Once again, I was inside the Duke office, sitting in the sofa while he was sitting in another sofa across me. There are two cup of tea on the table, still hot.
“So… This deal. What is about?”
I broke the silence, curious with his offer.
“A really good one. Do you still want Violla back, right?”
He asked.
“Of course, she is my only family although….we are not blood related…”
He smiled, satisfied with my answer.
“Then… Hear me out… You can have Violla from Monday until Friday but during the weekend, I can have her”
I crossed my arms, felt more interested with his deal.
“Is there more?”
He nodded.
“Wednesday and Friday, from afternoon until evening, she need to be here with me. She can leave after the sunset”
I frowned with his second deal, he saw it.
“There’s a reason why I did this. I want to win her over as her biological father”
“You want to win her over?”
“Yes, you see how she act in front of me right? She saw me as a stranger while she saw you as a father. I want her to look at me like that”
I sighed, understand what he wants but if he managed to win her over, what happen next?
“Then what? Are going to tell her that you was her biological father?”
“Perhaps”
He smiled but I’m not happy with this. I don’t know if I should take this offer cause he was a villain, should I trust him?
He was famous for his cruelty toward his enemies even his servants but he still not show it to me. I can’t let my guard down in front of him.
“Let me think about it”
“Sure, take your time. If you ready, just tell me”
He took a sip one of the tea, wait for my answer.
Should I accept?
I tried to think carefully with the offer because I don’t want a bad consequences. I always thought that my life with Violla would be perfect but there always obstacles in front of me.
Why everything I plan always went wrong?
I sighed, afraid I take the wrong step.
“If I take the offer then are we going to do this until she grow up?”
The Duke stared bore at me.
“Until she realize and made her own choice”
His word made me realize something.
If she know that I’m not her real father and the Duke is her biological father, what would she do? Leave me? Alone? Just like…..her?”
Afraid for being alone again is my biggest weaknesses. I don’t want to life by myself again, I felt empty but what could I do. If that happen, can I managed to endure it?
Questioning myself over and over again, made me felt miserable. I want Violla to be happy too, I’m not selfish but should I made a big sacrifice for her? Should I sacrifice my happiness for her?
That’s when I realize, maybe I should take this opportunity to make a lot of memorable memory with her before that time came. I should spend time with her more and go somewhere she wanted. With that memory, maybe I could life in peace.
I smiled, I have my answer.
“Duke Derek, I accept your offer”
He smirked.
“Good choice. Since you take my offer, than you should sign this contract”
He walked toward his desk, took a paper and pen. He give it to me.
“Sign here. About the term and condition, it’s the same what for we discussed”
He pointed at the end of the paper.
When I was about to sign the contract, I accidentally read one of the term and condition.
• Duke Derek has a priority to assign any maid and knight to help the caretaker of his daughter
I don’t know what it mean, I just shrugged off and sign the contract immediately. I give him back the paper, he felt satisfied.
“You don’t want to add anything?”
He asked.
“No, I’m okay with everything”
“I see”
He walked toward his desk again and put back it at the drawer.
“I had a question”
“What is it?”
“After I sign this contract, can I bring Violla back now?”
I asked since I don’t want her to be left with this tyrant.
“Yes, sure you can. By the way, the contract start tomorrow”
I sighed in relieve.
“Can I go now?”
“You sure? You didn’t touch your tea yet”
He was staring at the tea cup that serve for me.
“I’m not……”
Before I could finish my sentence, my stomach growl so loud that me felt a huge embarrassment. My innerself want to jump into the hole of shame right now cause the Duke was staring at me. I didn’t even realize I was hungry, I almost forgot I don’t even cook my own breakfast today.
“Looks like someone is hungry”
I can hear him chuckled.
“I wonder who’s fault is that”
I was mad but my face is as red as a tomato. I was dying in shame but I need to act cool.
“I can call the maid to make you something to eat.
“No, it’s fine. I can eat after return to my house”
I immediately refuse but my stomach can stop growling.
Oh my lord! Stomach please stop or I’m going to jump from the window now!
“Are you sure? How about I called the maid to bring some snacks for you?”
“No, I’m absolutely fine”
I refused again but the Duke face turned dark all the sudden. He walked toward me and grab my wrist forcefully, it hurt cause me to flinched.
“Lucian, I’m being nice in here. You don’t want to get sick, are you?”
He warned me but I can tell that he sounded worry or it was just me being deaf.
“Bread… A piece of bread”
I answered, his grip started to soft. My wrist felt less pain until he release me. He called the maid to bring some bread for me and placed it on the table.
I take the bread and took a few bite. It’s pretty delicious than the other bread I buy before.
I didn’t realize I ate a lot of bread until the plate was empty. I also took a few sip of the tea too. My stomach is filled with bread inside it.
“Thank you for the food”
I smiled.
“No need to thank me….”
“Can I take Violla and go now?”
He nodded, he called the carriage while I went to Violla at her room since she already finished her dinner. There’s a maid play with her, she saw me and retreat.
“Violla, it’s time to go home”
“Yeah! Home!”
She wide open her arms, wants to be hold. I hold her with my arms around her back and under her backside. Her head rested in my shoulder.
When I was about to exit the room, the maid was giving me a weird gaze, I ignored it cause I used to it.
“Goodbye, my lady”
She said.
I immediately leave the room, went outside the mansion to see the carriage already there. There was also the Duke and his right-hand man, Julius.
“Remember our deal”
The Duke remainded me.
“I know”
Violla and I went inside the carriage, it’s pretty comfy actually. Duke Derek told the coachman to go now, the carriage move. We leave the Rareverk’s Mansion territory, I felt glad about it but the contract will start tomorrow.
Maybe I should explain to Violla about this all before she felt confused…..
[Meanhwhile At Rareverk’s Mansion After Lucian left]
<Third Person View>
Duke Derek was staring at the window, lost in thought. His right hand-man, Julius was tidying Duke Derek’s desk.
“Your Grace, what was you planing?”
Julius asked, crossed his arms since he doesn’t know the whole contract Duke Derek offer to Lucian.
“I just wanted for the best”
“For the best? I thought we are going to keep your daughter in here? We can just send him away or bribe him with money, pretend he doesn’t has a daughter at all!”
Julius suggested but Duke Derek didn’t answer, he was quiet.
“Your Grace?”
Julius sighed.
“Your Grace….. Don’t tell me that you make that offer because he almost look just like……her?”
“Julius”
The Duke spoke but he sounded angry, Julius felt like almost digging his own grave.
“Forgive me, your Grace. I shouldn’t said that”
Julius bowed, scared. The Duke sighed and continue stared out of the window.
Comment