The Marchioness walks towards the duchess who was gazing at the gardenscapes with Lady Eli. They were cheerfully talking about their daughters which made the Marchioness annoyed.
How could she laugh like that? It is so carefree that I want to rip that mouth.
She composed herself before turning her heels. What happened earlier will circulate at the High Society by tomorrow. It makes her blood boil in anger.
The mother and daughter duo did humiliate her in front of the noblewoman and there's no way it wouldn't spread.
Furthermore, there were already bad rumors going around about her regarding about her son.
"If that stupid son of mine did not have a bruise on his face there will be no rumors. Tsk."
No remorse or guilt in her eyes. Instead it is beaming with anger. The Duchess glance over her shoulders an saw the Marchioness' expression, her lips curved into a smile.
"The flowers you have are very beautiful."
Her lips twitch upon hearing the Duchess' words behind her. She faced her with a smile because if word comes out surely she couldn't avoid his wrath. It is widely spread that the Duke loves her wife and one insult towards her will surely have punishment.
"Thank you for the compliment, Your Grace. I bought it in a neighbouring kingdom as soon as I laid my eyes on it." She smiled while letting out information. Carina's eyes squinted so lightly as she listened to the Marchioness' bragging about the flowers.
"... Jade Roses." she whispered. Those flowers are hard to obtain since they can only be found in the neighbouring kingdom.
The nobles of the empire would pay any price to have this; not only is it beautiful, its petals can be turned into a gemstone and the leaves are herbal that some of the nobles drink for luxury.
"which merchant did you bought it from? I want to buy those flowers, but sadly, I always miss it," this made the Marchioness undeniably happy as her lips stretched, "I have bought it In Aluntino Kingdom, Your Grace. My husband brought me over there to accompany him on his business."
Aluntino... Duchess Carina suddenly smirks hiding it behind her fan, "I am not aware the Marquis has business in that kingdom."
"What business does the Marquis have?" they did not realize that they were surrounded by the other woman so suddenly under the striking sun.
No wonder since it relates to the infamouse new Marquis Farlon. He, too, became a hot topic because of his background.
"Well, I remembered him saying that it is a mining business..."
the duchess sighs and when she turns around she catches a glimpse of a maid returning inside the mansion with swollen eyes. Carina looked back at the marchioness.
"I suddenly felt under the weather. I have to excuse myself."
Lady Eli looked worried and assisted Carina, "Can I help you, Your grace?"
Carina shakes her head and points to the knights behind them. Sir Antonio and the others are already walking towards the Duchess.
"I have enjoyed the tea party. Pardon me, I will take my leave. Please enjoy the rest of the day."
"Take care of yourself, Duchess."
Everyone bids the duchess and yet the Marchioness is silent as she watches the Duchess fade in her sight. Apparently, she had a bad feeling, but chose to ignore it as they continued the tea party.
Meanwhile, a carriage arrived first at the Vacarella estate, Noland who was outside waiting for the carriage to open.
"Welcome home, my lad..." he suddenly stops upon seeing Wren with a kid. He was still wearing the old, dirty and ragged clothes. His eyes are puffy and swollen.
Understandable since he cried for the entire time and was reluctant to leave Lia. It made Wren's head ache as she eventually forced him to ride the carriage. Thanks to Lia, she managed to grab a few things of his.
"Young Miss... may I ask who is this?" Noland fixed his glasses as he examined the boy. Wren sighed and before she could answer, a voice so deep and cold spoke, "You bring another spirit of yours."
Her brows twitch at her father's remark, "Father he is not—"
"Why does it seem like you just fished him out of the dump?" She feels that she is losing her temper since he has been interrupted two times already.
"This isn't a spirit father and he wasn't from the dump. This is Lane Farlon."
The duke's brows raised as he looked at the boy. He remembered that he was in the report his wife had a few days ago.
"How did you end up with him?" Wren rolled her eyes and said, "can we please get inside and wash him first?"
apparently, they are still outside of the door. "This happens all the time..." she mumbled and the duke entered, then he tasked the butler to help Lane in his bath.
It did not escape in his eyes the small wounds on the arms of the kid as he massaged his nape, "Now then, speak kid."
she sat down on the single couch and sighed, "well, I saw him when I was walking in their garden."
Mave scoffed. Knowing his daughter she let her curiousity get ahead of her and explored the area.
"then, he was beautiful you know dad, especially his hair is vibrant under the sun..." Mave did not understand his daughter as to why she said it since all he asked is how she is with him. Besides, he doesn't want to hear her like this.
It feels like whenever she saw someone beautiful it's either she will get them or have her in her social circle. Especially when there are men to speak of. He already had a headache with Zairon and Cervi already and she's adding one to the list.
"When I saw him sleeping peacefully under that tree is enough to take my breath. He could use a little more weight, surely he will be more pretty than the others and I just knew he was pretty even..."
"wait, stop child..."
The Duke is looking pale with how her daughter is acting. It is worse than the time she asked for Zairon. Wren on the other hand doesn't realize that her father is horrified on her ramblings.
"There was a maid and she was instructed by mother to escort me on the carriage to return home earlier, with Lane of course."
He rubbed his temples and didn't bother to listen anymore, "He doesn't even want to leave! I mean living like that with your mother will surely make you want to leave the home you are in."
Her brows then furrowed and looks at his father, "No, I wouldn't call it a home after all he stays at an abandoned building with no guardian or maid at all—"
"Stop with your nonsense," however, even with his stern voice did not stop her from adding more comments, "That's when it hit me that the maid we were with is someone she thinks of as his mother. No wonder he thought she would come along— father, are you alright?"
Mave removed the hands on his face as he looked at his daughter who indeed knows nothing.
"So, where is your mother?"
"... I think she will be back shortly." really, after saying there was the sound of shoes clacking on the marbled floor.
"Your grace..."
Carina shakes her hand as she climbs upstairs, judging by the way she is going to the Duke's office which was empty.
"The duke is currently with Young Miss Wren"
"call him." she shortly said as she entered the quiet office. Neatly stacked papers on his desk and several unfinished documents when she saw something on it that made her eyes turn cold.
---------------------------------------------------
Phew, I feel so tired that it is nice to have Adara washing my hair. It is soothing that I can fall asleep here...
"Master, the kid you adopted is crying. Again." Cervi whom I tasked to guard Lane sounds distress with his situation. Well, among the three spirits he is the only one who listens to me. So normally I assigned him to watch Lane for the time being.
I do feel sorry for him, but I couldn't let Boaife nor Adara to watch over him. Then, the knights were terribly busy lately. I couldn't even see Milla and the others.
"Just try and play with him."
I doubt that dumb advice I gave will work... but... I do not hear Cervi's voice nor Lane's sobs anymore.
"Hey, did he kill Lane?" I jest and Adara chuckled. After moments of bathing I found Lane and Cervi on the floor. Well, technically Cervi is the one who was on the floor. Meanwhile Lane is on top of him and tries to bend Cervi's legs.
"What is going on?" I asked in disbelief as Cervi pointed out Lane, "He wants to try if he can break my bones, master."
Hah? Just what is this? I thought he was on the verge of tears which is why I hastened my bath and they do get along just fine.
Lane looked up at me and pointed. He looks angry somehow.
"Hey, Why did you not tell me you are a Vacarella?!"
...
Hey did he just say he forgot who I am? I recalled that I introduced myself under the tree!
"I told you since we first met!"
and right now he is looking at me like I did a very wrong thing. I did introduce myself to him. Or does he hate the Vacarella now?
"You did not let me bring Lia." oh, so that is the reason then.
"It is her decision. Besides, mom says you will reunite with her someday." the door opened and Boaife entered while pushing a cart inside.
It must be his first food to eat today since he spilled the food Lia brought over earlier. Besides he spent his time crying at the carriage thay they hadn't bring any food.
"Eat first. You might faint if you starved." I said and without any complaints he ate everything on the table. Even my portion. Just how much did they do to the kid to be this hungry?
"ahm... about Lia," not this again, "mom will bring Lia."
mom hasn't broken any promises she gave and... besides I think there is something more than this kid being neglected.
"Wren I heard you're here and there's some ridiculous stories I want to tell you... Oh my."
I silently laugh as I watch how Yessenia and Lane will hit off. In the novel Lane adores Yessenia very much so and now they met I wonder what kind of interaction I will see here.
"Who is this brat? She did not even knock." Lane asked which made Yessenia glared at him, unfortunately, I will support Lane here since he is correct. But this is not what I have in mind about them.
"He called me a brat when he was younger than me!" Yessenia shouted which made Lane raise a brow and said another surprising fact.
"What?? I am 9 years old."
"You're nine?" Yessenia and I asked in unison and looked at him.
"yes."
"really?"
Damn it, here I thought I got my first pe—young friend. Now that I think about it, it feels like this also happened to me in the past.
"Don't lie! You look like my younger brother Azi!" Yessenia exclaimed and I patted Yessenia before dragging her away from Lane.
"Yessenia..."
"What?"
I sighed and patted her once more, "Lane is malnourished. He was starved at his home and abused." I said in low whisper and her eyes grew big before glancing at Lane.
"... I'm sorry. Let's give him lots of food then." I nod in agreement.
I should fatten him up before he leaves this mansion. He will have lots of debt to me in the future that he won't think of killing me.