- Good day, father, - Hadrian smiled a bit looking at the old man. He felt that he would like to say something special.
- Hadrian, - the man smiled warmly. Gregory always smiled no matter if he talked about the good or bad things. - Is it true what I've heard people say?
- What do you mean, father?
- Yesterday one beggar knocked on the door asking for water and bread...
- And? What that beggar said you?
- He told me the weird things... The count's wife is dead and that someone of his servants saw you leaving the countess bedroom, - Gregory looked straight at Hadrian's eyes.
Hadrian felt how something trembled inside him, but he still stayed calm. The long wanderings around the dead world and incurred losses not only hardened him, but taught him control himself and stay calm even in the most difficult situations.
- Do you believe in that beggar? - he asked calm.
- Of course, no! - Gregory smiled. - But I would like to hear all from your mouth, my son.
- Ulrike... I have to go, - Gregory smiled again at Hadrian.
Hadrian silently nodded. This time he was lucky, but not for long. He knew his father and he also knew that he'll have to answer to his question.
***
Hadrian silently ate outside still thinking about his conversation with his father. He was the only member of his family, the only person in this world who raised him and cared of him since those days when he was born. His mother died when Hadrian was still laying in the nappies. Father told that some weird and terrible disease wiped out the whole village, after his wife death he took his little son and left the native places. As Gregory was a smart and skillful man he was always getting somewhere a work, so they didn't have to endure hunger. Until Hadrian was 6 years old Gregory worked as blacksmith, and then he joined the rich merchant's ship and traveled around the world until they were attacked by the pirates. They killed almost the entire crew, except for Gregory, his son and few more seamen. Hadrian still remembered that day... He was already 13 years old. That day his whole life changed. The memories brought Hadrian to the depths of the past. Meeting and friendship with the captain of the pirate ship made him the way he is today. That man was cruel, but he liked and cherished his father and taught him, Hadrian, everything he needed to know about the sea. Their friendship lasted many years. Only his father... He didn't like to be a pirate, but Hadrian knew that his father did all only for him and their safety. They were only two who survived the Great Punishment of Gods, all who were on the ship were thrown into the abyss. Hadrian closed his eyes remembering how father fought for his life as he was seriously injured and had lost a lot of blood. However, they survived all and all theses nightmares they had to face made them even more closer. His father was the only person in the world he really loved and cherished. Also Nenia... If only his callous heart can love. Hadrian sighed. So how to tell the truth to his father? How to tell the truth to Nenia? It ain't easy and it seemed almost nonsense... If even Hadrian was a robber, if even his heart was callous, he still had the feelings. And the conscience. If even it was very weak.
Hadrian turned his face and frowned looking at the blond-haired woman. She and her husband Cornvallis took seat at the table and started eat.
- What else did you hear, Summer? - Hadrian asked carefully.
- Really? And what did you do there, woman? - Hadrian's eyes became small and angrily flashed. - Cornvallis, you should look where your wife walks...
- I trust my wife, Hadrian, - Cornvallis smiled.
- Aye... I can see that, - Hadrian grinned. - I just want to warn you, guys... Don't put your nose into not your affairs, - he rose to his feet and quickly went from the table away.
Cornvallis and his wife Summer exchanged the glances.
- It's obvious that he got into the troubles, - Cornvallis said his wife.
- Aye... - Summer smiled. - I even don't doubt that he killed a countess.
- Summer... Quieter! He can hear us... Are you sure?
- I'm not sure, but the whole village is convinced that he did that.
- Nonsense, Summer! - Cornvallis felt irritated. - You can't condemn the man only because someone spreads the gossips!
Summer smiled even not looking at her husband.
- Time will show, my beloved, where is the truth and where is the lie.
***
Hadrian hated him and Cornvallis knew that. They were like day and night and if not the Great Punishment of Gods, probably their lives would never have been crossed. But Gods had another plan for them both, so it happened somehow that Hadrian's father saved his life and allowed him to live with others. Their home was home for all who stayed alive. They were weird family what was connected not by the blood, but the confrontation with death. Till this day they lived more or less peacefully if even he and Hadrian often quarreled. But now... He felt that something wrong and dark is coming into their home. Cornvallis didn't want to believe in all these gossips about Hadrian, but he knew that Gregory's son has many dark secrets. And who didn't have them? Even Cornvallis had... Yes, he had them, too. And if his wife would know... Aye, it wouldn't be good. Cornvallis smiled at himself and looked at the water. Yes, the nature was the best friend sometimes. The nature and solitude. Then you can to sort all your thoughts and calm down.
It was a time when he lived different life and he wasn't just Cornvallis. But now... Who cares about your past? All stayed in the old world. His parents, their beautiful castle, his beloved girl, gardener's daughter and their secret dates... Now he is just Cornvallis and he has a wife named Summer. And there were others... With their own fates and their own joys and sorrows. And their own secrets. Yes... They all stand somewhere in the middle between truth and lies. So... Time will show who is liar and who tells the truth. Cornvallis hoped for the best. For their all sake.
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