Prologue
Lady Madoushi was beautiful even in her death bed. Her dark tresses spread around her head like a dark halo. Her already delicate features made her seem even more fragile in her current state. Long lashes rested on her soft cheeks as she slumbered. Her pale skin glowed with youthfulness that disguised what should have been a sickly pallor. Even at the grips of illness, there was no denying the beauty of the Duchess of Clow.
Eriol Hiiragizawa, heir of the Duke of Clow, had just returned from Eton, and immediately, he came to the room of the only family he's ever known in the huge mansion. He bent his dark head to hide a slight grimace as he watched his mother. She had been young when she married the duke. Her husband was a foolish man though. He gambled away his inheritance of an ancient lineage of nobility. But no, that was not his worst sin. The duke was blessed with looks to rival Adonis, and captured many maiden hearts including that of his mother. She loved him despite their marriage being arranged. However, ever since she successfully gave him an heir, the man broke her heart every night he spent gambling away with nary a care for his wife. Lady Madoushi left by herself poured her overflowing love on her only son. Even now, the duke was absent despite his wife's precarious position at the edge of death.
Eriol looked back at his mother and noticed that she was awake. She had been staring at him with the same eyes he has ever known. Deep, loving eyes.
"Look for the key, Eriol. Look for her. Protect her. You know your legacy." She spoke softly, but with intensity.
Eriol had heard the story innumerable times. Lady Madoushi came from a long line of nobility that secretly served under the crown as spies. Her family possessed a book containing numerous scandals collected about the English elite society, the Ton. The book could only be opened by a single key that was passed down only to women. In her generation, she inherited the book, but gave the key to her beloved cousin. She had always been careful not to mention any name.
"I will, mother."
He was surprised at the sudden change of emotion he saw in her expressive eyes. For the first time in his life, his mother looked at him with sadness in her eyes. "My dear son, I should have been stronger for you."
"Nonsense, mother." You had nothing more left to give, he thought silently.
"Live free, be happy, and find love. I wanted all of these for you," she insisted.
"I don't need them. They are only illusions."
There was a long pause before she whispered almost too softly, "At least one of them, I can give you-"
A knock at the door interrupted her. "His Grace has returned, sir," a maid told Eriol as he answered the door.
"Go, Eriol. I need to speak with your father... one last time."
Eriol would never understand her love for his father. The duke, himself, was a cold man, cruel in his discipline. He took one last look at her peaceful form before leaving. He ran straight to the forest that had always been his refuge. It was here where he met the son of a neighboring earl. His best friend, Syaoran. They would often come here to escape from their fathers. Syaoran's father slept around with little discretion. But today, he was alone.
It was dark when he returned to the mansion. Silence. But then, the mansion had always seemed abandoned. The halls were stripped to the bare essentials. Most of their possessions were sold to pay for debts. He cursed his father once again.
"Your Grace, the duchess of Clow has just passed," Spinel, the butler, interrupted his thoughts.
Eriol was about to rush to his mother's room, but noticed something the servant said, "Your Grace?"
"His Grace, the Duke of Clow has also passed. He was killed by the late duchess."
