The following day passed quietly, almost too quietly...
Just past noon, Estrella came to fetch me from my room. I already knew exactly why she was here because the Duke had summoned me once again.
When I entered the grand room, I immediately noticed that I was not the only one present.
Standing right beside the Duke was a man who looked surprisingly young. He had long blue hair flowing down his back, gentle eyes the color of clear skies, and a calm, handsome face that gave off a very reassuring presence as he wore a pristine white physician's coat.
'So this is the physician he found...' I thought to myself.
The man noticed me at once, his bright eyes softening as he smiled warmly down at me.
"Good day," he said in a very gentle voice, dropping to one knee so he wouldn't look too intimidating. "My name is Michael, and I will be examining you today."
Beside him stood a woman with soft features and kind eyes, and she crouched slightly to meet my eye level as well, offering a reassuring smile.
"I am Luel," she said kindly, her voice smooth and comforting. "We will do our absolute best to help you feel better."
The Duke spoke then, his deep tone completely neutral as he leaned back against his chair. "I will simply observe."
That single sentence alone was enough to make my stomach tighten with nervousness.
'... Why was he suddenly doing all of this? First finding a professional physician, and now watching the entire process personally? '
Michael gestured for me to sit down on a large plush sofa. He and Luel took the seats directly across from me, while the Duke sat slightly to the side, his sharp gaze never leaving my small frame.
I felt exactly like a specimen under intense observation...
Michael seemed to sense my growing unease.
"Since you do not speak, we will keep this examination very simple," he said, waving his hands gently to calm me down.
"You only need to nod or shake your head to answer me."
I nodded my head once to show I understood.
"Good," he said softly, pulling out a small leather notebook. He began with simple questions.
"Other than a weak body and difficulty speaking, do you experience any other painful symptoms?"
I shook my head.
"Have you had any fevers or chills in the past few weeks?"
Again, I shook my head.
Michael hummed thoughtfully, rubbing his chin as he looked at my blank face.
"And do you know the reason why you cannot speak?"
I didn't respond to that question. I simply kept my eyes fixed on the wooden table in front of me, refusing to show any reaction.
The air in the room grew heavy and quiet. Michael and Luel exchanged a brief glance, and though they were not alarmed, their eyes were filled with genuine concern for me.
"I see," Michael said after a long moment of silence. "Then we will proceed with a regular physical examination."
He checked my temperature, examined my throat and vocal cords, measured my height and weight, and took careful notes in his book. Everything was done gently and professionally, ensuring I didn't feel any discomfort.
Turning toward the door, Michael addressed Estrella, who had been standing quietly in the corner of the room.
"Does the Young Master have any known food or environmental allergies?"
"No..." Estrella replied quickly, bowing her head. "He eats very well and has never shown any bad reactions to anything."
Michael nodded, writing that down. "And when he was an infant... did he cry? Did he ever babble like normal babies?"
Estrella hesitated, her hands clenching together as her gaze lowered to the floor.
"That is actually the main issue, Doctor," she said softly, her voice filled with old worries. "The Young Master never cried, not even once since the day he arrived. He never babbled either so I was so worried that I called for several local physicians before, but none of them could explain it."
Michael paused his writing, his eyes widening slightly. "Interesting," he murmured under his breath.
At that specific word, the Duke suddenly stiffened in his chair. An old memory surfaced unbidden in his mind, bringing back the dark day his wife had passed away.
He remembered holding the newborn in his arms, waiting for the standard wails, but there were no cries and no wails. There was only an absolute, crushing silence.
Not once since the day he was born had that child ever shown any typical baby behavior, and the Duke's eyes darkened significantly as he looked at me again.
Michael straightened his posture and removed his medical gloves. "Physically speaking," he said calmly, looking at the Duke, "there is absolutely nothing abnormal. His vocal cords are completely healthy, and while his body is weak, it is not dangerously so."
Luel nodded in agreement, packing away the instruments.
Michael hesitated for a brief moment, choosing his next words very carefully. "However... his condition is highly unusual. It is not an illness, nor is it pathological. Simply put, it is incredibly rare."
The Duke's voice cut in, low and controlled, breaking the doctor's sentence. "Explain."
Michael met his cold gaze without any fear.
"He appears fully capable of speech," Michael said smoothly.
"But there is something heavily inhibiting his expression, not just verbally, but emotionally as well. His face does not reflect what he may be feeling internally."
My breath caught in my throat as I heard his words. 'So he actually noticed...'
"But to be perfectly clear," Michael continued, wanting to reassure the worried father, "this is not a dangerous illness. Some individuals are simply born this way, trapped behind a wall of silence."
Another silence followed his explanation, and the Duke said absolutely nothing.
Michael bowed his head slightly toward the lord. "That is my final conclusion for now."
I sat there quietly on the sofa, keeping my face as neutral as ever, but inside my mind, something clicked. So that was how my behavior looked to normal people. I could feel plenty of things, but to them, my lack of words and empty expressions looked deeply concerning, and somehow, that silence had finally drawn my father's attention.
The realization hit me like a splash of freezing water. This was incredibly bad for my plans. Why was my father suddenly paying attention to me after all this time?
I lifted my gaze toward him just for a brief second, and I instantly froze. For less than a fraction of a second, I saw an expression I didn't recognize on his face.
His cold eyes softened, and his brows subtly knit together, looking as if something deeply painful had surfaced from within his heart. Then, just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished entirely, and the Duke's face returned to its usual cold, unreadable mask.
'Did I just imagine that?' I wondered, my mind spinning.
Before I could dwell on it any longer, Luel spoke up gently, her soft voice breaking the uneasy silence in the room.
"My lord, perhaps it would be best if the Young Master stayed at the main mansion for a time. Being closer to his family and brothers may help with his difficulty speaking."
My thoughts instantly exploded in pure horror.
'NO. NO. ABSOLUTELY NEVER.' I screamed internally, every single instinct in my body revolting at the terrifying idea of moving.
Michael's eyes lit up at her words, clearly pleased by the suggestion. "That is an excellent idea," he said with a warm smile.
"Children benefit greatly from being surrounded by their parents, especially when the cause of their quiet condition is unclear."
'Traitors! Both of them!' I thought, glaring at the two medical professionals in my mind. I turned my eyes toward my father, silently begging him with my gaze.
'Say no... please say no.'
The Duke flinched slightly, as if struck by an unseen blow. His gaze drifted away from us for a brief moment, becoming unfocused as he lost himself in his own thoughts.
I didn't know what he was thinking, but whatever it was, I knew it wasn't going to be good for me.
After a long, agonising pause, he finally spoke.
"In one week," he said flatly, his voice carrying an absolute weight, "the child will be transferred to the main mansion."
My mind went completely blank. 'This is the end of my peaceful life...'
Michael clapped his hands together softly, breaking my despair. "Very well. That settles the matter then." Then he tilted his head, suddenly remembering a very basic detail.
"Ah... there is one more thing, Your Grace. What is the Young Master's name?"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop instantly. I stiffened in my seat, realizing a horrifying truth. I couldn't answer him because I didn't even know my own name. The three servants in this annex had never called me by a proper name; they simply referred to me as Young Master.
Even Estrella looked startled by the question, her mouth parting slightly. Michael blinked in surprise at the sudden hesitation, and Luel frowned a little as the silence stretched out uncomfortably, until the Duke finally spoke.
"His name is," the Duke said, his voice firm and completely unyielding, "Fainyx von Nocte."
The exact moment that name left his lips, something strange stirred deep within my chest. It resonated through my soul, feeling unfamiliar, yet undeniably mine.
I didn't know why it made me feel that way, but I brushed the sensation aside quickly, refocusing on my panic.
Michael smiled brightly. "That is a very unique and beautiful name." Luel nodded her head in total agreement.
The Duke stood up from his chair, his tall frame towering over the room. "The examination is complete."
He gestured toward the doors, and his aides and servants moved into action at once. Michael and Luel bowed politely toward the lord.
"Take care of yourself, Young Master Fainyx," Michael said gently, offering a final wave. Luel smiled warmly at me before following him out of the room.
Estrella lingered by the doorway for a brief moment, her eyes filled with deep worry as she looked at me, but reluctantly, she left as well.
The heavy doors closed, and a suffocating silence flooded the space. It was just me and him left.
The Duke spoke without turning his body to look at me. "Prepare yourself. Pack whatever belongings you consider important."
I stared at his back, my expression remaining unchanged even though my thoughts were completely spiraling out of control.
' ... Why did he listen to the physician's advice so easily? '
Stress gnawed at my mind, but my face remained perfectly neutral as I gave a single, obedient nod.
A few minutes passed in complete silence before the Duke finally rose, opened the door, and addressed Estrella who was outside the door waiting.
"I am leaving. I have urgent matters to attend to in the territory. In one week, prepare everything for the child's transfer to the main mansion."
"Yes, Your Grace," Estrella replied in a calm manner, bowing deeply.
The Duke left the room without throwing another glance in my direction. I remained exactly where I was, sitting dazed on the sofa as the reality set in.
My perfect plan to stay completely unnoticed and live quietly in the isolated annex had failed.
It had failed completely...