The Dreamer's POV

"…Perhaps I should have a taste." He said casually, his voice cold and Fiona felt sweat dribble down her neck, her eyes widened in shock.

'This wasn't how it was to go, mother said…' her thought trailed off as she thought to look.at the red enchanted amulet in her right hand.

'What? It was perfect a minute ago, and I didn't squeeze it. What does this mean? Did he…' Her eyes slowly trailed back at the butler, his eyes glinting colding, almost matching the color of the moon.

She clumsily backstepped and her feet caught the bottom of her dress, and she fell, sprawled, with Luke atop her glaring down.

'Mother.' She thought to scream when Luke sent a swift chop by her neck rendering her unconscious immediately.

Sarah stood, walking back and forth and not far from Luke's room doors. She wanted to burst in, but she was afraid. This man, this butler wasn't what he seemed. Find more chapters on empire

She could only pray that the plan goes successfully. Then, the door lightly creaked and slowly came open.

"Fiona…" she called, but it wasn't Fiona who walked out, it was Luke, and on his shoulder was Fiona unconscious.

Sarah froze, clenching her dress. This wasn't how things ought to go, the amulet ought to have entranced him, why was he still standing? Thoughts flooded into her mind.

Luke cast her a glance then looked away as he placed Fiona by the wall, a few steps to his door.

Sarah swallowed, her jig was up, she knew that, she knew he had caught on with what was planned, she couldn't find the words, anything that could make her in control or give the illusion that she was.

She only watched as the man Luke walked away from her daughter and then stopped.

He slowly bowed with his hands apart in an act of defiant mockery.

Sarah gritted her teeth, this was her loss, this was her humiliation, things could only get more brazen from here.

"Did you seriously think I would fall under the effect of such low level enchantment? Do you think me weak, my mind weak or did you have to cut down costs?" He questioned soon as he raised his end.

It was like something clogged her throat, it was night and the moon was up, the air was cool yet she was drenched in her sweat.

There, she was explicitly made aware, Lucas was no ordinary butler, no man that resisted a mid level enchantment amulet was ordinary, and it had cost her quite the fortune, she had kept it as contingency plan for if great beasts were met on their path or if Drius proved to be troublesome, him on the other hand, he possessed the mental fortitude of a hundred men.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

She looked to her daughter who sat unconscious against the wall, she was pitiful, worse she had failed.

She bit her lip that it cracked a little.

"I'll let young master Theo aware of your brazen acts, perhaps that will change his mind. Even family can prove to be thorns, you after all are humans." Luke said and then revealed the broken amulet in his hand, he clenched it and then made a turn to the passage by his room, leaving the scene.

"Oh Fiona, I'm sorry. It looks like we would have to try other means…" she said bitterly, crouching to part the hair over Fiona's face.

Luke hadn't hurt her, not did he touch her, he had only made her unconscious which strangely told of his character.

She sighed and then walked back to her room. When she was back, she had with her a cup of water, and she splash the contents on Fiona's face, prompting the young lady to wake.

"What what?" Fiona heckled, turning her head back and forth to the sides.

"Mother, oh Mother it was terrible. The amulet had no effect, I tried." She said and then she clutched her shoulders, shivering in fear, her mind remembering Luke's cold gaze.

"Let's go, I will think of something, I won't lose the family's wealth to a child and an over zealous butler."

****

The day came, and it was time for breakfast.

The sounds of silverware pervaded the dinner room as the kids hurried their food, oblivious to the tension and the hate, Sarah and Fiona oozed, even Margarette was at a loss of what to do, but seeing as Sarah and Fiona didn't take their meals, she decided not too as well.

Theo on the other hand had his meal patiently and slowly, unbothered about the glares that were through his and Luke's way.

"Hmmm Hmmm!" Sarah cleared her throat drawing a little bit of attention to herself.

"Dear Theo, now may not be a good time, but, we are nobles and we have to act like it. We need a leader to fit in your father's shoes, not that he could be replaced, but the inhabitants of the Lyma region needs someone to count on, we have already endured enough shame as it is." She paused, expecting a response from the young boy.

'You pompous prick.'

"I believe you're the young, much too young to carry the burden. As the oldest of the family, and clearly the most experienced, I would like to…"

"Stop there grandmother." Theo said rather softly, yet with so much authority to it that Sarah just couldn't continue.

He dabbled his mouth with his handkerchief like a refined noble, unlike her Fiona and Margarette's children, and it pissed her off.

"Before you go on, I would like to read this. It'll give the necessary enlightenment you need." He finished and turned to Luke who nodded and walked towards her holding in his hand a scroll.

He placed it in front of her without care, and walked back to the side of the young master, poised and refined.

Sarah didn't want to take it, especially when it was handed to her so rudely. Luke was just a butler and yet he had the effrontery to disrespect her that way in front of the family.

Had the events of last night transpired, she wouldn't have stood for it and demand for respect, but she knew Luke a little better now, and she forfeited the thought, opening the scroll.

Her brows furrowed and the creases on her face increased.

"What is this?!"