The freckled young girl, clad in a flowing black dress that brushed against her ankles, dashed through the grand hall, her ruffled apron billowing behind her like a flag of urgency. Each frantic stomp of her feet echoed across the marble floor, the sound nearly shaking the duke's dome as she rushed to fulfill the endless commands from her fellow maids.

"Argh! When will my work ever end?!"

She grunted, clutching a feather duster and soft cloths, with no time to pause and catch her breath as dust motes danced in the air around her.

Those lazy huss!

She thought as they offloaded all their tasks onto her, knowing she was just a newly assigned servant.

As she sprinted through the hall, her mind raced, busy cursing her fellow maids, which made her fail to notice the loose tie lying on the polished floor.

"NO! Is this how I'm going to die?!"

 Panic surged through her as her foot caught on the fabric, but just as she was about to kiss the floor goodbye, a firm hand grasped her waist.

"You all right?"

Keith's voice broke through her panic. Her face flushed in velvet red as his cologne wafted through the air around her.

"Ye-yes?"

She nodded, feeling her heart melt at Keith's smile. But as soon as he glanced at the slightly open door, his expression changed. His smile faded, replaced by narrowed, piercing eyes. Inside, Sebastian stood in front of the mirror, his clothes scattered around him like a snake shedding its skin.

"When did you ever become FOND OF MUD?"

He mocked, glancing at Sebastian, who wore a suit made of expensive fabric in the color he despised, as Keith picked up the various suits and polo scattered on the floor.

"Doesn't it look grounding? It's a color of wealth."

Sebastian confidently replied, fixing his tie.

"Oh! And mud, compared to the color brown, is just a mix of brown and gray. It's a dull-looking ART of nature."

He added, while Keith rolled his eyes in irritation, shaking his head in annoyance.

Sebastian then turned to him while Keith laid his clothes on the bed.

 "How do I look?"

He asked while his eyes desperately crave for compliment.

"EARTHY."

Keith replied, a smug smile spreading across his face, which made Sebastian scowl in disappointment.

"I'm serious."

Keith sighed as he looked at Sebastian's troubled expression, noting the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.

A sudden thought then crossed his mind of how profoundly Julianne had impacted him. Sebastian had never been like this before; he had always shunned anything but dark colors, which reflected the brooding nature of his rumored personality.

"Your beauty is beyond compare. Even if you wore a rag, it would suit you."

Sebastian let out a soft chuckle, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected bluntness and sincerity of Keith's words as he covered his face with his right hand, which bore a scar from his healed wound.

"Don't exaggerate, everyone is pretty in their own way."

Keith paused, momentarily transported back to a time when he'd heard similar words from a younger Sebastian—a kind-hearted boy who had been abused by those around him, with his gentle nature often taken for granted. Realizing it, anxiety settled in his chest as it reminded him of the innocence that had once shone brightly in Sebastian's eyes. Now, they are just paired of bleary ocean eyes, afraid that Julianne would bring back the same misery from the past—something Keith desperately didn't want to happen.

"Be careful. I heard that the duke will be returning from the palace soon."

Keith warned, his voice laced with concern as he brushed off the gnawing negative thoughts that were slowly eating him away, settling in his chest like a heavy fog. As no one could predict the trouble that was looming just around the corner.

"Right, he must be F.U.M.I.N.G like a bull right now if he finds out I didn't answer the king's call."

Sebastian scoffed as he placed his hand on Keith's shoulder, forming a suspicious smile on his face, the meaning of which Keith understood without him having said a word.

"Would you mind helping your dear~ friend?"

Hearing it, Keith already knew what was coming.

"I'll do what I can do."

Sebastian then carved a mischievous smile on his lips, an expression that danced in the dim light, as his following words sent a shiver down Keith's spine, raising the fine hairs on the back of his neck as if a cold breeze had swept through the room, making him feel sick to his stomach.

"Then why would you attend the meeting at the palace for my presence—

-ABSOLUTELY NOT! I. DO. NOT!"

Keith's voice was clipped and firm, cutting through the air while his eyes blazed with disdain, mix with disgust, and fear, as if he were facing something he couldn't bear to confront.

"HA! Your face didn't even try to deny it."

After hours of idle chatter, Sebastian finally decided to leave the room, prompting Keith to glance out the window. He squinted against the bright sunlight, which still hung high in the sky, casting golden rays that filtered through the rustling leaves of the trees.

"I do think you're too early to go."

Keith stated, his brow furrowing slightly, as the time was still far off from what Julianne had mentioned in his letter that had already become something Sebastian treasured.

"I can't keep him waiting for me, can I?"

Sebastian replied, prompting Keith's expression to twist in irritation.

"The sun hasn't even begun to set-

 He sighed, the weight of his frustration hanging in the air.

-Never mind, suit yourself."

With a resigned huff, Keith surrendered, fully aware of Sebastian's inflexible nature.

After nearly an hour of winding through the town, where the vibrant hues of the festival were beginning to come alive, Sebastian stepped out of the unassuming, nondescript car. Dressed as a lowly noble, and as he was about to walk away from Keith, a word unexpectedly slipped from his tongue, leaving Sebastian momentarily stunned.

"I hope everything goes well."

He said, a simple phrase casting ease across his face, as if the weight of his own words had taken him by surprise.

"Keith."

Sebastian called.

"I'm grateful to have you as part of my family."

Keith startled, feeling a surge of happiness at hearing those words.

"Go now! I'll be waiting in the car."

Sebastian began to mock him again in a playful tone as it already become part of his hobby.

"Why? Don't you have a DATE to attend to?"

Keith grimaced, his face painted in disgust.

"Don't say such things that will give me nightmares!"

As he watched Sebastian go forth, a smile crept onto his face.

"A family, huh? You're always the same as ever, Sebastian."

 Keith murmured as he made his way back to the car, settling in for a peaceful nap.

Meanwhile, Sebastian could be seen leaning against the lamp post in the same spot where he had written to Julianne, watching distant couples laughing and embracing each other in ecstasy from afar, which made his heart feel a burning sensation mixed with hope and anxiety. As time passed and the moon rose high in the sky, he suddenly felt as though his heart was shrinking.

The area around the fountain was already bustling with people, laughter and chatter filling the air, but Julianne was still nowhere to be seen. He glanced at his watch; it was already past five o'clock, the time he had promised to meet him.

Although he felt his feet beginning to numb, he ignored the discomfort and waited, hoping for more—more that turned into another hour.

Looking up at the moon, he let out a hollow laugh that echoed faintly in the night.

"Pfft—Haha…ha!... I shouldn't have gotten ahead of myself…"

He muttered, standing there like a lonely observer.

******

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