw in air that wasn’t intoxicated with Helena.

"Lady Theodore" she mumbled as she and Conan stood up, simultaneously.

Lydia waved it off quickly as she completed the stairs. "I am just Lydia to you please," she told Helena, Theodore was right behind her, looking at nothing but his wife.

"Okay Lydia" Helena mumbled meeting Lydia.

They stared at each other for two seconds before bursting into giggles. The men shifted and their eyes met.

What the fuck? They thought.

"Hello, Lady Theodore" Conan acknowledged after clearing his throat.

"Sir Conan, good day to you, thank you for bringing Helena" Lydia expressed her delight for Helena’s presence.

Conan looked at Helena before saying. "I merely brought the box you had forgotten, Lady Theodore"

Helena scoffed, while Theodore raised a brow. "Did the lady hang on the carriage?" he asked.

Helena shook her head. "No, I was seated comfortably inside... Oh," she trailed off when she realized it was a jab at Conan.

So lord Theodore teases too, she thought.

"Theodore" Lydia scolded softly, her soft palm on his arm.

He took the palm and held it to his chest with both his hands.

Lydia didn’t seem to mind as she started to talk with Helena. "I was eager to know its content but my carelessness managed to be victorious," she said.

Helena smiled. "That is alright, I for a moment had thought..." she trailed off making Conan feel his heart clench, he was unaware that she wanted him to buy her anything, he had been so thoughtless with her because she acts strong but she’s also an adorable young lady. He shook his head.

Theodore guided Lydia to a couch before letting her hand go, he pressed a kiss onto her forehead and without a word started to leave. He tapped on Conan’s shoulders to follow him as the ladies found themselves a seat in the parlour.

"Dorothy, a table please" Lydia called out, Joyous should be resting now after having to stand outside her door for hours.

"You look wonderful," Helena said.

Lydia blushed innocently. "Thank you, you look absolutely stunning" she returned.

"Do not lie, Lydia, you are the lady of the city" Helena scolded with feigned disappointment.

Lydia smiled, exposed. "You are right, you could do better, When did you start living in Critic Arley? here we are obsessed with appearance" Lydia said.

Touching her hair, Helena sighed. "I know, I was just lazy and I barely go out before, perhaps now," she said.

Lydia shook her head, she didn’t believe it was a maybe situation, she believed Helena now that she had found Lydia would come out to the world as her right-hand woman. "It is certain, now you have me and we have Critic Arley" sh. Said.

Helena fawned. "I love your confidence, it is what I expect of a sister" she let out with a pout of her lips.

Lydia took a band and picked her hair up in a bun. "I love your fire and that little accent you have when you call my name," she said back.

"You are so cute, I am now realizing you are the kind who feels the need to return every compliment" Helena brought to light with a smile of understanding.

Lydia laughed feeling exposed. "I never know how to help it, you’re just as adorable"

They both paused and their beautiful laughter filled the air in unison. Lydia had still managed to return the little compliment Helena had added to her last sentence.

Teas were brought to them and they continued with their chat.

Today shall be light, Lydia thought.