SWAY

PROLOGUE

Watson Mansion stood tall and strong over the peak of North Fradiso in a city once known as Gundnam. It overlooked the whole city from it's position and could be seen from every part of the city.

Meticulously designed and constructed by Louis Guilluade a famous architect of his time. The eighteen thousand square foot magnificence, is home, to the only two surviving members of the Watson lineage and their servants.

According to her designer it's geometric plan was based on the typology of the Greek sign of Poseidon making it's mighty pillars and large windows that allowed nature sip into the building a significant feature of the immaculate white home.

Leading to the front door of the mansion lays a great cross shaped outdoor fountain surrounded with tall golden lamps and wooden beach chairs.

Few meters away from the main mansion, stands a white ten-car garage with enough space for three limousines and a grey brick passageway that leads to the outdoor kitchen of the mansion built close the a bathhouse and a butterfly koi-pond.

Farther away from the outdoor kitchen is a twenty three point seventy seven meters long tennis court located close to a large artificial pond that is the home to water hyacinths.

Within the walls of the mansion a French limestone and garbled marble flooring spread through six ensuite bedrooms, one play room, four bathrooms, three galleries, three sitting rooms, a mighty ball room, two libraries and a brick wine cellar located beneath a glass walled kitchen that allows the view of the pond.

A seventeenth century Louis XIII fire place was built within the sitting rooms and libraries while Louis XIV - styled Italian chandeliers and other European styled chandeliers of different sizes and origin hung on the high ceilings of every room in the building including the entrance hall.

Six decades ago this great mansion was a little inn with walls made of clay bricks and concrete. Then called the Watson Inn. It wasn't nearly the current size of the mansion and was built to outlast conflicts and seasons.

Unlike it's current exterior, the inn was painted dark shades of brown and it had a balcony constructed with wood. It was managed by Oliver Watson and his wife Sophia Watson.

The inn was the major source of livelihood the Watson's had. Although it was the smallest and only inn in the town of Gundnam, it barely had customers.

The little town of Gundnam was a lifeless abandoned town that suffered the scourges of war that had occured few years earlier. Its lands were still healing from the blood, crude and gunpowder wasted on it.

The earth was parched and darkened, the streams had dried up and the air was too harsh to inhale. The new government regime had yet to clear all the bodies of the fallen soldiers therefore Gundnam suffered immensely.

Due to the unending droughts, unplowable farms and black clouds that never rained, it's remaining residents who could afford it, had migrated to other towns and started anew while those who couldn't stayed behind in the fruitless outlands and prayed for their lives and the Watson were one of those.

Oliver didn't believe in prayers, he only believed in his hardwork and toil. He understood that with hardwork and determination he would be able to survive and with that ideology he had trained his twins Alexander and

Emmanuella who were barely thirteen and thought them ways to fend for themselves during those harsh times.

Each morning they had to go far north to find a stream to fetch water in barrels.

When they were done with this they would carry those barrels to the neighboring towns and trade some for food and essentials, they would sell some for money and bring the rest back for the inn.

Sophia was a designer, she would knit coats and other clothings from wool and sell them off in the market while she took care of the few customers that booked rooms in the inn.

Oliver was a constructor, who would usually go to work in the capital city for days sometimes weeks before heading back to his family. Since he couldn't afford a carriage or a healthy horse he walked to and fro both cities to make ends meet.

This they did as they slowly got by each day. The Watson seemed to have been surviving until the Cholera epidemic broke out. It recorded to have killed over three hundred children in the country within weeks including Emmanuella.

Oliver been away for months before Emmanuella had fallen ill and when he had gotten word about his daughter's ill health he had rushed back home to his family.

Emmanuella was barely breathing by the time he had returned, she was frail, white and her golden eyes were weak. He was devastated.

His daughter was a bright agile funny girl that brought smiles to their faces with her funny jokes and behavior no matter the harshness of their live circumstances, but she had lost that spark, that energy she was gifted with.

Their hearts were totally broken few weeks later when she fell to her death. It took weeks for Sophia and Alexander to get back on their feet after she was buried and Oliver tried his best keep his family going.

Months later after the plague had passed, the government began picking interest in environmental rehabilitation schemes and regimes, they even improved their healthcare services and constructed more hospitals in various parts of the country.

The locals believed that the plague had been a curse laid on the country by a god of water due to the polluted streams and rivers caused by the, since it left no class behind and that was the reason their government became active and interested in their duties.

Oliver didn't agree to such rumors of answered prayers and god's miracles.

"Was my daughter also a price that was paid? I don't believe in gods but there are no gods that would take my girl's life because of a prayer." he would say to his colleagues who were spreading the baseless speculations about gods.

Since Oliver was a well known constructor, he had taken part in many building projects brought up by the government during that period and grew his wealth.

It was only a few years after Emmanuella's death did Gundnam get back it's glow, the inn also boomed with customers.

Alexander was sent to a boarding institute of learning in the capital and was admitted into Prestige-ville Institute of Higher Education since Oliver was now able to afford his education.

Oliver and Sophia slowly grew their wealth from their jobs and they had strategically bought off the properties and lands surrounding their inn from their owners and neighbors who had left Gundnam for the Capital and those willing and desperate to sell.

At the age of forty-five, Sophia died of depression two years after she had a miscarriage and years after the death of her child, Emmanuella. She couldn't bear the pain after the miscarriage and barely talked or moved around during those periods.

Oliver decided to move from Gundnam to the Capital city now known as Fradiso to help Sophia heal, but she died few months later. That was another gloomy period for the Watsons.

Alexander was called back from school to mourn his mother and spent a few weeks at home after the burial before heading back.

Now all Oliver and Alexander had was each other. After Sophia's death Oliver shutdown his inn. He had intended to sell it off, rather he called Louis whom he had met during his earlier days in the capital, to renovate it into what it is now.

Louis took care of maintaining the old structures passed down from generations and created the Watson Mansion which took him months to complete.

"Really!! is that how Grandpapa made the castle?"

Padio who was looking at the magnificent framed picture of Oliver Watson that was in the midst of other portraits of the Watson Family looked up at the little inquisitive girl he now carried on his shoulders and smiled.

Padio Onistern a perfectly tanned , tall and muscular man with a firm jaw, brown eyes and an overly curly mass of black silky hair was the butler s***h detail for the little Miss Katherina Watson although she addressed him as uncle.

He was the perfect man for his job with a scar across his face that gave him the dangerous hard look required to protect.

He had been loyal to the Watsons since Sir Oliver had lost his child.

During the epidemic he had also been infected and was left behind by his parents who could barely provide for themselves. He had wondered around the town for days before arriving at the inn.

When he had knocked Sir Oliver had opened the door for him and had been so kind to take him in as a help. At that time his Master's daughter had passed away, therefore he had helped him with all the work needed to be done. In return Sir Oliver called a physician to treat him, clothed him and provided for him.

Although he was a few years older than Sir Alexander his loyalty had passed down to him after his father's death and now his beautiful daughter. He owed Sir Oliver more than his life and he would be eternally grateful for his kindness and the opportunity he had been given to show his gratitude.

"Uncle Padiyoooo!"

Kate shook his head with her tiny hands to bring his attention back to her. She had used all the strength a six years old could conjure up but to him it felt like a light tug.

"Yes Kate. What were you saying?" He smiled with the intention of teasing her.

"I'm afraid I might have missed your earlier question." He finished with a confused tone.

Of course he could still remember what her questions was but he liked the way her ears turned pink when she became irritated. The genetic pale white skin of the Watsons' easily spoke about their different emotions in different ways and hers was the most active.

"I already asked you. Did Grandpapa make the castle?" Her ears were already hot pink.

"You never answer my questions, you always forget them and I have to repeat them over and over again." She continued.

His smile had widened now at the complaining tone she had used.

"Certainly he didn't, he's not a mage, although he paid a really talented builder to make the castle." He replied.

Looking back at the portrait of his Master's image. In the portrait Oliver stood next to a brown horse in front of the inn. He was a muscular tall man with skin that glowed under the sunset he stood.

He could tell the image was taken in his younger days, when his hair had not turned white but was a mixture of brown and gold. His eyes golden as the sun, where still strong and firm, not yet hunted by pain and loss instead they where still filled with joy and brightened his finely sculptured face.

After the move, and Sophia's death, Oliver never smiled, never really smiled, he could flex the muscles of his lips and chin but the smile never touched his eyes.

However, the portrait showed off that glow his pink flushed cheeks filled with laughter could give his profile. He was a beautiful happy man. His thoughts were interrupted again by Kate.

"Buh, but you said Grand Papa was a hero, and heroes have magical powers, like the book. The one with the dragons. Remember?" Kate replied.

This time he laughed loudly. Then raising his arms from behind, he lifted the weightless princess off his neck and stood her on her feet.

She had inherited her father's pale skin and her small round face had inherited her grandfather's golden eyes and her mother's slim nostrils. She was barefooted on the cold, spotless floors, she looked cute in her long yellow night dress and over flowing red hair that was the color of her grandmother Sophia's hair.

Kneeling down and bending further to sit on his heels in front of Kate, he combed her red mass of hair off hair face and placed them neatly behind her ears.

"Kate love, the book was fiction and this is reality, your grandfather was a hero, he protected his family and helped me a lot. Although he had nothing he was able to acquire all these,"

looking around and circling his head to demonstrate what he meant, he continued,

"Justly, without power, connection or corruption, that is why he's a hero. Do you understand now?"

Kate was silent as she played with her hair, twisting some strands into coils as she tried to understand, a habit Padio thought as he looked at her till she replied.

"Oh, he's awesome. Right?" before Padio could reply, a stern voice from across the hall did.

"Yes Kattey, he was awesome."

Recognizing the voice Kate and Padio turned instantly towards the direction where the voice came from.

Kate's father, Alexander Watson was standing at the door that joined the dining room to the hall on the east wing of the mansion. Padio stood up, turned and gave a light bow.

He still held his position while Kate turned red with the happiest smile and ran towards her father.

"Papa!!."

Her barefoot was, soundless on the checked tiles as she ran towards her father. She jumped as she reached closer to him trusting he would catch her before she fell.

He did catch her mid air, spinning her around as he hugged her and threw her up few more time. Kate shouted happily and giggled throughout the meeting ritual.

"How's my Red's day going?" He asked.

"Uncle Padio was telling me a story about Grandpapa." She answered delightfully.

Alexander looked at Padio as he walked closer to his old friend who still insisted on bowing whenever he came around.

"Padio, really." he spoke to Padio with delight in his tone, but Kate replied instead.

"Yes, he said Grandpapa was a hero."

"Oh I see." He turned and looked at his girl.

He placed a hand on Padio's shoulders signaling him to raise his head. As soon as Padio lifted his head he smiled brightly.

"Thank you and could you stop with the bowing. Please. I might get arrested for slave trade."

Padio looked at his Master Alexander Watson and smiled back.

He had inherited some features and the build of his father, the broad shoulders, firm jaw, height, pale skin and golden hair but his face was that of his Ma'am Sophia. His full eyebrows and lashes caved the sea blue eyes he had, making them look mysterious, his pointed nose was another feature that magnified his high cheekbones and curved lips. When he smiled, he looked like a portrait and his dark eyes lighted up, inviting the person he smiled at to reply in the same manner.

"How was your trip Sir, Have you concluded with the engineers?" Padio asked.

"Always going straight to business." Alexander sighed and replied.

He looked at Kate whom he had been carrying and dropped her on her feet.

"Kattey could you go to your room and read some books.I will be right with you."

Kate shook her head as she complained making her hair fly to the direction of her action.

"I don't want to.... We just finished reading." She complained.

He looked and Padio who gave him a slight nod, then turned to her. He held her shoulders, squatting to her size, he kissed her temple and replied.

"Sorry I didn't know that. Alright do this, look for Madam Cheerly, tell her it's play time."

Kate's face lighted up as she hugged her dad and pecked him on the forehead before she did as she was told and began to run to the west hall.

"No running in the halls Red!" Alexander instructed then stood and turned towards Padio to reply.

"We are done for the year, the architects have finally come up with the best design which I and the board of Engineers have approved. We called it Hall of Amara. Its going to be big and besides I couldn't spend Christmas without my Red so everything will be paused till after the new year. Work resumes in the 21st century."

He had sent everyone home before heading back. The deliberation on choosing the plans for the Hall of Amara was becoming longer than it should so he made the decision on his own and signed it off.

Padio smiled.

"You know Alex, I heard it was your twin sister that had the talents of being a jester not you. That being said, why don't you stick with the business aspect. Hmm? It suits you better."

"Go to hell Padio." He replied as he began to walk out of the hall.

They both laughed together as they walked through the west hall leading to the garden. It was just the two of them now from the past since Kattey had lost her mother at childbirth.

They walked into the garden. The night was cold from the snow that now fell slowly but the garden was surrounded by golden lamps that lighted the area.

"I was thinking, since the roads are now getting very busy in the South why don't we move there. I already found a good estate, up for lease, I could appoint some of the engineers to renovate it to my taste then we could move into it say March."

Alexander who spoke to Padio was staring at one of the rose bushes in the garden. He didn't know how his father survived traveling back and forth from the capital to Gundnam but he knew he couldn't.

Days he spent without Kate were the longest days in his life and they were getting longer since the company was becoming more successful and in turn he was becoming more busy. This was his best plan ever.

Padio knew his Master's mind was already made up. In fact he knew he was just informing him of their move coming March.

It wasn't as if he had a say in the matter so he didn't understand why he always asked him of his opinion whenever he made big decisions like this, but he answered since he understood he was his friend who had to support him through and through.

"I think Kate is old enough to stop home schooling too."

Alexander nodded still looking at the flowers.

"I knew you would understand." He replied.

"Although I want to ask, Alex." Padio continued.

Alexander turned to face him, urging him to speak.

"Why are you asking for my opinion when we both know you've already started the renovation?" Padio asked.

Alexander lips twitched before he smiled.

"I don't know why I haven't discarded you already and gone to jail happily. Bastard."

They both laughed, as they continued their discussion and made plans for their departure.

They were going to protect each other and his little Red as they moved into the future.