Free Web NovelChapter 32: Summons from the Main House
"What was up with that expression?" Ian asked in a daze.
"Don’t think much of it. He is the Chief Headguard, after all," Caroline said, standing up with both letters in her hand. "Since you appointed Trevor yourself and he did not become the official headguard of this estate through the proper channels, Vincent came to check him out. He wants to see if Trevor is a spy or if he is working against us."
"So, if your guy is clean, there is nothing to worry about. But if he is even the slightest bit suspicious, he will have to go," Caroline added, pulling out a small metal tray from a cabinet and a box of matches.
"What do you mean when you say he has to go?" Ian asked cautiously.
"Of course, dear, don’t be naive. He would have to die. I bet that’s the real reason Vincent came here," she said flatly. She then struck a match and set fire to the two letters she had placed on the small tray.
Ian just watched the papers burn quietly. Inside, he was really hoping that Trevor would be completely clear of suspicion.
"Aren’t you going to ask me what was in the letters that I am burning?" Caroline asked Ian with a curious look.
"I am curious about the contents. But you burning them means you don’t want the information to leak, so I suppose you are not going to tell me either way even if I ask," Ian said. He picked up his pen again, wanting to continue doing the paperwork right where he left off.
"Look at you being smart for once," Caroline said with a big smile on her face, walking back to sit down in her chair. "I can tell you what was in the first letter, at least. It was about the guard issue. The Family Head will not allow us to hire new guards from the outside. They are worried about the assassins that are targeting us. Especially since they want you dead more than anyone in the family, the assassins would not miss the chance to sneak in as new hired guards. So, they are just going to send a few trusted guards from the Main House, and your Aunty will send some too."
"I see," Ian said, spinning the pen in his hand. ’It does make sense. Hiring outside people right now would prove to be way too risky.’
"Those Main House guards should be here by tomorrow afternoon, and the ones from your Aunty’s Estate will arrive maybe the day after tomorrow in the morning. After every guard is here and organized, Vincent will head back to the Main House... with you," Caroline said calmly.
"What?!" Ian said in shock, dropping his pen. "What do you mean, go to the Main House? Why do they need me there?"
"You do know that your cousin Adam is ill, right? The Family Head thinks that he might not even last until next year. And since Adam is his only child, you will be the next in line to become the Family Head." Caroline paused to let the weight of what she just said sink in. But to her surprise, Ian didn’t even look surprised at all. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"I kinda knew that much already. What I want to know is why do they need me there right now?" Ian asked.
"They said they want to teach you about the duties of Family Head. But I am sure those old hags just want to assess you to see if you are fit to be the Family Head," Caroline said with a pissed-off expression.
’She must mean the elders of the house—the guys who used to serve my grandfather. Although they are not of our bloodline, they contributed to the family so much. Most of them were with my grandfather when he bought the nobility title, and some even helped our businesses grow to the point some becoming part of founders of the Merchant Union. Even if their personal strength is weak, they are still a very big deal in the family.’ Ian sighed internally, thinking those guys were going to be a lot to deal with.
"So, how long will this take?" Ian asked.
"I don’t know. They never specified your return date in the letter, but I am pretty sure you will come back with us after the banquet is done," Caroline said.
"Banquet?" Ian asked, confused.
"Huh? Did I not tell you before? There is going to be a small family birthday banquet held for Adam at the Main House at the end of this month," Caroline said.
"No, you didn’t say anything about it. And since it is the end of the month, that means it’s in exactly three weeks, right?" Ian said, counting the days in his head.
"Sorry, I guess I forgot since I was always so busy with paperwork. I didn’t have time to tell you kids. But don’t worry, Vincent will take about a week here in the estate first. So you will only have to spend two weeks there," Caroline said, trying to reassure him.
"A week?"
"Yeah, a week. He will want to get to know the new Headguard here once Trevor is cleared of suspicion. And if Trevor is not clear and he dies, Vincent will have to find a new Headguard from the new guys that come here tomorrow. He would then have to stay to see if the new head guard is good at controlling the men here, issuing orders and many things. So, it will take him at least a week to finish his business here. So you still have some time here," Caroline explained.
"I understand. In that case, we should stop talking, and hurry up and finish this paperwork if you don’t want to be left all alone doing it yourself while I’m gone," Ian said to his mother.
"You are the one who talks a lot. We should have been done ages ago," Caroline muttered, holding her pen and writing down numbers.
"Mom, you are the one constantly asking me things like, ’How do you do this?’ and ’I don’t understand this,’ and ’Why did you put the number on this side?’" Ian said, mimicking her voice. "It is because I am working and teaching you at the exact same time. That is why it is taking longer! I could have been completely done by now if I was alone," Ian said with a smug look on his face.
"Is that the way you talk to your mother?!" Caroline snapped, glaring at him with a scary-looking face. "I didn’t raise you to talk back to me! If I say you are the one who talks too much, then you are the one who talks too much. Do you understand me?!"
"Yes, ma’am," Ian just nodded, sweating slightly. He definitely did not want to argue with her when she made that face.
"Good, now you better hurry up and not slack off" she said, her voice suddenly turning incredibly sweet again.
’Sigh. She always throws the "mother card" when she loses an argument with me. Well, at least she isn’t angry with me anymore about pressuring her to destroy her Aura Core earlier. Still, I wonder what the real reason is that she doesn’t want to destroy her core. And was in the other letter she didn’t say at all,’ Ian thought, looking at his mother who was busy working.
