[color=f49ac2][b][h2] Ayel Raunefeldt [/h2]
[/b][/color]
[color=f49ac2][b]"My bride-to-be is out saving me from having to do everything myself, I can appreciate it when people realize that I am a very busy man."[/b][/color]

The ever graceful and levelheaded nobleman sat at the end of his dinner table, looking into his wine glass and pondered loudly to himself. He had many days prior been informed that a prisoner had escaped from the Dawnhaven jail.

[color=f49ac2][b]"This is humiliating for his royal highness, that's what happens when you give a task to big for a brain to small, those dimwitted Lunarian apes cannot do anything right. But where in Aelios blazing light has this prisoner run off to? All the laborers have failed to locate him, this is however expected as they are nothing more than commoners, but to think this prisoner would elude someone as distinguished like myself? Poppycock."[/b][/color] Ayel scoffed and swallowed the wine in one swoop, before standing up and walking over to inspect himself in one of the many mirrors decorating the room.

[color=f49ac2][i]'I have literally looked everywhere. And nothing can hide under my keen nose and perception. Anora did seem a bit overly curious about the search groups though…. ahh the frivialities of the young and inexperienced!'[/i][/color] Ayel chuckled and gave his reflection a smile, then proceeded to view himself in different angles.

[color=f49ac2][b]"Mm. Perfect."[/b][/color] He said softly as he admired his reflection, turning only to a sound of a door opening.

[color=f49ac2][b]"Ahh! Dear sister, good that you are here. I was wondering, have you seen where my red coat and red hat is? It seems to be missing from my third wardrobe. Did you send it with the local maid? I certainly hope she is a high class servant and not some sloppy dirty creature. I do not want one of my great coats to be ruined. Even if it is just an accessory to elevate my gracefulness."[/b][/color] He said as if he were describing the inner workings of the universe as a whole. Pouring himself some more wine into a glass and was raising it to his lips to take a few sips.

[color=f6989d][b]"Greetings brother. Your red coat and hat?"[/b][/color] Anora tilted her head slightly before opening her mouth suddenly again. [color=f6989d][b]"Ah yes. I lent that one out since you have so many."[/b][/color] Anora replied softly and smiled. Her brother, the ever patient and understanding older brother took these news very well.

The wine sprayed from his mouth to the point it covered his mirror, the sheer shock of seeing red sliding down his own mirror image sent a chill down the nobleman's spine, but it were the words that felt like a stab in his heart.

[color=f49ac2][b]"WHAT?!"[/b][/color] He yelled out in a manner which only a nobleman like himself could, his both arms spread out and gesticulating, spilling wine on the floor.

[color=f49ac2][b]"YOU LENT MY COAT AND HAT OUT?! Without my permission?! How dare yo- Wait… was this to a fellow noble? Did his highness request to borrow it or perhaps it was Lord Stormlight? He does strike me as a man of great taste and his jealousy of my wardrobe does make sense. Well, I suppose I can let this minor inconvenience slip since it would be used for a noble cause."[/b][/color] Ayel said as he began to pour up more wine into his glass to fill up the wine he lost.

[color=f6989d][b]"Well… in a way."[/b][/color] Anora replied after flinching to Ayel's yelling, adjusting her umbrella cane. [color=f6989d][b]"I gave it to someone in need of it."[/b][/color] She added after awhile, smiling at the thought.

[color=f49ac2][b]"Wait? You gave it away? Who was it that had earnt it as a gift then? I demand to know! It was after all one of my favorites, it brought out the best of me, and trust me there's alot of that."[/b][/color] Ayel clarified, still slightly troubled about having lost a precious attire, but at least Anora, being his sister would have the common sense to give it to someone of importance, of significance, of fame?

[color=f6989d][b]"You know that prisoner which they have been looking for? I offered it to him, it is cold outside."[/b][/color] Anora said softly, sitting down by the other end of the table, pouring up some tea into a small cup, adding two pieces of sugar to it.

Ayel's eyes widened in shock, he stood as if paralyzed for a moment, as if he had to extra check his ears and brain if he heard it right. His sister. His own sister. Had given away his coat and hat, to some fugitive!

[color=f49ac2][b]"What?!"[/b][/color] He threw his wineglass into the nearest wall. [color=f49ac2][b]"You did what?! You gave my coat to some thief, some ruffian?! Why would you do that?! Why would anyone do that?! Ah? AHH!"[/b][/color] He panicked and ran over towards the doors and shut them close. [color=f49ac2][b]"NOT SO LOUD YOU IDIOT!"[/b][/color] He yelled to her as she sat perfectly calm by the table, drinking her tea.

[color=f49ac2][b]"How could you do this to me? My own sister! Conspiring with a criminal! Are you trying to ruin my reputation that I have taken such precise and elegance to build up?!"[/b][/color] Ayel lamented and bent over the dinner table, clutching his shirt with one of his hands as if his own heart was hurting and being torn out.

[color=f6989d][b]"Forgive me brother, I will buy you a new coat. I wanted to give that man something. Because he is my father you see."[/b][/color] Anora said softly, looking to Ayel, hoping to see her brother understand, show compassion, understanding and calm down.

Her brother. Marquess Ayel Raunefeldt. Was known to possess many abilities.

But these were none of them.


[color=f49ac2][b]"What?! Anora! Have you gone insane?!"[/b][/color] He leaned over to where she sat, for a moment he thought about grabbing her shoulders and shaking her. But he was reminded that other people had… germs.

[color=f6989d][b]"He left today."[/b][/color] She replied calmly, taking another sip from her tea, using her small spoon to swirl the tea abit.

[color=f49ac2][b]"Left?"[/b][/color] Ayel raised an eyebrow and produced a wrinkle on his forehead which normally he would admit wouldn't exist.

[color=f6989d][b]"He stayed here since the jailbreak. In the storage room."[/b][/color] The darkhaired girl said in a calm way, her words soft and collected.

[color=f49ac2][b]"Stayed?"[/b][/color] The taller man stood up straight, and for a brief moment appeared to have changed three more hues towards an even paler colour.

[color=f49ac2][b]"You harbored a fugitive…. in... my home? Without my knowledge or permission?"[/b][/color] He gritted his teeth together and furrowed his eyebrows as veins started to appear on his forehead, doing his best to keep his voice low.

[color=f49ac2][b]"This… this is treason! My own sister a criminal, oh Aelios- That's it! I am going straight to his highness and have you arrested! I shall have you labeled as insane! No wait… damn it all... I will also have my reputation stained… my hard work… my influence… to ruin! How could you do this to me? I who is the best friend of the prince, I who stand as his most respected and trusted friend."[/b][/color] Ayel walked back and forth along the room as if trying to come up with a plan.

[color=f6989d][b]"Ayel. You are-"[/b][/color] Anora began to speak but were instantly interrupted by her older brother. [color=f49ac2][b]"Be silent! Do not say another word you backstabbing brother-hating traitor. This is a hanging matter! By the goddess, the prince could even hold -me- responsible. THIS I WILL NOT ALLOW. Women like you have always led men down to the darkness, now you are forcing my hand, to stain my flawless honorable record with lying to my best friend of all people. I will not have you ruin everything I have worked so hard to accomplish! I took you in, my mother took you in! I bet your biological mother and father must have been merchant class after all..."[/b][/color] Ayel pointed an accusing finger, his face sweaty and agitated.

[color=f6989d][b]"Enough!"[/b][/color] Anora stood up from her seat, locking eyes with Ayel. [color=f6989d][b]"Stop behaving like a child. I have been very patient with you, brother. Where is your compassion for other people? Where is your kindness for those less fortunate than you? I always believed that you had the potential to change. To become a better person..."[/b][/color] Anora said and looked hurt.

[color=f49ac2][b]"I don't have the time or patience for peasants and commoners or criminals! They are like animals. They exist to serve their betters. So your birthmother was some goddess-forsaken woman who died when you were little and your father is but a criminal. I want you to begone from my estate right now, I may have promised mother to look after you, but I can do so from a distance. I shall request Lord Stormlight or some noble of lesser standing than myself to take you in. I shall compose a letter for that."[/b][/color] Ayel gave Anora a glare of disgust, but his expression changed abit on seeing how Anora's eyes have gotten glossy.

[color=f6989d][b]"How can you be so cruel and say all these things?  Our mother told me something on her deathbed. Something which had weighed her down for a very long time."[/b][/color] Anora said in a sorrowful tone of voice, her hands grabbing unto each other around her umbrella.

[color=f49ac2][b]"Don't you bring mother into this! She would be disappointed in you staining the Raunefeldt good name like that!"[/b][/color] Ayel retorted fiercely and pointed an accusing finger at Anora.

[color=f6989d][b]"I am adopted yes… I wasn't born into the Raunefeldt family, I am forever grateful for that. To my foster father and mother, and to have you and Andros as brothers. You know how our father could no longer produce any more children right? He never could after Andros..."[/b][/color] Anora said softly and looked at Ayel with sad eyes. [color=f6989d][b]"You were never meant to know… but I have no choice but to tell you, because your heart have become wicked…"[/b][/color] Anora said and looked disappointed and hurt at the darkhaired taller man.

Ayel stood as if frozen, sweat sliding down his face, his eyes wide, staring out into nothingness, as if he had come face to face with Aelios herself.

[color=f49ac2][b]"What did you just say?"[/b][/color] He asked in a monotone manner, not even looking at Anora but straight ahead across the room.

[color=f6989d][b]"Do you remember our old butler who went with you to fish so often, who always tagged around you when you were younger? That man was your father… Ayel. Mother never had the heart to tell you, because you were so proud of being a Raunefeldt. She begged me to tell you when you were ready."[/b][/color] Anora clenched her hands around her umbrella harder.

[color=f49ac2][b]"Y-you… YOU!"[/b][/color] Ayel face went from palest of white to red as he raised his arm to point straight at Anora. [color=f49ac2][b]"Get out! GET OUT! I never want to see you again! OUT!"[/b][/color] The nobleman picked up a nearby strawberry bowl and threw it at full force into the nearest wall, shattering the glass and sending pieces flying across the room. The nobleman then threw one of the nearest chairs a short distance in the room.

Anora narrowed her eyes, hurt by the words and teary eyed, she turned around to walk out. [color=f6989d][b]"Goodbye brother."[/b][/color] She said in a sad way, opening the door and leaving, just moments later a wine bottle would fly through the air hitting said door and spreading wine and glass over the floor and walls.

[color=f49ac2][b]"AS IF! AS IF I WOULD BE! This is just a conceited idiotic little thing you would say to upset me! THERE IS NO WAY! NO WAY! MOTHER! Mother... Mother?"[/b][/color] Ayel's grabbed his own head, his eyes twitching and he was hyperventilating, breaths were coming in fast and short.

[color=f49ac2][i]'It has to be a lie... A BIG FAT LIE. I couldn't... I cannot...  mother... why?'[/i][/color] He sought his mind and soul for answers, but he had known the moment Anora spoke that she wouldn't lie to him, not about something like that.

[color=f49ac2][b]"I... I'm..."[/b][/color] He stumbled over towards an unopened wine bottle, biting the cork and pulling the cork out, taking a long swig from it, then a second... then a third... then he looked over to see which year it were. Same year as Anora's birthyear. He hurled the bottle across the room, hitting one of his own busts as it did, causing the bust to topple over and fall to the floor.

Normally. Seeing something like that would have been scarring enough. But this was not a normal situation. 

[color=f49ac2][b]"I... I am butler... born? Oh Aelios... I am half-commoner? Half-peasant?!"[/b][/color] He almost choked, tears falling down his cheeks as he fell to his knees and placed his pristine gloved hands on the floor. Before taking the gloves off and looking at these hands.

[color=f49ac2][b]"These hands... this... body... I... am tainted... Anora... you took it all from me! MY EVERYTHING! Mother! How could you let me live a lie!"[/b][/color] He screamed at the top of his lungs and breathed heavily.

[color=f49ac2][i]'I'm a fraud... I am as dirty as the thugs that slither in that inn... I... oh Aelios... wake me up now... tell me this is just an awful... horrible dream. I want to wake up RIGHT NOW. Okay?'[/i][/color] He sobbed and crawled along the floor, before curling up into fetal position in front of the fireplace, at the lit fire.

[color=f49ac2][b]"Fire? Ahah? Yes... YES OF COURSE. That's what you want me to do right?"[/b][/color] He turned to get on all fours, opening the fireplace and picking a torch, sticking it into the fireplace to light the torch. The nobleman, ever the levelheaded and forward-thinking had now a broad smile on his lips and widened eyes as he rose up. Walked up to the dinner table, taking up another wine bottle, then casually walked around the dining room, letting the torch light the curtains and tapestries in the room catch fire. 

[color=f49ac2][i]'Everything burns. Only way to keep everything pure right Aelios? I'll make myself a bonfire and join you later... after this bottle.'[/i][/color] He mentally encouraged himself as he proceeded to walk out into the hallway, lighting the banners there on fire, then throwing the torch into his bed in the bedroom. The nobleman then calmly went over and took on his least fancy suit and his least favorite hat, opening the door and walked off into the snow with his wine bottle in hand.

[color=f49ac2][b]"Wooohooo! Buuuurn!"[/b][/color] He yelled out loud, uncorking the bottle and took a long swig from his wine bottle, stumbling his way away from his now burning home, heading towards the town centre in a slightly intoxicated state. Momentarily eye'ing the huge tree next to his home, when had that gotten there. He had so much to think about that he didn't even have the time to complain about it existing where it stood.