Missing Your Mother

"Ah! You are here." Grace stood up and smiled at the child with bright eyes. Elara must give it to her. She was so perfect at acting, no wonder Killian believed in her. "I have been waiting for you for so long."

She stood up and hugged the child as if she had seen him after ages.

She held Killian by his shoulders and brought him inside the room and made him sit at the right side of head's seat while she took that seat for herself.

Elara's eyes twitched at that. She scanned the room for another maid to react but they did not as if it was completely normal for the woman to take the seat of the duke.

"I have asked maids to prepare all the dishes you like. I hope you enjoy the meal." It had been days since Killian had better food. Since he was served a meal on the dining table like before. Though his eyes settled on the chair, his aunt was using it. But as long as he would get some power, he did not mind Grace having more power.

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness." he smiled at the woman who nodded her head with satisfaction.

Elara watched as Grace used Killian as a pawn. Her chest tightening at the submissiveness of the child. 

"Shall we start?" She signaled maids to serve them the first dish. But the maids did not move. She stared at them coldly.

"Did you not hear me?" her voice went sharp when the maids bowed. "Ha! Do you not want to keep your jobs? You dare to blatantly ignore the heir of the duchy?" She stood up ready to take action against them when the door of the dining room opened again and there stood Cedric.

He was smiling at them lazily. His eyes scanned the room and stilled on Grace, on her seat to be particular when Grace flinched. She held the armrest of her seat tightly and challenged him when he laughed. 

 "I hope you will forgive the maid, Lady Grace. They could not start dinner without the presence of the head of the family." he smiled at her as if she was senile. "Last time i checked, i was still the duke was i not?" 

Even if she got the guardianship of the child, she was not to get the position of duke. 

"Ah, I apologize, I heard that you have your meal in your rooms. So, I was not expecting you to be here, your grace." she stood up from the seat at once. Even she knew when to take a step back. To prepare for another strike. She could not challenge this man head on, not yet.

Cedric finally walked in and claimed the chair. His smile was lazy yet seductive.

"I take meals in my room because my nephew did the same. I have no reason to use this large and extravagant dining room when I have to dine alone. But now that you all are here. I must come and join you." he stared at Killian, briefly giving a glance to Elara who bowed her head in curtsy. But his eyes settled on Grace. "But have I known that you desire my chair and would use it in my absence? I would have been magnanimous enough to not join today.

You never told me lady grace, that you are fascinated by the position of the head of the family." he chuckled as if it was a normal conversation. As if he was only cracking jokes, as if she would not end up in prison if she accepted the position of duke.

She had only used the chair to show her power to the maid and Killian. She wanted to assure that they all bow to her. But who would have thought.. Grace's fingers itched to bite her nails as cold sweat covered her neck.

But at the same time, she felt Cedric looked more tempting, handsome, all man and muscles that she couldn't take eyes away from his chest. The broad shoulders and strong chest. 

"I was only trying to fill the gap for Killian, my lord. The child must have felt bad looking at the empty chair for too long. But since you are here, I am happy to sit beside Killian and chat with him." she smiled all seductively and sweetly. 

He laughed but did not comment. The maids came forward and served soup first.

"Killian, have i known that your aunt could bring you back to the dining room, i would have asked her to join us earlier." he laughed but his eyes were narrowed at the child who paused.

"I never was.. I apologize, your grace. I will join every meal from now on." Cedric smiled and nodded. He picked up the glass of wine instead of soup and looked at the maid lazily while others had their soup with their heads bowed.

The air in the room was thick and heavy. Cedric's eyes paused at Elara after staring at every maid in the room and narrowed at her fair face. A mysterious smile on his face that made Elara uneasy. She did not move her gaze from the floor though she was aware of his look and the intention behind it.

The maids brought beef, mashed potatoes and vegetables to serve next when Grace gritted her teeth.

She did not like how Cedric was blatantly ignoring her.

"Killian, i have taken my sister's chamber for my stay. I know you may feel strange but it feels like she is still here. Her room is full of her fragrance and her memories. I will feel closer to her if I stay there. Is it okay?" The room was the most lavish one in the whole palace. And it was still full of jewels that belonged to her sister.

Since she was not there anymore, it was only right that Grace would save them from rusting.

"No, you may not."