Questions/ Answers-
1. Rouhey is a special word that I've picked up during my travels. If you know what it means please keep it a secret. It will have more meaning at the end of the story.
2. The decision Endymion has to make is yet to come, sorry for the confusion.
3. Was his last answer to Sere in "Enchanting Bonds" vague? Of course. He's a man, men are obscure.
This is Part A of "Malicious Intent", Part B is the continuation of the chapter and will be updated separately
"Malicious Intent- Part A"
Infer Manor was filled with new life for the first time in many years. The servants have always been loyal to their remote leader and lord, yet the electricity that filled the air was contagious. And more importantly, scandalous.
"Have you heard, Elsa!"
"About what now, we have to go back to work," an exasperated voice remarked.
"New news about his lordship and his mistress, it seems as though-"
"Oh my lord! What happened now?" the voice now dipped in curiosity.
"Let me finish!"
"Fine!"
"Seems that her greatness Helena has found out about Lord Endymion's secret gem. Hiding her away in his room has done nothing but angered her,"
Sigh. "We already knew this! It has been going on for three weeks, Dora,"
"Would you let me finish for Ireland's sake!"
"Sorry…"
"Anyways, Orlando the smithy heard from a friend from the courier wing that a message had been sent two weeks ago by Helena…to her home,"
"No!"
"Oh yes, she is coming. And there will be hell to pay,"
"Elsa, what will happen to the lord's mistress when he leaves her to that monster?"
"Nothing good, Dora. Nothing good,"
Endymion shuffled through the massive piles of treaties and paperwork he had been neglecting for more pleasurable things. Much more pleasurable things.
"Sign here, my lord,"
Burien pointed to yet another parchment needing a signature.
"You know Burien, just because you're my chief advisor, it doesn't mean you have you have to cosset me," Endymion stated while signing the document, "I can find where to sign on my own,"
"Of course you can, my lord, I just want to make sure we do not have another Rive Dine Crisis," Burien replied sardonically, his tone filled with dry humor.
The Rive Dine natives from the north were, and still are, great allies of Infer. However, the last time Endymion attempted to organize the treaties and parchments single-handedly, he had forgotten to send them out.
When the Rive Dine people did not receive the finalizing peace treaty, they assumed Infer was now rejecting the treaty.
They showed up the next week with two thousand strong on his door, demanding an explanation.
"The Rive Dine people were jumping to conclusions, they had the audacity to warrant an official apology from me,"
"Well, a war had almost started, my lord," Burien stated impertinently, grinning.
Endymion let out a sigh before standing up to stretch his aching shoulders, "Just be happy I've known you since I was a wee babe or I'd have you're tongue for you're insolence,"
Burien waved a delicate hand through the air, "Might I suggest cinnamon spice with that dish, for I fear my tongue is too bitter,"
Endymion smiled. Although they may bicker on the surface, deep down Endymion respected Burien more than just his advisor. Being the oldest son of a very powerful lord had deprived Endymion of any free time to be a boy: immature, intolerable, and loved. Growing up, he was always under his father's shadow living up to what was expected of him. His mother had been just a fond memory, only seeing her on public engagements and festivals, while his father sternly groomed him as his successor.
But Burien had always been there for him. A surrogate father in how he protected him…
---FLASHBACK---
"Endymion! Where are you?!" Tarragon McKnight bellowed.
"Right here, father," a young Endymion replied.
"What are you doing in the gardens, I told you to meet me in the study at midday for the Douglas meeting,"
"That is my fault, my lord," Burien stated now protectively standing beside the boy, "I was explaining to Endymion the importance of keeping track of all the servants, even the gardeners, as means to protect against theft and over expenditures,"
Lord Tarragon scratched his growing beard in frustration and nodded, "That's fine, just make sure the boy attends my meetings first,"
"Of course, my lord, forgive me," Burien stated as he watched Tarragon walk away.
Ten year-old Endymion looked up at Burien and whispered, "Thank you,"
---END OF FLASHBACK---
"Whatever, I need some fresh air. I'll be in my gardens if you need me,"
Serenity tenderly placed the last of the seeds into the row of unraveled earth, gently patting them in position. The day was moist after the long season of mild showers, the air crisp and enjoyable. For the past few weeks Serenity has been rendered a hostage of Endymion's desires and her own as well. Caught up in her attempts to untangle her feelings she never noticed how the days seemed to pass by so fast, and how after weeks in her lord's room she was finally outside for the first time.
It almost seemed as though he would never relent. She blushed.
Gardening had always been a hobby of hers and her green thumb was the brightest and healthiest of greens, so to speak. Subsequently, after weeks of stolen kisses, long night embraces, and intimate caresses, she opened up to her lord about herself. From her parents, to her own personal fears, she confided in Endymion, trusting him with her body as well as her heart.
She needed something to do, for even if both had wanted to intertwine themselves and hide from the world, they could not. Endymion had a land to take care of and many people who relied on him…and she? She only asked to see his private gardens. And him? He gave them to her to pass time.
So caught up in her thoughts she never noticed the shadow the cast over her form blocking the warm rays of the sun; not until a chill passed through her.
"Are you cold?" a smooth and familiar voice asked.
Turning her head towards the voice, she was met with deep indigo eyes, and an unusual crop of silver hair.
The voice was that of the same man who had addressed Endymion at the auction house, Serenity mused. The man who almost looked through the room to spot her…
"No," she said, just now finding her voice, "I'm fine, thank you,"
Marcus had originally come to his brother's private gardens to escape from Helena and her unsubtle advances for forgiveness. He knew his brother was preoccupied by other things, the whole bloody manor knew about the woman who had stolen their lords heart- as gossip alleged.
Marcus was a man the did take the time to enjoy life, being the younger brother- the indispensable son or spare- had allowed him the time and freedoms unknown to his brother. These gardens in particular held something special for him…
---FLASHBACK---
"Marcus! Marcus, oh where are you…"
A woman in her early thirties placed a delicate hand on her forehead, the sun glaring down on her from above straining the view of her massive private gardens. She waited until the clouds of midday passed overhead casting a shadow on the once glowing landscape to spot her rambunctious son.
"Mother!"
Marcus raced through the trail behind the many rose bushes that consumed the area and flew into his mother's awaiting arms.
"Oh Marcus, you know how I worry when you don't attend your tutorials,"
Looking up at his mother's hazel green eyes he tenderly reached up to play with a silver-blond strand that escaped her loose bun. "Mama, those tutors are mean, they hit me when I don't pay attention,"
Stroking her son's silver hair locks, Lady Riona bent down and placed a soft kiss on the top of his head, "Then you pay attention, become the best at everything, and show them the light I see in your eyes,"
---END OF FLASHBACK---
"Are you alright?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Marcus irritability combed his hair with his fingers; feeling the sweat at their roots.
Looking down at the woman-child on the ground he silently cursed himself for being caught in a vulnerable moment, "Just remembering something,"
Serenity smiled understandingly, "That sometimes happens to me too. It's a nice escape,"
Looking over the grass she sat on as she was previously tending to the plants, he kneeled down and sat opposite her, "Take no offense to this question, my lady. But who are you?"
Serenity blushed and turned away to conceal her uneasiness, "Please don't call me a lady, I'm nothing of the sort,"
Chuckling, Marcus let out a sigh, "Maybe not in out here, in this land," he gestured to the surroundings, "But who's to say being a lady means you have to have a title,"
Serenity looked down towards the middle of her chest, her hand unconsciously coming to rest at where the beating of her heart coursed the loudest. In all of her lifetime she was always someone's: their daughter, their property, their slave.
But the man who sat there awaiting her comment made her feel like an equal; Endymion worshipped her body, her love- but never looked at her with such openness.
Why was she suddenly feeling warmness seep into her blood and fire burn in her chest?
"Marcus,"
Serenity instantly looked up at Endymion, who was walking towards them. His strides hard and stiff and his eyes laced with dark fury.
At the entrance of Infer Manor servants gathered in a long line as a massive carriage and its entourage approached. Male servants respectively took off their caps and bent their heads, while every maid and female servant uncomfortably curtsied.
The Mistress was back.