[center][h1][color=0072bc]Calbert[/color] & [color=00aeef]Kazumin[/color]

[color=0072bc]Part 1[/color][/h1][/center]
[hr]
The door swung open powerfully with a loud thud as it hit against the walls of the Damien estate. Calbert stepped out. His narrowed gaze was on the blonde man bounding toward his house like it was his birthday morning. [color=0072bc][i]Why is he eager?[/i][/color] His eyes drifted toward the carriage behind him. He could see Lord Asteroth inside. Calbert sighed and glanced over his shoulder. [color=0072bc]“Put the gun away for now.”[/color] He murmured to a nearby member of his staff. 

Though he’d have to hold back more than he wanted to, he still did not intend to be humble about his thoughts. Even if he did bring Lord Asteroth, Count Calbert outranked him and would make sure that they both knew that he was aware of Kazumin’s antics. Looking down at Kazumin, he could not help but contort his face in disgust, his blue eyes locked on his cowlick as his mouth scrunched up. 

[color=0072bc]“...We’ll wait for Lord Asteroth to join us.”[/color] 

Lord Calbert would soon lay witness to the carriage door flying open and from it, Kazumin bounding out like an excitable child. But most eye-catching was the poor driver who found themselves unfortunate enough to have the door slamming into them from the abrupt bursting of the door. With Asteroth just exiting the carriage, everyone within the immediate vicinity bore witness to the dazed driver stumbling backwards against one of the horses which panicked from the impact and kicked though thankfully narrowly avoiding a direct hit of the individual, the same could not be said for the driver’s arm as he was knocked and sent sprawling to the hard concrete floor.

“[color=00aeef]Oh shit![/color]” Kazu cursed through gritted teeth clutching at his hair. “[color=00aeef]Fuck..I didn’t see you there, Steve. Let me-[/color]” The cowlicked blonde motioned to make his way over to the injured driver when Asteroth’s hand clutched his shoulder.

A small but quick jerk of the shoulders had the ward pulled back towards the baron. “[color=f26522]Leave it to me. You have done quite enough.[/color]” His voice was a harsh whisper that oozed unbridled wrath, his bearded face a bright red from a mixture of fury and embarrassment. The count’s presence the only thing sparing his tactless ward another biting reprimanding.

The baron wanted nothing more than to shove Kazumin back into the carriage and ride off after this, but the count was already present and waiting and he knew very well how Calbert detested being kept waiting. “[color=f26522]Now I have to take care of this so you will have to go on without me. You are to extend the proper courtesies and apologies… and whatever that booze fried brain of yours tells you to say..you ignore it! So help me if you embarrass me any more this day…[/color]” Every word whispered like icy daggers hinting of cruel promise followed by a vice like squeeze to the shoulder.

All the while Kazu’s eyes were whirring in the eye sockets to Steve then to the count then to Asteroth and then a squirrel he spotted munching away at a nut on a nearby tree. Rapidly whirling to each of them in quick multiple concessions struggling to focus on one of them or the myriad of emotions circling within him. Half of Asteroth’s biting words are muffled by the loud erratic drumming of his heart.

“[color=f26522]Do you hear me boy? Get up there and let the count know I shall be along shortly.[/color]” Said while prying dagger like fingers from his ward’s shoulder.

His last words and the painful pressure of his fingers releasing did the trick in getting Kazu to focus his attention on the count waiting at the top of the steps. His thoughts of chasing the squirrel to get his nuts brought to an end. “[color=00aeef]Yes sir, you can count on me![/color]” Kazu responded with a stoic expression and salute only to melt back into his usual wide cheeky grin.

The young blonde who had been exhausted and barely able to make it up a set of stairs previously was gliding up the steps. Practically hopping up them in fact as he reached the top in a manner of seconds only to come to a skidding halt upon reaching the second to last step.

Suddenly Kazumin bowed lower than normally needed. “[color=00aeef]Greeting Lord Count Calv- er Calby no..Calbert! I am most gracious and honored to have been given an invitation to your wondrous estate to share in brunch.[/color]” His tone was upbeat and excitedly chipper even if he didn’t know what brunch was but as long as it meant food he was fine with whatever. “[color=00aeef]Hm..oh and apologies from Baron Asteroth as he is a bit indisposed at the moment but shall be with us shortly.[/color]” Looking back over his shoulder to see him and a few others trying to help Steve causing a pained shout to echo out which Kazu cringed with guilt, making a mental note to make it up to the man later then turned his attention back to the count with that big grin plastered on his face once more. 

Calbert immediately grimaced at the young man’s greeting. [color=0072bc][i]What is with him…[/i][/color] He supposed that Kazumin was eager as he had not suspected the nature of their discussion. Nonetheless, he still struck Calbert as immensely odd. His brows slightly raised once he heard that Lord Asteroth would not be immediately joining. His gaze followed Kazumin’s briefly to the indisposed fellow who had been kicked by the horse. [color=0072bc]“I see. Well, that’s alright as there are some subjects I’d like to converse with you privately anyhow.”[/color] He stepped out of the way and gestured Kazumin inside. Once he would step inside, the front doors would slam shut.

He tried to remain standing in place but the powder (whatever it was) left him anxious and fidgeting in place. All the while that wide smile remained plastered on his face while the corner of his right eye twitched every so often. His attention nearly wandered back to the squirrel until Calbert spoke up after he strangely remained quiet even after giving his introduction.” [color=00aeef]Eh? Speak privately? Well alright.[/color]” A shrug of his shoulders thinking nothing of it as he followed after the distinguished count with a bounce to his steps.

The [url=https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/01/hill2.jpg]entrance hall[/url] was large and mostly a sight of beige marble. Two colossal pillars held up the balcony of the floor above them, where staff members were glancing down with curiosity as they leaned upon the railing. The room was not all too occupied with only a few chairs and a piano spawn across the granite floor, which had a black and white diamond pattern. There were also token splashes of blue symmetrically on each side of the room. Cool colors were a recurring theme throughout the manor.

[color=0072bc]“Kazumin, right?”[/color] He forced a smile and stepped up to him to stare down at him coolly. Though forced, Calbert had years to master even making his most forced smiles look genuine. [color=0072bc]“Follow me to the dining room. I have a brunch set out for us to talk over.”[/color] He glanced over his shoulder to meet the eyes of the man that had hidden the gun prior. He gave him a curt head nod and then folded his hands behind his back.

[color=0072bc][i]I am going to make him regret he was ever born.[/i][/color]