Part 6: Red Thread of Fate

Previously

"I got you...you're safe...you're safe..."

"Alaude...Alaude..." She was calling out his names over and over again. Alaude was still furious at that man, but he knows better than to act out of his emotion. He just let the law to bring the justice.

"It's alright, I'm here...I'm here, Aira." He said as he was rubbing her back, easing her. "No one will hurt you anymore. I promise." He was holding onto her, allowing her to calm herself. It was then that Alaude realizes that she had fallen asleep. "No harm shall come to you, Aira." Alaude whispers as he slowly and gently carries her by his arms out of the scene.

The birds were chirping, the sun was up high on the sky, and the winds blew through the leaves creating a peaceful and calm environment. A lady was starting to open up her eyelid, prism of colours came through her iris, showing just how lovely and cheerful the world are around her. She was shocked at first, but then started to calm down as she remembers that a certain someone had come to save her. Her hands were gliding through the silky and smooth bedsheets, feeling the fluffiness of her bed as she slowly awakes and ease herself into a sitting position.

She slowly lift herself up from the bed and walks towards the washroom and prepares herself for the day. The maids were rushing in and out of the dining hall, preparing the breakfast for the master of the house and his family members along with the guests. Aira slowly walks towards the door when she heard someone calling out her name from behind. A smile curved on her face as she knows who the person is.

"Alaude..." She stated as she quickly went over to him and hugged him tightly.

Alaude caught her within his arms and a smile naturally curved on his face. A sense of relief and joy filled his heart as she hugged him tightly. He kissed her head before pushing her slightly to face her. Gently, he caressed her cheek and smile towards her as she does the same.

"Good morning, Aira." He greeted her.

"Good morning to you too, Alaude." A smile curved on her face as she replies to him.

"Are you feeling well?" He asked, worried about her condition.

"I'm fine...I'm feeling just fine." She stated before she lays her head on Alaude's hard chest, feeling safe and calm within his embraced.

"Good...Good..." Alaude stated as he keep on holding onto her, letting her relax within his embrace.

Xx0xX0Xx0xX

Alaude received an emergency call from Italy stating that another familiglia had planned an attack on them. G rushes Alaude to return immediately in order to strengthen their defence. A few allies were sending their men for back up but having Alaude there would definitely help them to go through the attack better. Well, Alaude is the strongest guardian after all.

Aira was definitely worried for Alaude since the incident of her being kidnapped and rescued had only occurred three days ago and it just sadden her that Alaude would need to return to his post fast. Alaude was packing his things when suddenly he received a call from Aira, asking him to meet her before he departs to Italy. A small smile curved on his face but then a frown marred his forehead thinking about leaving her alone in France. He knows that she will be guard with his men, but it still doesn't ease him a bit. Even with his men guarding her, she was still kidnapped under their watch.

A knock on his door had awake him from his own thoughts and mind. He called out and allows whoever was knocking his door to come in, though he could have guessed who it would be. His mother came through the door with a broad smile curved on his face. It almost makes him cringed thinking of what plans his mother had been planning with his father. He could already feel the headache coming.

"Yes, mother?"

"Are you returning to Italy tomorrow?" She asked, with a sad smile on her face.

"I am." Alaude answered as he pulled the zippers of his luggage.

"Mr. Von Ashenbert gave you his gratitude for saving his daughter. He was very happy." She stated and slowly went over to his bed and sat on them.

"Hn."

It was quiet between the both of them. Alaude slowly pushed the luggage aside before taking a seat beside his mother. Waiting for her to speak up as he saw how his mother was trying to create some kind of words in her head, creating a sentence, a proper words before speaking it out to him. He could see that, he knew that her mother have something important to talk to him. She always was whenever she came to his room, alone.

"You love her?" Her mother asked. It shocked him to actually hear those words as he was actually waiting for something else, but not those words. Never.

"Mother..."

"Miss Von Ashenbert, do you love her?" His mother cut his words out before she asked the question again. He was quiet, looking at the floor like it was the most fascinating thing in the whole wide world before he sighed. "Alaude?" She called out his name.

It was as if the world stop moving, time stop ticking, it was a silent world before he looked deep into his mother's eyes and curved a small smile. A smile that she knew, she is his mother, of course she would know. A tears fall down onto her face, a smile curved on her lips. She was happy to know. She was glad. Alaude hugged his mother tightly, rubbing her back gently. It was a few minutes after that she finally had calmed herself and cupped Alaude's face gently. A smile never left her face.

"I am glad. I am very glad, Alaude." She said as she rubbed his cheek gently. "She is a nice young lady. A very nice and kind woman." She continues before tears started to cascades her face once again. Alaude gently wipe the tears out from her face. "I'm glad...I was worried, Alaude...I don't want you...to be all alone when I'm gone...when your father and I were gone..."

"Mother..." Alaude called her name tenderly, wiping to incoming tears that were flooding her cheek. "You and father still have a long way to go." He stated. "So much time...I will be fine...you will be fine, everything will be fine." He added.

"I know...but you, my dear. You are very stubborn, stoic and prideful. I was worried that you will never found love. I was worried that you will be left alone in the future. I wanted you to have a wife, a family, a child or two. I want you to be happy, to feel happy." She said, smiling.

"I know...I know, mother and I will." Alaude said with determination filled his eyes.

"With her?" She asked.

"Yes. Only her." Was his answer.

A broad smile curved on her face as she heard those words. A sense of relief filled her. She is thankful, grateful that her only son had found love, have found someone that would accompany him when they were gone. Someone that would care and love him as much as they do, giving him a family that would be beside him, in whatever he will do in the future. A family to welcome him home after such a long day doing his job.

"This..." She said as she took out a small velvet box out of her clothes. "Your father...gave them to me when he proposed me. It was given from his mother, your grandmother to him. This was being passed down to family from generations and now...I'm giving them to you." She said as she put the box onto Alaude's hand. "Then...when you have a son...you will give it to him...with the same reason as I do to you." She continues and kissed his forehead before taping his hands and smile.

"Mother..."

"You...make her happy, keep her safe...and always be happy. That's all I ever wanted." She continues and walks towards the door before smiling once again to him. "Don't take your time much longer, or you'll lose her." She teased before she went out of the room, leaving Alaude alone in his room with a small velvet box on his hand.

To be continue