Dungeon of Niflheim

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Walking with his own two legs

As Leo was giving orders to some of the servants and guards on what to do with the many bags full of shopping Maya returned wearing a different dress, this time a violet one that created a beautiful contrast to her white hair.

“That was close.” Maya smiled as normal as possible as she spoke, pushing the idea that she really needed to visit the restroom. She looked at Frost with a menacing glare, full of accusation as she passed him.

‘Eh it’s my fault?’ Frost frowned and Maya hmphed as she moved next to Luna and dragged her into the manor, completely ignoring Frost and Leo.

Frost was left dazed and confused, his mouth open to speak but no words came out.

Pat

Leo patted his shoulder from behind. Frost looked behind him at Leo to see him shaking his head before shrugging. Basically, translating as ‘don’t bother.’ He then returned to giving instructions to the servants. And now that Frost could see there were far fewer servants than when they left. Their average age was also a lot lower, most of the senior staff seemed to have been let go.

‘Cassandra seems to have been remarkably busy the past few hours.’ Frost remembered the look the woman had on her face while saying she’d take care of the house; it was full of joy. Seems she had a lot of fun given the ones left behind.

.....

The ones remaining could barely be called a skeleton crew and none of them looked to be that experienced, a bunch of teenagers.

‘I guess Adam must have turned all the higher ranked servants.’ Frost nodded internally at Cassandra’s work; it was the right way to go about it.

Knock knock

Frost knocked on the door to Douglas’s bedroom.

“Come in” A pleasant female voice replied. It was Cassandra. Frost opened the door and walked into the room with Leo following behind him.

“Ah Frost and Leo, welcome back.” Cassandra was looking much healthier than earlier; her face had a good amount of colour, and she wore a grand smile.

‘Did she put on make-up?’ Frost was taken aback for a second, Cassandra was already attractive earlier but now she was a bombshell. Leo was just as shocked, he looked at his mother in confusion wondering if she was still his mother.

“You look nice lady Cassandra.” Frost spoke smoothly, admiring her beauty.

“Why thank you Frost, now that that disgusting wastrel of a butler’s no longer around to act like a lecher I can finally dress how I want.” Her smile grew larger as she spoke and she thrusted her chest out with pride, she took a lot of satisfaction in taking care of that former head butler. It allowed her to release a lot of pent-up frustration. She was in such a good mood she put on one of her favourite dresses, a blue cheongsam and applied her dust covered make-up. She had not worn this outfit in over 3 years, not since the last time she joined her husband on a trip to the capital.

“Yeah, mom you look very pretty.” Leo smiled genuinely; he hadn’t seen his mother in such a good mood for a long time.

“Of course, she is, my wife is the most beautiful woman in the world.” Douglas was in just as good a mood as his wife, it had been too long since he saw her dress up, too long. Behind that smile however was pain, he knew why she never dressed up, it was because of him, his inability to leave this room and control his own servants, he was nothing but a burden on his family at this point. His wife was a beautiful and radiant flower, she shouldn’t be caged up alongside him. Seeing his wife with such a radiant smile on her face Douglas made a decision in that moment.

‘It’s about time I let go.’ His gaze drifted over to his son who no longer had the face of a child. He saw a strong, brave young man who would be able to support the Furano household. His son was ready to bare that charge.

Douglas sighed deeply as if heavy weight was removed, he felt light and free, strength filled his battered and broken body.

Crack crack

Douglas’s knuckles released an audible crack as he clenched his fists.

‘Let’s go out with a bang.’ Douglas smiled at ease with his decision. Leo wasn’t alone, he had Luna, his mother as well as two new friends Maya and Frost, he was no longer needed. He’d been quiet for far too long and it was not in his nature.

Douglas forced himself to sit up straight and made moves to stand on his own two feet for the first time in months. His actions shocked his wife and son who moved to aid him but were fiercely rebuffed.

“I’m not dead yet, it’s about time I reminded my brother of that. I am still the ruler of this territory.” Douglas scowled as he spoke of his brother, he felt so betrayed and filled with fury. He treated his younger brother so well over the years and for what. If he wasn’t so feeble, he’d kill him himself.

Ignoring the worried expression on his wife’s beautiful face he forced himself to his feet in a single motion.

His stance wavered slightly but Douglas was standing tall without aid, his aura as a Viscount and powerful adventurer was beginning to coalesce but it was merely a bluff, the body’s last surge of strength before the end, enough to fool Cassandra and Leo but not Frost.

‘This old man plans on dying.’ Frost frowned as he understood Douglas’s situation, he was torn on how to act. Should he call him out and force him to return to bed or follow through with his bluff pretending to not see.

His decision was made for him, Douglas sharply looked into Frost’s eyes urging him to keep silent.

“Ugh” the words Frost was about to say were swallowed back down, how could he object, it was Douglas’s life not his. Frost sighed before putting on a smile pretending to be moved by Douglas’s sudden surge in health. He received a soft look from Douglas in thanks.

“We haven’t eaten together as a family in such a long time, the dining room’s probably full of cobwebs hahahaha. Let’s show our guests the hospitality of the Furano household hahahaah.” Douglas laughed with his entire body as he moved forward in great strides, ignoring the painful signals his body was sending him, he opened up his bedroom doors and started walking towards the dining room.

Leo and his mother were speechless, tears started to form in Cassandra’s eyes as she gazed at the straight and large back of her husband.

‘My love’ Cassandra wiped her tears and followed after her husband with quickened steps. On catching up with him she clamped down on her husband’s arm, wrapping her body around him and resting his arm between her breasts. Walking with him side by side, Cassandra looked up at Douglas, her eyes filled with affection, remembering the first time they met.

They were young, Douglas a young handsome noble, in his prime. His body rugged and muscular from being an active adventurer yet his personality being that a of kind, gentle man loved by the territory’s populace. She the beautiful flower of a declining Baron household swarmed by dozens of suitors after her family’s wealth and noble title, caring very little about her own aspirations.

They met when Cassandra fled from her territory sick of being treated as a commodity to be sold off by her family. However, a beautiful young woman alone on a journey was a prime target. She was quickly beset by bandits who were lusting after her beauty. It was then that she met her future husband to be.

Douglas seeing such an injustice while passing by, confronted the many bandits alone. Severely outnumbered and outmatched Douglas chose to stand in front of Cassandra, shielding her from the bandits without hesitation. Douglas turned his neck and smiled brightly towards her. She fell in love at that moment, Douglas was her white knight in shining armour, that smile made her feel safe.

Luckily, Bastion and Ryuu weren’t far behind, together the three of them defeated the bandits and successfully rescued the damsel. What followed was Cassandra ardently pursuing Douglas in courtship. She ignored her family’s wishes, shattering the chains that bound her freedom and married Douglas without their blessing and she never regretted it for a single moment.

She rested her head on Douglas’s shoulder, walking by his side towards the dining room. Receiving the loved filled gaze of his wife Douglas smiled and kissed her lightly on her forehead.

“They’re a beautiful couple.” Frost couldn’t help but comment on the sight. Douglas and Cassandra even after so many years of marriage and being beset with such problems could still look at one another as if they were newlyweds, Frost envied such a relationship, his mind filled with an image of Maya before he vigorously shook his head.

“I’m surprised they only have one child.” Frost sniggered, considering how in love Douglas and Cassandra were they probably had a rather active sex life.

Leo couldn’t help but blush as he understood Frost’s connotations, that wasn’t something he as their son wanted to think about, so he didn’t. Too embarrassed to look in Frost’s direction Leo ran after his parents.

“Hahahaha” Frost laughed as Leo scampered out of the room blushing.

‘Teasing him was fun, I see why Maya does it to me so often.’

“Can you have someone tell my companion and Luna that we’re going to be eating in the dining room.” Frost spoke to the two guards that were standing outside the bedroom door. Throughout the entire situation these two guards remained stoic and silent but were laughing internally.

“Of course, sir Frost, I’ll ask a servant to rely that message.” One of the guards saluted before heading off to find a servant.

“Do you need me to guide you to the dining room sir Frost?” The remaining guard asked politely, the Furano family was already out of sight and since Frost didn’t know the layout of the mansion, he needed a guide.

“If you wouldn’t mind” Frost took the guard up on his offer, this place wasn’t his dungeon, so he didn’t have access to a map. The only room he’d been too was Douglas’s bedroom and that was only one of several hundred, he didn’t even know what floor it was on.

“No problem sir Frost.” The guard showed a rare smile before leading Frost down the hall.

The dining room, well the main dining room was on the ground floor and hadn’t been used in nearly 2 years. Before Douglas got sick, they would dine here nearly every night together, Douglas and Cassandra were big believers in eating as a family, occasionally they’d even invite servants to join them. Adam as well used to eat alongside them especially when Leo was younger, they appeared to be such a close-knit family back then, what went wrong?

With Adam taking control of the majority of high-ranking servants, most of the rooms had become really run down, filled with dust and stagnant air. The main dining hall was one of those run-down rooms. Without there being a need to entertain any nobles or wealthy businessmen and Douglas too ill to move around it was left unattended, well that was the plan at least. When the group arrived in the dining hall they were surprised. There wasn’t a single cobweb, line of dust or a piece of furniture out of place as if it was cleaned every day.

“What the?” Douglas was fully expecting to have to give the room a deep thorough clean before it would be even half useable, yet the room before them looked the same as it did 2 years prior.

Cassandra rubbed her finger over some of the furniture expecting to pick up some dust but there was nothing, her finger was spotless.

While the Furano’s looked at one another with confusion, a group of servants walked in armed with cleaning utensils.

Don don

Seeing their masters in the dining room took the young servants by surprise, a few of them dropped their equipment.

“M...m...master m...mistress what are you doing here?” One of the servants asked nervously as if she’d done something wrong.