Her smile faded away, how dare he question her size when they were the ones who made her suffer from years of tormenting. They abandoned her first after the accident which wasn't even her fault to begin with.
Pain was visible in her eyes but was soon turned into cold and deadbeat eyes. There were no other visible emotions on her face as it remained cold, unfazed and grim.
"I wonder why." She replied, making the silence grow even further. These assholes do be really speechless with how upfront she could be, straightforward and even firm with her words.
Alexander shouldn't have brought up that topic all along, making everyone feel very uncomfortable with her words alone. Some of the servants looked guilty, while others started to blame the Duchess.
The tide has been changed, no one has now viewed Felicia as someone timid, weak, and the villain. The real villain that they started to point to was the Duke and the Duchess for abandoning her.
"Ehem. I'll feed you more to help you grow." Alexander broke the silence, smiling at her while patting her head, clearly trying to save her face after everything that happened.
On the other hand, Helena was jealous of Alexander's treatment towards Felicia. He turned cold over her while he was turning soft over Felicia so it doesn't even make sense at all. It's as if he changed, is it because of witchcraft?
She glared at Felicia, this is not fair at all! Why would Alexander change his behaviour when it was Felicia who started everything? Her life was fine not until the Duke called her over!
"Your Grace, the account records and journals have arrived." One of the servants informed the Duke who remained quiet at the sight, contemplating his words. If not for the records arriving to break the silence then he would've bathed in shame.
"Alright. Let's read it here and now." Felicia started as she clapped her hands, wanting to read the accounts. She couldn't wait to destroy the Butler who showed her nothing but contempt towards her.
"YOU CAN'T!" Jeremiah shouted as he rushed towards Felicia's position and shoved her aside, stopping her from taking further steps to read the book of accounts containing various exploitation and corruption.
Everyone gasps as the old man lunches at Felicia who didn't avoid the attack. Even if it was hurt, she should not reveal that she has the strength to fight back. Also, this would serve as another reason for her to learn sword fighting.
"YOU BITCH! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! I WILL KILL YOU!" He shouted, trying to choke Felicia who was not resisting at all with his attack. Even if this means she'll get bruises from this old man, it's part of her play.
"SIEZED HIM!" The Duke roared as the male servants started to run towards Felicia and pulled the man away, so forcefully that even Jeremiah had to wince and yell because of their grip.
Felicia started to cry, letting out her crocodile tears while her expression then distorted into a traumatizing look, crying while backing away. Even Alexander came to her size and carried her like a bride, glaring at Jeremiah for what he did.
These fools, can they not see Helena brimming with jealousy right now? Even the Duchess was flabbergasted while glaring at her. But she also had this satisfied look despite the horror.
"YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! I HANDLED THE MANOR FOR YEARS NOW! I'VE ORGANIZED EVERYTHING AND I WORKED HARD FOR IT! YOU CAN'T REMOVE MY POSITION TO ME! THE DUCHESS' GRANTED ME THIS POSITION, UNHAND ME YOU FOOLS!" He yelled profusely, trying to resist the male servants but nobody listened to him.
Suspicion grew wary as the Duke then grabbed the accounting books, looking through each page of the book. Every time he found something, his face grew darker and darker till he eventually closed the book, looking at the Duchess with gloomy eyes.
"D-darling..." She called, feeling terrified by his change of behaviour. Yet the Duke stared at her with his cold eyes, clearly disappointed with her.
"What happened, father?" Alexander asked as he placed Felicia beside him and gently pulled her towards the Duke's position, shoving Helena and the Duchess aside made them yelp in surprise.
"Alexander! You're acting rude!" Helena commented as she immediately held her mother in her arms as he pushed them aside, making them fall. The Duchess was keen and fast to react, even though Alexander didn't put strength, she manipulated it to make herself fall.
"She fell on her own, I controlled my strength," Alexander replied with a hateful tone, sid-eyeing Helena who expressed pain over her face because of his answer. The Alexander in front of her has changed.
"You still didn't have to do that, Alexander," Felicia commented as she wiped her tears, appearing as if she had finally calmed down and ready for a talk. "The Duchess is already old, she can't even manage the manor for years showing she's already old." She even added, mocking the Duchess who is now expressing her dissatisfaction and anger towards her.
Alexander just rolled his eyes and grabbed one of the piling books, looking through the record while the Duke just remained quiet, watching the Butler who was still trying to urge the servants to put him down.
As Alexander read the book, his face went red, not from being fluttered but because of feeling infuriated. This man has been corrupting the allocated budget for the manor, exploiting servants, and giving the Duchess extra income!
"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Alexander exclaimed and throttled his way towards the butler, launching his fist directly at Jeremiah's face, assaulting him for the greater good. Everyone let out a yelp in surprise while others tried to pull Alexander away from the beaten man, crying because of Alexander's anger released on him.
"STOP!" Helena shouted, crying at the poor man's face while glaring at Alexander and the Duke for not making this thing as peaceful as ever. "Can we all just forgive each other and resume our lives? Can't you see that this man is poor? Leave him alone!" She even added, hissing like a snake to them.
However, Rachelle was smiling at her own words. Peace? Can peace help them from this situation? She really is so naive. And here she thought that the Saintess acting like a damn villain is indisputable, smart, and manipulating. She's dumb as fuck.
"It seems that your head is still above the clouds dear. As expected of someone who never bothers to study properly." Felicia started, mocking the daughter right in front of the mother who was crying after Alexander attacked Jeremiah.
"Please, my lord... Please listen to me, leave Jeremiah alone and we can fix this together once again. Just let the man go and fire him, I will handle everything. Please, my lord, I beg you." Tyren pleaded, bowing her head while kneeling on all floors, thinking that the Duke might feel sorry for her.
"What did you say?!" Helena shouted, didn't like Felicia's remark to her. "How dare you say that to me?!" She even added, yelling as if she had the power over this situation when she couldn't even suggest something helpful.
"Your Grace, the Duchess is not efficient to become the holder of the manor. Given the fact that she took for granted and turned a blind eye towards the Butler who has been involved in treacherous activities in exchange for raising her budget every month. She's unfit for her role as the one who will manage the internal affairs." Felicia said, looking at the Duke with an indifferent face.
"No! I-I can explain, please... Please, my Lord, this is all just a mistake... I swear!"* Tyren cried while secretly glaring at Felicia as she kept on throwing gasoline on the fire. This bitch won't really shut up!
"Then what do you expect me to do? Give the position to you?" The Duke asked, looking directly at Felicia's direction, suggesting that she would manage the internal affairs of the castle.
And then do all the work where she can't even take a rest or do things for her sake? Oh hell no. She might be in power if she were to accept and be the one managing the affairs but as of now, she doesn't want to do anything relating to them.
"No." She said firmly.
"What?" Both the Duke and Alexander uttered, surprised that she rejected his offer. How could she refuse such a good offer?
"The Heir to your position shall handle the internal revenue as a way to help him further understand how the castle works. It'll serve as a guide to help him become a better Duke once he inherits everything from you, Your Grace. I believe it's a great time for Alexander to test if he has the credibility to perform well as the next Duke." She answered straightly, didn't miss a beat.
With her idea, both the Duke and Alexander were awed at how flawless it was, suggesting that the position should be given to Alexander. The Duke suddenly felt warm as his expression softened, as if all of his muscles that were tense started to rest.
"No! My lord! I can do it now! My lord, I can do well! Do you want me to do it today? I shall!" Tyren tried to join in their conversation. She started to have some panic attacks. She can't lose this position, she'll be powerless if Alexander were to become the managing director of the funds! Her money!
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I would like to apologize for abandoning this story for months. Those who reached out to me, I really feel guilty for not responding and updating you all. I was really down casted or whatever the term is. I can't call it depression but I was feeling all over the mood ever since that happened (when I stopped updating). I deeply apologize for the brazen act that I did.