A MAZE OF GREED

The sun had come directly on the head as the time flew quickly from the morning to the afternoon. The two men who sat on a large porch of a chamber were engrossed in their conversation that they didn't realise when the hours passed when they intended to converse only for a few minutes.

A sound of loud hearty laughter resonated as they both high fived each other.

"And do you remember that time when Lord Augustus made us learn horse riding for the first time and we tied our instructor's leg with the horse's with a rope?" Lester recollected the incident that happened more than fifteen years ago.

Edwin's eyes twinkled mischievously as he picked the mentioned memory from the pockets of his mind. "Of course I do! How can one forget the punishment that followed it?!"

Both the men burst out laughing again. Their laugh died down slowly when someone knocked on the door. Edwin was the first one to sober up.

"Come in." He ordered.

A young woman slowly stepped inside, her small eyes deliberately scanned the chamber. They widened a bit when they landed on the two men who were staring directly at her.

"Hello, Elsie. Come in." Edwin said but his bright eyes didn't miss how Elsie's eyes were fixed on his friend and vice versa.

His lips stretched into a knowing grin and he decided to test his theory.

"Elsie"

He called but his little sister was transfixed in her spot that she didn't even bat her eyelashes.

"Dear sister? Hello?" He tried again but got no reaction from her. He then turned to his friend who was staring at Elsie as if he was watching one of the wonders on the Earth.

"Lester?"

Again no reaction from him as well.

Edwin sighed then stood up. He walked to stop in between the two frozen people to block their view. He crossed his strong arms over his large chest and pulled a frowned look.

"Lester!" He yelled loudly that startled Lester. He blinked a couple of times with a dumbfounded look on his handsome face.

But Elsie, she was so frightened that she jumped at the loud voice of Edwin. Her hand instinctively went to rest on her chest as she could feel her heart thudding loudly against her chest. Her innocent eyes looked around frantically.

"Wh-what?" Lester stuttered nervously after watching Edwin's serious face. His eyes flickered to Elsie for a split second and that was enough for her to blush furiously. But when Edwin turned a little and she saw his face, all the colour drained from her face.

"Will anyone of you care to explain to me what is going on here?" Edwin said in his deep voice that changed the mood of the room in a minute.

Both Lester and Elsie realised that they were caught red-handed by none other than Edwin O'Dell. Edwin was many things and short-tempered was top on the list. He was well known for his reckless actions that he did in a fit of fury and the worse thing was, he never regretted them a bit.

Lester stood up slowly, his brain trying to come up with something rational. How he was supposed to explain Edwin anything when he was discovering this new realm of unfamiliar feelings. Elsie was too shocked to utter a word and her fragile frame shook in fear.

"I am asking you something." Edwin rose his voice with a serious face.

"Edwin, I-I..." Lester fumbled with the words. His eyes avoided looking straight into his friend's.

"Edwin, what Lester? Huh?" As soon as Edwin turned his face to look at Elsie, he noticed the tears gathered at the rim of her eyes and how her hands shook.

He realised that this was going too far and before she broke down crying, he burst out laughing. Both Elsie and Lester were shocked and tried to get a hold of what just happened.

"L-look at your f-faces. Oh my god! This was so f-fun!" Edwin said between his laugh.

Elsie was stunned to see the sight. It was a rare sight to see Edwin give a small smile let alone laugh like a small kid who held his stomach while laughing. She rummaged through her memories to find the last time she saw him this carefree and guffy but came up with empty hands. His laughing figure made her forget about the prank he just pulled.

But Lester was mad at his friend as the prank didn't go well with him.

"You stupid fool. You... That was not funny at all!" Lester tackled Edwin to the ground but Edwin was too powerful for him to hold.

"It was definitely funny Lester. You should have seen the mirror." Edwin teased while trying to get free of Lester's hold.

A sound of clearing of throat stopped their banter and they both looked up to see another pair of cohl lined eyes looking at them in amusement.

"hello, dear big brother and Lester! I think I missed something interesting here." Eloise said with a smirk on her painted lips.

Edwin and Lester detangled themselves then stood up. They both ran their fingers through their hairs to make them look good.

"So what was that that made you both acting in that way?" Eloise asked again wanting to know what she missed.

Lester and Elsie looked uncomfortable for they didn't want anyone to know about it. The fact that Edwin witnessed them staring at each other like that was already embarrassing enough.

"Why were you here Elsie?" Edwin skipped Eloise's question that made her frown a bit.

Elsie gulped nervously and said, "Mother called both of you for the lunch. She instructed to not be late as brother was already late in the morning for breakfast."

"Yes. And you were supposed to call them immediately, Elsie not watch them fight like kids. When you took long mother sent me to call three of you. We should get at the table for lunch before father arrives or we all will be at the recieving end of his anger." Eloise threw a disappointed look at Elsie that made the shy woman bow her head.

"Yes... Lester, you haven't eaten much after the long travel. We should get going." Edwin said. It was not that he cared about his uncle's anger but he knew that Lester didn't eat much that his aunt sent in the morning.

Lester nodded but his eyes again shifted to Elsie who had grim expressions on her face.

"Elsie, I think the maid gave the wrong clothes to Lester. Why don't you check them? And Eloise come, I will tell you what happened before you came." Edwin didn't give Eloise a chance to oppose as he guided her with his hand around her shoulders.

While walking out of the door he looked back at both Lester and Elsie whose faces were tinted with a pink hue.

"Don't be late, you two. Everyone is waiting.." Edwin called then laughed which made Elsie blush furiously.