Behind the large, glass door, Lucian could hear hurried footsteps as a girl's muffled voice yelled, "I'll be right there!"
I didn't think that someone would actually answer at this time. I figured that they would be away working or at least asleep!
Lucian stepped back as the door creaked open. To his surprise, there stood a young girl that seemed to be about the same age as Priscilla. She wore a white night gown with comfy slippers and held a small leatherbound book in one hand. Her Dark brown and wavey hair ran down to her waist with a shine. The young girl's eyes were a dark shade of hazel, and she wore a necklace with a purple crystal polished to perfection.
"Eh, hello sir, how may I help you?", asked the girl. Her voice was soft and elegant which gave off a sort of innocence.
Lucian put his hand on his chest and bowed politely, "Good evening miss, I would like to know if I could have a word with the head of this household."
The girl straightened up at the statement, "Sorry but she's currently away and you can't really have an in person conversation with someone of here status regularly unless you're close with her. The only thing I can really do for you would be to relay a message for you if you'd like."
Lucian kept a warm countenance and replied, "Ah, that's unfortunate." I guess I should have expected something like this to happen.
Lucian, put a hand on his neck as he thought for a moment before saying, "Could you please tell her that a man named Lucian Crowe came by and wishes to have a small chat with her on either Saturday or Sunday? I haven't been around the city much so the only meeting place that I can confidently propose is the library at any time after noon. I apologize if I sound a bit strange but all I wish to know is if I may be a close or far relative."
The girl slightly raised one eyebrow showing her confusion as her grip tightened around the neat notebook she held, "Yes...I'll give her your message."
I suppose I'd react like that if a random man came to the door spouting what seemed like nonsense. "Thank you very much. I shouldn't take any more of your time now, so I'll be going.", said Lucian politely.
The girl, still a bit weirded out simply replied, "No problem, have a good night sir."
Once the door closed, Lucian let out a sigh. That could have gone better but a guess I shouldn't dwell on it now.
***
Following the girls short encounter, Mable slowly walked over to the couch to proccess why a random stranger came to their door in the middle of the night. It was only a couple minutes later that another knock sounded at the door. "Lady Mable, I have returned with the groceries.", said a rather deep voice.
That must be Charles, Thought Mable with her still lingering puzzled expression.
Opening the rather heavy door once again, Mable looked up at the grey-haired man, "Hello Charles, I presume that errands went smoothly?"
Charles strode inside and replied, "Yes, it went very well. Each store had exactly what your mother asked for this time.
"Wonderful, I need to get back to studying so I'll come find you if I have any questions.", remarked Mable silently hoping to avoid talking about the previous man.
Noticing the girls tense air, Charles set the bags on the counter and spoke, "Are you alright young Mable? You seem a bit off right now." The girl was always a tough nut to crack when it came to little secrets of hers.
The coincidental inquire startled Mable, "It's just the academy. I've been given some more challenging studies now that I've enrolled in more challenging classes."
Charles wasn't buying her swift excuse, "Nice attempt but you've only received a small portion of mathematics today. I helped you on a question before I left so unless you were hiding other work somewhere then you're fibbing."
Mable let out a tired sigh sigaling surrender, "A few short minutes before you arrived, a strange young man came to the door and politely told me that his name was Lucian Crowe. He apparently wanted to meet mother so he could figure out whether or not if he's a relative."
As soon as those last two words left Mable's mouth, Charles felt a bit star struck. "Sorry miss, but did you say that this young man's name was Lucian?"
It was unusual for Charles to break his polite demeanor, "Yes, what of it?"
"Ehm, it's nothing, just a familiar name is all. By any chance did this young man have dark brown and wavy hair that went a bit past his ears? Also, did he wear a white buttoned-down shirt with black trousers?"
"Yes, but how would you know about that?"
"I believe I just so happened to bump into that very same man while getting the last of our groceries. He bore a striking resemblance to that of your pretty face."
***
As the two calmly treaded through the streets of Novus, Priscilla bumped Lucian's arm, "I never expected you to speak with an actual member of the Crowe family and the daughter at that. To be honest I thought you'd be talking to the obedient butler that shoos away any visitors spouting nonsense."
"I didn't expect that I'd have a possible sister.", replied Lucian.
Priscilla smirked, "You're really starting to believe that fact that you could be related to a prominent noble family, huh?"
"Theres always the possibility so I'll just cling to that for now." Lucian was a bit desperate to be in contact with a relative as he needed someone, he could trustfully rely on.
"I can see why you'd do that, but don't cling to that for too long. You either get a no, yes, or no answer which is usually a no."
"Got it. Oh, would you happen to know what day it is?", asked Lucian quickly.
"Today is Thursday, the twenty sixth of March, why?"
"I was fortunately able to get the young girl who answered the door to relay short message for me. I told her to have her mother meet me at the large library on Saturday or Sunday."
"You really think a noble of her status would agree to meet you? It's usually the other way around with people like them, heh."
"Yes, but I told her my name so that should make her at least a little curious to meet me, no?"
"You do make a good point."
"I'll need to buy presentable clothes if I'm going to meet her, so could one of you take me to some stores tomorrow? I apologize if I'm asking for too much."
"Sure, I think my big brother will be taking you though. He should be around the corner in that bar he was talking about."
Proceeding their chat, Lucian and Priscilla entered the small bar and located Ozzus sitting at the bar downing what seemed to be his fourth cup of beer. What was more surprising than that was the fact that he was quite sober.
"We finished visiting the Crowe household Ozzus." Exclaimed priscilla trying to take the man's attention away from the beer.
"Already? How'd it go?"
"The head of the residence was absent, so I had to relay a message. If things go smoothly and I'm lucky then I should be able to meet her at the library on the weekend."
"Great, shall we head back to the ship then? We have a couple extra blankets, so you'd have a nice place to stay for a good while."
"Yes, thank you kindly. Sorry for the sudden question but would you be able to take me around the city to shop for formal clothes? I need them if I'm to be presenting myself in front of a noble."
"I can do that, but don't forget I'm also taking you to that library to get that book you're interested in."
"Don't worry, I didn't forget.", said Lucian jokingly.
***
In the large living room within the Crowe household, Charles sat reading a thin leather book until a light knock sounded at the door. Once the door was open, he found the sophisticated Lady Sylvia waiting patiently.
The woman wore a silk, Charcoal colored dress with a necklace similar to Mable's. Her dark brown hair was tied up into a nice bun with a small silver pin through the side. Her black gloves projected her formal and controlled appearance.
"Good evening my lady, I take it your council work has concluded?", inquired Charles as he maintained his civil demeanor.
"Yes, it has. I trust that Mable is working diligently on her studies?", Asked Sylvia. Her voice was soft like Mable's, but it was firmer and more composed.
"She has been at it since she got home from the academy."
"Great, I'm guessing that you've had a long day so feel free to rest as long as you'd like today and tomorrow."
"I appreciate it, but before I do, you should hear this piece of information that I've come across. It's quite urgent.
"What could it be at this hour?"
"Lady Mable said that while I was gone, a strange man showed up and claimed that his name was Lucian Crowe. I believe that I also ran into this man on the street while I was out on errands."
Sylvia was taken aback, "Are you absolutely sure? The only person who knows of my son's name is that alcoholic sailing the seas."
"Yes, I'm aware but this gentleman might actually be your son. His facial features were almost identical to Mable's."
"I don't see how that would make sense though, are you sure that It couldn't have been a reckless joke by Ozzus?"
"That could be the case, but the man isn't that stupid or emotionless. Even if he isn't your son, I'd still recommend checking it out to find out why the man knows such a name."
Sylvia sighed through her teeth, "I suppose so. Where can I find this man then?"
"At the library on Saturday or Sunday. Would you like me to go with you?"
"No, it's alright. If the man is really my son, then I'd like to have a bit of privacy."
"As you wish my lady." Charles then grabbed his book and headed up the stairs with a puzzled expression.