Chapter 8: Guilt

"Oh my, I apologize for disturbing such a lovely meal. A pleasant morning to the Winterleign Family"

Florence said as she bowed lightly and gracefully with both of her hands on her stomach.

She has just entered the dining room where the three were eating quietly.

Alexandre's face brightened up as he saw the professor. He tried to stand up and wave at her, but the sudden realization that the duke was near him, made him stop himself

But Lady Florence seem to have seen him, so she warmly smiled at him.

The duchess on the other hand looked like she was about to murder someone with how pointy her smile was.

"Countess D'altiere, it's been a while. I heard that you've been doing well"

"It's surprising that you've chosen to stay here when you could've gotten the chance to go to the palace" The duke said, opening the conversation.

Florence smiled as she laughed humbly

"Oh no, It's all thanks to the Duke, so allow me to repay you"

At the corner of her eyes, the duchess looks like she's just listening quietly, but eveyone knows that she's far from being a pushover.

The duchess is observing so well.

"And to the Duchess of course, how could I forget?"

'She's probably waiting for me to ignore her, making me look like a mannerless pig in front of the duke'

The duchess dabbed her lips with the table cloth placed on her lap

"Ah yes, it's nice to see you this early Lady Florence" The duchess said with her usual and oh-so well known social smile.

"I thought you wouldn't notice me sitting here, I would've been really upset"

"Oh my, how could I not see the duchess with her overflowing beauty? I'd be able to see the madame in a crowd so easily"

Now that lady florence is there, the dining room has officially turned into a battlefield.

It was just like a new fighter just came out in the middle of the game

Countess Florence D'altiere, a former commoner who rose from her spot by earning the title of a scholar.

She's a professor at the most prestigious Valeschneid Academy, teaching History and Etiquette, well-know for her class and fluency in her field of expertise.

Though of course, as how the social world goes, her upbringing and her past-- kind of, leaves a bad after taste for natural born nobilities.

Including the Duchess

"Come and join us here, I can't just let you stand there after all"

And there's also those rumours...

That the duke apparently pulled some strings for her to be able to acquire a noble title.

And the most popular of them all, that they're in a forbidden love.

If it's not obvious enough, the duchess knows this, hence the extra hostility towards the countess.

The rumor isn't exactly baseless since it's common knowledge that both of them got some history.

The duchess can't even remember how many times that topic has been brought up on social gatherings that she would attend to that it was starting to get annoying.

Once again, the duchess signaled the butler to lead florence to her seat, seeing that he's already accompanying her.

She sat next to Alexandre at the left side of the table

"Professor!" He exclaimed under his breath looking as cheery as ever.

"I'm flattered that Alexandre looks like he's looking forward to our class today.

"But the scar must still feel painful, Alexandre is such a strong boy isn't he?"

"Hmm, it hurt a lot when I soaked it in water earlier, but Alexandre didn't cry!"

He whispered confidently.

Lady florence doesn't know exactly why she's so fond of Alexandre but it felt like she returned to her childhood all over again whenever they talk.

It felt sort of nostalgic. Warm, comfortable and calming. Makes her remember the children back in her hometown.

With no worries, etiquette, minding manners, mind reading battles nor did they want status. They seem like they don't have problems at all, and it gets contagious whenever she's around them.

"So, Lady Florence, how's Alexandre doing with his class?"

Alexandre slightly flinched upon hearing the duke.

He knows that he's doing quite well with his class, but he can't help but be nervous for some reason.

"Oh Alexandre? He's such an outstanding student for a professor like me. He listens so well, I'd always brag about him at the Academy"

"It's so rare to find such a model student among the children of nobility these days, you see. Fortunately, I got seriously lucky"

Alexandre looked at her with teary eyes for her compliment. He felt embarassed but he couldn't hide the fact that it was nice hearing people saying that they're proud of him.

The duchess didn't seem to like the fact that she felt like Lady Florence is trying to steal Alexandre from her.

Even though, she's his mother, she can't shake the feeling that someone might replace her someday. It's like a really nasty feeling, slowly creeping in.

It's not like she doesn't trust the duke or anything. Her position as a duchess is as solid as their mansion. And her family wouldn't let the worst happen anyway.

But knowing it, is making her uncomfortable.

She can't show it though. In this world, everyone has to smile through adversity. Even if it's a fake one.

"Of course, Alexandre is MY little boy, he gives his all in eveything that he does. He's kind hearted, and is a good listener, How can anyone not be proud of him?"

"Oh my, I can't agree more duchess" Lady florence said with a soft expression. Really liking the aroma of the tea she's drinking.

It almost seem effortless, looking like she doesn't have time playing clowns with her.

"What happened with Alexandre's arm? Elixia told me when I got back earlier, but I wasn't informed about the full story."

"Oh, I did say that I'll tell you"

"Some war slave seemed to have reached the capital when we were out to buy some toys for Alexandre's birthday"

The duke flinched. His focused seemed to have spiked after he heard the word that he's most sensitive with.

"A war slave? at the capital?"

"They really like to test my patience."

The duke didn't shout or anything, but his face showed a violent expression just like earlier. He's starting to think that maybe, those kind of discussions really isn't suited in front of the dining table after all.

It seems to ruin the taste of the gourmet meal, over and over again.

"Where are they?"

"They? Oh, the kid? She got taken away by the knights"

It was just a simple sentence, but for those who knew that she was lying, especially Alexandre- It made him quite confused as to why his mother said that.

'Isn't Emeri at that room?'

"But-"

"Yes duke, the knights fortunately arrived on time before the situation worsened"

Before Alexandre could even say anything that could've gotten them in a tougher situation, the butler cut his sentence short.

The duchess isn't supposed to know that Alexandre knows about locking Emeri in the cell, at the bottom of the mansion.

Alexandre knows that he wasn't supposed to say anything about Emeri, but he couldn't help it at the heat of the moment.

He realized that he made a mistake so he awkardly looked down.

The butler on the other hand, he almost had a heart attack.

"Not only is it a kid, but also a girl?"

"Ha, What have I done to their future?"

The duke's been slapped by reality a couple of times already whenever he goes to war. He has carried a lot of guilt, and responsibility being at the fore front of it all.

But it gets him everytime still.

"I deserve to rot in hell"

~•○ TO BE CONTINUED ○•~