The Marquis Who's Wicked (Higher Court II)

XXXI. Family Reunion at Last

Lord Edwin Moore, who was now known as Edwin Ortiz, a fisherman from Chentersea, was looking at the grand townhouse where his alleged sister was living with her husband. He did not know what he was doing, writing the letter stating that he would love to have a visit with her if Lady Emily Hassildor, the marchioness of Kain, would accept his humble self.

And accepted, he did.

Edwin stepped down from the hackney that he got in Grea before he went to the residential area of the gentry in the capital. He was nervous to meet his only sister when he cannot remember that he had a family member when he has washed ashore on Chentersea. Edwin gulped as the hackney stopped and before he could pay for his transportation, someone had handed the money to the driver as he stepped down from the carriage.

"Thank you, my lord. Have a good day," the driver said before he whipped the reins and the hackney moved forward, leaving Edwin alone as he was looking at the couple that was lavishly dressed in the latest fashion of Niapachad Island. The man, who was a lord, was dressed in a black coat and waistcoat as the white shirt was hidden underneath. The woman, his wife as Edwin presumed, was wearing a nice yellow dress as her brown hair was plaited on top of her head before her beautiful face lit up when she saw Edwin. He did not know what to feel as his heart was beating with anticipation, looking at the young lady that left her husband's side and went to greet him as she stood in front of Edwin.

"Brother?" her angelic voice hit his ears as memories were flooding inside his mind right now. A lot of scenes were coming at once but the ones that were prominent to Edwin was the one where he and a little girl running around in a garden? Or perhaps it was a meadow as they went on to climb the trees that were abundant there. Edwin taught the little girl how to climb as they were laughing at each other, trying again and again until the little girl can climb the tree.

Then, it shifted as Edwin was looking at the little boy and the same little girl were riding the ponies as they were making some jokes at each other and laughing. Edwin can see that the love between those two siblings was strong as the brother was tucking his sister's hair when she fell from her pony one time. Then, there was laughter afterward.

Later in his memory, Edwin was staring at the sea, the ocean was calling as he was walking down the shore of the beach before a cackle broke him from his trance. The little girl was dragging him by the hand as they went to the sea, wanting to get into the water as early as they could. The little girl was smiling, laughing as the sun was shining. Edwin knew that they were breaking the curfew but he did not care when his sister—Emily was her name—asked him to join in on her adventure as they were swimming around in the warm water. They were laughing and playing before their parents came to get them. They were punished, of course, but Edwin knew that the precious memory was one of his.

And that's when he knew that he was finally home.

*****

Emily was looking at the man that was standing in front of her. Her brother, Edwin, was finally there, staring at her as if she was the gift that he had been searching for. Then, he took a step forward and hugged her as he was kissing her hair. She was smiling, closing her eyes as she let her brother hug her for the first time after 8 years of his disappearance. She did not know if she wanted to be angry or happy when Fate has brought her brother home. Edwin sighed as he was smoothing his hands on her hair before leaning back and looking at Emily with all his love in his black eyes can muster.

"Emily?" his baritone voice was hitting her ears as Emily was nodding at her brother. She was smiling, feeling the tears were brimming in her eyes before she blinked her eyes. Then, Ian was clearing his throat, clearly amazed at the display that he was witnessing right now. Emily was chuckling softly before he was standing by her side, offering his hand to Edwin as her husband was putting his other hand on her lower back. Emily smiled at the possessive gesture that Ian cannot help himself.