Drenschville went home one day, he was tired of their training. His body was sore so he walked like a drunk boy. He badly wanted to lie down on his bed. He does not care anymore what it was made of. All he had in mind was to rest.
Because he was tired and sore all over his body, he did not notice anymore that someone was watching him. That person was hidden in the corner of the hallway, not too far behind Drenschville.
‘He looks like that again. I should tell Mom.’ The watcher thought and left when he saw Drenschville finally entered his room
The boy ran towards the lounge area where his mother, father and older brothers were doing their own things since the time of the clock was pointing at the hour of their free time when everyone in the family was gathered there to rest or bond by seeing each other’s faces.
The boy found their mother doing embroidery and beside her was their the Viscount who was reading late news at the tabloid.
“Mom! Mom! He’s at it again!” the boy reported. Only their mother was called by all 5 of them -three older brothers and parents- put the things they were holding down.
The youngest stole everyone’s attention and showed interest in what they heard. They all gathered around to receive the news the boy brought with enthusiasm.
“Come again, baby?” Viscountess Ystradgynlais asked.
“Did you notice his behavior these past few weeks every time he gets home from Zachronos?”
They looked at each other and responded in agreement.
“He was like that again this time!” the fourth son said clearly but no one got his point.
“So?” The Viscount arched his brow. A question mark painted on their faces.
The youngest boy sighed in disbelief, he acted like a stressed grown up man that made his family’s face frown as if they ate something sour.
‘He is not cute at all to do that!’ they all thought but did not voice out their complaints.
“So~ we can do Mom and Dad’s plan last time against him!” hearing that, they all felt like their mind had brightened up.
“So…..” the Viscount started, he hovered his family’s heads closer to him and talked in a low voice -almost in whisper as if what they were planning was top secret that no one should not know.
Men of Ystradgynlais planned to enter Drenschville’s run down room in command of their masters.
They were careful in opening the door’s room but because of its old feature, however careful they were, the door still creaked. They were all startled and the men’s masters immediately ran towards the corner in fear of Drenschville waking up because of the sound their idiot men made.
They look funny but no one could laugh at the moment. Their limbs unconsciously moved on their own as if it was their instinct to run away before they could see the child.
What’s with that small brat they fear? They do not even know why.
But contrary to what they were expecting, Drenschville was still sleeping soundly and did not have any knowledge of what was happening in his surroundings and few men had already entered his chamber.
The Viscount gestured them to continue inside. They were all curious as to why their masters were acting like scared cats since they have not seen yet how Drenschville is when awake.
They transported Drenschville together with his bed that was as craggy as rocks in the mountain in the storage room.
The Ystradgynlais were delighted and immediately retired for the day to prepare their youngest to be substituted for the bastard.
For them, Drenschville was not suited to be a playmate of such high standing persons. He might even do crude things to the youngest Lady and youngest Lord of Zachrono and youngest Lord of Gabrielas such as being close to to Maxwell, making Maxineirah fall in love with him and disposing Grenchant who they deemed as a competitor when in fact, it was their own thought and plan if they were to successfully place their youngest child in Drenschville’s current position.
The Viscount and Viscountess would make sure the Zachrono and Grabriela children would realize who was much better to play with and that is the ‘real’ and legitimate son of them.
Ystradgynlais woke up earlier than they intended. They were following Drenschville’s schedule for the past month when they received a letter from him, learning swordsmanship in Zachrono’s territory.
They even paid for him. The guts of that brat! He could have refused them. That bastard had been dreaming and acting all high and mighty just because he was selected to be the Young Lady and Young Lord’s playmate.
They could not take anymore humiliation and would get what was supposed to be for their real noble children.
“Oh my, Frite! You look so handsome and cute, My Love!” the Viscountess praised his son even if it was far from the truth.
Carloi, the youngest’s face looks like his mother and father’s not so pleasant face combined.
After hearing that, Carloi smirked at his own reflection in the mirror and felt like he really was handsome. His coffee colored hair was brushed up, showing his wide forehead. He was also wearing expensive clothes, full of jewelry and shiny black shoes. He looked like he was dressed for adornment in a festival parade.
The maids wanted to laugh but stopped themselves because they did not want to be berated.
‘At least, the bastard one is handsome and has a sense of fashion even if he is rude and has no manners.’ The maids thought.
They converted their laughter into smiles, praising the boastful brat any more.
When it was time to leave, Carloi was smiling from ear to ear as he felt he’ s really special since his mother and father and the maids were looking after him while his older brothers were frowning and looking at him with envy.
‘That bastard of Drenschville is just nothing compared to me!’ Carloi vaunted in his thoughts.
Drenschville, on the other hand, woke up later than he does and found himself in a different but familiar place.
“Ha!” he exclaimed in disbelief but wanted to laugh because he found the situation funny to him.
“What a childish and trifling idea.” Drenschville said but no one could hear him. Who would even think of something like these?
Of course, he knew the answer in his wonder. It was none other than the stupid family of his. Even a 3-year old would not think something this crude and has a better plan.
He looked at the locked door. They even left food trays in the ground for him to eat, even steamy. How kind of them. He shook his head in disappointment.
Drenschville wondered if the family, at least, still had some shed of kindness if they were just really a complete fool.
Good luck to them if they were able to trick Maxineirah and the others.
The carriage Carloi was in stopped at the front gate of the Zachrono’s Estate.
He finally felt pressured when he saw the Knights on guard but what would he fear when he did nothing wrong and his parents already prepared everything for him to enter.
The guards wanted to check the carriage first albeit they expected it to be mounted by Drenschville. It is not bad to be sure, right? It was on the usual protocol to inspect everyone who wanted to enter.
And they were curious about the carriage with the Ystradgynlais emblem when Drenschville always used public wagons.
Carloi opened the window and the guards looked at each other in doubt but before they could send him back, the child handed a letter written by their father to inform that Drenschville was sick and wanted to send his older brother instead. Carloi even showed Drenschville’s pass that they stole from his drawers for proof.
Although there were several legitimate proofs, they still handed the decision to their Head and the Head ran to Maxwell and relied.
Maxwell, Maxineirah and Grenchant were together when the Head guard in charge of the frontal gate came. The three of them eyed the ‘proofs suspiciously.
“Let us see.” Maxwell said in doubt.
It took minutes. Carloi’s hands were turning icy cold every second passed. He thought there was something wrong with his entry when the Head came back and commanded the guards to open the gate for him.
He rejoiced and felt like he really belonged there. Once again, his confidence was overflowing.
Carloi unmounted the carriage, and wondered why there’s none waiting for him in line and there was only one male servant to escort him in. He thought it was because they were expecting a special guest, Drenschville, so they sent only one.
Thinking like that, he was glad to know that Drenschville was not special at all for the Zachronos. It made him smile as he followed the servant to the training ground.
The three children waiting for the uninvited guest’s arrival eyed Carloi unpleasantly as he walked towards them boastfully.
Exaggerated clothes, unsightly face and that annoying personality of his made the three of them want to scoff but only Grenchant who did it and Maxineirah and his brother looked at him in a curious manner.
“What?” Grenchant asked not knowing what he did was stupid and rude for the new ‘visitor’.
Carloi pretended as if he did not hear anything. He cleared his throat and introduced it in an annoyingly elegant way.
“I, Carloi blah blah blah blah, greet you, prominent Graces.” He said too many that the three could not follow. His wordings were all wrong!
Grenchant wanted to criticize him but Maxwell elbowed him first so he looked at Maxwell with his eyes asking but Maxwell shook his head.
“We also greet you, Young Lord. But why are you here? Where is your younger brother, Drelle?” Maxineirah asked to steal the visitor’s attention when he was about to look at Maxwell and Grenchant who were conversing with their eyes.
“O-oh. He is sick so I came to her in his stead.” Carloi responded with a mighty smile that Maxineirah found it not good for her eyes.
Carloi was able to calm himself down when Maxineirah suddenly asked him. They would not be able to find out the truth, would they?
“I see… Sick, huh?” Maxwell asked with a hint of sarcasm.
“I wonder if that Priest could be really sick or he does not want to see us.” Grenchant asked in a whistle, trying to uncover Carloi’s color.
“A-actually…” Carloi hesitated for a moment when he remembered his mother’s reminder, ‘Do not say words against Drelle for now or they might think you are lying.’
But how would these children who are smaller than him know if he was lying? He could just easily coax them like the other kids.
“Actually… Do not say that I said this, okay?” he asked and the three nodded in reply.
“He really do not want to be here because he was not suited to be your playmate.” Carloi said in a low voice, he even covered the side of his mouth as if someone would listen to his nonsensical words.
The three children giggled. They already found out Drenschville’s family’s intentions.
Carloi thought that they thought Drenschville was funny when in fact, it’s his words that were funny.
Carloi grinned from ear to ear.
“What a funny big boy.” Maxineirah giggled.
“You mean, that brat, Drenschville? Of course, he really is funny. He thought he would be someone spec-“ Carloi said in relief but was cut off by Maxineirah.
“No, I mean you.”
“Who? Me?” Carloi asked, confused.
“Yes. You are funny.” Maxineirah agreed and giggled with her brother and Grenchant again.
Carloi’s face flushed in embarrassment.
‘How dare this petty unimportant girl humiliate me?!’ Carloi thought as he started to argue with Maxineirah.
“You dare laugh at me?” Carloi asked in disbelief.