Katarina was working on her manor. It was rare to see her in noxus. Since she joined the institute, she passed most of her time there and only came back a day or two every month for paper work. She liked the place but it reminded her of her father and since he was found dead, she couldn't bring herself to stay for more than needed.
As she worked she thought of a announcement the league made a few weeks ago. Seeing that some champions were nobility and were used to home servant around, the summoned allowed them to bring one to the institute. She looked at the maid near the door and smirked.
"Silvyane, could you tell uncle to come in my office, I need to talk with him."
Without saying a world the maid bowed and left the room. Katarina took out her dagger and played with it, waiting for "uncle" to come. Behind her, a form came out of the shadow. A tall man, thin with a white beard and well groomed. Without a sound, he approached katarina and stood behind her.
"You called mademoiselle?"
Gasping in surprise, she let the dagger fell on the ground and sighed.
"I swear you and talon will give me a heart attack one day."
The man smiled, his monocle shining. Katarina looked at him while he went in front of her desk. He walked silently and elegantly, leaning on his cane.
"How can you be so silent with your cane… I always forget you are a former assassin… Anyway, I had something to ask you."
The man smiled and bowed.
"Your desires are my pleasures mistress."
Katarina frowned.
"Could you please stop calling me that? You were the one raising me, you're family. Call me like you used to!"
It almost sounded like a child request. For an outsider it could be seen as something strange but what she said was the truth. This man served her family even before her birth and took care of her and her sister when their father was away. When her father disappeared, he was the one that took care of everything and helped them and talon to cope with their loss. They viewed him as some sort of foster father.
The man was smiling. While he would gladly do it, he also reminded himself about his position. They were no longer children, katarina was now the head of the house, but since she asked for it: he would gladly obey.
"Very well Katie, how can I please you today?"
She frowned again.
"Hmmf fine… "
She took a piece of paper and handed him. He read the paper, his face as stolid as ever.
"I believe you wish for me to come with you?"
Katarina flashed a devil grin.
"Yes."
It was not the first she would make a rash decision but this time it would prove to be troublesome. With him gone, no one would be left to handle the family "business". He thought about for a short moment and finally nodded.
"As you wish. I have to make preparation so if you could excuse me."
Handing back the piece of paper, he disappeared, Leaving a smirking katarina on her desk. Talon came out of behind the window and sat on the desk.
"I can't believe he accepted so easily…"
Katarina looked at him.
"I know, and that's why I was the one who asked. He never could refuse when I asked him anything and even if it has been a long time since we saw him I was sure it would still be the case."
Talon looked at his sister, his face hidden by his hood.
"Hum, that's true. Cassie will be surprised. Did you tell her?"
"No, I wish to keep it a secret. She sees him as some kind of superman. Imagine her face when she will see him at the institute. It will be so fun!"
Laughing devilishly, katarina looked at the paper the butler signed. Talon just looked at her before disappearing again by the window.
"Messieurs, It seems that I will be leaving soon."
People began to whisper.
"that's why I will let my right hand man keep everything according to my will. I think it will be inutile to warn you but if anything goes wrong, I'll personally came back to punish whoever did it."
The whisper quieted down. The maids in the room looked at him with worry while the butlers looked at him with sparkling eyes, happy to finally be able to prove themselves.
"I trained you all so I know you're able to protect this place. I bid you au revoir"
The man left the room and went to his own to prepare for the trip. It would take at least two week to reach the institute and he would need some spare clothing. At the end of the day, he joined miss katarina and mister Talon at the entrance and waved at the house staff.
The trip went well for no one was foul enough to attack a carriage with the Du couteau house emblem. Talon and Katarina used this time to catch up with the old man. Since they left He had a young boy that was now seven. He showed great potential at mathematics and science and since Noxus was progressed, they were in dire need of scientist on their own. His wife died in the childbirth but he never let it weaken him. He still had his son and the du couteau kids to worry about.
As for katarina and talon, they told him about their fights and encounter. The old man noticed a strange sparkle in katarina eyes when she talked about general Darius and the same could be said when talon told him about a demacian scout that gave him quite a head ache. Nevertheless, he said nothing. They were big enough to make their own story.
They also told him about cassiopea condition and how she was finally able to make friend with people that shared her … "curse". He was still sad about what happened if he had succeeded in preventing hem to use her charm, she would never have been cursed.
Finally, the trip ended and the group reached the entrance of the institute. As they went to the door, two guards blocked their way. One of them glared at them and talked.
"Identification process, please take out you identification stone."
Katarina and talon took out a blue stone and showed it to the guard. A blue light came out and showed their name and surname. The guard nodded and looked at the butler. Seeing that he didn't move, he looked again and talon.
"Miss katarina, who is this man? We can't let stranger come inside."
She looked at them and grinned. Talon took a piece of paper he hand to katarina that finally handed it to the guard. The one still behind took it and read it.
"Mr George blacksteel… Du couteau's Butler. I see… If you could please follow me."
He did as he was told and they began the identification process. It took a few minutes for the stone to register him and when it finally ended, the guard gave him the stone and motioned for him to go back with talon and katarina.
As he joined them, the door opened, revealing an immense building full with men in robe and strange people. One of them was a golem. He was standing near an indoor fountain, humming.
Katarina jumped in front of him, her hand in her back and grinned.
"See, it's big right?"
The man grinned, katarina acted like a child with him because she knew he couldn't say anything to her when she did so.
"You're right."
Talon smirked and the three resumed their walk to their quarter when a woman called for them.
"Hey bitch, care to bring your ass here?"
As he heard that, is blood boiled. He took out his sabre from his cane and reappeared in front of the woman, pointing the blade at her throat. The woman surprised tried to grab her guns but the butler prevented her to do so by pushing his blade closer. Still with his emotionless face, he talked.
"I believe, mademoiselle, that you owe my mistress an apology for the way you addressed her."
Behind him, he heard katarina yell.
"Uncle, it's ok, don't worry, she is a friend!"
She instantly teleported next to him using her shampo . She had a worried look and apologised to the woman about it. Seeing that, he retracted his blade, bowed, took her hand and kissed.
"I believe I owe you, jeune demoiselle, an apology for my comportment. I'm George Blacksteel, butler of the du couteau household, Un plaisir to meet you."
The young woman smiled and looked at katarina.
"Kat dear, you didn't tell me you had such a gentleman working for you."
She then looked at him.
"I'm sarah fortune, a pleasure."
Katarina frowned and crossed her arms.
"Please… He is twice your age…"
Sarah smiled and looked at him with a seductive gaze.
"hum, It shouldn't be a problem should it?"
George smiled.
"While I found you beautiful, I do believe my work would keep me from entering any kind of relationship. I'm désolé ."
She laughed and went away. Katarina looked at him with a grin while talon looked away to try to hide the smile on his face. After thirty minutes, they finally reached the place the institute gave them. A small manor. As they entered, someone spoke.
"Ssssissster, I think we should asssk George to come working here. You know, sssssince the institute allowed us to…."
When she reached the door, she stopped talking and looked at the butler, her eyes wide open. After making sure it wasn't a dream, she rushed at him and hugged him.
"UNCLE!"
The butler smiled.
"My my, miss cassiopea, you shouldn't behave like that."
She looked up at his face and frowned.
"Why are you calling me that?"
He smiled and patted her head.
"Nice to see you again cassi."
Hearing him, she smiled and purred against his chest. It took an hour to convince her to let him go. He inspected the house and after a quick check-up, he began the cleaning. It took him the full day to clean it entirely.
When katarina, talon and cassiopea came back, they couldn't believe what they saw. The house was completely different, everything was clean and tidy. Usually, they would eat at the institute cafeteria but since George was here, they decided to eat his dish. After the meal, they went to bed. George cleaned the room and went on the terrace with a cup of Ionian tea.
As he enjoyed his tea he felt a presence. He looked around but couldn't find the person. Undisturbed he kept drinking.
"I know you're here. Come out."
As he said so, he waited but no one came out.
"Don't you want to share a cup of tea?"
As he said that, a man with a blue outfit appeared in front of him. He had two swords on his back and a mask on his face. His eyes were empty of any feeling. He simply sat in front of the butler and said nothing, taking his mask off.
"I believe you're monsieur shen. My master had some encounter with your order during our war in ionia."
The ninja simply nodded.
"Ravie to meet you. I believe you want something from me."
The ninja took a sip of the tea and looked at the butler.
"I felt something strange this morning. Something with an absolute balance. I trailed it and he brought me to you."
Balanced?
"Well, I'm vraiment happy about it but I believe it's not just that."
The ninja nodded.
"I'm also here to warn you. I saw what you did to Miss fortune. She is far from weak but yet you made her helpless. Your action sparked interest in a few individual."
The butler nodded and hummed his tea. He expected something like that but as soon as that? He Nodded to the ninja and gave him another cup of tea. They stood like that until midnight, not speaking or moving.