Aloof Duke

DUKE HARETON'S BRIDE

Victoria refused to look at the Duke who was watching her father give out their precious baked loaf for free. She wasn't in support of it and at the same time, she couldn't say anything. They have been fending off from the little money they made from selling their bread and cakes.

"Your grace," Patrick bowed.

"Rise,"the Duke responded and looked towards the children who were already mulching on their bread. The commoners' reports of thievery had immensely increased for the past three months. Today, he made a huge decision to scout the market and see for himself. Even when his General commander thought it was a bad idea, Duke Hareton Sullivan saw it fit.

Snapping his fingers, the burly guard brought out a pouch of gold coins and handed it to Patrick. "Payment," he replied ruefully.

Patrick beamed with joy. His bread was sold for just five silver coins amongst the people who still complain about its expensiveness. "Thank you so much, your grace," he said and bowed again. Hugging the pouch tightly. Then he looked back and saw Victoria spacing out. He sighed in worry.

"Your grace, I hope you pardon my daughter for her earlier disregard towards you. I'm so sorry, your grace."

"You don't ask favors from the Duke, old man," the guard instantly replied but the Duke raised his hand to stop him.

"I won't harm your lovely daughter Patrick." He replied and looked towards the girl. Victoria immediately looked away when their eyes met. "But I do have a good punishment for her." The Duke said with a twinkling light in his eyes. It has been a long time since he has encountered an interesting event.

He sighed as his memory went down the lane of time. The General commander wasn't happy with the brewing outcome of what his master was already projecting in his head.

Patrick felt blood drain off his face as he stared at the Duke in fear. "Will you hurt my daughter? Please, she's the only one I have—"

"I didn't ask for your opinion, did I?" The Duke's words came out of his mouth like sharp claws, sinking into Patrick's heart fiercely. The old man was already scared and couldn't stop worrying for his daughter who might succumb to the Duke's wrath.

Victoria, who overheard her father pleading on her behalf, stood up and came to stand beside him. "What do you want from us?" She questioned with a frown. Who would have thought today would be a bad day for her. Her father's rough hand then covered hers which were resting on his shoulder.

The Duke smirked in bemusement. Leaning forward, he replied. "The correct question for you to ask should be, what do I want from you?"

"What do you want?" Victoria threw back at him.

The Duke then rubbed his chin as if contemplating on what to do with the young lady. "Nothing."

Both father and daughter released a breath they didn't know they'd been holding.

"For now," he added and the two inhaled in apprehension.

With that, both the Duke and his General commander left but not before throwing an irritating glare in their way.

By the time the Duke reached his palace, he stepped out of the carriage and headed inside. While his General commander followed from behind. Then he paused at the huge wooden door.

"Is something bothering you, Balor? I hate being frowned upon from behind," the Duke fired at his commander before stepping inside the palace.

The Palace Governor came into view and gave a ninety degree bow to the Duke. "Welcome back, Master," he wished.

"Likewise. How's everything going in my absence?" Hareton asked and removed his coat, handing it to the governor.

The middle aged governor took the coat in good faith, "good and peaceful. A letter was delivered from Everia," he answered.

Hareton shot a glare at the governor. "Are you trying to say that it isn't peaceful when I'm around Julius?"

The governor's lips broke into a small smile, "of course not, your grace. I was just being straightforward."

Beckoning Julius to leave, the governor took that as a cue to leave as he was being dismissed.

The Duke tucked his hands into his pants pocket before saying, "Balor, we are not finished."

The General commander's shoulders immediately tensed up at being called out by his master. "Your grace, I have no objections to you interacting with commoners but being too talkative with them isn't called for. You never know what is in the mind of others."

Hareton hummed in response before ambling ahead. "Why do you think so? Or does that mean I don't know what is in your mind as well?" He proposed before heading towards his room with an aloof expression on his face. The earlier amusement on his face was now gone.

Just as Balor was about to leave, he saw one of the servants looking in his direction.

"Get back to your work," he yelled at the girl who suddenly jumped in shock and went back to cleaning the windows.

*

Finally settling on the obsidian couch in his room, Hareton picked up a small dagger and also a brown envelope with the Everia royal seal on it. He tore it open and read the content. When he was through, a frown mar his face and he nonchalantly threw the paper on the glass table. Inhaling sharply, he shut his eyes tiredly but all that filled his head and vision was the glaring face of the young lady named Victoria. Yet, it didn't stop him from thinking about the Everia king's request which was presented.

Rolling his sleeve upwards, he stared at the black intricate star design on his right arm. A mark that was beautiful yet, has been a bandage altogether.

"It seems the Everia King was getting bolder in his moves to unite the seven kingdoms and rule them."

Picking his quail, he started scribbling on the white sheet. When he was done, he folded it neatly. Stamped it with the Galwynn Empire seal and tucked it into a dark red envelope. He stood up and went towards the door leading to the balcony.

A black crow suddenly flew out of nowhere and came to perch on Hareton's shoulder. "Make sure this letter reaches the King before it begins to rain," he said while staring at the ugly looking dark cloud.