Chapter 268 - 6.28 The Duke’s Adopted Brother
Jillian had no idea what Elder Alain had done but two days later, they found the barbarian troops retreating back into their own territory. The very same night, a celebration party was held in the basecamp. The soldiers cheered, sang and danced around the bonfire, indulging in meat and wine until deep into the night.
But only Jillian knew that his work had just begun.
Without wasting any more time, he departed early in the morning after assigning the matter of patrolling to the other Generals. Taking Regius and Hayden with him, he mounted his horse and rode his way back to the Duchy.
Bassil welcomed him with a surprised and delighted look, crying out. "Young Master, you have returned safely!"
As much as he wanted to let Bassil fuss over him like how the head servant always did, he had more pressing matters to attend to. He jumped off the horse and handed the reins to the stableboy, gesturing for Hayden to do the same. The young man was fidgeting awkwardly behind Jillian, eyes darting with a mixture of awe and hesitation on the towering and majestic manor in front of him.
Jillian told him, not unkindly. "This will be your home from now on."
Hayden startled and turned to him with his eyes rimmed red. "General..."
Bassil had received Jillian’s letter a few days prior. The content was concise and — to Bassil’s pain — didn’t answer any of his confusion. Jillian had merely demanded him to clean up the west wing where the Master and Madam used to live but now had gotten quite abandoned, saying that he would be bringing a very important guest.
Despite Bassil’s gnawing curiosity to learn what had transpired between his Young Master and Hayden these past few weeks — the last time Bassil checked, Jillian didn’t even care for him — he put on a perfect smile befitting of the Lacrosa’s head servant and bowed elegantly. "Young Master Hayden, I have been awaiting your arrival. Welcome to the Lacrosa Manor. I am Bassil, the head servant here. Please feel free to tell me what you need during your stay here."