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Natsumi heads home, pets Oda Floofanaga a bit, and finds a plays of burning fish on the counter. Her father's nowhere to be found. There's a note by the plate.

Father left early/
I made dinner in his stead/
Sorry it is burnt

Natsumi diligently forces it down. Ew. Then does her homework and heads to bed.

(I was rushing last time and just fixed it and the first time was right?)

(Now I'm wishing I'd thought to do that...)

(Oops, jumped the gun)

Lyon shakes his head. "No rules in particular, no. Just the general stuff you'd expect in any household. You really don't need to be so nervous, I promise.

----

Lyon, Avalon, and Alfonzo arrive at the mansion. It is a impressive, three story building in old Victorian style, with a large front and back garden, surrounded by a wrought iron fence. Alfonzo has to momentarily park the car and get out to open the gate, but a couple minutes later, the three stepped into the mansion's foyer. The mansion was quite a bit cozier on the inside. It was still a little dusty, but Alfonzo's renovations had progressed shockingly far. He really was a Super Butler. Despite being an older house, they already had working electricity, running water, and both AC and heating, all their belongings had been packed already, and Alfonzo had even purchased new furniture for most of the house.

"Dinner will be ready shortly, My Lord," Alfonzo says, locking the door behind them. "In the meantime My Lord, might I suggest you give Miss Avalon a tour of the house?"

Lyon nods. "Of course."

Alfonzo heads into the kitchen, leaving Avalon and Lyon alone. "I'm sure you must have a lot of questions," he says, smiling.

Lyon gives a light laugh. "It's alright. I know it can be a bit overwhelming. Why don't we go take a walk in the garden out back? That might be a little more relaxing."

"Just a normal outdoor garden, I assure you. But a very beautiful one." Lyon's smile widens as he guides Avalon towards the back door, giving her a tour of the ground floor along the way. He stops to pick up a large umbrella before opening the door.

Avalon and Lyon are greeted by the pitter patter of rain drops falling on stone. A stone path winds and snakes through a very large outdoor garden, brimming with various different plants and flowers. Several trees provided shelter from both sun and rain, and there were several stone benches placed strategically around the garden. At the far end of the garden, near the fence, was the Caretaker's hut, a small house where the Caretaker of the grounds lived. In the center of the garden stood a wooden gazebo overlooking a small coy pond. Lyon kept the umbrella close as they walked.

"The rest of my family is still in England, so it's just Alfonzo and I here. This is supposed to be my father's idea of a vacation for me. My father bought this house for me before I even flew over, because his stubborn pride wouldn't let him consider anything less. Personally, I would have been fine with a nice apartment. It would have been a pleasant change for once. As for your other questions, I try to help out as much as I can around the house, but Alfonzo does his best not to let me. Just like my father, he thinks it's below the station of an aristocrat like myself to do such menial chores. But Alfonzo knows how much I hate that, so he often caves. Otherwise, I just practice my Karate. I like drawing as well."

They reach the gazebo and sit down next to each other. The fish swim lazily in the pond. "Remember how I said I understood your situation with your parents? Well, my father is a high ranking Duke and our family are cousins to the Crown. The Queen dines with my father whenever she's 'in the neighborhood'. If that weren't bad enough, I myself am on the Line of Succession for the throne. So believe me, I know a thing or two about strict households."