Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Chapter 74

You can do without the overcoat and waistcoat," Dulce let him know, starting for the door with the trunk of clothes.

Caedos glanced down, seeming to consider it. "Are we going to your home?"

Dulce barely got to the door before he promptly lost hold of the trunk, Asael taking it from him without a word. "Thank you," He appreciated, hesitating only for a moment. "And we are going to my home... somewhat." He added under his breath.

Caedos decided with that response to keep the stuffy clothes on, heading for the door. It was only right that he dressed appropriately to visit the home of his savior.

The Hellhound stepped out of the castle for the first time since he was summoned to Earth, getting a good look around. The carriage was merely a short distance away, flowers lining the driving path. It was late in the afternoon, white, puffy clouds filling the sky.

The trunk was promptly handled by the coachmen, the carriage spacious enough to fit three. The ride back was short and uneventful, and as the large lavish carriage lumbered down the pathway to the first guard gate, a curtain was hastily dropped in one of the castle windows, hiding whoever was behind it from view.

Amelia was waiting at the gate when they arrived, straight-backed and poised but it was rather hard to miss the sparkle in her eyes. "Welcome back, master." She curtsied, guiding them into the manor.

Caedos drew the rear, he had now mastered the art of walking upright but the sight of the orchards from a distance caught his attention, his ears flicking curiously.

They were led back to the tea room, finding it empty. The setting sun was visible from the balcony, filling the room with gold light.

Kath’tan made an appearance shortly after, warping into the room.

Ruoxi was the last to return, making his way back with important information. "I found a bathhouse."

Cleaning up had been underwhelming because they couldn’t fit in most of the bathtubs from Earth, leaving them resigned to sluicing down.

"Finally finding something useful," Kath’tan muttered under his breath. He couldn’t get used to the lack of amenities, accustomed to privilege.

He rose to his feet, starting for the door. "I’m going to take a dip before dinner." He said, not hesitating when it came to having the chance to clean up.

Asael got up as well, also deciding to use the bathhouse.

Ruoxi who had brought the news just watched them leave without so much as glance in his direction.

"It might be fun to all take a soak in the bathhouse," Dulce chimed in, thinking about the plentiful warm water.

The responses were simultaneous. "No."

"Not at all."

"It won’t."

Caedos was the last to get up, choosing to stay out of the conversation.

Dulce watched them leave, shooed out of going to the bathhouse with them. He didn’t think too hard about it, considering getting started on his estate before dinner.

He considered it but he didn’t move, glancing around the room until his gaze settled on the view outside the balcony. He watched the sun set, the glow of the dying sun illuminating the red roses.

Dulce sat and watched the sky, long after the sun had set, until Amelia came to call him for dinner.

He rose to his feet and went with her to the dining room where the table was already set, chandeliers hanging low over the table.

The table soon filled up, their damp, long hair let down to dry.

"We can still leave first thing in the morning," Dulce said to the table. He had spoken to Amelia about the procurement of new clothes and she had reassured him that it could be easily done over the course of the night.

They were ahead of schedule, but the sooner they got started on the journey, the sooner it would be over.

After dinner was over, Amelia led him to the study, standing off to the side in case her assistance was required.

Dulce took one look at the stack of letters and ignored them, uninterested in the conversations he was having in the past. Instead, he focused on the journals and ledgers, settling in to estimate his wealth.

-+-

The dining room emptied out as soon as dinner was done, each going to do their own thing.

Asael and Ruoxi went off to their rooms - Kath’tan right away returned to the armory, with the intention to train this time.

Caedos did neither, wandering out of the manor and into the orchards. The trees here couldn’t compare to the colossal trees in the Deep Woods but it was pleasant to roam amongst the trees regardless.

He only returned to the manor well into the night, requesting a servant to take him to Dulce, unable to sleep.

Dulce was in his study, bent over the table, completely focused. He straightened up at the knock on his door, watching the Hellhound walk in.

"You couldn’t sleep?" He asked lightly.

Caedos walked over to take a seat across from the desk, "I only need so much sleep." He said shortly, going quiet. He was content to simply watch Dulce pore over endless documents, the crackling of the hearth and the rustling of paper the only sounds to be heard in the room.

Dulce had dismissed Amelia not too long before Caedos came, pleased to have someone sit with him.

The records showed him that the estate was pretty stable, the long line of butlers doing a great job of protecting his profit.

He could take as much money as was needed for the trip without worrying about the manor. They would need quite a lot as their travels by ship was only one half of the journey, they would still need to travel through the east.

It was going to be a journey twice as long as coming to the capital of Alderth from Dewmire had been. He had just been getting further and further away from the sleepy little village and his cottage.