The sunlight spilled into Windward Manor, filtering through tall windows into the room.
From the bed, sounds of sneezing and coughing could be heard.
"I've caught a cold," I sniffed, voice muffled. "Just what kind of weak body does this Azure have? Woke up from a coma yesterday and already caught a cold." I sighed, staring up at the ceiling.
Just then, the butler entered.
"What is it, John?" I asked. I'd learned their names this morning-John, the butler, and Martha, a middle-aged woman who took care of me. Since she was my caretaker, I simply called her Nanny.
"Sir, the count has requested your presence at lunch. He wishes to see you." He bowed.
"I see, I'll be there." I said as I pushed myself up to sit.
But John looked...shocked.
"Will you really, sir?"
"Um...yes. He asked me to, didn't he? Then shouldn't I go?"
"But sir, you never actually ate with your family-except on rare occassions. You always declined the count's invitations. This is...sudden."
Ah, right. Azure didn't have a good relationship with his family. He apparently hated his stepmother for taking the place of his mother.He also blamed his father for marrying her. He rarely talked to them, let alone obeying their orders.
"Oh, I didn't know. But I suppose I should meet them since I have recovered. They might be concerned."
John still looked confused, but bowed again and left to fetch Nanny to help me dress.
Honestly, I doubted they'd be happy to see me. From what I could tell, Azure only brought trouble whenever he met them. But I had to meet them-to know more about them. After all, they were my family now.
And if our relationship improved even a little, it might make the future easier.
Nanny helped me into a finely embroidered outfit, that felt overly fancy for a simple lunch. My head throbbed slightly, but I made my way to the dining hall.
The long dining table stretched across the room like a river of polished marble, quiet except for the faint sound of curtlery. Looks like lunch had already started. They probably didn't expect me to appear.
Their surprised expressions as I entered confirmed that. At the far end sat a man;young- looking, yet commanding. Count Wilson Windward. Azure's father... my father now. His features were similar to mine, though his hair was a darker shade of blue, his eyes icy and sharp, clearly of the water element.
To his left sat my stepmother, Fiona, a quit woman with deep green hair and emerald eyes that reflected her forest magic. She passed tea to Glenn and Rowan, who were seated beside her.
John pulled a chair for me on the Count's right. As I sat down, Fiona passed a cup in front of me. Azure had never spoken to her-due to the resentment he carried-but I accepted the tea silently.
The scent of roasted herbs and fine spices filled the room, but I had little appetite. Still, I picked up a spoon and ate quietly, feeling the Count's cold gaze towards me.
Then he spoke, his voice sharp. "You're late."
"I wasn't feeling well," I replied calmly. "Still, I thought I should come anyway."
He narrowed his eyes, likely expecting resitance; but he didn't gat any.
"In the past, you wouldn't have bothered."
"I don't remember the past very well," I admitted, setting down my spoon. The headache was worsening. I looked at him directly,"It's... blurry. Like waking from a long, strange sleep."
The room went still.
The Count stopped mid-way reaching for his wine glass. Fiona turned towards me, a flicker of concern in her expression. Rowan and Glenn exchanged uneasy glances.
"You don't remember?" He asked. "So the news of you having an amnesia is true?"
"As far as I know... yes, father." I answered.
His eyes widened a bit. "You never called me that before. It was always 'count' or 'sir'."
"... Ididn't?" Was Azure that really that cold?
"You didn't." He said flatly.
"Then I assume I wasn't very pleasant."
"You weren't."
I nodded my head. "Then... I'm sorry."
They all stared at me as if I'd grown another head.
Well, I wasn't really the Azure they knew, was I?
"I understand I did wrong." I continued, gripping the water glass as my vision blurred slightly. "Though I don't remember it... I apologise. I won't ask for forgiveness. Just... a plain sorry."
I covered my mouth, coughing softly.
Fiona passed me a cup of warm water.
"Thankyou... for everything, mother," I smiled.
She gasped.
Everyone looked stunned-beyond surprised. Oh, Azure never called her that, huh?
"Was I not supposed to say that?" I asked, nervously.
"No, no. It's completely fine. Please keep calling me that from now." She said as her face gleamed.
Glenn shifted in his seat. "You're... acting weird."
I gave a small smile. "I guess I am."
Then, a sharp pain shot through my head.
My spoon dropped with a loud clang as I grabbed at my temples.
"Azure?" Rowan asked, frowning. "What's wrong?"
"It's annoying..."
"What is annoying?"
"This head.." I whispered. then, another wave hit me, stronger. I gasped.
Blood dripped onto the table.
"His nose is bleeding!" Rowan shouted.
Panic erupted.
I slumped forward just as the count rushed from his seat.
"Azure?! Azure!! Wake up!"
"Call the doctors! Quickly!!"
I tried to focus on their voices. Were they... worried for me?
Their faces started blurring.
The world dimmed as I felt my conciousness fade away...