Chapter 5: Sapphire Manor
The Sapphire family manor was less a house and more a sprawling testament to wealth and lineage. As I stepped out of the carriage, my eyes scanned the imposing building.
It was built of precious, almost luminous stone, and every window seemed to gleam. But what truly struck me was the pervasive presence of blue. Not just a hint, but a deliberate, regal blue that permeated everything. The shutters were a deep sapphire, the intricate carvings around the doorways were picked out in a lighter cerulean (sky blue), and even the very air seemed to shimmer with the hue.
Inside, the blue theme continued, but with an elegance that prevented it from being overwhelming. Rich velvet curtains, the color of a midnight sky, draped tall windows. Tapestries depicting scenes of noble hunts and ancient battles were woven. Even the polished wooden floors reflected the blue light filtering in from stained-glass panels. It was beautiful, undeniably so, but also a constant, visual reminder of the family I had just joined.
And then there was the family themselves. Lord Sapphire had hair the color of a clear summer sky, a vibrant, almost unnatural blue that framed his aristocratic face. His eldest child, a young woman who carried herself with quiet grace, shared the same striking blue hair, falling in elegant waves past her shoulders. The younger child, a boy whose energy seemed barely contained, also had hairs of bright blue. It was clearly a hereditary trait, a mark of their pure lineage.
My own black hair felt starkly out of place. It was a common, unremarkable shade, a stark contrast to their vivid blue. Lady Sapphire, with her warm honey-colored eyes and soft brown hair, was the only one who didn’t fit the blue-haired mold, a subtle hint of her being a Sapphire only by marriage. I was the adopted son, the outsider, visually marked by my ordinary black hair in a family of vibrant blue. It was a small detail that told my supposed adoption.
"Kai, dear, are you quite settled?" Lady Sapphire’s voice was gentle, pulling me from my observations. "The servants will see to your needs. Feel free to rest, or you wish to explore the manor again."
"Thank you, Lady Sapphire," I replied, trying to sound genuinely grateful. "I think I’ll... explore a little." It was the perfect excuse. I needed to find my room, and more importantly, figure out the layout of this massive place without looking like a complete idiot.
My internal monologues were telling of my complete oblivion. Okay, Alex, act natural. You’velived here for years. You know these halls like the back of your hand. Don’t look lost. Don’t stare at the tapestries like they’re alien artifacts.
I started walking, trying to project a sense of casual familiarity. My goal was simple: find the adopted son’s room.
I tried to use logic. Noble children’s rooms were usually on upper floors, often near each other. I headed for the grand staircase, its banister intricately carved and gleaming. As I ascended, I glanced at the portraits lining the walls – stern-faced ancestors, all with varying shades of blue hair.
Upstairs, the hallways branched off in several directions. I chose one at random, trying to appear purposeful. I passed several closed doors, each looking identical. No nameplates, no distinguishing features, it was truly overwhelming.