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It was interesting, Henry thought, how good people were at hiding their real thoughts. The elderly couple, part of an aristocratic line that had been receiving support from the Claremonts for generations, were the picture of politeness when they sat across the table in Henry’s study, but the moment they thought they were out of earshot was when they let their true thoughts surface. It was a shame that they hadn’t waited for the door to fully close behind them, allowing Henry privy to their conversation. He couldn’t say he was surprised, having long been aware of what rumors were abound. After all, there were many who felt he was incapable of handling his duties as the Earl on account of his history with mental illness, and even more who were against him once rumors about him potentially having Octavia become the heir started making their way around social circles. He wondered who the source was—he had only ever discussed officially adopting Octavia in the future, there had yet to be any discussions on who he would pass on the title of the family head to, once he became unable to carry out his duties.
Henry sighed as he rested his forehead on his hands. He really should have gotten used to the flurry of people making their way in and out of his study by now, all in a hurry to greet the new Earl Claremont in the hopes of gaining his favor.
A knock sounded, and Henry had to keep himself from groaning. He straightened his back and called out, “Please, enter.”
The door opened and a maid, a new hire as per Henry’s recollection, curtseyed. “I have brought you your tea, My Lord. Would you like to have it now?”
Henry smiled politely at her. “Is it already tea time? Please, I would love to have some.”
The maid nodded and rolled in a cart holding an expensive teacup and kettle, something from his father’s time. He had often drank from the same teacups while shadowing his father, in the hopes to learn all there was to know about being Earl Claremont.
“Would you like something to eat as well, My Lord?”, the maid asked as she set the cup down in front of Henry.
“Oh? What has the head chef made today?” The teatime snacks for the Earl and his guests were always prepared by the head chef, though Henry was well aware that she never failed at preparing something for Jeffrey and Richard to enjoy as well. The head chef had been serving the Claremont family for years, yet seemed to have no intention of leaving her job to an underling even as the years went by.
“It wasn’t prepared by the head chef today, sir, but she was the one who asked it be delivered to you.”
That was a surprise, the only times the evening snack was left to someone else was in the event the head chef was unable to make it to work, or when she had been expressly asked not to. “Is she alright?”, Henry asked, eyebrows furrowing in worry as he paid no mind to how the words flew out of his lips just a bit too fast for it to be considered dignified.
“Yes, there is nothing to be concerned about”, the maid coolly informed him as she placed a small dessert plate on the table, a dessert plate holding pudding.
The pieces clicked together in Henry’s mind. “Did Nakata-kun make this?”
The maid smiled. “That is correct, sir. Mr. Nakata prepared some before he and Master Richard left yesterday. As per the head chef, Mr. Nakata hoped that the pudding would give you the energy needed for your work.”
Henry chuckled, smiling to himself. “I’m surprised Ricky was okay with that, he tends to be quite protective of Nakata-kun’s pudding. Even Jeff and I have only been able to eat some on a handful of occasions.”
“Master Richard was quite concerned about you as well.”
“Was he? Well, that won’t do. I can hardly make my youngest brother worry over me like this, can I?”
The maid simply nodded, pouring in the tea.
“Thank you”, Henry said once she was done. “You may tend to other duties now.”
“Yes, sir”, she said with another curtsey, and then made her way out of the room with the cart, leaving behind the cutlery for her to collect later.
Once the door closed behind her, Henry stood up with a relieved sigh. He had hardly moved in the last few hours, and his body had started to feel stiff. Remembering he heard a chime while he was having a conversation with the couple who came by earlier, he grabbed his phone as he made to stand in front of the window looking over the vast lawns which were a part of the Claremont manor.
I hope you have been taking adequate time to rest. Don’t push yourself too hard.
Henry chuckled while reading the text he had received from Jeffrey. You are one to talk , he carefully typed out. He had received the text from Jeffrey a while ago, when his brother was getting lunch, most likely, if Henry was converting the time correctly. “His meeting has probably started already”, he murmured to himself when he didn’t receive a reply.
He had noticed the increase in messages he received from his younger brothers ever since he officially took over as the Earl, the contents always something general—how was he doing, had he finished his work for the day, was he making time to relax. It was their way of showing concern, Henry knew that, and after being unable to spend much time with them during their childhood, Henry couldn’t help but feel happy being able to talk to them more often.
Deciding he had stretched his legs enough, Henry returned to his desk chair, and noticed with dismay that the seat was still warm. He couldn’t allow his tea time to stretch on for too long, not when he had plans afterwards, but he made a note to look into a possibile exercise routine, else he worried he would gain weight sitting on the same chair all day long.
He scooped a bite of the pudding into his mouth, taking a moment to savor the sweet taste, when his phone informed him of an incoming video call. Henry looked over the screen at who it was, and quickly fixed his appearance on seeing the displayed name. He then swiped across the screen to answer.
“Enrique!” , Haruyoshi’s excited voice came through as his image grinned at him. “Oh, wait, no, you’re Henry.”
“You can still call me Enrique, if that would be more comfortable for you”, Henry said in Spanish, as knowingly or unknowingly Haruyoshi had defaulted to Spanish while talking. He’d taken to conversing with Henry in Japanese lately, something suggested by Henry himself to further improve his Japanese skills. He then noticed the slightly dazed look in Haruyoshi’s eyes, and what was undoubtedly a can of beer peeking out from the edge of the screen. “Haruyoshi, are you drunk?”
Haruyoshi laughed, and Henry noted how it was quite unlike his usual laughter. A bit louder, a bit more unrestrained, and Henry was almost certain he had alcohol in his system.
“I’m not drunk, I think, but definitely tipsy.” There were people talking in the background and the camera shook as Haruyoshi stood up, walking away from the chatter. “Sorry, it’s a friend’s birthday today so everyone wanted to have a party.”
“Should you really call me in the middle of a birthday party for your friend?”, Henry asked with an amused smile.
“It’s fine! Everyone’s drunk anyway! Though it’s far too early for that.”
Henry chuckled, letting out a sound of agreement. “So long as everyone enjoys themselves.”
“I guess. Ah, I hope I’m not disturbing you during work?”
“No, I am taking a break right now. But I will have to return to it soon enough.”
“You really are quite busy… yesterday you kept telling me you’re working whenever I texted you!”
“I… apologize”, Henry said with a small grimace. “I have been swamped with work lately. There were some things father was working on before he passed, and now it’s all on my plate.”
“That sounds rough… I’m worried, Enri— no, Henry. If you work yourself too hard, you might harm your health.”
Henry laughed, and he gave Haruyoshi a reassuring smile. “It’s only going to be this busy for a bit longer. And today I plan on ending my work day early.”
“You have something to do afterwards?”
“Octavia said she wanted to game with me in the evening.” He shrugged, a smile on his lips. “I think it’s her way of dragging me away from this desk.”
Haruyoshi sniggered, his eyes shining brighter than usual because of the alcohol. “Good! Ah, Octavia is the girl you said you wanted to officially adopt, isn’t she?”
“Yes, that’s her”, Henry nodded as he brought the teacup to his lips.
“Tea?”
“And pudding. Nakata-kun’s.” Henry switched to the back camera and held up his phone to show Haruyoshi the dessert.
“That looks delicious!” , Haruyoshi exclaimed, “Seigi’s food is always so good! I wanna have some now! Maybe I should go visit him in Sri Lanka again sometime!”
“Just don’t let him know you’re there for the food”, Henry said, chuckling. “However, I assume he wouldn’t mind even if you do tell him.”
“He’d probably be happy I like his food enough to travel all the way just to have some” , Haruyoshi laughed, and a voice called out from behind him. “Oh, I think they’re calling me.”
“Go, we’ll talk later.”
Haruyoshi grinned at him through the phone screen. “Yup! And good luck with your work! Ganbare!”
The call ended shortly after, and Henry smiled to himself as he had another bite of the pudding. He had gotten much too busy ever since he became the Earl, but knowing how his family and friends were encouraging him gave him the strength to keep going. He finished the tea and pudding, and almost as soon as it had been cleared up, a knock sounded on his door. Henry straightened his back, and in his most dignified tone called out, “Enter!”