Chapter 16: Only For A Reward?
"Umm, are you in a foul mood, my lady?" Alec asked with a look of hesitation in his eyes.
Since the time they had returned from dinner, Mary was sitting near the window and biting her nails while lost in her thoughts. Alec was worried that he had done something wrong and the lady was upset about it.
'That Duke was too troublesome to deal with! She was sure that he had not even started the investigation even when she had convinced him so hard that she was an Oracle and Alec was his child.'
"My lady." He tugged on her dress again and she finally looked at him and blinked.
"My lady, are you upset because of me?" he asked again when her brows furrowed.
"Why would I be upset because of a sweet child like you? You are my only source of joy!" and a rich future." she added in her heart as she pulled him onto her lap. "What made you think I was upset with you? I am just worried that your father is a muddlehead who does not know how to listen to others."
The child blinked when she shook her head.
"But you do not need to worry about it. I will handle it. Tell me, did you eat properly? Or would you like some milk and cookies?" she had noticed how conscious the child was under the cold gaze of his father. She was sure that he did not have his meal priorly.
"Oh no! I am full. I did not eat much, so you don't need to worry." He assured with a shake of his hands in front of him. He did not want to be a burden on the woman who treated him with warmth. What if she gets into trouble because of him and realizes that he was a bad child? His heart beat faster at the thought and he shook his head when he saw her sigh.
"Alec! If you are hungry, you should tell me about it or anyone else. You should ask for the things you need. You do not need to be so conscious. You're just a child." She sighed as she requested the maid to bring cookies and milk for him. "Next time, tell me what you want without much thought, okay?" she asked again with a bit more pressure when Alec finally nodded his head, though still not sure.
"Alright, then get up and change your clothes. So that we can sleep after you have milk." She patted his shoulders as he stood up when a maid came forward to help him.
The maid took him to the washroom and helped him when he looked worried.
"Umm, do you know why the lady is so worried?" he asked the maid who blinked and nodded after some thought.
"I think the lady is upset that you are still not recognized as the Lord of the land." He tilted his head with confusion when the maid smiled, "The lady has brought you here to claim the reward since she thinks you are the son of your highness. But his highness was fooled many times by different kids, so he is reluctant to accept you. But my Lord, I can see that your eyes are the same as the duchess's' and your hair is just like your highness'. He will accept you as his son once he lets go of his fear." The old woman smiled at him but he did not pay much attention to the conversation but his mind was struck by the words. Claim the reward?
"Then, would the lady leave after receiving the reward?" he wondered, feeling a sense of unease in his heart. He did not want to believe he would be abandoned again, especially by the woman who had shown him warmth. No! She would not do it. She cared about him! She did.
"Hmm, of course, she cannot live here since she is not related to the Duke. Once it is proven that you are the son of your highness, the lady will leave with her reward." She smiled as she buttoned his pajamas but his heart stopped at that thought.
"Then… what if I was not recognized as the son of your highness?" the maid sighed. She did not even need to ask for the result since she had seen it so many times with her eyes.
"Then you and the lady will be thrown out of the duchy." She hid the fact that you both will be punished severely by the duke for cheating on him since she did not want to scare the child and somewhere she was sure that the child did belong to the duchy.
His face had a striking resemblance with the duchess.
"But you do not need to worry about that. I am sure that the Oracle must have seen you or she would not have brought you here." She tried to assure the child who stood up suddenly with his hands clenched tightly.
"Umm, do you know where your highness is? I have an urgent matter to discuss with him."
"Umm, I would not suggest that, my Lord. He had just finished his meal and would be resting in his room. He did not like being disturbed." She shook her head but the child held her hands tightly.
"Oh! Please, I will not take much time for your highness. It will only take less than a minute." His eyes turned teary. She did not have the heart to refuse the child.
"Alright, I can take you to his office, but it depends on him whether he allows you to meet him or not."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone