Chapter 28
The soft rustle of velvet curtains stirred faintly in the early morning breeze, whispering secrets to the silence as sunlight began to cascade through the large, stained-glass windows of the Velebrandt estate's vacant imperial mansion. Warm, golden beams spilled across the polished marble floors, illuminating the intricate patterns and casting a kaleidoscope of colors on the antique furniture. Dust motes danced lazily in the sunbeams, like floating embers suspended in mid-air, their gentle twirls undisturbed in the quiet sanctity of morning. The air was heavy with stillness, as if the very mansion held its breath, waiting for the day's awakening.
In one of the grand chambers, tucked within a four-poster bed of navy-blue silks and gold-threaded canopy, Lucien Caelum Velebrandt slept peacefully, his chest rising and falling with each gentle breath, still nestled beneath the heavy embrace of thick blankets.
The sound of soft footsteps approached, barely audible on the plush carpet, followed by the soft creak of a sliding wooden door. A figure stepped into the room, her movements graceful and composed, clad in the crisp black-and-white attire of the Velebrandt household. Shoulder-length brown hair framed her gentle face, her features soft and serene as she gazed at Lucien with a quiet intensity.
It was Marie.
Lucien's personal maid.
A small, tender smile curled on her lips as she gazed at Lucien, still bundled up in the blankets, his peaceful slumber a stark contrast to the grandeur of the room. She walked over to the bed, her movements silent on the plush carpet, and bent down slightly, her fingers gently brushing a strand of hair from Lucien's cheek, her touch soft and deliberate.
"Young master," she said gently, her voice like warm tea on a cold day. "It's morning. It's your birthday."
Lucien stirred at the soft nudge against his shoulder, his body shifting slightly beneath the blankets. His eyes squinted open, heavy with sleep, and one arm rose instinctively to block the stream of light piercing through the curtains, casting a warm glow across his face. As the blurry haze of sleep slowly cleared, his gaze landed on Marie's face, her gentle features and soft smile coming into focus, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled at him.
"...Marie?" he murmured.
Marie gave a soft nod. "Happy tenth birthday, young master Lucien."
Lucien blinked. Then he sat up slowly, yawning as he stretched out his arms and legs. "Thanks, Marie..."