"He's my boyfriend!" Xhemin shouted, petrified.
Everyone's jaw dropped!
" Grandad please, I'm the one who let him in. I invited him here" Xhemin started, trying to slip away from the beast's back and toward her grandfather. But even before she made a step, Darryl grabbed her hands.
The beast bravely went closer to the door to welcome the doctor's hostility while holding Xhemin's hands.
"Doctor, I am Darryl Lemmeul Lagdameo. I came here to see you. I meant no harm to the Little Miss" Darryl said politely.
As soon as he finished talking, footsteps flooded the stairs and several people rushed to the second floor of the cottage.
" Dr. Dugmoch! Dr. Dugmoch!" Ang came rushing to the Doctor's side. "Dr. Dugmoch, the Young Master is a guest. He is here with Farmer Su"
"Farmer Su?" The doctor narrowed his eyes at Ang, his brows knitting. Almost as though he didn't believe him at all. He knew who Farmer Su was. As a doctor of a small town, he was familiar to almost every family in this side of Hampshire.
When he saw the crowd of guest that flocked in their stairs, he immediately put the gun down to his side and turned to face them.
" It's true Dr. Dugmoch. I apologize for the misunderstanding. The Little Miss hurt herself earlier so the Young Master had to carry her all the way to here" Farmer Su also came, holding his farm hat to his chest as he bowed to him.
"Dr. Dugmoch, I am Mr. Song. One of L Empire's Managers. I was the one who accompany the Young Master here. Please, we meant no harm" Mr. Song also introduced himself as he bowed together with farmer Su.
"Naked in my granddaughter's bedroom and you meant no harm?" Dr. Miles voice was stern. He whirled around to Darryl' side with an irascible; "Young man, who do you think you are messing at?"
" I messed up his clothes, so I was handling him Ziggy's" Xhemin intervened again, knowing it was she who started all these.
The beast has not let go of her hands yet, not until Darryl's guards went in the room and helped Darryl dress-up with the clothes they brought with them.
Dr. Miles skimmed to the youth who was in his granddaughter's bedroom. He saw how the beast composed himself, allowing his men to slide a grey tailored suit to his shoulders. Then everything sunk in to the doctor's mind. The word L Empire that Mr. Song told him earlier rang to his ears suddenly making him realize the young boy was the famous Lagdameo heir.
" The young Miss was being kind. She was probably compensating for the injury she caused him yesterday" Mr. Song added, not knowing he made a huge revelation.
" Injury? What do you mean?" Dr. Miles asked instinctively, suddenly he felt that there was something odd about the situation.
" The little Miss seems to be-"
" Grandad it was my fault!" Ziggy exclaimed as he clung to Dr. Miles. He knew by then that they cannot escape the situation anymore, so he opted to confessed right away." Please, it was me!"
" The two of you had knowledge of this?" Dr. Miles turned to Ziggy and Huzey. The two boys lowered their heads. " What did the three of you do this time?"
" Grandad it was me…" Huzey chest heaved unable to finish his sentence, his face went guilty.
" No Grandad the boys have nothing to do with it!" Xhemin interjected, her nails were digging into the hem of her jumpers.
" Stop this the three of you!" Dr. Miles shouted at the them. " Line up here in front" He commanded thereafter.
He was the one who raised these kids singlehandedly, so he was very familiar with their every gestures and behavior. At the moment, he was certain they made some mischiefs again.
The three lined up in front of Dr. Miles. Their legs, particularly Ziggy's were bobbing up and down. They were staring at the floor like they were willing to be swallowed by it whole.
" Did the three of you made a foolish bet again?"
" Y- yes.... " They answered in unison slowly, as if their voices were strained.
" And you my dear prince, did you consent to your sibling's mischief?" Dr. Miles glanced on Huzey. He treated them all as grandchildren, so he referred to them as siblings all the time.
Huzey was the eldest among the three. Being brought up as a prince in Montarini Manor, Huzey's manners were more refined than the two. Most of the time, it was him whom Dr. Miles trusted to look after the two, but he failed him today.
" I am so sorry grandad" Huzey's body went meek as he confessed.
A flash of dismay went across the doctor's face. These grandchildren of him were very playful and mischievous, but he did thought adolescence had changed their demeanor already. Probably not.
" You, young lady, explain yourself. Why did you came claiming the young master was your lover?" He turned to Xhemin's side, asking her the question that bothered him the most. He was very aware that at a certain time, suitor's of his grandchild will come banging in Richmond ranch. He just didn't expect it to be sooner.
" Did I say he was?" She answered as if she didn't remember saying it.
"Don't ever think of lying to me" Familiar with his granddaughter's ways, he cut of her attempt to lure him.
"I spoke it out of impulse grandfather, I was afraid you'll shoot!" She answered, her eyes were shinning with innocence. If she was faking it, well she was doing it pretty well.
" I am so disappointed with the three of you…" Dr. Miles finally breathed out. " Go to the kitchen's table now! Do your prayers five hundred times!"
"Five hundred times? Grandpa that's too much!" Xhemin exclaimed her protest back loudly at her grandfather. Her eyes were welling up already.
" One thousand times!" Dr. Miles retorted which silenced Xhemin. Ziggy grabbed Xhemin's hands with a face that was more like saying 'don't speak anymore or the punishment will be severe'.
Dr. Miles saw how his grandchildren's faces turned pale, but he was determined to punish them. A minute after he turned to Ang who was silent by his side. " Ang make sure the three of them recite their prayers properly"
" Yes Doctor," Ang replied obediently.
" Now go! The three of you!" Dr. Miles send them off to the kitchen.
The three timidly dragged themselves down the stairs with Ang behind them.
" In behalf of my household. I apologize for my grandchildren's mistake" Dr. Miles turned to their guest the moment his grandchildren went off.
" Apologies are not necessary, it was clearly a misunderstanding" Darryl responded. He was now fully dressed and was wearing his king pin aura again.
Suddenly his presence intimidated everyone in the room. Even Dr. Miles couldn't help but recognize his demanding presence. Darryl stood there in such a strong aristocratic aura fit only for a king.
"What does the Lagdameo heir need to a simple doctor like me?" Dr. Miles lowered his head upon him. He was the great doctor, but the boy was far more valuable than anything else in this country.
"Dr. Dugmoch, if you may, I'd like to speak in private" Darryl answered breaking off wall that invisibly stood before him and the doctor.
"My office is in the first floor, please follow me Young Master" The doctor replied as he led him downstairs and towards his home office.
Dr. Miles' office was near the kitchen area. So, when the two went down, Darryl was quiet shock to see the trio's kneeling under the big wooden dining table. Ang was on one of the chairs, scribbling into a piece of board as the three recited;
" Dear God, forgive our sins. Help us to become good children from now on."
" Dear God, forgive our sins. Help us to become good children from now on."
" Dear God, forgive our sins. Help us to become good children from now on."