Michi Does Something

CHAPTER 1: THE SCIENTIST

Ryland Grace was NOT a nobleman, and he didn't want to be one, he only wanted to travel and learn all about the stars, the plants and other cultures.

He was a tutor, like his father was before him, he gave tutoring to the nobleman, Greek, Latin, botanic, Astrology, even History, and sometimes he allowed the girls to be his students too, free of charge of course, he never understood why girls couldn't learn about the same things but he didn't say anything, after all, he was only a piece in the machine of the system, he was not going to fight it, he wasn't that type of man, he enjoy it actually, he enjoy having the job of teaching the new generations all of the knowledge he had, he inherited that from his father.

Destiny however had other plans for him

It was a late night, I was making counts of the money I’ll need for my next destination, not enough, “I will have to get a job” I think to himself, while starring to list all of the possible jobs I could get, but there was a problem, language, I wasn't as fluid as I wishe, locals will not hire me, Im in troubles.

that is, until the door gets knock

“Come in” I said with a tired voice, not paying attention on who was entering the room, eyes fixed in the paper where I was doing my finances 

“Grace, a letter for you arrived” the voice was soft, I looked to see Adrian, Rocky’s spouse, holding the letter with one hand and the candle with another, their expression was soft but with a hint of worry

“what? from who? how did they find me?” now I was starting to get worry, I didn't write to anyone, how did anybody knew where I was, Adrian gave me the letter, the paper was soft, before I could look from who its was my mind noticed the insane amount of stamps around it

“It says is from Lady Stratt, and jugging from the amount of stamps they pay good money for this to make it here in record time” that's when it clicks, Eva Stratt, I knew the woman, my father tutored her kids, I even tutored the youngest of the family, she paid us well, that's why I was able to travel around the globe for the last year

“Its late, you should get some rest” I said, turning to see Adrian who just nodded and walked to the door, I smile to them, their smile was soft, but I could see the sadness in it, maybe they sensed something was wrong for me to get a message this urgent

“I could say the same to you, I don't want my husband to yell at you because you fell asleep again” we both of them giggle at the memory of Rocky scolding me for being five minutes late, even after all this time, some things never change

After Adrian left I open the letter, the writing was pristine and the paper smelled like wood and citrus, attached to that was another, smaller but fuller envelope, when I opened it I almost fall out of my chair, the insane amount of money from that envelope looked almost unreal, I quickly turn my lamp to the brightest setting it would let me and pull it closer to me, reading with attention

Dear Mr Grace

It's with a heavy heart that I write this letter, but I must hold a word with you, you were always someone I could rely on and that is why I'm asking for this favor of you, my family and state are at risk and I alone cannot fulfill the requirements the parliament had imposed me, I trust you will make the right choice

Of course you will be rewarded for this favor, as a token of my sincerity, please accept this money for your return.

Write me as soon as you get the letter

-Lady Stratt, Marchioness of Hail Mary

This couldn't be, I re-read the letter five times, this must be a trap, surely, but again, Stratt had that handwriting and signature that nobody could forge, the wax emblem in the smaller envelope didn't help, from what I could get, it sounded like Eva needed to have a baby, but, she has a husband and four children, two of them boys, he knew that, I tutored them, I knew from a friend that she couldn't have more children after her last pregnancy, non of this make sense

But she must be really desperate if she is willing to waste this insane amount of money on me. I sighed as I pulled one piece of paper from one of the drawers of the desk and started to write my response, I just hope I'm not getting myself into more trouble.

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

“My apologies for the delay, I needed to send some correspondence” I said as I entered the drawing room, it was five minutes past noon and I was already running late to our daily scientific study session, it was a tradition that we developed, every day after tea we get together in the drawing room and worked on something, Rocky usually was sketching some new machine, Adrian playing piano or the harp meanwhile I worked on a translation of a botanic book for Rocky and Adrian for them to use after I leave 

“nonsense my friend, Adrian told me about the letter yesterday, I just hope everything is good back at home” Rocky said leaving his sketches on the table and guiding me to take my usual seat, for him to be this forgiving about a delay must be really worried about the content of the letter

“that is part of the reason why I'm late, I stayed up finishing the manuscript, I just needed you and Adrian to check if there is any mistakes before I leave” after those words left my mouth Adrian stopped playing abruptly, the silence falling once again

“leave?” Rocky said with a mix of shock and sadness, I didn't want to leave but again, I feel really bad for basically accepting a bribe 

“yeah, Lady Stratt, a friend of my father needs my help and it sounds like it's something serious since she send me a lot of money to catch the next boat, although I don't really know how can I be of any help” I wasn't playing with the manuscript at this point, I feel bad leaving them so abruptly after everything they have done for me

“well, that is something we cannot ignore, Adrian, tell the housekeeper to start packing our stuff” Adrian took the manuscript from my hands and left the room almost running, the house was not that big but still, I could sense the urgency in the way they run, as if this was an already made decision

“wait, you don't have to come with me, it's alright if you want to stay, I can go on my own” I said, trying to calm my friend who was already leaving the room, ready to plan this as if was a new adventure and not a desperate favor from someone I haven't seen in years, he just turn around and grab me by the shoulders

“Grace, my friend, if it wasn't for you I would be dead, you save me from that fire, not only that but you save Adrian and all of the people here in Erid from that sickness, if it's in our power, we will help you or your friend, is the least we can do, you are not alone anymore, remember that” those words got to me, I didn't realize when I started crying, I just knew it the moment the tears reached me cheeks, I let out a sigh of relief with what I can only describe as a pitiful smile, Rocky then in a simple but carrying way hug me, he wasn't the type of physical touch, so when it was given, I knew it was special

And just like that, we sail to England the week after

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

Arriving to England wasn't that bad, the staff of the Stratt family was already expecting us, obviously I had to write to Lady Stratt asking her to prepare an extra room for my family, even if Rocky doesn't admitting I know he cares for me like a brother, in the two years we had known each other, after everything we experienced, it would be cruel not to think of him and Adrian as my only family.

We arrived at the Stratt mansion on Tau Ceti Hall, the heart of society, I knew my way around it. I grew up entering this mansions that they call home. Although I usually used the entrance for the service, I wasn't used to going through the main door.

The welcoming was rather unusual, all of the main staff were already at the main entrance expecting our arrival, this type of greeting was usually reserved for the welcoming of the new members of the family or when someone was moving, I used to do this type of greetings when the Stratt family returned from the countryside, this was a subtle reminder of the power dynamics in the house, this was not for a simple tutor like myself.

There were a couple of faces I recognized from my time here, like Carl the footman and Annie, the main housekeeper, who was the one welcoming us after months of travel. She presented us to all of the heads of the staff before we entered the house; the place hasn't changed much since last time I was here, I quickly realized that all of the mirrors were covered in black organza, someone had died recently, I already assumed that from the letter but seeing it felt almost surreal

“My lord, Lady Stratt is expecting you in the study” Annie said to me in a quiet voice, it felt almost like a whisper, like if they weren't allowed to talk, normal protocol for the mourning period, ‘my lord’ those words strike me, she never referred to me that way, it was always Mr Grace, something is clearly wrong

“thanks Annie, in the meantime why don't you show around my brother and sister around, they must be exhausted after the long journey” Annie bowed and started to talk to Adrian and Rocky, I didn't want to explain all the logistics to the staff, so saying they are my family seems to be the best alternative for now, I know they are in good hands, Annie was always good to me

A maid guided me to the study, as we walked through the halls the situation was getting to me. All of the paintings of the family were covered in the same black organza, I didn't want to assume the worst but it was getting harder to ignore every step we took. 

We arrived at the studio and suddenly the atmosphere became colder, maybe are my nerves, this place was always gloomy but seeing it in this state, it felt like a nightmare; after the door closed behind me I saw her, her red hair up in a bun adorned with a veil, she was covered head to toe in mourning black, she was looking at the window when I arrived

“Lady Stratt” I gave a bow, the same I did every time we saw each other, like the one a servant would give to their lord

“Mr Grace, is a pleasure to see you again, although I wish we could meet in other circumstances”

“I assume that the tragedy that invaded the house has to do with the reason for my call. Tell me, how can I be of help?”

“Lord Stratt and my kids, they didn't make it out of the countryside”

“wha— what happened?”

“the flu, they did not survive”

“I'm so sorry”

“it's alright, it happened months ago, the pain has been manageable, but now that the period of immediate grief has passed, I have some matters to attend”

“I'm so sorry, I could never understand what you're going thru but how could I-”

“You are going to be named the new heir of the Mary state” 

“Pardon me, WHAT?!”

“My husband, late husband, didn't have a will, and with no immediate heir on his side of the family, well it is only a matter of time for the representative of the head of state starts peskying me around so I decided to take matters into my own hands” she slid a piece of paper thru the desk, when I looked it up I understood, a letter stating that I was the illegitimate son of Lord Stratt, attached to that where papers from the finance book of the family, with large withdrawals in different dates, in the details “Ryland's future” the handwriting was identical every detail, it almost made me question if my whole life was a lie, but I knew better, all of this, my family never saw a penny of that, my mother died because we couldn't afford the medicine at the time, all of this was forged 

“this, why?” I quickly did the math, all the withdrawals, the sum of money, it was the same amount she gave me in that initial letter, she planned this

“from now on you will be living here, you will be attending this season events and be married by the end of the season, you and your new wife will be returning with me to the countryside where I shall teach you how to run the state, a pension is already planned for me, you just need to sign the paperwork after you claim your title, after that you will be taking permanent residence here in the main house and I will be returning to my apartment in Scotland” she said with such a calm voice I couldn't believe it, it didn't sound like the wife who recently lost everything, this was the voice of someone who spent time calculating every single detail to perfection

“I understand that, but why me? Why not choose anyone else? Everyone in the ton knows Im just a tutor” I was still in disbelief looking at all of the papers in the desk 

“you basically were raised here alongside my children, it's not uncommon for bastard children to be raised with other people and to take professions that can be required to be in the house, besides, look at yourself, you look exactly like my late husband when he was young, nobody will question it, besides, nobody in the ton remembers a tutor”

“I can't, I'm sorry but I cannot accept this, you know passing as a noble is a serious crime, I can't live a life of luxury knowing it came from a lie” 

“you will accept, that's an order” her tone was now more serious, her face slowly stated to reflect the anger, she looked like a mother scolding her child, her eyebrows were furrowed, I could see her hands grabbing her dress so tight her knuckles were white

“and what if I refuse” 

“I will have you arrested and thrown into jail for the rest of your days”

“On what grounds?” she took the vase that was on the desk, smashing it against the floor, all of the pieces of the fine glass scattered around us, I immediately  flinched from the sound, my jaw on the floor, ‘what was that for?’ I think for a second before returning my attention to Eva who was still looking at me with those eyes filled with rage, and if you paid attention, a little hint of sadness

“Robbery and destruction of valuable items of the Mary state”

“Nobody will believe you, you’re a woman” I hate myself so much for using that argument, entirely stupid, but it was the first thing it came to my mind, she looked at me, her eyes narrowed directly at me

“That's the thing about society Mr. Grace” she now was smiling, one of those subtle smiles that you see when someone is plotting, small enough to be dismissed if you weren't paying attention

“What power will the word of a man like you will hold, you have no family, no title, state, money or even a job, not to mention that you just arrived from who knows where after a year of doing who know what, if anything, you’re making yourself look worst” her tone was colder, her mouth was twitching as she spoke every word sounded like venom, she took one step after the other, stepping on the broken glass, suddenly I couldn't move, I was freeze in place, she stopped when we were around 20 centimeters apart from one and other

“maybe I'm not being clear, if you do not accept I will get your little alien friends thrown away in jail, as you said it before, posing as nobles is a serious crime” those words felt like a stab wound, she couldn't possibly do something like that, something so cruel to people she doesn't even know, but again, she was doing this to me

“you are a wicked woman” my eyes started to hurt, my vision was blurry but I couldn't cry, I couldn't give her the satisfaction of knowing she was right about Rocky and Adrian 

“So what will it be?” I sighed, she got me cornered right where she wanted me, if I was going to do this, it was going to be one my terms

“under one condition, my friends stay, no loopholes, no silver lines, anything, they are my family, and you better treat them like that, if anything happens to them I'll make sure all of this little scheme gets to the light, even if it gets me killed and the legacy of the Stratt family dies with me”

“they will be under my protection, although convincing the ton will be more difficult, I can make it happen”

“then it's a deal”

“now go get change, I need to write to the Head of state notifying him of your arrival”

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

Everything went according to plan, off course it went, I knew Eva always expected nothing but perfection, one look at the documents and to myself seems to do the trick, he saw my face, traces of my grief of the previous encounter still remaining, the official story was that I was in Greece visiting my aunt from my mother side when Eva herself delivered the news to me in a letter, already knowing about my existence as a bastard children, Rocky and Adrian on the other side, were put into the record as my cousin and her wife —despite knowing Adrian's preferred to remain gender neutral, a concept like that would never be accepted in this society— and that they would be under my protection and be referred to as equals at the eyes of society

After the representative left, Stratt went to get some stuff from her bedchambers only to return to the drawing room announcing her department that same night, as if she was only here doing business, she didn't looked like a women who was being thrown away from her home, but rather like a young boy freshly out of college eagerly wanting to move out of his parents property

“if you need me for any reason, I will be in my apartment at the other side of Tao Ceti Hall, I already arrange for all my belongings and the ones of my family to be stored" those were the last words I heard from her as she climbed inside of her carriage, it was smaller than the one I've arrived, she took with her two maids and her lady in waiting, all of who I didn't knew, lucky for me she didn't took any of the staff I already knew so I take it as a win

So here I am now, alone in my new drawing room in a house I haven't visited in years, well technically is now my house, I'm still trying to process everything that happened today.

Annie suddenly appeared with some tea and biscuits, even after all this time she remembered what type of tea I preferred

“Your belongings are already in your new chambers and I took the liberty of moving the belongings you left from where you were a tutor in the house, is there anything I can do for you my lord?”

“Annie, please drop the formalities when we aren't with company, we known each other from way to long” at this point my voice sounds more tired that what I wanted, I'm not used to be treated this way

“sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude, I, it's just that- it's been a long day, thats all” I took my glasses off, rubbing my hands against my face, trying to calm myself, after starting at the chandelier in the ceiling I became hyper aware of my surroundings, the drawing room became quiet, too quiet for my liking, the silence was so overwhelming

“Where are my brother and sister?” I turn to asked Annie, who was just a couple of meters away from me, waiting for some new instructions or a command

“Carl thought it would be good for them if they went and have a stroll around the park and the market, keep them distracted from all of this, we all agree it was the best idea” she said in a quiet voice, guilt spilled in every word she said

“you all knew about this?” the realization hit me, they all treated me not as an equal but as if I was above them because they knew

“if it brings you any comfort my lord, we didn't knew she would threaten you or your family, you are a honorable man, we all know it” her face reflected the agony not from an accomplice but from a victim of this sick twisted game

“It’s alright, as long as none of you go around spreading this around” I said with a reassuring smile putting my glasses on again and taking another sip of tea

“Only Carl and I know about this, the rest of the staff were given the same story as everyone else”

“Well is good to know” I took another bite of my biscuit when I heard the carriage arrive and the maids moving, my wishes were granted, Rocky and Adrian were finally home, it's at this moment that it really hits me, I'm not alone anymore

They entered the drawing room telling me all about their day, all of the things they did, Adrian had the most wonderful smile after seeing all the beautiful dresses of the ladies at the park, Rocky was just excited that his partner was happy even if it was for a “simple piece of clothing” as he said it, it's good to have some sense of familiarity in all of this chaos, it helped me in a way to calm my nerves, although I still don't know how am I going to explain the current situation

“So, is your friend going to be joining us for tea?” Rocky said while admiring the intricate pieces of the watch in the table next to him, clearly trying to hide his curiosity about our “host” 

“she just left for her apartment at the other side of town” I said as Annie entered the room and served tea to my little family, Adrian thanking her as she leave to return to her usual spot

“Wait, we thought this was her residency, is it not?" 

“about that-” one of the maids entered the room in a frenzy, Carl followed after her as if him trying to stop her, failing his attempt to be more subtle, they whispered something something to Annie, expressions clearly worried, Annie’s expression also changed to one clearly modified 

“Is there something wrong?” I stood up with a worrying expression, the last thing I wanted was more drama or any sort of conflict, especially now that I was just starting to accept my current situation, I glanced and looked at Rocky and Adrian, clearly they were more in the dark than me, their expressions worried me more, incertitude, I needed to explain everything, but first I needed to make sure nothing more happened in this house

“you my want to read this my lord” Annie handed me a pamphlet, Lady Whistledown society paper, I began to read, nothing more than a gossip column, but this one was different, it had names, complete names, not just letters or nicknames, one of the sections took me by surprise

dearest gentle reader:

It is said that any plant can bloom in the right soil; this author believes that is not the soil that makes a plant grow but the resilience of the plant to survive, and so, with the season finally starting, dear reader, this author hopes that the new debutants have the same resilience and find a good match in this race to see who gets the best spotlight in the greenhouse we known as society; for this season is certainly is going to be an interesting one, for you see, dear reader, this author learned that the new Marquess of Mary, an eccentric and handsome gentleman, has just arrived to town in search for a wife and is expected to be at the opening ball of the season, certainly, this author is intrigued if the new Marquess will go for the safest choice and marry the diamond or if he would go and look for other gemstones, more valuable and rare like an emerald perhaps.

To all the debutants and the mamas, better sharp your knowledge, for the new marquess is said to be a man who appreciates knowledge before looks

To the Marquess, best of luck learning about our society and all of the intricate details, I'm sure you won't let us down

let the lesson begin

- Lady Whistledown

“that wicked witch” I said under my breath, reading the pamphlet again and again, Rocky ended up taking it from my hands and reading it, Adrian followed him, reading it over his shoulder if was is what Stratt wanted, was shall she get, I was not going down without a fight

“Annie, assign Adrian a lady in waiting and prepare the carriage, we need to make haste if we want to catch the modiste in a good mood” I said my tone clearly serious, everyone in the room already moving Rocky and Adrian were still standing in place

“Grace, what are you talking about?”

“well, you will need a lot of proper attire for the season, same goes to you Rocky” I turn around to see them both with a smile, already plotting my next move

“attire for what? Ryland what's going on?” the maids were already returning with our coats 

“the season is about to start and we need to surpass the expectatives of everyone”

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