Free Web NovelChapter 37: Axe Calling
A clerk rubbed his aching wrists before handing the ledger to another.
Reports that had towered over the table at noon had finally shrunk into neat stacks.
Outside, the sky had turned amber.
Anastasia looked toward the clock.
"Young master."
She turned to Vincent.
"It’s time to send today’s telegram."
Vincent put his pen down and leaned back with a long sigh.
"Already?"
Anastasia lightly nodded.
"Alright."
He rolled the stiffness out of his neck and picked up the pen again.
’What do I write?’ Vincent decided to think before writing today.
He spent a minute thinking, then started writing.
"Hello mom, hope your yesterday was better than today."
"..."
Vincent re-read what he just wrote and crossed the line.
He started again.
"Hello mom, hope your today was better than yesterday.
I am doing good too.
Nobody died today so I think we’re making progress.
I am spending my days in the administration building in Gold Town.
You said the county wasn’t comfortable.
Turns out the floor isn’t either. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Although...
I’m getting used to it.
Give me a few more days and I’ll adapt fully.
Okay, I’m kidding.
Please don’t take that part seriously. I want to come home too.
Anyway, do you know, me, Anastasia, and Leona finally found a lead.
We found a hint to who might be causing so many problems to us.
I won’t write the name yet because if I’m wrong, it’ll be a problem later.
I just hope you trust me on this because I’m very sure we are onto something here.
Also, we’re thinking of taking Silver Town back.
The problem isn’t defeating the bandits.
I’m afraid they might hurt the civilians if we corner them.
Anastasia said that Vanessa could help me with this.
She didn’t exactly describe what Vanessa can do, but she asked me to ask you if you can ask Vanessa if she can help me if she’s free.
While you’re at it, and if she agrees, can you also send an axe with her?
Why an axe you ask?
Well...
I had a dream this afternoon.
I split a mountain with an axe.
I know how that sounds but I feel wielding the axe is my calling.
I really wish to learn.
If Vanessa knows how to use an axe, please ask her to teach me too.
I don’t think she’d do it if I asked her myself. I’m not sure. I could be wrong but I hope you understand where I’m getting with this.
Anywho.
I also spent a lot of money to purchase grains.
Sorry.
The prices went up because of me.
Once the crisis is over, I’ll do something to somehow earn it back.
Lastly...
Thank you.
You got me engaged to Leona.
I gave her a rock.
She somehow turned it into a dagger and gave it back to me.
It wouldn’t have been possible without you.
Thank you very much.
I hope you have a good night.
Love you.
Your son,
Vincent."
Vincent read it once and nodded in satisfaction, then handed the letter to Anastasia.
She went to the telegraph machine and silently read through the letter before preparing the telegram.
"..."
The corner of her lips rose ever so slightly.
The young master truly wrote letters as though he was chatting over tea.
She corrected the crossed-out first sentence.
She corrected a missing coma.
Then she stopped.
After a brief moment of thought, she quietly restored both mistakes.
"..."
Perhaps...
The Madam would prefer reading it exactly as the young master wrote it.
Without changing another word, Anastasia began transmitting the telegram.
....
D’Arc Mansion, Capital.
Evening slowly settled over the estate.
One lamp after another flickered beneath the manor’s glass chandeliers.
The corridors gradually fell silent as servants finished their duties for the day.
Click.
Click.
Click.
The telegraph machine finally came to a stop.
Linda stepped forward before the operator could even rise.
As though following a routine she had repeated countless times, she accepted two papers.
The first was nearly organized.
The second...
Already had a line crossed out.
"..."
Without reading either, Linda placed the personal letter in front of the official report.
She turned and left the communications room.
...
The study was unusually quiet.
Only the gentle crackle of the fireplace accompanied the soft whistling of wind.
Seated by the window was a tall figure, her black hair cascading over the back of the chair.
A porcelain cup rested untouched upon the desk, already beginning to lose its warmth.
A pair of calm blue eyes slowly read through a piece of paper.
Tap.
Linda placed two papers upon the empty desk.
"The young master’s correspondence."
Vivienne’s gaze moved.
The paper in her hand disappeared into wisps of black smoke.
She reached for the first paper.
Linda stepped back into her usual place behind the chair, her hands nearly clasped in front of her.
Vivienne’s eyes landed on the first sentence.
It was crossed out.
"..."
The corner of her lips rose faintly.
She continued reading.
The faint warmth in her eyes slowly softened.
Then...
"Turns out the floor isn’t either."
"I’m getting used to it."
"Okay, I’m kidding."
"Please don’t take that part seriously."
Vivienne: "..."
Her thumb lightly rested over the paper as though she wished she could smooth that sentence away.
Her eyes moved lower.
Silver Town.
Bandits.
"...she asked me to ask you if you can ask Vanessa..."
Vivienne closed her eyes for a brief second.
"...he could’ve simply written ’Can Vanessa help?’"
Linda didn’t know what her Madam was reading, but being able to incite such a response from her was a feat only the young master could achieve.
She lowered her head to hide the faint smile threatening to appear.
Vivienne shook her head and resumed reading.
"While you’re at it, and if she agrees, can you also send an axe with her?"
"He needs an axe."
She didn’t even look up.
"Get him something he’ll grow into, not outgrow it."
"Understood."
Her eyes continued down the page.
"...dream..."
"...mountain..."
’...he wrote so much to convince me.’ She let out a soft sigh. Why did he think she wouldn’t agree to his request?
"...spent a lot of money..."
"Sorry."
"...earn it back."
Vivienne knitted her brows.
She turned to Linda.
"Remind me to scold him when he arrives."
"Regarding?"
"Regarding money."
"Understood."
Vivienne’s eyes glanced at the paper again.
"Lastly..."
"Thank you."
"...engaged to Leona."
"...gave her a rock."
"...turned it into a dagger and gave it back to me."
"...wouldn’t have been possible without you."
"Thank you very much."
Vivienne read those lines once.
Then again.
Silence settled over the room.
"...a good girl."
Who would’ve thought she would read such words in this lifetime.
She had arranged that engagement hoping Vincent would stop drinking and settle into a peaceful life.
Nothing more.
Never had she imagined he would one day thank her for it with such sincerity.
For a brief moment, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
She simply read those lines again.
Only after committing them to memory did she continue.
"I hope you have a good night."
"Love you."
"Your son,"
"Vincent."
The smile she had been suppressing finally appeared.
Small.
Gentle.
Real.
’...Love you too.’
She traced a finger across the paper and it disappeared into wisps of black smoke.
Only then did she pick the official report of the day written by Anastasia.
It started with what happened after yesterday’s sunset.
The warmth on her face quietly disappeared.
Each line she read drew her brows a little close together.
Four hours of sleep.
Skipped breakfast.
Skipped lunch.
The administrative hall.
The floor.
Vivienne stopped reading.
"Linda."
"Madam."
Vivienne leaned back on her chair while showing the report to her personal attendant.
"Don’t we own a residence in Gold Town?"
"It would be stranger if we didn’t. It is our county."
Vivienne’s lip twitched.
"And yet my son insists on sleeping on the floor."
Linda nodded once.
"The residence in Gold Town is fully staffed. The young master simply hasn’t gone there."
Vivienne massaged her temples.
"Even after giving up alcohol, he still manages to give me headaches."
"Would Madam like tea?"
"Yes."
Linda brought a steaming kettle by the fireplace and poured a fresh cup while Vivienne continued reading.
From the previous sunset till now, Vincent read 167 reports.
Signed 98 documents.
Made 35 deals.
Survived only on tea and snacks.
Anastasia then described whom they were suspecting which Vincent had not answered.
Vivienne couldn’t care less.
Anastasia had also mentioned about the strange reaction Vincent displayed after waking up.
Vivienne kept note of it.
Eventually she described the solution she advised and the report came to an end.
Vivienne closed her eyes again and let out a long sigh.
"Linda."
"Yes, Madam?"
"I may have placed too much upon such small shoulders."
Linda folded the report carefully before answering, "Is this a mother’s worry about her overworked son... or a lack of trust in his abilities?"
Vivienne looked toward the darkening sky beyond the window.
"I’ve never trained him or taught him anything, Linda. I’ve only ever loved him. But... he’s my son. I don’t think he lacks the abilities."
Linda gently massaged Vivienne’s shoulder.
"They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree."
She smiled.
"I believe the young master has already proven that."
Vivienne remained silent.
"And... has Madam not noticed?"
"He smiles more."
"...hm."
The tension in Vivienne’s shoulders eased.
"He does."
"Then let him continue. If he asks for help, Madam can help him. As for everything outside his control... allow me to shoulder some of it."
Vivienne shook her head.
"I still need you here. Send a butler."
"Understood."
"And tell Vanessa to help her brother."
"She is to withdraw immediately if their lives are endangered."
A brief pause followed.
"And..."
Vivienne sighed.
"Tell her to be a little kinder to him."
Linda bowed.
"I’ll see to it immediately."
The study grew quiet once more.
Vivienne remained by the window long after Linda had left.
The last rays of daylight disappeared beyond the gardens.
Her reflection lingered upon the darkened glass.
She picked up her teacup and had a sip.
The lights of the royal capital flickered peacefully beyond the window.
Vivienne took another sip.
The Capital remained exactly where it belonged.
