It didn't take long for the members of the Glacies family to gather in Arnold's bureau; his wife and daughter wearing nervous expressions on their faces, as this was something the head of the household rarely ever did.
Even Miranda, who had lived for 12 years in this world now, could count on one hand - with fingers left to spare - how often such a situation occured in all her life, each time, usually, being an unimaginable source of worry for everyone. Except for the one time, two years ago, a few days after her tenth birthday, when her father called for such a meeting with an incredibly pale face. He told them that someone from the Pyraneia Dukedom had sent an engagement proposal, showing interest in a political marriage, intending to connect the both houses. On that day, it took the combined effort of half the Glacies Viscounty's forces and his wife's slap to stop Arnold from raiding the Dukedom all on his own, when his daughter jokingly said she might agree if it benefitted her family.
"What is wrong, dear father?", asked Miranda, her voice carrying a miniscule trembling with it.
Please, let it be about something insignificant like engagement talks once more! She silently directed these thoughts as a small prayer to Goddess Neriya, hoping for the divine realms to fulfill this small wish of hers.
Arnold looked at the two women, a deep seriousness having firmly rooted within his eyes. After telling every servant present to vacant the room, he answered his daughter's question. "Lord Loreus Glaciano will be visiting us very soon."
As silence so deafening that one could almost hear the world's natural rotation was the only reply that followed. For a moment, it was like every sound itself had died, yet within an atmosphere that was as heavy and dense as lead, Almalia was the first to speak.
"What about our child?" She asked, taking a step forward. Needless to say, everyone was aware that her question wasn't about their present daughter.
"What about Armalius? Dear?" She took another two steps, placed her hands on her husband's arm and with pleading eyes, looked up at her husband. "We both know his bottomless curiosity!"
Arnold could feel her fear with every word she said, - a fear born forth from facing fate's relentless challenges yet again. For a moment, his gaze rested upon his wife's face whilst he gently placed his own right hand upon the hands of Almalia. Ahh, it seems we both have gotten older, he thought, noticing a tiny wrinkle at the corner of his beloved's eyes. While magic and technology advanced to the point of being able to slow down one's aging process slightly, they two of them, not taking any such measures so far, had entered their fourties a while ago and could not deny that with the years piling up, their bodies would slowly succumb to the cruel shenanigans of time itself.
Twenty-two years of marriage and she's still as beautiful as ever. To Arnold, this was an unshakeable truth. Her wavy brown hair with pink tips, her rosy eyes, the usual heart-shaped rubies adorning her ears, her body clad in her beloved scarlet fabrics, - to him, every moment he was allowed to gaze upon the beauty of his wife, the Viscount was filled with bliss no words in existence could ever hope to possibly describe.
"It's ok, we will hide him temporarily", he smiled reassuringly while saying these words. "I will inform Arduo of what I told you two just now, too, and then they will temporarily leave the city."
Arnold looked at his daughter next. Twelve years old, hair as wavy as his wife and gracefully flowing down her back. Almalia's pink and his own icy blue hair colors had manifested within her, creating a rare and wild pattern that was almost artistic; and amber eyes that were looking up towards her father, filled with worry.
She always acts exactly like her mother in such situations. Sighing in his heart, his gaze softened significantly and he reached out his right arm, pulling Miranda closer towards himself and with his left arm smoothly coiling around Almalia, he embraced the both of them tenderly.
"I love you two, and Armalius", he said, putting a bit more strength into his embrace as if to sear this moment into his memory for all of eternity. "By my pride as Viscount Glacies, but especially as a husband and a father, I swear that I will protect you all."
After this, Arnold had called for Arduo and explained everything to her as well. A few days later, Loreus Glaciano came for his planned visit while Armalius, accompanied by Arduo, had long since left the tower.
At least, that was the plan, yet there was a reason why so many people perceived Lady Fate as a cruel mistress, for right after Arduo had received her final instructions, someone was knocking on the door frantically.
"What is it? I'm in the middle of something important", Arnold said while he walked over to the door. "If it isn't something urgen-" The head maid, an older woman with a - usually - stern expression, interrupted him, seemingly flustered; not even Arnold had seen her ever make such an expression before.
"Milord, it's the Duke! He has arrived!" After hearing these words, to Arnold, the entire world turned white. It hadn't even been nearly half a day since he was informed of Duke Loreus Glaciano hastening over for a visit, almost none of the planned preparations had even began and most importantly: Armalius was still in the tower, unaware of any of this.
"Arduo! Immediately grab the boy and run away as far as you can", he shouted while tossing a small bag in her direction, not even caring about the servants outside the room nor the head maid present. The next thing he knew, was that he had started running towards the entrance. Should he warn his wife and daughter? What should he do? And why was the duke already here? Wasn't he supposed to arrive at a later date?
All these thoughts plagued his mind, yet the only thing he could do was to run, sprinting through the left wing of the mansion towards the entrance, running past his mansion's personnel without caring about carrying himself befittingly for someone of his status.
Arriving after what felt like an eternity, he straightened his back, quickly caught his breath once again and walked with an air befitting nobility towards the mansion's front door. Two servants, one of them was his trusted butler, tried to stall for time until Arnold's arrival and showed great relief upon noticing him.
"Lord Glaciano, what an honor it is to welcome you into our home", he said, putting on display a well-honed obeisance that came from years of experience and training.
"'Tis so, my friend." A low voice rang out. "I must say, for how honored you present yourself, the fact remains that the greeting I received at first, had been one intended to stall for time", a man with a muscular build and great height, towering above even the already tall Arnold, had said so while sighing exasperated.
This person was Loreus Glaciano, he had shorter hair with a unique shine to it that looked like ice itself had materialized upon his head instead of hair and was the owner of a finely styled balbo beard. But the most striking thing about his appearance, without a doubt, had been the silver-coloured fullbody armor. Not a speck of dirt visible, not a single scratch present, - and polished to the point that it was almost glowing when rays of sunlight beamed on it.
"'Tis very saddening, my old friend." He shook his head while walking into the mansion. "I truly had expected us to be closer than this", a smirk crept upon Loreus' face. "But I won't tease you any further than this, and I'll spare you the stiff way of talking from here on", he remarked and with loud laughter echoing through the hall, he strongly slapped Arnold's shoulder.
"Now then, Arni! We shouldn't waste time standing here. It's time for a bout! A drinking bout, that is!!" Clapping his hands at the words, three knights who were working for Loreus, carried a large barrel into the entrance hall. With a thunderous noise, he punched through the wooden lid, scattering not a small amount of its dark crimson content on the carpet beneath it. Then Loreus inhaled deeply and placed both of his hands near his mouth, creating a funnel effect while shouting on the top of his lungs: "SOMEONE BRING ME A FEW JUGS! NOW!!"
Arnold, witnessing all of this, merely ended up massaging his temples and let out a deep sigh. If there was one thing he hated, then it was him having to deal with that person. Even though Duke Loreus Glaciano, aside from being the head of one of the Four Great Dukedoms, held the position of Knight Commander of Kheljera, his behaviour was so far removed from being noble and gracious, that during official parties and events, he was either strictly kept close to the king at all times or banned from participating altogether, having done things like what he did just now on more than one occasion in the past.
As someone who was deemed an oddball amongst nobility himself, Arnold did not truly hate Loreus, whose reputation was many, many times worse, but even back during academy times, whenever he had to deal with Loreus, who was one year his senior, it either ended in trouble, chaos or pain - nothing else.
Meanwhile, some servants had hastely carried over large jugs and humbly presented them to Loreus whilst bowing deeply. Not caring much about such behaviour, Loreus simply grabbed the closest two, dunked them deep into the barrel and then presented one of them to Arnold.
"Drink! And don't you dare leave anything, this is a special occasion, after all!" He laughed loudly once more, slapping his friend 'Arni' on the shoulder, nearly making the Viscount spill the jug's contents in the process.
Bringing it closer to his mouth, while already being able to deduce as much from its appearance, the smell it gave off thoroughly gave away that it was red wine - and a very fine one at that. Squinting his eyes, Arnold gulped down the wine in one go, ignoring Loreus obvious attempt at clinking their jugs, who then merely shrugged with his shoulders while laughing once more and proceeded to drink his wine as well.
After repeating this whole process four more times, neither of them showing any hint of having been influenced by the alcohol just yet - proving themselves to be capable drinkers -, Loreus turned slightly serious for a moment while looking at his old friend. Sometimes neither of the two may have been sure if they truly could call the other a friend, but if he had to pick between calling him an acquaintance or a friend, then regarding 'Arni', Loreus would undoubtedly go with the latter.
"Arni", he began, dunking both of their jugs into the barrel for the sixth time today. Presenting the wine to his friend, he continued once Arnold took the wine. "You know, we've been friends for a long time, right?"
"Where is this coming from?" Responded the Viscount, raising an eyebrow questioningly at the sudden seriousness within Loreus' voice. "And I don't remember us being friends, Lord Glaciano." A short and dry laugh left the lips of the Duke, who was, by now, used to the sharp words thrown his way every so often, after knowing each other for such a long time.
"In my eyes, I deem us friends." Loreus eyes, by now, no longer reflected even an ounce of joy as they had up until now. "So, as my friend, I need to ask you", he placed the jug on the ground and walked up to Arnold, standing before him like an unmoveable mountain. "Is it true that your son is still alive?"