Owen rang the doorbell.
Lucius barely had time to turn his head.
"Wait—"
The chime echoed somewhere beyond the grand entrance, its delicate melody carrying through the manor's quiet halls. Owen stood before the door with his hands resting casually at his sides, his expression as indifferent as ever.
Lucius stared at him.
Then he slowly turned toward the door.
"...You couldn't have given me a moment to prepare?"
Owen didn't look at him. "Prepare for what?"
"For the conversation we're about to have, you absolute—"
The door opened.
A tall, lean man dressed in an immaculate black tuxedo stood on the other side. His silver cufflinks gleamed beneath the light spilling from the entrance hall, and his posture was so composed that he might have been mistaken for a nobleman himself.
He regarded the two visitors with a courteous smile.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen. Welcome to the Haika estate. Might I ask what brings you to our manor on this fine day?"
Lucius straightened instinctively.
He had barely opened his mouth when Owen stepped forward.
"Ah, salutations, my good sir."
He offered a polite smile and a small bow.
"We were recommended here by Sir Reinhardt of House Landergrey regarding the security position. My apologies for the delay in our arrival. It has taken us several months to make the journey. Work has been rather hectic as of late."
Silence.
Lucius turned his head.
Slowly.
He stared at Owen as though the man standing beside him had just announced that he intended to retire and become a priest.
What the hell?
Owen had spoken more than six words in a single sentence.
Not only that, but he had spoken them politely. Eloquently, even. His posture was impeccable, his smile convincing, and his tone carried the easy confidence of someone who had spent his entire life navigating the circles of nobility.
Lucius had known Owen long enough to understand that acting civilized to him was an inconvenience in his existence.
He hadn't expected he would witness it firsthand.
So the bastard can behave.
The butler's eyes widened slightly at the mention of Reinhardt's name. His courteous expression soon warmed into something more genuine.
"Ah! Sir Reinhardt's recommendations. We have indeed been expecting you."
He stepped aside and gestured toward the entrance.
"Please, come in. The Baron will be delighted to receive you."
Owen inclined his head. "Much obliged."
Lucius followed him inside, still wearing an expression that suggested he had discovered an entirely new species.
The manor's interior was every bit as impressive as its exterior. A polished marble floor stretched beneath their feet, reflecting the soft glow of chandeliers suspended from the high ceiling. Portraits of previous generations of House Haika lined the walls, interspersed with ornate mirrors and carefully maintained decorations.
Everything was in its proper place.
The servants moved with quiet efficiency. Guards stood at their appointed posts. Somewhere deeper within the manor, the faint sound of conversation drifted through the corridors.
It was a picture of aristocratic order.
Nothing about the place immediately suggested that its master belonged to Garten der Schatten.
And that, perhaps, was what made the visit so dangerous.
The butler led them into a waiting room furnished with dark wooden tables, velvet armchairs, and tall windows overlooking the estate gardens.
"Please make yourselves comfortable. I shall inform the Baron of your arrival."
"Thank you," Owen replied.
The butler bowed before withdrawing and closing the door behind him.
For several seconds, neither visitor spoke.
Then Lucius leaned back in his chair.
"Caelum... you're impressive."
Owen turned toward him.
"Don't."
Lucius's mouth twitched.
"No, genuinely. I never knew you possessed such refined manners. That little bow was particularly convincing. Should I start addressing you as Young Master Caelum?"
Owen stared at him.
"Cain."
"Yes?"
"I will cause a scene."
Lucius shrugged, settling more comfortably into his seat.
"Whatever you say, Young Master."
Owen looked away.
He had already begun regretting bringing him.
Perhaps I should have come alone.
The thought lasted approximately three seconds before Owen remembered that Lucius was, in fact, one of the strongest people he knew.
No. That would be worse.
He crossed one leg over the other and turned his attention toward the window.
Outside, gardeners tended the flowerbeds while a pair of guards patrolled the gravel paths. Beyond them stood a fountain surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges.
A peaceful afternoon.
A peaceful estate.
A peaceful household.
Owen watched the guards exchange a few words before continuing their patrol.
Let's see how peaceful it really is.
The door opened.
The butler returned.
But this time, he wasn't alone.
Two men followed him into the room.
The first was young, perhaps around Owen and Lucius's age. He was taller than either of them, with ash-blond hair and striking green eyes. His build was lean, and the way he carried himself suggested that his height had done little to compromise his agility.
He stepped through the doorway with an easy stride.
Then his eyes landed on Owen.
He stopped.
For the briefest moment, his expression changed completely.
His eyes widened, and his gaze locked onto the white-haired man sitting beside Lucius.
Recognition flashed across his face.
Owen noticed.
Of course he noticed.
But he didn't react.
Instead, he watched the young man approach with the same mild expression he had worn since entering the manor.
The second visitor was older, with black hair streaked with white. His green eyes glistened beneath the chandelier's warm light, and faint lines marked his face. He possessed the sort of bearing Owen had seen in countless veterans—men whose bodies had long since moved beyond their prime, yet whose presence hinted at the formidable figures they had once been.
He smiled warmly as he crossed the room.
"Forgive us for keeping you waiting, gentlemen. Matters of the estate have a habit of demanding attention at the most inconvenient times."
His gaze settled on Owen and Lucius.
"Welcome to Haika."
He extended a hand toward them.
"I am Thaddeus Haika, Baron of this territory. It is a pleasure to finally meet the men Sir Reinhardt has recommended."
Owen rose to his feet and accepted the offered hand.
"The pleasure is ours, Baron Haika."
His voice remained smooth and composed.
"I'm Caelum, and this is my partner, Cain. We're crusading blademen, travelling from territory to territory in search of worthy work. Sir Reinhardt was kind enough to recommend us for the security position."
"A noble profession," Thaddeus remarked. "Though, I imagine, not always a comfortable one."
"Not always," Owen agreed. "But it has its rewards."
Beside them, the younger man had yet to say a word.
He stood with his hands loosely folded before him, watching Owen with an expression that was becoming increasingly difficult to suppress.
Thaddeus glanced over his shoulder.
"Ah, where are my manners? Allow me to introduce my son—"
He turned toward the young man.
"Luke?"
Luke didn't answer immediately.
He was looking at Owen's outstretched hand.
More specifically, he was looking at the fingers curled around his father's hand.
Then his gaze returned to Owen's face.
A smile slowly spread across his lips.
And he chuckled.
Not loudly. Not enough to be disrespectful.
Just enough to make it clear that he had noticed something amusing.
Owen's eyes narrowed by the smallest fraction.
Ah.
Across the room, Lucius caught the exchange.
His attention shifted from Luke's face to Owen's hand, then back again.
He understood.
The disguise hadn't failed because of Owen's appearance.
It hadn't failed because of his voice, his posture, or even his unmistakable scarlet eyes.
It had failed because Luke Haika knew him.
And apparently, the young man had recognized something Owen hadn't considered concealing.
Wonderful.
Lucius lowered his gaze briefly, disguising his amusement behind a quiet cough.
We've been here for less than five minutes.
The butler, seemingly oblivious to the silent exchange, bowed.
"If you'll excuse me, my lord, I shall see to the refreshments."
"Of course," Thaddeus replied.
The butler withdrew, leaving the four men alone.
Thaddeus took his seat opposite the visitors, gesturing for his son to do the same.
Luke obliged, settling into the chair beside his father.
Only then did Thaddeus notice the smile still lingering on his son's face.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Something amusing, Luke?"
"Nothing, Father."
"Nothing?"
"Not at all."
Luke's smile widened.
Thaddeus studied him for another moment before letting out a soft laugh.
"Well, whatever it is, I hope you'll share it with us eventually."
He turned back toward his guests.
"Now, where were we? Ah, yes. Your introduction."
Owen inclined his head.
"Caelum, at your service. And my partner, Cain."
"Crusading blademen, you said?"
"Indeed."
Thaddeus nodded thoughtfully.
"And what brings two travelling swordsmen all the way to Haika? I imagine Sir Reinhardt's recommendation could have been sent months ago without requiring you to make the journey yourselves."
Owen smiled.
"An understandable question. Unfortunately, our previous contracts kept us occupied longer than anticipated. By the time we were free to travel, several other opportunities had already passed us by."
He paused briefly.
"Still, we were told that the position here remained open. We thought it would be a shame not to investigate."
"A sensible decision," Thaddeus said. "A household such as ours can always benefit from capable individuals. Particularly given the nature of my son's responsibilities."
Luke rested an arm against the side of his chair.
"Father makes it sound far more complicated than it is."
"Does he?"
"I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself."
Thaddeus gave his son a fond, almost exasperated smile.
"Of course you are."
Luke's expression barely changed.
"Last year was a different matter."
"Indeed."
For a moment, the warmth in Thaddeus's eyes seemed to deepen.
Then he turned back to Owen.
"You understand, then, why I would be particularly interested in the abilities of anyone seeking this position. My son's safety is not something I take lightly."
"Nor should you," Owen replied.
The answer came without hesitation.
Thaddeus regarded him with renewed interest.
"Good. I appreciate a man who understands the weight of his responsibilities."
Owen met the Baron's gaze.
His smile remained polite.
His posture remained relaxed.
And behind his scarlet eyes, his thoughts moved with deliberate precision.
Four meetings.
He remembered them clearly enough.
The conversations. The invitation. The way Thaddeus had spoken about Garten der Schatten as though it were an opportunity rather than a threat.
Yet the man sitting before him now seemed entirely ordinary.
A father concerned for his son.
A nobleman managing his estate.
A lord searching for capable guards.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Owen had learned a long time ago that appearances were rarely enough to condemn a man.
He had also learned that the most dangerous people rarely looked dangerous at all.
Yet right now he wondered if that was entirely true.
Across from him, Luke was still smiling.
And unlike his father, Luke's attention hadn't wandered from Owen for very long.
He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.
"So, Caelum."
Owen turned toward him.
"Yes?"
Luke tilted his head.
"Tell me something. How long have you and your partner been travelling together?"
Lucius's eyes shifted toward Owen.
It was an ordinary question.
A harmless question.
But Luke asked it with the unmistakable expression of someone who already knew the answer or at least suspected that the answer would be interesting.
Owen returned his gaze without blinking.
"Long enough to know that he talks too much."
Lucius turned toward him.
"Excuse me?"
"It's one of his more persistent flaws."
"You were the one threatening to cause a scene outside."
"And yet, here you are, causing one."
Luke laughed.
Thaddeus watched the exchange with visible amusement.
For the first time since entering the room, the conversation felt entirely natural.
Almost comfortable.
Then Luke looked directly at Owen again.
And the smile on his face softened into something more familiar.
Something Owen remembered from years ago
"You know..."
Owen his gaze his gaze.
"Yes?"
Luke tilted his head, studying Owen's face with an almost curious expression.
"You remind me of someone I used to know."
Lucius's attention shifted toward them.
Owen returned Luke's gaze without blinking.
"Do I?"
Luke nodded slowly.
"Yeah. A boy I knew back when I was younger. He had black hair and black eyes. Always wore that same expression, too, like the entire world was inconveniencing him just by existing."
Lucius pressed his lips together.
Oh, this is going to be good.
Luke chuckled, seemingly lost in the memory.
"He was a squire back then. Quiet fellow. Terrible at explaining himself, and somehow even worse at accepting help. I remember thinking he'd either become someone incredible one day or get himself killed before he had the chance."
He paused, his smile softening.
"Wonder what happened to him."
Owen remained silent for a moment.
Then he leaned back in his chair.
"Sounds like a troublesome fellow."
"Absolutely."
Luke grinned.
"Still, I haven't seen him in years. I wonder what he's doing these days."
Owen said nothing.
But beneath the table, his fingers slowly curled against his palm.
Because Luke Haika wasn't simply describing some stranger he'd once known.
He was remembering a boy Owen had been long before the world took so much from him.
And for a brief moment, Owen found himself wondering whether that boy would even recognise the man he'd become.