Chapter 5: Five
"Why are you shouting, Historia?" Duke Crane asks her with an authoritative voice, which makes her look at her father.
'H-how did that man- I mean, I didn't know he was the Duke of Ascavel's House! Why didn't he tell me last night!?' Historia thought to herself and stared at Duke Zion, who also kept on staring at her.
"Don't you have any manners, Historia? Staring at the Duke like that!?" Admarine interrupted. "You even shout and point at him; what a shame!" she added.
"Apologize right now, Historia," Duke Crane says, staring at her intently.
Redam didn't know what to do and was worried about her sister when she pointed and shouted at the Duke, which might ruin her reputation even more. It is a disgraceful action especially since Historia and Zion aren't even close to each other.
Historia just looked at him shyly and began to bow her head. "I am very sorry, My Lord. It was such a disgraceful-" Historia wasn't able to finish her sentence when Duke Zion interrupted.
"It doesn't matter, Lady Historia. Don't mind it," Duke Zion replied while looking at her. "Besides, I already knew about her ladyship; let us all forget about it and eat breakfast. The food might get bad if it is not eaten immediately," he added. Historia feels a bit nervous after what Zion has said.
'What does he mean by he already knew me? Is he trying to tell Father indirectly that he saw me last night outside the Duchy's residence!? Oh, you better don't or else I will try to pinch your ears!' Historia thought to herself and looked at the Duke intently. However, the Duke just smirks which makes Historia's blood boil.
Sigmis on the other hand, notice it all.
"Oh, of course! Come here Redam and Historia. Let us all eat together, enjoy the food, My Lord," Historia's stepmother says, trying to ease the tension of what happened earlier.
Admarine just clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes towards Historia which was heard by Duke Zion. He looks at Admarine then looks away.
Redam assisted Historia to her chair, one seat away in front of Zion. She stares at him but he notices it so he slowly moves his eyes to look at her and sees her staring at him trying to read his eyes and movements. He then just looked away.
They began eating and talking about business, while Historia was concerned that Zion would tell her father what she had done the night before. When they had finished eating, Historia stood up and was about to leave when Redam asked her.
"Where are you going? You seem to be hurry," he asks. Zion just looks at Historia while standing beside Duke Crane.
"Oh, I have something I need to do, brother. Don't worry about me," Historia replied and smiled genuinely. Then slowly looks at Zion and looks away when their eyes meet.
"Then at least have yourself a knight to accompany you. It is dangerous to go outside alone," Duke Crane speaks which made Historia surprise. She doesn't want anyone to go with her since she doesn't know if she can trust any person in the mansion, aside from her brother and her father.
"W-well-" Historia doesn't finish what she was supposed to say when Zion interrupts once again.
"Let me accompany the lady, Duke Darcus." Everyone was stunned by what Zion had said. Historia was also taken aback and looked at him in confusion, trying to figure out what he was doing or if he was just trying to tease her!
"You don't have to do that, My Lord. We have knights here to accompany her; you don't have to trouble yourself for my daughter," Historia's stepmother interrupts and looks at Historia, indicating that they will talk later after Zion leaves the house.
She doesn't want to talk with her stepmother so she walks closer and stops in front of Zion which makes his eyes widen a bit. "I'll gladly accept your kindness, My Lord." Zion smiles at her.
After their conversation, Zion and Historia walk outside to where Zion's carriage is parked. Her mind went blank because she couldn't process what she had done. She never thought she'd do that! And she didn't realize the man she met last night was the Duke! The one who uses fire magic! Zion Ascavel's family is the empire's second-strongest. They can even match the Empire's magic!
She did unexpected things in front of her family. How could she explain everything when she finally returned home? Her brother was also perplexed by what was going on, as Historia has no contacts in Zion or with anyone else in the empire except the crown prince and crown princess.
"What are you waiting for? You've been standing there for minutes already," Zion speaks which makes Historia come back to reality.
"Yes, sorry," Historia replied and was assisted by Zion to get inside the carriage.
"Come home early, okay?" Redam asked her gently, smiling. Historia smiled as well, touching his hands.
"I won't go far away, brother. I'll be here once the sun sets. You're always worrying about me," He replied. Redam quickly grabbed Zion's hands, startling the man.
"Don't you dare hurt him, or else!" Redam threatened Zion, leaving Historia confused and shocked by her brother's actions. She didn't think the two of them were particularly close.
'I guess the two of them were that close since to what I know, the two of them were friends already since they were kids. Brother Redam and the Duke were just the same age,' Historia thought to herself and looked at them two quarreling about something. She smiled. She wishes she had a friend, as the two of them did.
When they finally began to leave, Admarine, along with the Duchess, Quinn. They observed the carriage in which Historia was riding. "How was she able to get the Duke's attention? As far as I know, Duke Zion doesn't care about any women at all," Admarine says, but the Duchess continues to stare out the window.
"How about we hire some men to spy on them, mother?" Admarine's suggestion caused the Duchess to turn and look at her. Her face indicated that she was disappointed with what her daughter had said.
Admarine pouted after her mother said, "Are you out of your mind?" The Duchess then looks again at the window before speaking. "I'll hire people to check those two, to see what their connections are with each other. We need to check on them as much as possible because if the Ascavels get in our way, it will be more difficult for both of us," the Duchess added, prompting Admarine to nod in agreement.
They were on their way to the lady that Historia met last night, and their silence made Historia feel awkward. They do not speak to each other and simply look away from each other.
"By the way, we are investigating what happened yesterday. We learned why those two men beat the girl and told me the reason. The lady has a huge debt from them and that is five million Yan," Zion initiated the conversation, which shocked Historia.
'Five million Yan? That's a lot of money. How did she even have that kind of debt?' Historia thought to herself.
Zion takes all the information about the young woman from the bag beside him and gives it to Historia. She takes it and looks at him. "Why did you put an effort into investigating it? I didn't even ask for your help," Historia says which made him look away from her.
Historia just keeps staring at him and observing his behavior. Based on what happened earlier, it appears that her father still does not know what she did last night. She smiled slightly and looked at the papers in front of her.
"So she doesn't have a home and her parents died because of a disease last year?" Historia speaks which made Zion look at the papers too.
"Yes," Zion stops for a moment then speaks again. "Do you still want to keep her?" he added. Historia looked at him, he could see the determination in her eyes which made him let out a heavy sigh. "Well, she's a good person though."
"Where is she right now?" Historia asks. Zion looks at her in her eyes and speaks.
"Still in the hospital, I know a shortcut to get there quickly," Zion replied.
Historia smiles. "Thank you." Zion blushed again and quickly hid his face from her. He's not sure why she was able to make him feel that way. He feels a tickling sensation in his body whenever she smiles at him.
"My pleasure, My Lady," Zion replied, not looking at her. Because if he does, Historia will be able to see his reddish face. That's what he thought; Historia had already seen it, which made her laugh quietly.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone