Author-note: How many have you read the previous books of the same universe of ‘Lord’s, Duke and the Ghost’?
If you have read the previous books you should know about Maximilian’s story,If you haven’t read, I would urge to read:Valerian Empire, Heidi and the Lord, Bambi and the Duke.
As easy it is to read this book as standalone, you will enjoy the book the fullest if you know the background story of the other characters while there are minute and subtle details I make use of from the other books.
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The morning wasn’t bright but it was brighter than most of the days in the land of Bonelake. The sun trying to play peek every once in a while behind the passing clouds that moved from one side to another like someone who was waving it away in a certain direction sometimes.
The little boy and the little girl sat at the table of their mother’s room. Writing something in their book while having another book placed on top of the table. When the little boy placed his inked quill down on the table, his mother asked,
“Are you done writing, Dami?” she was sitting on the other side of the room, on the edge of the bed as she sewed the clothes for her children. The needle going in and out as she concentrated her eyes on it while her consciousness that was directed towards her children who were studying together.
“I am done, Mama,” the boy answered, stepping down from the chair while taking the notes he just made.
The children were young to look at but with the difference in the aging when it came to the humans and vampires, the vampires and pureblooded vampires taught their children early as their brains were much developed than the lower creatures who were the humans.
“Let me see what you have here,” his mother placed the needle and the piece of cloth she had only started working to take a look at her son’s homework. Not believing in the work of a guardian or bringing a teacher into the mansion, the lady had taken it upon herself to teach her children how she wanted them to grow up.
And in her opinion, she was doing the best job. Who else better to teach her children but herself. Her daughter followed her son shortly, carrying her book with her while waiting for her turn to have her mother look at it.
“You have got one of these wrong, darling. Surely you can get it fixed before I am done with the next piece,” said the woman, her smile evergreen on her lips which didn’t fall but always remained on her lips. It wasn’t a pleasant smile but a smile that wrecked the servant’s nerve when her gaze fell on them.
“Yes, mother,” Damien answered obediently before going back to finish and get it done right away within the time Maggie’s work was inspected.
“Hmm, it appears you got most of them right, Maggie. Don’t look so happy,” the velvety voice of the lady reached the little girl’s ears, “You are a few years older to Damien which puts you in advantage while you have to be faster than him. Do not complain that it is because you are a girl. It would be the most pathetic reason,” the vampiress handed back the book to her daughter.
She told it with respect to the way once her little Maggie had tried to pull the gender card. The last thing she wanted was her children using excuses.
The little girl’s shoulder slumped knowing exactly what her mother was speaking about, “I am sorry, mama.”
“That is alright. Come here, dear,” her mother raised her hand, not stretching it too much but enough for the young girl to place her little hand in her mother’s hand, “I know you won’t speak about something like that again. My daughter knows not to disappoint me. Right?” asked the lady to which the girl nodded her head profusely, “Off you go now. Both of you,” said the woman to have the children step out of her and her husband’s room.
The little boy went wandering around the mansion. Looking at the plants that had grown right outside their mansion which was turning greener and lush in appearance. With his books that were placed back in his room, Damien pushed the window to see on his left and right if someone was there before placing his foot on the window sill and to climb up the roof of the mansion.
This was his favorite place in the mansion. The quiet atmosphere and the wind which blew in a greater velocity around him he continued to walk up and further until he reached the tip of the tower bell which was never used.
The boy didn’t know if they even used it. It stood quiet and firmly. Taking a seat on the dark brown roof, he looked at the sea and the sky which touched each other to form a horizon. The clouds had finally started to move as time passed but it was too late to get warm sunlight as the sun had started to move to dip down the sea now. The sky turning orange and red in color that reflected back the light on the landscape around him.
“What are you doing up here sitting alone?” he heard his mother’s voice and his head snapped to turn and look at his mother, “You look surprised,” said the lady, her footsteps firm on the roof as she got closer to him.
“I, how did you come up here?” little Damien asked, his brows slightly furrowed as he looked at her.
“You can climb and I cannot?” he raised her brow at him, “I was looking for Maggie and you, to find out that my little boy was nowhere inside the mansion. So I came to look for you here. Do you like this place?” she asked him. Taking a seat next to him, she pulled her legs forward to place her hands on her knees.
“I love it here,” he answered, his mother stared at the sea that reflected the bright colors, “It has beautiful colors,” he said looking at the sky and his mother nodded in agreement.
“That it does,” the lady started to hum something very softly that sounded nothing less to a bird or maybe better than the bird’s voice as she continued to hum the song.
Curious the boy asked, “What are you singing, mama?” which had his mother smiling.
