[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/OEh1rTU.png[/img][color=9AF781][h1]Lord Leo Smithwood[/h1][/color][/center]
[color=C4FDB2]Time:[/color] [color=lightgray]Morning
[color=C4FDB2]Location:[/color] Guest House to the Casino
[hr]

Leo made his way to the gambling hall on foot, Martin and Ray a pace behind him. It was the best option for the day, who would think twice about a gentleman being a bit inebriated at a gambling hall? No scandal there, not like showing up to a morning birthday party already drunk. He’d just stick to drinking water for the afternoon and be fine by his evening meeting with Charlotte and Count Hendrix. 

[color=9AF781]“Martin, am I an asshat?”[/color] Leo asked once the crowds in the streets had thinned to sufficiently allow for some privacy. 

Martin raised an eyebrow and shook his head. 

[color=9AF781]“Riona called me an asshat.”[/color] Leo continued. 

[color=696969]“And that bothers you?”[/color] Martin asked. 

[color=9AF781]“No,”[/color] He answered too quickly. [color=9AF781]“Maybe a little.”[/color] He admitted. [color=9AF781]“I’m sure no one ever called my father an asshat.”[/color] He half mumbled.

[color=D8BFD8]“Yeah, not to his face.”[/color] Ray chimed in. 

Leo stopped walking at the unexpected response. Martin paused as well but Ray continued for a few paces before realizing he’d said that aloud. [color=D8BFD8]“Sorry forgot my mouth was open there.”[/color]

[color=9AF781]“What?”[/color] Leo asked, before resuming the walk.

[color=D8BFD8]“I should go look for that watch,”[/color] Ray said looking to Martin to smooth things out. The larger man only shrugged. 

[color=9AF781]“No, Ray, continue. What does that mean?”[/color] Leo pressed saying each word slowly. Ray ignored the condescension in Leo’s tone and simply looked excited that he’d been addressed by his name. 

[color=D8BFD8]“Well, I never met the Duke myself,”[/color] Ray offered, thinking over his words. [color=D8BFD8]“But the others don’t seem to like him much. On account of the temper.”[/color] He explained carefully. 

[color=9AF781]“Martin?”[/color] Leo asked, wanting confirmation that this was true. Not just a handful of servants provoked into gossip by a troublesome maid, but the whole household? Did people really think that poorly of his dad?

[color=696969]“He’s not wrong,”[/color] Martin said. [color=696969]“The Duke could be difficult.”[/color]

[color=9AF781]“You also hate my father?”[/color] 

[color=696969]“I was never on his bad side.”[/color] Leo noted the vagueness of Martin’s answer, and that avoidance was answer enough.

[color=9AF781]“Riona said Morrigan was testing me. To see how alike I was to him, in temperament.”[/color] Leo added, 

[color=696969]“Strange hobby,”[/color] Martin commented. There was a thoughtful pause before he continued. [color=696969]“Becoming your father won’t make his absence any easier.”[/color] He then glanced at Ray, and with a glance told him to head toward the markets. Another day of hunting for Leo’s missing watch.

[color=9AF781]“No, I don’t think it will,”[/color] Leo admitted. But who else was he supposed to be? His dad handled being a duke so well, never showed any doubts about anything he did, always in control of every situation. Like it was effortless. Leo was sure his dad had never once been troubled by an ill-mannered servant. [color=9AF781]“I think these strange pranks are a continued attempt, by Morrigan, to make me snap.”[/color] He steered the subject away from his father. 

[color=696969]“Could be. Could be the same maid that takes advantage of vague instructions.”[/color] 

[color=9AF781]“Riona?”[/color] Leo doubted she was capable of pranks more complex than greasing up shoes and buying impractical furniture. [color=9AF781][i]Unless,[/i] “Do you think she’d frame Morrigan like that?”[/color]

[color=696969]“I’d stay wary of both of them,”[/color] Martin said as they reached the gambling and games hall. [/color]