Where is she? Vanessa should be in her personal office because she does not have a schedule. If I saw her personal room, there's no book. Is she was in the library?
"Your Grace!" His assistant ran to him. He gives him a document. The Grand Duke open it and read it slowly. "Are you sure about this information?"
"Yes, we found his tracks in the eastern region of the Empire."
The eastern regions? Why is he doing this in that place? What do you want?
"...keep searching for him and keep it a secret from my daughter."
"Of course, Your Grace!"
Vanessa doesn't have to know about this problem. Only for a while. I want her to focus on someone else. Many of the things that she did during the last ten years. She's even taking care of the problem with my step-brother or his uncle.
Six months since he runs away, leaving a bad memory to Vanessa. I'm not going to forgive him for hurting the daughter of the Grand Duke. I still remember it clearly. Vanessa's face after he runaway. She constantly had a bad dream about him and was not able to sleep well.
"Victor...I will be looking for you with my own hand. Just wait!"
The Grand Duke who was wandering searching for her daughter accidentally passed the three knights. He asked where Vanessa was.
"We saw her on the library, Your Grace."
The library?
"Thank you." He said.
He immediately headed to the library. He opened the door and start looking for his daughter again. He accidentally finds her lying down on the long couch. A feeling of relief came to his heart.
"Miss Vanessa, would you like a cup of tea?" A young man suddenly came in her direction.
"Maybe a tea for refreshing my mind. Okay, with pleasure."
"I will tell the servant. I excuse myself, Miss Vanessa."
A young man gives a bow of respect because he wants to tell the servant. Meanwhile, Vanessa feels sleepy when she reads a book. She put down the book and saw the big window next to her.
The Grand Duke who kept watching her felt sad to see his own daughter. Without reason, that feeling suddenly comes by itself.
"Haa..." Vanessa gave a deep sigh. "It's been a while since I meet him and talking to him. Is he alright...?
He? Is she mean Basil? Or...Victor?
"He should be alright. He's the strongest knight. Why am I suddenly thinking about him? Stupid!" His tobe voice turned annoyed.
The Grand Duke laughed when listening to her word. He remembers one thing. The news today tells them about the relationship of his daughter and his step-brother. The news became a main topic on the front page.
"Miss Vanessa, the tea is ready."
She drank the tea that Varest prepare with full of delights.
"Varest, can you take a new book from the head of the library?" She told him.
"Yes, Young Miss."
Since that last, Vanessa always ordered him to do something and the human kid do not mind receiving her orders. They look close without I noticed. This is an emergency. Only leaving the pain behind.
This relationship is too painful for Vanessa and she knows it. If the human kid began to have a taste with my daughter. The forbidden relationship will grow up between the two of them. Still, even though my daughter is smart enough to do something. She's still an ordinary vampire.
"Your Grace?"
"Va...Varest...what are you doing here?" He was surprised because Varest called him from behind.
"I'm here to take the book and then there's Your Grace...should I tell Miss Vanessa?"
"No, you shouldn't."
I have to go or I'll get caught.
"Don't tell him, Young Man." The Grand Duke quickly leaves the library. Varest give a bow and said. "Sure, Your Grace."
He hates this complicated situation. The Grand Duke was confused with the two men in front of her daughter. There is a man who has hurt her daughter and there is a man only leaving the pain behind. He thought if this was the fate of his daughter. It is very painful and he could not accept it. Why...why does the destiny of the people that he cares about most have a dangerous way of living?
"Damn!" His face was so frustrated. He always thinking about his daughter. All of this is made him get a headache.
"Your Grace!" Varest ran to him.
What does he want now?
"I apologize, but does this belong to you? I found it in the library." He gave a handkerchief to the Grand Duke.
"How do you know if it is mine?" He asked him.
"There is an initials name on that handkerchief. Usually, men seldom bring a handkerchief. Someone must make it for you."
The sharpness of his eyes made the Grand Duke speechless. Varest gives a bow because he wants to return to the library. "I excuse myself, Your Grace."
"Yes...Yes..."
He turned around. "Your Grace, if you want to monitor Miss Vanessa with me. No need to see us from a distance. You can join us. Miss Vanessa would love if she could spend time with you...compared with me."
The Grand Duke looked at his black eyes and sincere smile from him. He holds out his hand to stop him. "Do you know what are you doing with my daughter, Young Man? Your relationship should not be too long. You know that." He said.
Their conversation is getting serious. Varest release the grip of his hands and then knelt down.
"I know what I'm doing. I was her prey. I know you don't like me. I'm just a human, aged 12 years old. You may not believe what I do. If so...I begged...Your Grace."
Varest confidently stared at the sharp eye of Vanessa's father without blinking and continue what he wanted to say.
"I plead with you to believe in your daughter, Miss Vanessa."
What does he mean? I entrust everything to Vanessa.
"...In your face looks so clearly. You have not yet trust completely to Miss Vanessa and Miss Vanessa know about it."
My face?
"He's right, Your Grace." Vanessa suddenly appeared. "What he said is true. Father does not yet completely trust me and I know it. Only this I just shut up."
"Vanessa, I can explain." He said.
"I just sit down and not get angry with my father because I want to show you. All the things I've done were not in vain."
The conversation back to the beginning again. It's wasting my precious time.
"Father might think...why are we talking about this again? I also think like that. You always watching me from a distance. Remember, I'm not a child anymore."
Vanessa scold her father and he hugged her.
"I'm sorry, my daughter."
At least she says everything. "Me too, father and don't be like this again. All of this will go according to my plan. Trust me!"
End Chapter 23