The Return of Duke's Villainous Son

CHAPTER THREE: YOUNG MASTER CASSIDY (1)

TWENTY men who are riding their horses sighed in relief as they finally reached the end of the Mahorka Forest. It's been three days since they entered the mythical forest of magic beasts. Three days of vigilance and unrest. Now they can finally see the sun. Away from the threats of violent magical beasts. 

Among these men, a certain tall, brown haired man rode in the vanguard of the group.

Vice Captain Trystan Paulsy squinted his eyes to fend off the afternoon sun as the thick foliage revealed their destination. 

The town of Auwlsber. It's been almost a week since they left the Duchy in order to find the alleged first son of Duke Casser von Cassidy. Alleged because firstly, they still need to run a blood test in order to ascertain if the boy is indeed a part of the ducal family. And if proven, the boy will live with the perks that a noble should enjoy.

Though people will still treat him as trash for he is nothing but an illegitimate.Trystan felt pity for the kid.

That is the case for most nobles. However, the Cassidys value their blood since its been a common knowledge to everyone that within a generation there are only two child at most can be born from the Cassidy family.This was said to be because of the blessing of dragon that runs in their vains. Because of this the ducal family is considered as the smallest noble family in the entire Great Tomen Empire. However, this can't be said to their wealth and influence. The territory of Cassidy is comparable to a small country and they occupy a healthy arrable land and a huge marble quarry. Their annual income is that of one fourth of the annual income of the whole empire. Plus, interms of military prowess and magic power, the current head, Duke Casser is one of the few who stands in the pinnacle of magic and hail as one of the best Magic Knight Captain in the empire. His famous Crimson Flame Magic is the pride of their Red Dragon Knights.

Vice Captain Trystan thought about the twin young masters of the ducal family. They may be sweet five year old right now but a single look at their bright ruby eyes- a unique trait of the Cassidys- one can say that they will grow up as a powerful individuals like their father. 

Their young master Alexei and Andro is enough to lead the Duchy to a great properity.

"The town is within our sight. Let's pick up speed so we can quickly finish our business." Trystan said as he look behind his comrades. There are total of  twenty magic knights including him that will serve as an escort. Plus the Cassidy family sorcerer, Jansen. He will be the one who will administer and interpret the blood test. They also bring a carriage with Cassidy's insignia- a silver dragon that stretches its wings- for the 'young master's' ride on the way back to the Duchy.

"Yes, Vice Captain." the knights answered in chorus. 

They sped up and after half an hour they reached the Awlsber Town. It is a medium sized town in the far south of the commercial Heartzborough City. It is a little bit desolate compared to most town since it is surrounded by the Mahorka Forest.

Even though it is located in such remote place, the town is still bustling with visitors. Mostly hunters and adventurers who is looking for a game in the woods of the forest well known for abundance of magical beasts.

They settled to find a nearby inn first since most of them are starving and its been days since they taste real food.  

It wasn't luxurious like the one that they always had in the Duchy or the Capital but none of them have opened their mouths like most nobles and made a scene. As they are wearing their pride, the cloak of Red Dragon Knights. They don't have the heart to tarnish the honor of their knight order.

Most civilians eye them with much repect. Little did they know their presence became known in the entire town.

After their lunch, Vice Captain Trystan called the sorcerer Jansen to ready the materials needed for blood testing. He also sent a few man to locate the orphanage before they head out.

"Make sure that the testing will go smoothly. Don't force us to our own death."

The blood test was supposedly done with the presence of the duke. However, he was pressed with another expedition in the Southern lands of Tomen since there is a sighting of potential abyssal rift. It is necessary to have it block so that demonic creature and miasma won't break out in the lands of the empire.

So it was handed to him as the right hand of the captain and the trusted man of the duke.

However, the duke-their captain made them swore the Vow of Death. Their promise was to administer the test truthfully and to take care and keep the child safe on their way back.

This speaks volume as this was prepared by the insensitive Casser von Cassidy.

"You don't have to worry, Vice Captain Paulsey. I will absolutely do my best as the sorcerer of the esteemed family of Cassidy. Error and faillure is out of the equation." the long blue hair of swayed as he walked towards the tall knight.

He handed a small stacks of paper.

"What is this?" Trystan furrowed his brows.

"The information that we gathered about the child." Jansen smiled sweetly.

"And you're just handing it to me now?" the vice captain said incredulously.

"I kind of forgot." Jansen winked at him.

Trystan clenched his teeth.

Jansen laughed and he teasingly said "You really got a sharp jaws, huh."

Vice Captain Trystan ignored the sorcerer and focused at the paper in hand.

There he saw a sketch of a small face of a child. The boy's look is the perfect mix of pretty and cute. If one will focus on the facial features they can absolutely see the shadow of the face of their captain. Specially the lip, nose and the wave of the hair.  

However, the eyes forms an unusual slant that makes the the gaze look alluring. Probably he got it from the mother.

"It was a well made drawing. I must say." he said sarcastically.

Jansen giggled. "Thank you. I paid quite a hefty amount to get it done."

Trystan snorted. He did not spare a single look to the other man.

His eyes hover on the notes beside the illustration.

"Silver hair?!" he muttered, surprised.

"Yup, and a fair skin. Just imagine how much of a fairy that the young master is. If he really is a Cassidy then it is a founded truth that there is no Cassidy that looks lesser than beautiful. Plus he is born a bearer" 

He didn't comment at that even though a little bit surprised that potential young master has a body blessed by Hestina. Now he is sure that the boy will live a better life since the church will support him as he grow up. As he emerse his self on the notes. 

And there it is, the fabled ruby eyes. Trystan noted, now a little bit convince that the boy is a Cassidy. It is a known that the only possessor of such eyes are the members of the ducal family.

He then read the other notes. Trystan's face was colored with blue when he learned more about the back story of the child.

The fact that he grew up in a streets of a red light district in the Heartzborough. That the child was assualted with his mother and forced to stealthily flee by riding a carriage that transport pigs. That such a young and frail looking  seven year old boy stayed homeless in the streets of Awlsber before entering the orphanage.

Somehow, out of the pity that he felt. He find himself swearing that he will be gentle with the boy. Even if it turns out that he is a young master or not.

Jansen was just looking at the brown haired man. His lips twisted into a smirk as he watched the changes in the emotion of the vice caption. He has the rough idea on what is going on inside that brown head.

Jansen stood up.

"We'll go whenever you are ready, Vice Captain." then he left without looking back.

~ 

They only let an hour passby before they set off. The orphanage was located in the far edge of the town. The path towards the are mainly loosely placed cobblestones that made moving the carrage difficult. So Vice Captain Trystan decided to leave the carrage at the inn. 

He bring fifteen escorts and of course the ever annoying Jansen with him.

The exterior of the orphanage looks chaotic and unmaintained with its walls are crawingling with ivies. The gate is rustic and creaking. However, the front yard looks clean. There are children playing and running to and fro.

They stopped and yelled with such glee as they see a group of uniformed men with a familiar symbol on their cape.

"Magic Knights!"

The kids scurry towards the men as they watch them with an awe-struck eyes.

One knight jokingly waved at the kids.

"Woah! They looks so strong!"

"I wanna be like them!"

Excited voices of the children are heared in the front yard of the orphanage. 

"Can we meet the director of this orphanage?" Vice Captain Trystan said to the teenage boy with a smile. 

The awe-struck lad seems so shocked that he immediately blurted out. "Y-yes sir. A-absolutely! Follow me please." and the boy left. 

Vice Captain Trystan instructed them to stay in the front yard first as he need to talk to the director of the orphanage first since this is an unannounced visit. Jansen, without any word, followed after him.

Along the way they met a few white clothed priestess of Hestina and some of them escorted them to the office of the director. They give them a tour while at it and some information about the orphanage. None of them questioned the sudden visit. Who would question a knight from the order which prestige are based on honor.

Vice Captain Trystan thought that the interior of the building was consistent. It looks old, simple and ugh rustic. Most of the furnitures are made of wood and looks decades old. It looks clean nevertheless.

The staircase are also made up of wood. It creaks on each of his steps so Vice Captain Trystan manipulated his mana on his feet to make his steps lighter.

The priestess that walks a few steps ahead of him saw his small gesture and smiled knowingly. Jansen on the other hand, snorted at his direction and silently muttered 'fat ass' while gesturing his petite body.

He just gave the sorcerer a sharp glare.

They reached the second second floor and after a few turns. They entered the already open room. There they saw the lanky looking teenage boy that they met outside and a gentle looking middle age priestess. 

"A pleasant day to you, Your holiness the priestess. I apologize for the unannounced visit." Vice Captain Trystan formally greet the priestess. "I am Trystan Paulsy, the vice captain of Red Dragon Knight Order. I am here for a personal business of our captain, Duke Casser von Cassidy."

"A pleasant day to you too, Sir Paulsy. I am Priestess Anita Leer, the overseer of this orphanage. We can talk about your lord's business in this office." Amicably said. "Though I do apologize for the sorry state of my office. If only we knew your visit we could have prepared properly." The priestess awkwardly smiled after saying the last statement. She quietly gesture a magical array to get rid of the broken vase on the floor. In an instant the broken shards rise from the floor. The woman placed it on the white handkerchief at hand. Then he gave it to the young man. The teenager silently left the room. 

All of this happened but it seems nothing for the two esteemed guest in the office. Their eyes are fixed to a certain pale kid sitting in the wooden chair. Its slightly overgrown silver bangs cannot hide the wide surprised ruby colored eyes. The magic knight and the sorcerer watched as the emotion from the cute face of the alleged young master Cassidy changed from surprise, worry and fear.