The round table is covered in an uncomfortable silence— the two women across were smiling at each other. Both of them conceal their inner thoughts by smiling at each other. They do say that a smile is like a knife slowly rising up to your opponent's neck to slash it at any moment.
The Marchioness puts down her tea cup and says, "I heard that you came with your eldest daughter." her eyes speak of curiosity and yet her voice didn't hide the little bitterness in it.
The other ladies who heard it suddenly looked at the Duchess in anticipation.
Wren and the other Vacarella kids who haven't shown their faces outside for 3 years has been the hot topic of each event. It is no wonder why the others are also curious.
The duchess, however, smiled behind the cup as she inhaled the aroma of the tea in it, "I see..."
Finally realizing why the Marchioness created a Tea party for their daughters, despite she has no love for children.
"She attends the young girls tea party that you also hosted," Marchioness became silent, astonished even.
"She... really attend??" she gritted her teeth as she gave another smile. She's sure that Wren wouldn't be able to attend because of some rumors that Wren doesn't like socialization or participating in this kind of events.
Even the other women at the table were surprised. This was the first Tea party that Wren attends after being inactive in Social Gatherings. "Really, Your Grace? We haven't seen a glimpse of Lady Wren and I would love to make her acquintance." one lady said while smiling, followed by other noblewoman.
this isn't what the outcome that the Marchioness looked forward to.
everyone gazes at the table far across theirs and they were utterly surprised at the atmosphere.
"..."
"what happened over there?"
"they are so gloomy at the same time they looked like they are having fun..."
Marchioness Farlon called for a maid. An old maid stepped forward, leaning closer towards her. "Did something happen over there?" she asked. The maid calmly gave her a short answer.
"The kids have met Young Lady Wren and some of them are rude, my lady." The Duchess sighs. She had hoped that her daughter atleast would make friends after the tea party.
The Duchess had already guessed what Wren did. She chuckled with her eyes dead as the calm sea. Probably her hope for her child has vanished.
"She scared the children and left. She really did take after her father."
The maid confirmed this by nodding her head. The Duchess has nothing to say as she drinks her tea in silence.
"..." the noblewomen were terrified with what she said. It intensified upon seeing the Duchess' expression. Obviously, they all thought she was angry because of what their daughters did. They were entirely wrong. It is not about that.
She was simply tired of thinking of a way for Wren to have friends. Perhaps, because she has his father's blood running to her veins that she is like this. It feels like she has seen this somewhere though.
"D-Duchess..." a woman stuttered just calling the Duchess—the marchioness suddenly smirks. The situation is pretty favorable in her hands and yet she shrugged down the pit in her stomach, a warning perhaps she chose to ignore.
"Oh my, this is just a child's affair, is it not?" the marchioness is smiling as she puts down her tea. The Duchess did not reply and listened to her blabber things. Clearly a mindless taunt.
"do forgive them, Your Grace. They are still kids..."
'This woman doesn't know when to stop...'
The Duchess is almost at her limit with the Marchioness nonsense talking. Like a dog barking on its owner without any reason—sense even. Perhaps she needs a leash and a muzzle too, for her to be quiet and learn her standing.
"You are a saintess of this Empire, surely you will forgive..."
suddenly, a teacup fell down on the ground, shattered as its content flowed and slowly seeped by the soil. Everyone gasps, eyes wide in surprise. The Duchess directly stared at the Marchioness in the eyes while she crossed her legs and leaned back on her seat without breaking the contact. Emitting an elegant and powerful aura from her that made the other noblewoman look down from the pressure of her.
"Marchioness, I did not think you were this presumptuous," her voice is so sharp that they hold their breaths, her gaze holds no emotion and they have forgotten that she is still an Aurea before she became Vacarella.
a noble and proud blood from Aurea and she forgotten it. The pit in her stomach is coming back, churning inside uncontrollably
"I don't like people who overstepped their boundaries. I tend to cut their horns."
who knows that the Duchess only has small patience left with her. The Marchioness suddenly trembled under the table and she is questioning it. After all, she never felt scared because of this woman.
she then forced a smile to hide her embarrassment and fear, "I apologize for my impoliteness, your grace."
The Duchess wore a thin smile, but it is evident that she's still angry. The maids then cleaned the table and replaced her drink.
ever since she became a saintess, the duchess has met different kinds of people and one of them is like the Marchioness. The type of people who thought she was easy, naive and weak since she was a saintess that they want to take advantage of her and taunt her.
They always forgotten the fact that she's still an Aurea.
'This... she looks exactly like the Young Miss earlier...'
the old maid thought in her mind as she remembered the same gaze Wren gave to the kids earlier as she watched the scene earlier.
Yet she often hears that Wren is the other copy of the Duke. She might say that she was a mix of the two. Foot steps clacking on the stone pavement lightly. Wren then tugged on her mother's sleeves and whispered to her ear as soon as she leaned down to Wren.
"mom, I saw Lane."
The Duchess recalled something from one of the papers she read. It's the name of the Marchioness' son—the heir of Marquis Farlon and he lives in the other building alone which also is far away from here. She intends to see him before they leave and yet her daughter is the one who met him first.
Wren glanced over the Marchioness with her brows raised. Obviously, she learned etiquette, she should greet them, but she is a daughter of a Duke. She tilted her head when one woman stood up and bowed, "Eliana Beneverde of House Beneverde greets the Young Lady."
Wren suddenly remembered the girl beside her since she looked exactly like this woman except the glasses. Shame, she can't recall her name. She smiled faintly and did a small curtsy. "Wren Vacarella. Your daughter looks just like you, Madam"
The Duchess looks surprised with her daughter's words. The other woman is also taken aback by her compliment.
"You met... Angel?"
she smiled once more upon learning her name, "Yes, Madam. She is shy but she tried to talk and help me over in our table." yes, Wren heard her since she was bored and lazy to have a conversation yet that time or rather don't have energy to greet her back since she thought there was going to be no problem.
"Wren, are you sick?"
Wren looked at her mother questioningly. "Why does my mother look at me like that, Adara?" she asked Adara in her mind who's resting peacefully in a big tree while eating grapes.
She chuckled and replied, "Maybe because you are adorable~," Wren showed her disgusted look and replied, "I shouldn't ask you"
"Amanda Farlon, Young Miss." Wren slowly turned to the Marchioness, she flinched because of the cold shoulder she gave to the marchioness.
Even the other woman is looking at them in awe instead of fear upon seeing the mother-daughter, side by side as both of them have the same look.
"They look exactly..."
"... alike" the two of them nod in agreement, the marchioness gritted her teeth, clenching her fists in annoyance
"she looks exactly like that woman...!!" her mind is full of rage after seeing her white hair and has the same eyes of the man he loved. She trembled in annoyance.
"Marchioness you should hide your expressions well," it is because Wren can tell what she is thinking, after all, in her past life she observed the people around her and they are no different from the people she met.
"pardon?" she was stunned, even the way she smiles is like the duchess.
"Young Miss do you need anything?" the old maid asked. To alleviate the tea party's mood she decided to separate the two from the marchioness,
Wren pointed to the food then quietly said to her, "Prepare it on a basket and bring some clothes for a boy, age 5... probably"
she nodded and excused herself and prepared the things Wren asked for.
"for whom is this for?" she thought quietly but a passing thought came to her. It is possible that the Young Miss has met the Young Master and plans to feed him.
It is a good thing since she was planning to sneak out to give Lane food today. Since the Marchioness punishes the people who help Lane whenever she caught one—it is the only thing she could do. To sneak out sometimes.
She did not expect that the young lady will meet the young master.
She closed her eyes and remembered everything she did to Lane. It is much better for the child to be with the duchess rather than staying here. Determination rose in her eyes while preparing the things Lane needs.
"I will do anything to protect it..." she whispered as she slipped a small letter inside the basket.
"Maid." she jolts upon a voice behind her ear. The duchess was behind her. A thin smile appeared in her face upon seeing the basket full of things: clothes, medicines and some things—not only the food Wren requested.
"My intel was right..." she looked at the basket on the maid's hand.
"... you're taking care of that boy in secret." the case she is investigating is about smuggling weapons between the current Marquis Farlon and someone from the other kingdom.
The current Marquis is not Lane's biological father. He is the 2nd husband she picked up after the Marquis died a year ago. Unfortunately, she remarried and the status was passed down to a stranger. The relatives of the deceased marquis are still trying to get back the title since the current head is not a Farlon bloodline and he only ruins the surname.
the Duchess also investigated about Lane. After all, she was acquinted to the deceased Marquis.
"If others also became Lane's guardian..." it will be a mess since it will reach the imperial court and the poor boy who has no legal guardian will be a puppet for those relatives of him.
just thinking about the boy going through is such a headache. The maid looked wary at the duchess.
"Do not worry, Lia. I can help you to get Lane out of here."
she pulled out the slipped paper and burned it while whispering the plan, "This will be better than you being punished after, right?"
Lia looked at her—a mix of gratitude and relief. The only thing she could say is, "Thank you, Your Grace..."
---------------------------------------------------
this is going to make me crazy. How long are the maids going to prepare for the things I asked for?
Tsk, those people let some kid look like that and lived in some unhygienic place. Even a full adult can't live in that kind of place.
"Wren the maid is here." Adara whispered on my ears and true enough. The old maid appeared with two baskets on her hands.
I tried getting one basket, but every time I do, she raises it for me not to reach it.
"I will accompany you, Young Miss."
"You can't." it will be bad if she joins me and I won't be too comfortable chatting with Lane.
Well, he also has good looks especially with how vibrant his hair is. I refuse to be killed by him already. Anyway, I just noticed that most of my time whether it is in the past, present or in the future, my life seems to be always about life and death.
I wonder if the author has some sort of grudge over my character.
"Young Miss, have you met the Young Master?"
They let a child go live separate from them and he wears something like that... though I do not blame them since the Marchioness is ruthless. I remembered a part wherein she whipped a maid till her bones broke just because she gave Lane an apple by accident.
"yes."
she shifted her gaze on me then turned away. The maid is silent as we came inside the ruined building. There were some cobwebs and dust as soon as we stepped in. Cracks on the walls are evident and some furniture is missing. The wooden floor creaks in each step we take inside. Like a horror movie.
"..." it is dreary. I wonder how a mother can ignore her child like this. There's no way a child would live and be healthy here.
"Lia you are here!!... and..." at the stairs Lane stops and holds on to the banister as he tilts his head. Looking at me. I point at the basket on the Maid's hands. Come to think of he called her Lia and he seems to be close to her.
Seeing the excitement fade in an instant as soon as he saw me. This is the first time I envy someone. He looks disappointed at me somehow. I want someone pretty too to look at me excitedly too... "I can look at you like that, Wren~"
I ignored Adara's cheerful voice in my ear and observed Lane and the surrounding place once more while the two of them talk. Although I can say that he doesn't want me to be here.
"Young Master, this young lady has brought you food and some clothes to change."
"Why though?"
"because I thought you were hungry? And that clothes are no good for you."
"I'm not..." his stomach growled to stop him from saying the opposite, pausing him as his face slowly became red as he gaped and looked away.
In the end he reluctantly accepted one cupcake from the basket and ate it away from me. I guess he's wary at me.
"Young Miss, Her grace instructed me to escort you to the carriage after 30 minutes."
I spin around to see that she had her head low, "Am I going home alone?"
she suddenly raised her head as Adara glowed brighter and went into her original form, moving to my back. Lane then get the basket while I stare at the maid.
"I think the maid has something else in mind, master."
Wren nodded at Adara's comment. She can see it the way Lia look at Lane like they will part ways.
"You... will leave with the Young Master." the basket fell on the floor with a heavy thud, spilling the food on the floor among the cupcake he half-finished.
Lia glanced over it and sighed, "You shouldn't waste..."
"Lia! what do you mean?! I thought you would leave with me!" My ears rang from the shout of Lane, he sprinted past me, hugging Lia by the hem of her uniform as he tugged it downwards as if trying to make her stay with him.
"I won't go if you are not coming with me!" he shouted more and cried, Lia softly says, "This isn't how an heir of Farlon should act." she says that, but she is gentle towards Lane.
somehow I'm getting the sense that Lane sees the maid as a mother figure seeing how he clings to Lia. Hmm... then... the carriage...
"Mother plans to leave me early with Lane. To be exact she wants me to slip him away while the Marchioness is occupied." Lia nods as an answer.
if that's the case then I need Adara's help. "I will help you whatever you need me to do." how reassuring to hear that.
"Pack your luggage and we will leave in 10 minutes." I said in a soft manner then turned around when I heard him stomp his foot behind me.
"No! Lia is staying, I am staying!!"
This... how could my future murderer be like this? Is he seriously throwing a tantrum right now? No, wait, Calm down, Wren. Apparently this is how kids act first right whenever something precious is being taken away.
But, Astreia and the others are not like this. I have never seen them throw a tantrum before. Except Yessenia. That girl is a serious case.
"Master, your family is a special case," said Adara with a smile and added, "that is what makes you adorable my master˜"
Hearing that kind of tone from her; no wonder Cervi is terrified just seeing her. But... I'm wondering what Ishould do with Lane with all his wailing and clinging to Lia. I wonder if we will leave without the Marchioness being alerted.