It was very difficult to talk to Duke Kleo. Many times Lyra tried to start it, but the cruel and horrible expression of him that she always got, made her drown herself with doubts. Her lips mumbled incoherently, while her mind protested, 'It's useless for this delicious-looking breakfast menu if the host doesn't even want to look at me for a moment.'
She shifted her body, ready to get up after she devoured a few small spoonfuls of the breakfast menu. It felt like she had no appetite for food and didn't understand the eating etiquette of nobles.
Duke Kleo tilted his head and saw her properly for the first time that morning. "What are you doing?"
Her shoulders seemed to jolt in shock. At first, she thought he would never pay any attention to her at all. "I-I've finished breakfast, My Lord. I will return to my room to…"
"Do you think this is your house?" His voice sounded very ferocious, a very hoarse alto, with various leaden vicious impressions. His deep eyes seemed to shoot a thousand spears, which could pierce her heart as well as her entire body, causing her to stagger and slump back down on the chair pitifully.
"You can't just leave the dining table like that," he continued. His amber eyes lit up, against the sunlight streaming through the wide and high windows, giving the impression of gold or coals of fire within. "Don't you even know those manners?" Sneer. "Entering someone else's room without knocking on the door is also not decent etiquette."
Lyra looked up, both surprised and confused. She pondered over Duke Kleo's words, remembering whether she had ever entered someone else's room without knocking on the door first. Yeah, she did. She had entered Gerald and Tania's room without first knocking on the door, and some bad things did happen sometimes.
Finally, she just sat there at the dinner table, fiddling with her fingers, looking down like a child who had just been scolded by her parents. Sometimes she wished he would give her a little generosity, such as asking her to come back to eat or maybe say something. But he didn't say anything, even after breakfast was over.
Duke Kleo got up without saying anything, went darting past Lyra, then walked out of the dining hall very proudly. His demeanor had changed drastically that morning, and she knew why. She started the war with him, so she couldn't blame him barely.
She had been thinking about a way to make peace with him all along. Marriage with him was terrible, but enmity with him was even worse. So she decided to drop anchor and docked briefly to approach him. The reason was still the same, that she wanted to be free from punishment. However, achieving that goal is certainly not easy.
Her two maids, Ella and Gena, rushed at her as if to catch her. Their faces looked relieved after waiting quite a while outside the dining hall.
"Oh, My Lady, I thought you weren't going out. I even thought about going into the dining hall," said Ella sadly. On her body was attached a royal maid outfit, which was black and then covered by a kind of white apron. Her brown hair was tied back tightly.
"Please don't do anything bad, My Lady. What made you so eager to run away?" Now it was Gena who spoke. Her body was tall and rather thin, had dark brown hair, with a slightly wavy impression in some parts. "Last night we were careless. What do you want to do?"
"I just wanted to apologize to Duke Kleo," Lyra muttered, not even realizing it. Her face was downcast sadly, making her two maids even more miserable than she was.
"Oh, my lady!" cried Gena and Ella together, holding Lyra's hand together.
"Last night I angered him. Now he looks even scarier than before. I just want to make peace for him. I want to go to his study to apologize. Just that." Lyra was still looking down. "If only I could do something to impress him."
Gena and Ella fell silent, thinking hard to find a solution.
"My Lady, today His Grace will go to meet the king and take care of some matters in the city. How about you just escort him to the carriage while making small talk?" Ella suggested. Her big eyes looked like a ball.
"Will he even listen to me?" Lyra still sounded skeptical. "At breakfast, he didn't even want to look at me and say hello."
"Oh that's bad," Gena mumbled subconsciously, who immediately closed her mouth tightly. "I-I mean…"
"You must, My Lady," interrupted Ella, not wanting her friend to ruin the beautiful morning. "You should make peace with His Grace soon enough."
Although not sure, Lyra also tried Ella's suggestion. They went to the palace grounds, the place where the horse carriage was already waiting for Duke Kleo's arrival.
Now and then she took a breath, then smoothed out her appearance, though it wasn't necessary because she always looked beautiful as usual even if she was only wearing a shabby, unkempt cloth. Her beauty is indeed on another level, which can attract many men effortlessly.
Ella and Gena immediately whispered excitedly, shaking Lyra's narrow shoulders, pointing in a direction where Duke Kleo was currently located.
Lyra's back suddenly stiffened, from being so nervous. She once again tidied her appearance, then smoothed her hair, clearing her throat to make sure her voice didn't crack as she spoke.
"Go, My Lady! Just greet His Grace very cheerfully!" Ella suggested while cheering her on. Her smile grew wider when she saw Lyra nod excitedly.
Lyra started to move, her clear blue eyes looking very sure. Her entwined hands even strengthened each other. In her head was running the words she had memorized. "My Lord, I heard that you are going to the city to take care of some issues. I have come to wish you well on your journey. Hopefully, you can return as soon as possible."
Lyra nodded to herself, feeling perfect and very intelligent. The hue on her face grew livelier, her eyes sparkled with such beauty.
Until she saw something...
"Are you blind? Don't you know where you're walking?" Duke Kleo spat out his anger at a maid, as she accidentally bumped into him from behind. It seemed she was not in good condition.
'Oh, that's the maid who was on guard in my room last night. She must be tired from not being able to sleep all night,' Lyra screamed in her mind.
The maid trembled then kowtowed in front of Duke Kleo. "Forgive me, My Lord. I am guilty. Forgive me!"
"Your mistake is enormous and despicable! You will be punished! You have to be execut…"
"MY LORD!" Lyra interrupted, running as fast as she could to prevent Duke Kleo from executing the maid. Her heart was bad and guilty because if she hadn't run away last night, the maid wouldn't be so sleepy and exhausted.
Unknowingly her hand gripped the duke's hand, squeezing it very tightly. Her blue and alluring eyes were like locking onto his amber eyes. "Don't!" he whispered, very depressed. "Don't start your day with anger and unimportance, My Lord!" She forced a smile to form on her lips. "You must depart with a calm heart, then return home safely."
Within his gaze, there was a radiating tenderness. The flames that filled his vision instantly dimmed. His stiff shoulders suddenly became more relaxed.
Soon she backed away and let go of his hand, after realizing everyone was gaping and gasping at the sight. Duke Kleo was touched by a woman!
"Sorry," Lyra said, looking down deeply. "I do not mean…."
However, Duke Kleo didn't respond. He walked past everyone, then got into the horse carriage. Before it left he had time to give a word to Mr. Bertus, "Tell the maid to be more careful if she wants to stay alive!"
Shortly after that, the horse moved to pull the weight on its back, sending Duke Kleo off to the city with a pounding heart. His hands went under his coat, clutching his chest. "I could have a heart attack if she keeps doing it!" he whispered as he leaned back weakly.
***