Chapter 6: His sweet heart

"As you see, this law can only be applied if you have the taxes in correct order…"his words slurred in her mind, and she could only think of him telling M. Lysandre to leave, and give some privacy to the two.

"Are you paying attention Mlle.?" he asked her. She snapped from her fantasy and responded with a yes. M. Nathaniel smiled, unhappy though.

"You mustn't get distracted. You need to focus." he spoke sternly. She felt guilty for letting her fantasies run wild.

"Terribly sorry." She apologized. They then heard a sigh from M. Lysandre.

"I forgot to mention, I'll be gone for the next two weeks, so I won't be joining the tutoring." He spoke. Rebecca rejoiced in her heart.

"That's understandable, is it business related?" M. Nathaniel asked.

"No, our father wrote to us that he needed to speak to us. It seems urgent." He responded.

"So would you like me to tell you what is needed for the next week's or no?"

"It won't be necessary, thank you, though." M. Lysandre responded.

The studying was finished early since M. Nathaniel had other things to take care of. They all said their goodbyes. However, M. Lysandre had to stay to talk to her father. After some time, Rebecca was able to have the rest of the afternoon to herself. She decided to join Iris in visiting Melody and Kimberly. On their way over, they noticed that there were few factory workers there. It was confusing for them, since they were sure that it was a day when they had to work. Rebecca ignored it, but Iris couldn't shake off a feeling she had about the girls. The one to answer the door was Melody. She looked deathly pale, her figure smaller and fragile. It was indeed the worst that Iris had expected.

"The strikes begun so early. Look at you."Iris exclaimed. Melody shyed away with guilt.

"We were expecting, at the very least, a week or two," explained Kim, "but they've gone and dragged it on longer, at least more than eight or nine days."

"Surely, you could've told us of your hardship. I am always here to help." Rebecca said. The girls looked at her with sad and starving eyes.

"For the time being, I'll bring you a basket, I'm sure it'll help-"

"We don't want anything, we can't accept anything-"

"And I'm not offering it. You are my friends, you must be foolish to think I wouldn't help a friend." Rebecca responded to their protests. The girls looked guiltily. Iris turned to them and patted Kim's knees, then asked, "Who's the leader of the Union?"

"It's Carolyn." Melody answered.

"Doesn't she live down the lane? We didn't see her when we were coming." Rebecca said exchanging looks with Iris.

"Of course she wouldn't, she's off 'talking' with the Masters." Kimberly said spitefully.

"What are her methods?"

"Some say she does a favor or two for them. Other times she goes to extremes and promises to end the strike if she's just given a bribe. Let's pray she she doesn't choose the latter." Melody explained.

"Why not choose someone else? Why not Scarleth?" Iris asked.

"Carolyn's the only one who can really convince people. Not to mention she has connections. We're powerless with and without her leadership."Melody said with tears beginning to streak her cheeks. Rebecca stared at her in guilt.

After they left and returned to the mansion, Rebecca took a bath where she took the initiative to speak with the Royce brothers. She sighed and held the thoughts of what to say to them to the back of her mind.

Elsewhere, Lysandre got inside a northbound train to his father's. His brother being kept aside by his Fiancee.

"We don't have all day you two." he exclaimed out the window.

"Oh Leigh!- promise you'll write, otherwise I'll get so lonely!" Rosalya exclaimed while smothering her lips to his. Lysandre rolled his eyes and looked the other direction. Once Leigh was finally in, the train took a moment to start moving. This pulled the two and forced them to grab tightly to their seats. They sat across each other. Leigh took out a magazine that was recently published and a notebook to write and draw in. Lysandre only stared out the window to the trail that was behind the train.

"Are you going to miss her?" his brother asked. Lysandre looked up at him with a quizzical brow.

"Mlle. Rebecca of course. Don't tell me your enthusiasm for her has ended." his brother teased. Lysandre chose his words before answering. It was true, he would wonder about her. However, their relationship wasn't close enough that he would be sure he'll be missed back. A needle struck him in the heart at that thought.

"I'll miss her, but I don't think I should dwell too much in it." With that, their conversation never touched on the subject again.

A few days later, Rebecca received a letter from her friend Kentin. He explained that he wanted to come visit. She smiled at the thought and wrote her strong encouragement for his visit. Another day later, Kentin was received by Rebecca herself at the station.

"Kentin!" she ran to him and gave him a bear hug. She hardly noticed the changed stature he had.

"It's good to see you too." he said. Their embrace was cut short as Rebecca began to search his train.

"William didn't come too, did he?" she asked. He laughed and answered with a shake of his head.

"I was discreet this time around."he said, jokingly. She laughed with him and they soon headed off.

"I am grateful he didn't come. I respect his brother, but William himself can be too much at times."

"He asked me if you and I were engaged." Kentin responded, almost teasingly, but somewhat afraid to hear her response.

"Of course he did. You know he actually proposed to me."

"Really, when?" he asked surprised.

"It was a couple of weeks before I had moved here. He claimed I had been the one to first introduce the idea of marriage at my cousin's wedding."

"He definitely doesn't know you at all. Everyone else would've known it was your usual independent self."

"Kentin," she said, now in a serious tone. He looked to her, slightly lifting his head.

"What if you and I were to marry?"she continued, never noticing his face flushed, "I mean, It is obvious William won't give up until I'm wedded, or if I love someone else." He continued silent, then began, "Don't go off making plans like that, Rebecca. Any other man would have taken offense at such a scheme. Besides, I know you have your heart set on someone else, and I know it will be too awkward for you and me."She stared at him blankly. Astonished by his response. She giggled and continued, "Well it was worth a try." she slipped her arm around his, paying no special attention to it.

The brothers arrived early in the morning, it was a short distance to their parents home, but they still rode horseback. They were warmly welcomed by the servants, and because it was still early morning, they were taken to their rooms to rest. Though Lysandre was unable to even rest his mind.

Later that morning, the brother's father expressed the reasons for calling his sons.

"Boys, as you might have seen earlier, this beautiful young lady is Mlle. Nina Goethe." She was a small girl, possibly no older than 21. She had large gray eyes, and striking blonde hair. However, she wore all black.

"Her father was an old friend of mine. But as you see now, he has recently passed." The room stood quiet for a moment, "Since he was an old friend, I took it upon myself to care for her. I was also reminded, that at one point before her father's imminent death, that I would have her marry off to one of you two." He said, feeling pleased with himself. However, the two felt shocked, especially Leigh.

"Father," Leigh got closer to his father, "You must remember, I am betrothed to Rosalya. Even you met her and her father no too long ago."

"Old boy, of course I remember, however, since you are not married and only betrothed, I decided that Mlle. Nina would have a choice in the matter." He said, chuckling softly. This time, Lysandre came close.

"I hardly believe that you are giving her any choice if her only choices, in a world full of men, Leigh and I are the only ones." He said, a strain in his voice. His father turned the Mlle. Nina, who was idly watching at a distance.

"The Mlle. Does not mind, now do you?" The old man turned to her, who brightened and shook her head, "Oh, no!" she spoke in her soft voice. The brothers sighed and held their breath to see her response. She studied the two. She was awfully small, they wondered if it made any difference of who she chose. Though, the two speculated she was shifting to seeing Lysandre interesting.

"I'm afraid I can't make a decision," she said looking back to the old man, "I think I will need some more time." She turned to the old man. He nodded his once, she smiled at him. Lysandre and Leigh sighed in relief.

It was later, while Lysandre walked around the grounds and thought of Rebecca, that Mlle. Nina caught up to him.

"Monsieur!" She called out while trying to run with her short legs. He stopped and waited for her. Once she was a few feet away, he began again, taking smaller steps.

"How are you Mlle." He said, still in thought.

"I'm in such a wonderful mood!" she exclaimed making a twirl, "Though, I can't say it's the same between you and your brother." Lysandre chuckled, then answered, " We don't despise you, if that's what you think. It's more that we despise this ridiculous idea of our father's."

"It's alright, I'm lonely here, so it feels nice that my papa planned something to help me be with someone." she said, almost at a running pace as she still tried to catch up with him. Lysandre slowed his pace, taking baby steps.

"But you are being given only two choices of men." he said.

"It doesn't matter when the choices are fine young men." she responded with a flirtatious smile. He shook his head with a wide smile. She sighed, then continued in a serious tone, "If you are so against it, I will talk to your father, and convince him to let you go early." she looked up as he became surprised, "That's not all," they found a bench to sit, though it was only Mlle. Nina who sat, "I'll give you a couple of months to court whoever it is you have your heart set on. But after that, you must promise me you'll be my fiancee." she looked up to him with beady eyes. He sighed and nodded, then said, "Alright," he held out his hand, "it's a deal." She took his pinky with her own, then said in a sweet voice, "It's a promise."

I really had no idea whose heart it was meant to refer. With the way this chapter is written, I could guess it's Ken's. Also, sorry the chapter is pretty small. Anyways, sorry for the long wait for those who so patiently have been waiting. I think I'll be able to update better since I've finished the whole plans for this. Anyways, Thank you for reading!

Update: I redid the chapter because i didn't really like the way it ended, so here's the newer version. The next chapter is soon to come. ;)