The funeral had just concluded and Clark had retired early, leaving the guest alone with Arabella. Everyone was understanding as he had always given all credits for his work to his father to show how much he loved him. Him being visibly shaken at the funeral was expected.
"Clark..... are you sure you are okay?" He turned to Arabella and smiled, he couldn't explain why he was unhappy, why he wasn't sane.... it was the guilt..... he had killed someone..... his father.... he was a monster that killed his father.
"I'm fine my dear, i just have allot to do with the funeral just done and then the succession ceremony to be held. It's just the stress" he didn't want her to worry, he felt he could handle it all.
"I know it's stressful now but once everything is done, we can all relax." He placed his head on her shoulder.
"Then we can think about starting our own family, I've been waiting for this for years now. I can't believe it's finally happening, a day where I can dream of having a child without fearing for their safety. " for the past 4 years they have tried to have a child but it wasn't working, he didn't want to put pressure on her so he acted like he didn't want a child. But hearing her mention it made his heart so full.
"There is no pressure my dear, I'm sure a child will come when it's the right time"
"Of course a child will come once I stop taking the magic potion" she played with his hair, it took him a few seconds to understand but she had been taking contraceptives all these years.
He shot up from her shoulder screaming at her.
"Why would you do that, you've been taking potions?"
"Why are you suddenly screaming? Of course I have, I couldn't bring a child into a world with your father" she looked stunned not understanding his anger.
"What if the potions affect your health? How could you do that without telling me?" He was angry at her but he didn't know why. He didn't want to get into a fight with her not today at least.
"It's my body, I decide what to do with it.....Honey, you were too scared of your father to stand up to him..... I didn't want our child to be subject to such terror"
All these years father had hated Arabella because she couldn't give birth to an heir. The only reason he approved of the marriage to a baron was because of her bloodline.
"Had you just given birth.... father wouldn't have had any issues with you." He had said the words before thinking, he wanted to swallow them back in but it was too late.
"I'm sorry Bella.. I didn't....."
"Clark get out" she was crying and he realized he had messed up. He tried walking towards her but she screamed at him to get out.
"Bella please...."
"Clark dumont get the hell out"
They have had arguments in the passed but this was the first time she had referred to him as Clark dumont. She was crying as she clutched her chest but he knew he had to honor her wishes. He had hurt her because of the guilt he was feeling.
Had she just had a child, father would have still found something to have an issue with. He knew it all too well but his emotions were a mess.
***********
There was a soft knock on the door as theo blinked awake.
"Your grace I'm sorry to wake you up so late at night..." he turned to clarisa in his arms as she slept deeply, he had exhausted her all evening untill midnight so he didn't want her to wake up to the noise.
He stood up silently, got dressed and walked out the door
"I'm sorry your grace, a knight stationed at the gate came to me that there was a visitor here to see her grace, he wasn't someone we could turn away..."
Stefan wouldn't bring any random person at almost 1 in the morning.
The door to the reception room opened slowly, he wasn't someone i had met but from clarisa's description I could tell who it was, blond hair that shone, deep blue eyes and a face that screamed i could be a bunny if I tried. He stood up hurriedly
"I so sorry for my rudeness your grace..... I....just...." he could barely speak before he had broken down in tears.
"Its fine lord Clark, please sit. You are my wife's brother, so you are always welcome here" I didn't know why he had traveled for 8 hours from the capital but seeing him cry so bitterly I assume it has something to do with the funeral. I handed him an handkerchief as he tried to catch a breath.
The door opened and father walked in, Clark tried to stand to greet but father stopped him.
He took a look between me and Clark and gave me a cautious look
"Son did you do this?" What was he suddenly suspecting me of?
"Of course not"
"Father, this is lord Clark dumont, clarisa's older brother"
"Greetings your grace, please excuse my rudeness. I had no where else to go"
Father sat beside him placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Its fine, we are family and you are always welcome here." Clark had managed to smile but he still has that horrified look on his face, had it been clarisa, I would just hold her tight as she told me what was wrong. I really am at a loss for what to do, so I'm grateful father walked in.
I felt someone crawl sloppily into bed, I opened my eyes as I saw theo struggling to tuck himself into my arms, he reeked of alcohol.
"Theo.... how much did you drink to be so wasted?" He is a swordmaster so he must have drunk allot to be like this.
"My dear..." he placed a finger on his lips shushing himself.
"I don't want to wake you up, your brother was here and we drank while we chatted" he smiled into my arms as he unclipped hair tangles all over and he winces.
I combed my hand through his soft silky hair, helping him untangle it.
"Big brother.....is very nice....i like him... he should come more often" he laughed gently before falling asleep.
If theo is this drunk, I wonder how bad it is for Clark. More importantly why is Clark in runan? Count dumont's funeral was yesterday, was he maybe sad about his death? I never knew count dumont and Clark to be close, something else must have happened.
I asked the maids to get a change of clothes for him and some water. I helped clean him with a towel and changed his clothes.
"Maria do you know what happened to the guest that arrived last night?"
"Yes your grace, he was taken to the guest room and the maids helped him into more comfortable clothes. As for lord Oliver, lady Isabella wasn't too pleased to see him so drunk when she picked him up"
So even father was a part of their drinking party, I wonder what they spoke about that led to such foolishness, men i tell you.
It was dinner time before I saw theo again, he had slept past lunchtime so we couldn't have lunch together. I also had a date with mother today but we had to cancel because of how drunk father, theo and Clark got.
*************
Clark arrived back at the manor just before midnight, he had ran out of runan not even seeing clarisa, so he would be back home to Arabella.
He walked through the door and she was standing there looking disheveled with black eyes like she hadn't slept.
"I'm sorry Arabella it's all my fault I sho..." she ran to him hugging him as she trembled
"I'm sorry..... it was my fault.... I was so worried.... I searched everywhere for you....I'm sorry.... I shouldn't have lied to you...I'm sorry.... I'm so sorry" she was rambling as she shook, she was so worried when he didn't come back home all morning, she searched everywhere he would have gone to but he was no where to be seen.
"I'm sorry Arabella...." he picked her up, taking her to their bedroom, he sat her on his lap and hugged her.
"I'm sorry Bella, I had so much on my mind, I should have left a letter behind letting you know where i was going." She shook her hand gently
They stayed together in each others embrace, talking for a long time.
He apologized for getting angry at her instead of trying to understand why she took such a drastic decision.
She hugged him tight and promised never to keep such important information from him again.
"Young master" regef's frantic voice broke through the manor, Clark sprinted from Arabella's side towards the voice as he had instructed him to come flying straight to him if anything ever goes wrong in the estate.
"Regef, what's wrong?" He was out of breath.
"Young master we have no time. You need to come now... the countess overheard some maids talking about the funeral..... she is having..... just come now"
"Go Clark, I'll bring the carriage " he gave her a nod as both men took off with flight magic.
"Young master I'm sorry.... I should have ensured she never found out."
"Its fine ann, she would have found out someday" I could hear mother sobbing on the other side of the door.
"Mother, i'm coming in" she turned to me as i stepped in, her face was shocked then she smiled.
"Arno.... they said you had died" she ran into my arms collapsing to the floor.
"I was so worried Arno....I knew you wouldn't die so easily, but they were so sure you had died." What do I do now? Mother must be confusing me with father again. I can't pretend to be father...
"Arno why aren't you saying anything? Come here kiss me." She caressed my face.
"Mother... I can't do that" she smiled sweetly
"Its fine Arno I know you love the maid, but you know how much I love you. You can continue to have her on the side, all I'm asking is that you don't push me away."
"I'm sorry mother..... but father has passed away." Its fine.... she needs to know the truth.... the earlier she comes to terms with it .....the better.
Her face turns angry as she pushes me away, falling backwards.
"You arent my husband.....what did you do to my husband.....give me back my arno" she screamed as she slapped me across the face. The maids all rushed in helping her up as the guided her away from me.
"You monster wearing my husband's face...give him back.....give me back my husband..." she was screaming and crying as they tried to comfort her.
"Young master.....I'm sorry but....."
"I know, i'll leave now" I took one more look at her before walking out. He made her like this, he used her to become the count then he tossed her aside... that bastard.....he did this to her...mother used to smile allot when I was younger, she was so happy, she had everything she ever wished for.....but father....he ruined her....I'm so glad he is finally gone for good.