Everyone clapped their hands and cheered as we all stood up and started to leave the room. It was starting to empty as I was about to leave, and on my way pass Professor Hughes’ desk, he called my name and said, “You were quiet in class today Lord Curtis, is everything alright?”
I stopped in front of him, I did not know how to answer, and there had been a lot on my mind lately especially regarding tomorrow. I was finally going home but I wasn’t looking forward to it and I had no idea what to expect after being away for so long. I fear that home might be a new place for me but I wasn’t going to tell him that.
“Everything is fine Professor, I’m just excited to be going home that’s all,” I lied hoping that I sounded convincing enough.
Professor Hughes smiled at me, “I know the feeling. The great opportunities that awaits the young,” he sighed, “Congratulations on being top of your class Lord Curtis. Your speech at the graduation ceremony was truly inspiring. I’m glad there are still Lords like you,” he continued.
“Thank you Professor, I learned from great teachers,” I told him with a tone full of gratitude.
He smiled and said, “Well, I won’t keep you. Good bye Lord Curtis and good luck.”
I slightly nodded my head and smiled back at him as a way of saying good bye before I left the room. I must admit, I would miss the Professor, he was the closest thing to a father to us while we stayed at the Institute. I learned a lot from him as our class director. Ambrose was waiting for me by the hallway. I went to him and as I came closer he asked, “What was that all about?”
“Nothing, just saying our goodbyes,” I replied.
“Well, I have to say, I’m going to miss the Professor when we leave,” Ambrose confessed and I grinned at his remark.
“Let’s go have some lunch at the dining hall shall we?” I suggested.
“Okay,” Ambrose replied.
We were walking down the hallway while Ambrose was talking about going home. We’ve been good friends since we first arrived and we had been inseparable ever since. He told me once that he thinks of me as his brother and the feeling was mutual. I do not blame him though, since he had only two older sisters. His father, Lord Brider Craye, Duke of Blackard, one of the richest Dukedom in the Empire that was rich in oil, decided to have two daughters because he was simply fond of daughters than sons in where an Elite society would prefer sons over daughters. Then he had Ambrose his only son to inherent all his lands someday. Ambrose’s sisters were all married, so I could imagine the anticipation of Lord Craye upon the return of his only heir. I think Ambrose would make a great Duke someday, a fair and just Lord. We were on our way to the dining hall when Stephen decided to join us uninvited.
“Well, if it isn’t the heir and the spare,” proclaimed Stephen in his arrogant voice. Ambrose gave Stephen the dirty look. He never liked Stephen for always referring me as the spare, brother to the Duke of Pinewood. Stephen’s opinion was that if you’re not the heir, then you’re useless. Easy for him to say, Stephen was the heir to the Duke of Sunglow, whose lands were rich in gold, making them the wealthiest family in the Elite station. Stephen was completely the opposite of Ambrose though. He had long light brown hair and light brown eyes, he was loud and obnoxious yet no one would dare displease him. His influential father, Lord Syrus Rectner was one of the Emperor’s closest peers making Stephen immune to almost anything unfavorable and he knew it.
“So what are you two losers doing after you get out of here?” Stephen sneered as he came between us and placed his arms around our shoulders. I pushed his arm feeling disgusted and replied, “It’s none of your business Stephen,” then I straightened my white collar under the blazer.
Ambrose slapped Stephen’s arm away and added, “As if you cared anyway.”
He ignored our actions and respond and spoke coolly to us, “My father is already making plans for a match for me, a woman from a very wealthy Elite and he made sure that she is gorgeous,” he had a grin on his face, “Once the arrangement are all done, we will be married and I cannot wait to seal the bond if you guys know what I mean,” he added with a wink.
“You’re disgusting!” Ambrose snapped.
Stephen shrugged his shoulders, “What else is there?” he continued, “I pity the fool who would marry out of random from the Numen System.” He lowered his voice as if he was going to tell us a secret, “I heard some would have matches with someone they could not even bear to look at and some would sleep in separate rooms throughout their entire marriage. Not even bothering to be intimate to each other, even loathing their mates. Tsk! Such a pity.”
He was assuming that it would happen to us.
“Well boys good luck on your marriages. I am sure it would be a happy one,” he said with a sarcastic tone, “Don’t worry Curtis, your marriage would not matter to your Dukedom anyway,” he ended with a loud sarcastic laugh and left us without giving us a chance to react. Ambrose face was nothing but anger staring at Stephen as he left, “Don’t listen to him Curtis. You know very well your marriage would matter to your brother to form alliances with other Elites and Alphas,” he said with encouragement.
“I am not worried Ambrose, marriage is far from my mind right now,” I assured him and I hope I do not marry soon, I don’t think I would be ready.
“And besides, Andrew would make sure I would have a suitable match,” I lied to him. The truth was, my brother and I were never really close, not like what I had with Ambrose. I did not know what my brother had in store for me but I doubt it would be for my best interest. Since he became Duke of Pinewood, our home, it was all about him. Being the Duke and head of our family, the House of Bermule, after father passed away, he had control over my well-being and everything else. And being brother to a Duke, I was obliged to follow and be loyal to him. I felt bad lying to Ambrose but I didn’t need him to worry about me.
“Yeah,” Ambrose acknowledged, “But wouldn’t it be great though to marry for love?” he admitted.
I nodded in agreement, “it would be a great thing,” I paused, searching for the proper words to say to him. “I’m sure you’d marry and the two of you would fall in love Ambrose, you’re a great man, women would fall easily for you,” I exclaimed with a chuckle to ease the seriousness of the conversation. I meant what I said to him and I hoped he would find a match that would make him happy because he deserved it but I couldn’t help the feeling of uncertainty since love was a luxury that was not easy or may be impossible to have. Our laws made love a gamble, you were one of the fortunate if you found love after marriage.
We arrived at the dining hall, all the other Elites were already having their lunch. I saw Nigel standing up and waving at us, gesturing us that he saved us a seat with him. I waved and smiled back in respond. We approached Nigel and sat at the empty seats beside him on the long table.
“Hey Nigel,” I greeted him with a smile.
“Hey guys, what took you so long?” he asked pushing the rim of his glasses to his nose.
“We encountered an unwelcomed pest along the hallway,” explained Ambrose with a grin.
Nigel looked puzzled with his statement.
“Never mind, what are we having today?” Ambrose changed the subject.
Once we took our seats, the footmen with their long red coats served us with our soup as the first part of the meal. There were other dining halls in the Fortis Institute but the Elite’s was the finest, second to the Sovereign’s. Each station had their own separate wing inside the walls of the Institution, each containing its own classrooms, gym, dining hall, dormitories, training areas, and others. The Omegas, Deltas, and Betas had a larger wing since they have more population than us. They also had more facilities because they had a vaster field of choices in their occupation. The Alphas were trained in their chosen profession, or how to run a business, or in politics. The Elites were taught about business also and on how to run a Dukedom. The Sovereigns were rarely present since it consists of only one family and all were pass the age of eig
hteen. The Crowned Prince and his siblings were usually sent to their very own private wing where they were educated under a private Alpha tutors taught on how to rule an Empire and other important royal responsibilities. Most of our teachers here were Betas like Professor Hughes and they were trained in the professional field of education. Meanwhile, the Corps which includes the Protectors, had their own separate training ground focusing on military and law enforcement, and they had one of the largest wing. None of the stations were allowed to mingle with someone from another station but it was not unusual though that some Omegas would befriend a Beta, or an Alpha would be friendly to an Elite. As for me, I do not know anyone here at Fortis who was outside my station except for the faculty of course. The Yuvaika Institute was of a different area but not far from here. It had similar facilities and lay out as the Fortis, and no men were allowed to enter, it goes the same way here too for the women. We exited the dining hall after we finished our lunch. Nigel was with us this time. We became friends with Nigel during our later years in the institution. He belonged to a minor House whose family were smart just like him. He was second best in class after me but I think he would have been first if the pressure didn’t took hold of him. We remained friends though, that’s what makes Nigel a true one of a kind companion. He had brown short hair that shines in the light and his blue eyes like mine were hidden behind his spectacles. He was also short, that’s why Stephen was fond of bullying him so we took him under our protection.
“So are you guys going to the party tonight?” Nigel asked the both of us.
“Definitely I’m going,” Ambrose said sounding excited.
“I’m not sure exactly,” Nigel hesitated.
“Huh? Why not? It will be fun,” Ambrose encouraged.
“Come on Nigel, it’s our last day, we may never spend a night like this together,” I said trying to persuade him.
“I don’t know,” Nigel paused, “You know how I hate social parties,” he explained.
“Don’t worry, Curtis and I will never leave your side the whole time,” Ambrose trying to reassure Nigel. “And besides,” I added, “We need to get you drunk before we send you home,” I winked at Nigel. They both laughed and we knew Nigel was convinced he was going to have a time of his life tonight.
I was standing on the hallway near the huge entrance doors waiting for the man servant to bring my things down from my room. I woke up that morning with a terrible hangover from all the drinks and late partying last night. I could barely stand with this headache and the people around going about their business in the hall getting ready to leave and saying their goodbyes was only making the pain worst. It was passed midday, everybody in the Elite station who attended the party woke up late. I went out the main doors to get some fresh air which did some good. I was standing with my back towards the door when I felt a gentle pat on my back.
“Are you okay?”
I turned around, it was Ambrose, fresh as ever as if he had a good night sleep and all those alcohol last night didn’t bother him one bit.
“I’m fine, feeling a bit dizzy that’s all,” I responded.
Ambrose smiled then happily added, “It’s all worth it though, we had a blast last night.”
Just as he said it, Nigel appeared who looked worse than me. He came to where we were standing using all that he had to keep himself from falling.
“Hey guys,” Nigel greeted weakly.
Ambrose laughed, “Here is the man of the night. If only you could see yourself last night Nigel, you wouldn’t believe that it was you,” he patted Nigel on the back.
“Last night would be the last time I would ever drink that much,” Nigel declared trying to speak with dignity.
“Not unless we meet again Nigel,” Ambrose teased.
A car pulled over the driveway and the driver went out his side and opened the door of the back passenger seat.
“That’s my ride,” Nigel stated as we fell silent.
Ambrose was the first one to speak, “Good luck Nigel,” he stretched out his hand to him.
Nigel shook it while saying, “Thanks Ambrose, I do hope we’ll see each other again.”
Nigel then released his hand and turned to face me. I offered my hand to him and sadly said, “Don’t be a stranger, you hear?” Nigel took it and we shook hands.
“Never. Thank you for everything Curtis. You’ve been a great help.”
We exchanged smiles and Nigel started going down the stairs from the main door to the car, giving us one last look before he went in the car and waved good bye. We waved back as his driver closed the door and returned to his seat, and drove off.
Another car stopped by the driveway, and the driver opened the passenger door at the back. A familiar face stepped out from the car, a woman in her early fifties with black hair and some traces of white tied neatly in a bun gave me the warmest smile, it was Miss Pattilyn.
I looked at Ambrose which I am certain he saw the sign of sadness on my face as the inevitable was happening. “This is me,” I declared.
Ambrose never took his eyes away from me and nodded in silence. He offered his hand to shake and said, “No matter where you are, know this that I am always here to help you if ever you needed it my friend.”
It took me a while to respond, but I finally shook his hand firmly and solemnly said, “You’re more like a brother to me than my brother I have back home. I wouldn’t know what to do without your encouragement constantly reminding me.”
Ambrose let out a low laugh and gave me a brief hug and let go to face me one more time, “You’re ready Curtis, more than you know. You know where to find me.”
I smiled and jokingly said, “Oh I hope I won’t find you in a bar somewhere.”
He laughed as I made my way down the car while the driver took my luggage and stored them in the trunk. Miss Pattilyn went inside the car first. I gave Ambrose one last look and waved goodbye and he did the same. The driver closed the door after I went in and we drove off.
We left the institute and it was a good day to come home, with the sun shining and everything was peaceful as I was staring out the window. I was thankful that Miss Pattilyn gave me time to myself and my thoughts. She was always a thoughtful woman. For twelve years, we were never allowed outside the walls of the Institute except for emergencies or an event that requires our presence. Fortis was located outside a nearby city surrounded by mountains and trees. Nothing had changed much outside the walls since I first came here. The laws of the Empire helped protect these natural resources, having almost depleted once by overpopulation and the Great War and because of these laws in placed that they were in abundance once more, and thick forest runs all over the country side outside the cities, everywhere an ocean of greens.
“We’ll be arriving at the shuttle dock in an hour my Lord,” informed Miss Pattilyn breaking the silence.
I didn’t respond, still preoccupied with my thoughts. Miss Pattilyn had been with my family since before my brother and I were even born. Being a Delta, she became our nanny and had been like a mother when my own mother passed away when I was only six before I was sent for Fortis, and Andrew was sixteen. She had been my comfort when father shut himself away when mother was gone and he had never been the same ever since. I was never close to my father, he never showed any affection and only spoke to me when needed. He would rather prefer the company of my brother, Andrew. My father never visited me while I was in Fortis, not like the other parents who went to see their sons on a regular basis. Only Miss Pattilyn had visited me weekly without fail, always bringing me something sweet to eat from back home and good news, or how the household were missing me, their little Lord. She would always smile during her visits, always willing to hear what I had been doing in the Institution. She would defend my father when I asked why he didn’t come to visit. She would say that father was busy running the Dukedom with my brother and that he would try to visit me the next time, which never happened. When Miss Pattilyn came for an unexpected visit two years ago,
she was in tears saying that my father had died. I felt no remorse to my surprise but he was never there, he was always missing in the first place so I was angry at him instead. When the administrators of Fortis granted me leave to go home to attend my father’s funeral which I refused made Andrew furious but I think he was mad not because I refused to come but he was more concern what the other Elites would think if the other son didn’t pay respect to his own dead father. Miss Pattilyn was so disappointed of my decision then that she told me that my father loved my mother and he died because his heart couldn’t take the pain of the loss. She conveyed that she thinks that my father never came to visit because I reminded him so much of her. We had the same long black hair and blue eyes that showed compassion and kindness that my father could not bear to look at me. She confessed that my mother was the most beautiful Duchess she had ever seen, everybody loved her even her servants and most especially my father and that they all wept when mother passed away. She told me not to blame my father for his indifference towards me and that if she knew I would act this way, she would have explained to me sooner, but how could Miss Pattilyn had known? She was only a servant to my father. Her words were just her thoughts of the reasons why my father acted that way so that it would appease me. We didn’t have any proof how my father felt towards my mother or if he really died in despair of losing her, he took that story with him to his grave. So I moved on, never visiting the past except a few times when I remembered, what little memory I had of the loving moments with my mother when she was still with us. Those were the only time that I felt being truly loved, it was a brief and unclear moment but I knew and felt it and I treasured it the most.
A lot had happened to me over the years of growing up and Miss Pattilyn was always there. When I was old enough not to need a nanny, father made her in charge of our household which was an honor for a Delta, and she was ecstatic of the promotion. She was also one of those that never found a match in her younger years but that never stopped her from being happy, working diligently and loyal to the House of Bermule. Despite everything we’ve been through, I never thanked her. The only concept of what I have of what my mother was like before I was born was through her stories and so I decided that this was the right time to say my gratitude.
The Premortals (The Premortals Series Book 1) Page 2
