his footsteps echoed through the wooden hallway, endless and dark, his footsteps echoed on the wooden floor.
The hallway was quiet except for the faint sound of water dripping onto the floor.
"Hello?..."
He called, but the only response was silence, his gut tightened as his pace quickened, searching for the exit.
"Where did the door go–"
His footsteps stopped abruptly when he heard a faint sound coming from the darlnesss.
"Is someone there?. "
He turned behind and spotted someone coming toward him.
The figure approached with calm, firm footsteps, slowly coming into view, the long blue hair stood out against the dark and her calm expression spoke of experience.
"Lina? It's you right, Lina. "
Free asked, and stood in front of her, Lina bent down and gave him a tight hug, a little too tightly.
"Lina, it's not the right time, we need to–"
"Young master... "
"Hmm?."
"You saw us... Right?."
Free froze, his hand instinctively moved to push her back only to feel Lina's arm tightening around his frail body.
"L-Lina! Release me... I cannot breath–"
He pushed, but Lina lips curled, a wide grin spread on her face as her arms tightened even more, giving him a hard time to breathe.
"You saw us, Young master. So you need to die~. "
She chuckled, her hands dug into his skin, Free could feel his ribs letting out a low sound of snapping. His lips trembled, trying to scream only to let out a muffled petrified voice.
"Mom... Dad... Save m–."
Crack!!.
***
"Ahh!!! "
Free jolted out of his sleep, clutching his chest, sweating profusely, his heart pounding in his chest.
"A-A dream?. "
He uttered, looking around the room as the burning sensation in his heart slowly faded away, yet it's lingering moments made his heart to beat faster.
After taking a deep breath, Free turned to the spell book he got during his birthday, picked it up from the table and headed downstairs.
After finishing breakfast, he walked toward the doorway.
"Young master, where are you going?"
Lina asked while cleaning the dining table with a piece of cloth.
"Outside, to play."
He trudged outside, and went to the garden behind the house with his pen and spell-book in hand.
"He definetly saw it..."
She mumbled, seeing him act so strangely ever since his birthday. Her gaze stayed on the door for a second before going back to cleaning.
In the garden...
Free sat alone beneath the Root Tree, scanning the beginner section of spells, trying to forget the memory by the spells.
"Maybe, i should just cast a spell or two"
He scrutinized the page, before a good spell caught his eye.
"This one's looking interesting."
He extended his palm, as his lips quietly moved, chanting the spell silently.
The ground trembled, and something emerged from the ground in, towering over the house, its shadow looming above the roof. The stone-wall stood tall on the garden.
"Huge."
He shielded his eyes, his head tilted up gazing the wall.
"Wow, what's this?."
Philip voice came from behind, he leaned agagains the fence.
A whistle escaped his lips, looking at the tall wall, with amazed eyes.
"I didn't know you could make a beginner spell look intermidiate class. "
He complimented, before he jumped onto the top of the wall, and stepped on it with extreme force, yet it remained standing there without a crack.
'Did it just tank my attack?. '
He leaped down, and up peered upward, more amazed than before.
"You will make a fine mage. "
He patted Free's head.
"Y-yes."
Free nodded, stuttering a bit and rushed inside the house.
"What's wrong with him?."
Philip stared, watching Free running inside the house.
"What's wrong with him?."
He repeated, putting his sword back into it's sheath, left the garden to do his patrol.
Free jumped on his bed, breathing heavily. His eyes drifted outside the window, as the ccold breeze rustled his hair.
'I have to tell Hina about this.'
He thought, before opening the spell book again and scribbled some spells on a black paper.
A day passed into weeks and weeks turned into month, yet, Free could not bring himself to tell Hina about what he saw that night in Lina's room.
'A month has passed and i'm still not able to tell Hina about it'
Free sat on his chair, the pen on his desk and his blue eyes drifted toward Lina, who is hanging the clothes in the garden.
'Young master is staring at me, again.'
She took a glance toward the second floor and saw Free's eyes focused on her direction. She tried to ignore the weight of his eyes, yet, she couldn't.
During the night.
Hina sat on her chair, eating the fried potatoes with carrots and rice, a smile clung to her face, while everyone were eating.
After everyone finished eating, Hina stood up and clapped her hand once.
"Everyone listen. "
She requested, turning everyone's attention to her.
"What's the matter mom?."
Free asked, putting the cup of juice on the table.
"Ohh sweetie~ I wanted to tell you that you are gonna have a sibling soon"
She beamed, placing a hand on her belly.
Free froze, the spoon dropped from his hand.
"Really? "
He questioned, his face tinted with happiness and a sense of uneasiness.
"Yes! Elder Rael herself confirmed"
Hina clarified, her blissful laugh filling the room.
"I will have a little sibling soon."
Free's hand trembled, his thoughts swirled, on wether it was thr right moment to tell her or not.
But before he could take any action, Lina's chair scraped, everyone turned toward her, then without any explanation Lina gave a deep bow, her head touched the floor.
"Lina, W-what happen? why are ypu bowing?"
Hina questioned, confusion crept on her face.
"Lady Hina, i-i'm sorry"
Lina spoke, her calm composure was gone replaced by a sorrowful voice, she didn't raise her head, afraid to look Hina in the eyes.
"I'm p-pregnant too..."
She confessed, silence filled the room. Hina and Philip both froze, while Free almost choked on air.
"W-WHAT!"
Hina screamed, slamming her hands on the table from shock.
Seeing Lina apologizing, Hina froze and her eyes widened, her pupils shrank as realization hits her.
She tilted her head toward Free, who instead of looking confused turned away, not looking her in the eye.
"Don't tell me, Phi–."
Before she could even complete her sentence, Philip stood up from his chair and his head lowered in apologetic manner.
"I can explain, b-but i think...i-i am the father..."
He admitted, sweat pouring down his chin as he stayed unmoving.
Hina stood there silently, her blue eyes lost all its radiance, as her face twisted something between grief, anger and betrayal, looking at her husband and the woman she deemed as her little sister.
A deep silence took over the room, while Free sat on his chair silently, watching Philip and Lina's bowing in deep guilt while Hina stood there with tears pouring out of her eyes.
The next day—
"I SAID DON'T TALK TO ME!!!."
Hina's cracked voice roared, sitting in her room, locking it shut from inside.
"Please honey, open the door! I'm deeply sorry for what i did!."
Philip apologized continuously from outside the room, desperately knocking on the door over and over.
"I DON'T WANT A SCUM LIKE YOU TO CALL ME THAT!."
She responded with a hiss.
"L-Lady Hina, please open the door..."
Lina gently knocked on the door.
"It was all my fault, i made lord philip do it."
She confessed, her eyes we're glassy, almost at her limit.
"Please Lina, don't defend him. "
Hina begged, her muffled voice reaching their ears.
She sat on her bed, her eyes red due to continously crying since last night.
The knocking on the door became more persistent,Hina didn't pay any attention to them, she sobbed on the bed before her gaze stop on her cupboard, her hands trembled, as a deep thought crossed her mind.
'There is no place for you, if you choose that man.'
'Are you out of your mind!? You will marry a powerful family like ours and give the family lineage more power!. "
"You are nothing for us... '
Words rang in her mind, as memories of her past she had left behind surfaced again, Hina watched the cup-board for a while before she stood up and slowly approached the cup-board.
Her hands shook as she gripped it's knob, trying to protest, but Hina took a deep breath and opened the cupboard, steadied her bag and started to put her clothes in.
'Maybe... It's time to go back.'
During that time—
Free was silently sitting in the living room with chief Hemire and Rael, they rushed to his residence as soon as they heard about what happened.
"The situation is getting worse"
Rael muttered in deep concern, she wasn't energetic today due to the stress.
"We can't do anything about it, if Hina is this upset"
Hemire said, his ears twitched lilisteninto the noise upstairs.
"Free you should go and play outside"
Rael suggested, her voice filled with worry.
"N-no, i will stay."
Free replied, he couldn't help but feel guilty, because that night, he could have stopped it, but he let it happen.
'I never thought she will get pregnant in just one night. Last time, my wife needed three IVF cycles'
He scratched his cheek, when the noise upstairs suddenly grew louder.
"Ohh dear, it is getting worse"
Rael covered Free's ears, as the sound of Hina cursing Philip enteredthe room.
"If this get any worse, both Hina and Lina's child might get affected by it"
"We can't interrupt them, this is their family problem"
Hemire added, pinching the bridge of his nose with a deep sigh.
Free suddenly stood up from his place and strode upstairs, with firm and determined steps.
"Free, it's not good for you to go upstairs"
Rael stood turned back to stop him.
"I'll talk with mom, she will definitely listen to me"
He told them, and headed upstairs.
Rael hurried to stop him but Hemire rose a hand which stopped her in her pace.
"Do not interrupt them"
He ordered, closing his eyes waiting for either the storm or the peace that was yet to come.
Upstairs, Philip was still knocking on their room's door desperately, his hand tightened and it moved close to him and was about land a heavy punch on the door.
But, Free came, and pushed him aside.
"Ahh! Free, why are you here?!"
He scolded.
"Dad, please let me talk to mom"
He informed, and stood in front of the door.
His hand moved closer to the door and was about to knock when–
Kerchak.
Door clicked open, and Hina stood infront of Free, he looked up and Hina looked down, seeing him infront of her.
"Mom..."
He muttered, his voice low.
Hina cracked a faint crestfallen smile, and picked him up in her arms, Philip on the other hand froze, seeing the bag she held in her hand.
"H-Honey... "
He remarked, but Hina gave him a venomous glare, and began to stride downstairs.
"L-Lady Hina! Please stop, let us explain... Please. "
Lina begged, despair taking over her heart.
"Mom."
"Yes?."
"Why are we leaving? "
He asked.
"Because your father did something very wrong. "
Her shoulder sagged, barely holding the forming in her eyes.
Hina walked past the living room, without glancing at either Rael or Hemire, she left the house without looking back for even a split second.
"HINA!!! "
Philip desperately pleaded, his knees to the floor as he extended his hand forward, wishing to stop her, which he never could.
Free stayed silent, watching the house get smaller and smaller as they walked far away from it.
Thirty minutes later...
Free sat on the bench of the village's carriage station beside Hina, she sat silently waiting for the carriage to arrive.
"Mom, where will we go after this?. "
He curiously looked down the road outside the fences of the village.
"To my homeland, to your grandparents. "
She flatly answered, and stayed silent for the whole time.
"N-no one was at fault that night...."
He confessed, leaning on her waist.
"What do you mean?."
She placed a hand on his head, comforting herself.
"It happened during my birthday, that night. I was awake. "
He said, looking outside the village.
"I heard some noises that night outside my room. When i went there to check, Lina and dad were doing something, they weren't acting like themselves that night"
He said, his hand clinging to her clothes.
"S-So please...forgive dad"
He pleaded, gripping Hina's hand tightly.
"F-Free?"
"So no one is at.....fault"
She recalled those night's memories, all three heavily drunk and lost in the blissful vibe of the party, her jaw clench as she wailed, embracing him tightly between her arms.
Back in the house—
Philip sat on the chair, staring the floor with tears falling down his face.
Lina wept in the dining room. While, Rael and Hemire silently stood opposite to Philip.
Just as sorrow overtook them, the sounds of footsteps came from the doorway, Hina marched in and placed the bag in the corner.
Philip quickly stood upright, and hurried infront of her.
"Hina."
He called, his eyes red from the non stop tears.
"P-Please forgive me."
He stammered, falling to his knees.
Hina was silent for a moment, looking down at his vulnerable state, before she finally talked:
"Stand up."
She ordered, Philip look up in surprise, and supported himself on his feet.
Hina's hand relaxed for a moment before she gave him a jabbed right on the face.
SLAP!.
His head turned to the left, leaving a red clear hand imprint on his face.
"Tell me what happened that night."
She requested, her voice low but now stable.
"Yes..."
One month ago—
Philip got up from his bed, and looked around the room, his clothes and Hina's clothes were dropped cold on the floor.
Philip place a hand on them and picked up his pant, then he came out of his room with flushed cheeks and fastened his belt he just picked up from the floor, then wobbled down the stairs and strolled to the bathroom to pee.
"Quite the beautphul night~"
He crept back upstairs while humming weird lullabies.
"Hmm... "
He pressed a finger on his forehead, looking around the dim floor, and opened the door, entering without closing it.
"I'm back, honey~!. "
He slid under the blanket and placed his hand on Hina, then paused.
"When did you put your clothes on?."
He checked again, feeling the familiar fabric on Hina's chest, he was about to get up when Hina hugged him back and leglocked him.
"Honey?."
He blinked, but the arms around his neck tightened.
"Let's have some fun, Lord philip~. "
The soft soothing calm voice came, but it was not Hina's, but then, the clouds covering the sky began to go fade away letting the light to illuminate the dark room in it's light.
Blue hair, sharp green eyes and flushed cheeks, Lina snuggled her face on his neck, but Philip instead of being confused or shocked, flashed a grin.
"Did you steal Lina's clothes again?... "
He grinned, because for him it was completely normal for him.
The arms tightened around his neck, he responded by hugging her back, putting his face on her chest, before slowly tracing his hand between her legs.
"Let's continue where we left off... "
He added, and brought his lips near her's, Lina's flushed face gave a warm smile and both of their lips pressed against each other.
The next morning...
Philip sat up from the bed and looked around, the world around him started to spin as he supported his head with his hand.
"I think I drank too much again didn't i."
Just as he finished his words, the person beside him woke up.
"Hina, you awa...ke."
He paused, seeing the person in front of him, his face twisted from shock to horror as the person in front of him was not his wife but—
"Lina?..."
Philip called.
Lina brushed her eyes, feeling the ache of last night's party, hearing the sound, she turned her head to the left and stopped, seeing Philip in his undergarments sitting beside her and slowly her eyes turn to the floor and froze, looking at her uniform on the floor, she tilted her head down, and saw she was wearing only her bra and undies.
Both looked each other in the eye with fright, and Lina opened her mouth, as the memories of last night slowly flodded back.
"G....g...Get out!!!."
She screamed, throwing things on Philip including some explosive talisman and corrosive ones.
"Sorry!!."
Philip bolted out of the room, while Lina covered herself using the blanket.
Silence clung to the room, as she watched the door closing after Philip left.
"L-Lord Philip."
She stood up from her bed and upon seeing the crimson stain on her bed, she placed a hand on her belly, feeling something weird.
'I hope...'
Back to present—
Hina sat on the living room, Philip and Lina sat opposite to her, both not making eye contact, while Hina deeply thought before giving her judgement.
"So, both of you were heavily drunk."
She said, watching both Lina and Philip.
"Y-yes, i was."
He answered, his voice filled with guilt.
Hina's lips twitched, she stayed silent, for a minute.
"Okay then, i forgive you."
Hina forgave, finally cracking a faint smile.
"But promise me you won't ever drink too much again."
She ordered, and Philip bit his lip before nodding with a loud voice.
"Y-YEAH I WON'T!."
He shouted.
"Lina come here."
Hina called.
Lina, still sobbing walk and sat beside Hina, who patted her head, with warmth.
"Lina, I know you deeply loved Philip for a long time..."
Lina's mouth fell open as she locked eyes with Hina who averted away.
"I know, yet I was selfish. I kept on ignoring your feelings, which made you do things like that...I-i'm sorry."
Hina apologized, Lina stayed silent, on the floor, her sobbing getting more intense.
"Tell me, do you want to have this child....or not."
She asked, her gentle voice helping Lina to ease up.
"W-well, i-if you approve. I would like to."
She replied, placing a hand on her belly.
"if that's the case. then, i approve."
She agreed, chuckling softly.
"R-Really?."
Lina questioned, looking up to Hina.
Hina gave a firm nod, and place a hand on Lina's shoulder.
"You will."
"T-thank you....Thank you, Lady Hina!."
She wailed, tears of joy and guilt fell down her cheek, Hina dropped herself on the floor and embraced Lina, crying alongside her, while Philip wiped a tear looking at them.
"Everything is settled now."
Hemire mumbled, and stood up, walking to the doorway.
"Be careful next time, Philip"
He warned and left, the sound of his cane touching the floor gradually faded.
"Yes, chief."
Philip replied, cracking a grin at last.
Outside, the footpath, Hemire scratched his chin. His mind recalling Free's calm composure despite the stressful events happening, a smile eventually formed on his face as he strolled on the path, leading home.
Meanwhile, the house, Philip embraced Hina and Lina in his arm, a chuckle escaping his lips.
"Thank you, Hina. For forgiving me"
"just don't get drunk too much okay"
She teased, giving his head a light hit.
Lina stayed silent, hugging both Hina and Philip tightly, finally letting years of her concealed feelings.
Meanwhile, Free who stayed outside the whole time, cracked a smile, exhaling in relief.
His family almost broke apart, but at last, everything was resolved and Free couldn't help but smile. Because his family was now, the most precious thing for him.
To be continued.....