Chapter 6: Sapphire Manor - 2
My heart leaped franticly. I froze, the elegant stone sword still clutched in my hand, its tip pointing towards the floor. The metallic scent of the armory suddenly seemed sharper and a sudden silence creeped in. I slowly turned, my mind racing for an explanation, any explanation.
Standing in the doorway was a man who seemed to embody the very essence of ’butler.’ He was tall, impeccably dressed in a dark, tailored uniform that probably fit his lean posture. His posture was elegantly straight, his expression unreadable, and his silver hair was neatly combed back, not a single strand out of place. In one hand, he held a silver tray, upon which rested a delicate teacup and a small plate of biscuits. He looked like he’d stepped straight out of a period drama.
His eyes, a piercing shade of gray, scanned me, then the sword in my hand, then back to me. No expression across his face, but I felt the weight of his scrutiny.
"Young master," he repeated, his voice smooth and even, devoid of any discernible accent, "what are you doing in here?"
My mind was a chaotic scramble. Think, Alex, think! What would Kai Lorne say? What would a noble child say? I couldn’t just say I was lost. That would be too obvious, too out of character for someone who supposedly lived here.
"Ah, Jenkins," I blurted out, hoping that was his name. Most butlers in these types of stories were named Jenkins. "Just... admiring the collection." I tried to sound casual, confident, as if I were merely perusing a library. I gestured vaguely with the sword, then quickly lowered it, feeling foolish holding such a weapon in front of this perfectly composed man. "I heard about this room from... from the others. My siblings. Always wanted to check it out properly."
A flicker, a barely perceptible tightening around his eyes, was the only indication that my answer had registered. "The other young masters and young miss?" he clarified, his voice still perfectly level, but with a subtle undertone of skepticism. "That is... curious. This room is strictly off-limits to all but Lord Sapphire himself. How exactly did they inform you of its existence, let alone its contents?"
My internal panic surged. Damn it, Alex! You walked right into that one! Of course, it would be off-limits. It was a secret armory. And I didn’t know their names. I couldn’t even point to them. My mind raced, trying to find a way out of this deepening hole.
"They... they mentioned it in passing," I insisted, trying to inject more conviction into my voice. "A whisper, really. Something about Father’s... hobbies. I merely followed my curiosity." I tried to project an air of innocent, youthful curiosity, mixed with the inherent privilege of a noble child. "You know how siblings are. Always teasing with secrets."
Jenkins—which was obviously not his name, remained impassive, his gaze unwavering. "Indeed, young master. And which of your siblings, specifically, shared this ’secret’ with you?"