Can You Keep A Secret?

The Duke couldn't believe what he is seeing, it seems like his daughter had matured over the week he was gone. The change is so sudden that he could hardly trust what he is witnessing right now.

"Daddy, I'll bring my brothers to their rooms. You take care of Mama." Hestia didn't wait for his father to respond and drag the two boys with her, their hands still in her palms.

The three of them ascended the stairs and entered the east wing. She led them both while her maids are a few steps behind them.

Hestia shivered, prickling cold stab at the soles of her feet. Right, she forgot to wear her shoes when she chased the white butterfly.

Liam and Leon notice her shivering from the cold and looked down on her bare feet then to the shoes adorning their feet. They are clean but old, they wanted to offer them to her but were afraid that she will disdain their shoes and be rejected by her. And so, they kept their mouth shut.

Hestia didn't bother to stop by her room to fetch a pair of her shoes, she directly led the two towards the room next to her.

They were nearing the door when frantic footsteps approached them.

Lisnia, her governess, and the three maids from before reached them.

Uneasiness spread through Lisnia's face. She heard from the maids what happened inside the young Lady's bedroom and the incident in the foyer.

"My Lady," Lisnia bowed her head to show deference. She then saw Hestia's bare feet that must have been freezing from the cold. She turned to the maids, her eyes sharp. "Quick, get the Miss's shoes."

Hestia nodded towards Lisnia. As always, this young woman is quick-witted, "Thank you, Lisnia."

Lisnia was taken aback. Did she hear it right? Lady Hestia is thanking her?

She looked at the young woman before her. Eyes clear and bright with no ripples of wariness and vulnerability that was always present in the girl's eyes. An air of maturity and a sense of calm encase the girl in front of her.

Lisnia's eyes narrowed a bit, why does she feel like the Hestia that was throwing a tantrum yesterday was different from the Hestia in front of her now?

Although Hestia has a bit of decorum when dealing with her as she is also a noble's daughter herself, though their status is much lower than the Bellmore dukedom, but towards the servants of the Bellmore family she had no qualms.

From throwing things at their heads, insults, and severe punishments. Hestia had done them all to her servants if her needs or orders were not met.

Seeing how red the soles of Hestia's feet, she must have been suffering from the cold for quite a while now. If it was the usual Hestia, she would have been punishing and firing the maids for neglecting her wellbeing.

"Please pardon the servants, Lady Hestia. They are-"

Hestia waved her hand. "Doesn't matter."

Lisnia's reaction was the same as Duke Hugh's. They were at first suspicious, then cautious and in the end, they wish that this new behavior of Hestia would last for a lifetime.

They entered the vast room beside her own. The chamber was clean and well maintained by the servants for her visiting cousins. It was a bit smaller than hers, she turned to the boys and thought maybe they would not like it.

Hestia was wrong, Liam and Leon were overwhelmed by the opulence and hugeness of the room. Liam thought that their whole house in the village can fit inside this room and there's still so much area to spare.

Since this was used as a guestroom in the past, the room was divided into several areas. The first room on the left is the first bed-chamber, next to it is the shared bathroom and vanity, on the right is the second and third bed-chamber. In the center of it is the lounge area.

Hestia turned to the two gaping boys, hands behind her back as he gouges their reactions. "This will be your room from now on. The room beside this is mine. I assumed since Leon is still young he is accustomed to sleeping together, he would be lonely and scared if I put him in the other room by himself. When Leon gets older, he can choose any rooms he likes."

The two didn't answer but they were touched by Hestia's thoughtfulness. She had seen that Leon was a timid kid and would surely be scared in a new place they were in. Liam glanced at Hestia, the earlier frost in his eyes melting a bit.

Hestia ushered for them to sit with her on the lounge and let the servants tidy the bed-chambers for them. She sat opposite the two, but what she really wanted was to sit beside them. She hesitated, they might feel uncomfortable with her sudden closeness and so she sat by herself feeling a bit saddened.

Liam was uncomfortable seeing the servants busily moving and adding furniture, cleaning, and tidying the place. He was unaccustomed to being waited upon. He licked his dry lips and said in a low, barely audible voice, "We can clean the rooms. No need to bother them."

It was softly spoken but anyone can easily detect the uneasiness in Liam's voice. Looking at the eighteen-year-old, tense and nervous Liam made Hestia regret more what she did to this young man in the past.

She waved her hand, "Let them do it, big brother. I know it's a bit uncomfortable at first but you will get used to it little by little."

Big brother, only Leon had called him that. It was two simple words that he often hears from his brother's mouth. But why is that when those words fell from Hestia's lips, why does it feel sweet?

Snack and a pot of tea were poured for them by the servants.

A loud stomach grumble was then overheard by Hestia and the servants. Leon clutched his stomach with both arms and made his body as small as he possibly could out of embarrassment. His cheeks going red from shame.

It was nearing lunchtime and the thirteen your old kid that was not adept at traveling for several days had little to no appetite during the whole journey. When Leon suddenly took a whiff of the decadent pastries laid in front of them his hunger had surged with a vengeance.

Hestia smiled and motioned for the maid to serve Leon first. "It's nearing lunchtime, little brother. Eat these pastries first to tide you over. But don't eat too much or you'll get a stomach ache."

Hestia knew from her past life that Leon hated traveling, he would often get sick from riding a coach for only a few hours. Leon had avoided going to faraway places because of this condition.

Leon nodded his head and seeing that Hestia didn't embarrass him from doing something improper, he was relieved. He was truly hungry he could eat a whole cow in one seating.

With a tentative hand, he reached for the cup-shaped pastry with yellow cream in the center. It was his first time seeing this kind of food. His eyes were accustomed to seeing big and coarse loaves of bread just like the pieces of bread in the bakery in their village.

He bit into it and his eyes widened. Delicious! The outside has a crispy, crumbly texture, and the inside has a soft, creamy, and sweet filling. It was so, so good!

Leon couldn't help it and took another one and another one and another one. Enjoying himself to the fullest.

Hestia had a tender smile on her face seeing Leon enjoying the pastry with relish.

Liam looked at his brother helplessly and turned to Hestia, his eyes looked like they want to apologize to her for bearing witness to his brother's unrestrained behavior.

She smiled in return. "You should eat too, big brother. This one is pretty good. It's my favorite." She pushed a piece of cream cake topped with bits of sliced fruits towards him.

She knew Liam liked to eat fruits in the past. He would surely like how this cake tastes.

Sure enough, Liam did like it and he demolished the whole thing before the maids are finished with their tasks.

Hestia was having a good time feeding her brothers when a frantic-looking housemaid entered.

"Lady Hestia, the room of Lord Liam and Lord Leon are ready on the west wing." The housekeeper said, wringing her kerchief in both hands.

Hestia continued seeping her tea, "No need. My brothers will stay with me here in the east wing."

Liam and Leon were housed on the west wing in her past life. It was also where his father and mama's quarters are. His father never thought of putting the boys on the east wing where his unruly daughter resides. He was afraid that Hestia would bully the boys if they were put in there.

But the problem with the west wing is that Father and Mama always travel in the past, leaving the two lonely boys to fend for themselves. If the Duke the Duchess were not around, the servants listen to Hestia's every command. The boys would frequently be neglected by the servants. They would often go hungry or cold at night because of her.

In this life, she would take care of them. And having them close is best.

The housekeeper dabbed the sweat on her forehead, she was visibly scared with conversing with the young lady of the house. "But the duke said-"

"I'll talk to my father. Please ask the footmen to bring my brother's belongings here." Hestia stood and inspected the whole room, never bothering with the housekeeper anymore.

The housekeeper didn't dare utter another word and left. Her heart pounding out of her chest. She thanked the gods that the Lady is in good spirits or else she would have been fired. She didn't dally and ordered the footmen to get the two young Lords' belongings.

When the room was to Hestia's liking, she clapped her hand and thanked the servants before motioning for them to withdraw. When everyone was gone, she took hold of the two boys' hands. "Come, I have something to show you."

Liam and Leon were once again dragged by Hestia. They didn't go far this time. Hestia led them into a corner, in front of a bookshelf. She ran her hand on the spines of the leather-bound books until her hand stopped on top of one. She pushed the book down a bit and soft clicking sound was heard.

Liam and Leon were fascinated. They had read most books in the village library. Any books that they could get their hands into, from mysteries to adventures, they devour it.

One of the mystery-thriller books they read has a description of a secret passage built behind a bookcase. They used their vivid imaginations to conjure how the thing would look like and then here, in front of them, they will witness how a hidden passage would truly look like.

They wonder if it led to some dungeon just like what was depicted in the book.

Hestia gave them a mischievous smile, "I'll let you in on a secret. But promise me first, what I'm about to show you, you can't tell others."

The boys nodded their heads enthusiastically. The anticipation is killing them, they were about to go in on a secret passage just like in the book. Both of them were very ecstatic that they can't keep their lips from lifting a bit.

Hestia was puzzled why the two boys were looking at her expectantly. Were they really excited about what she will show them? Hestia just shrugged her shoulders and pushed the bookcase revealing what's behind the wall.

At first, Liam and Leon had bright, shining eyes full of eagerness. When the room behind the wall was revealed their mind blanked out. The smile on their faces froze.

It's not a passageway.

It does not lead to a dungeon, either.

The secret door led into…

A pink room?