章 41: My Love

As a servant of God, Sister Astrid spent most of her days praying and studying the bible. On other occasion, she would also join the others in the library for a discussion along the line of fate and religion. However, living as a priestess at church didn't mean that she did not care about the worldly affairs.

In fact, that was their mission, to create a harmonized life for a better world. Besides, like what the archbishop had taught them, "The church is the midpoint between humanity and magic. An entity that keeps a peaceful balance in this world so that no sorcerers shall harm the mundane and the weak have a place they can depend on."

Thus, the sisters and priests were not closed off from the outside world. They listened and observed the progress of the society, and offered help when needed. Furthermore, Sister Astrid had listened to the the nobles and ordinary people talk more than enough in every sermon to know what was going on.

And among their many idle talks, she had heard about the youngest child of the Grand Duke Chestarrow. With three handsome and exceptionally talented sons, they had thought the daughter would be an amazing individual as well.

But, what Sister Astrid had heard was instead of the biological daughter, the niece was a lot more proficient and beautiful. Many positive things had been said about Lady Ophelia, but it was the opposite when it came to Lady Alice.

Timid, gloomy, untalented, and coupled with her introverted nature, it made Lady Alice a rather unattractive company. At least that was what Sister Astrid had heard so far.

But, the moment she turned around and her eyes laid upon this young lady adorning a green regency dress layered under her translucent rose-colored hair and glimmering pink eyes, Astrid thought she had chanced upon a fairy. Never had Astrid encountered such a gorgeous and graceful girl.

As the warm sunlight embraced her small stature, it gave highlight to her fair skin, making her even paler than she already was. Her transcendent beauty and noble elegance exuded in every movement she made. Then, a mellifluous voice that breezed through the air like the break of Spring echoed in the hallway along with the tapping of her short heels.

"Daddy!" Alice dove right into the duke's arms. Her thin slender hands wrapped around the man's strong waist as she asked, "So, who are you, Sister?"

When Sister Astrid heard the way this little girl addressed the duke, she immediately figured out her identity. She was Lady Alice, the rumored youngest daughter.

However, faced with such an angelic appearance, Sister Astrid couldn't help but wonder which eyes did the people use to look at the young lady?

Meanwhile, Leonard Angwin who witnessed this warm exchange between father and daughter from the side was both astonished and bewildered. His eyes widened slightly as he stared at Alice who was snuggling the rigid man cheerfully.

A frown had already been etched on the duke's temple the moment he noticed his daughter's appearance. Thus, his voice came out cold and stern as he asked her, "Why are you not in bed? Didn't I tell you to stay in your room to recuperate?"

Kalliope was irked by his nagging deep down, however the flawless smile on her face still persisted without flinching. Marilyn did deliver the duke's order to her this morning. She would've loved to cope inside her room away from these people if it were not to cover up her tracks.

Pouting her lips slightly, 'Alice' looked up at the duke and said, "Yes, you did! But, I heard daddy's voice just now and decided to take a look."

Snuggling deep inside the man's arm, Alice burrowed her tiny head upon his toned abdomen. "I miss you, daddy! Don't you miss me?"

By now, Leonard Angwin's eyes were on the verge of rolling out of its socket as he witnessed the pretty lady acting all spoiled and completely different from the way she used to be. Leonard even thought that this might be an illusion.

However, he saw the indifference in the duke's eyes melted into a sense of helplessness and in the next moment, the cold man bent down to carry the little girl in his arms. Then, he rigidly said, "Yes."

Leonard's mind instantly went blank. What in the world happened to the duke and Lady Alice? For a second, he felt like he had come to the wrong mansion.

Alice giggled merrily upon hearing the duke's answer. Then, Kalliope thought inside, 'Maybe I should butter him up a bit more since I need him to help me'. Hence, before the eyes of Sister Astrid and Leonard Angwin, 'Alice' gave the ice-cold and daunting man a big smooch on his cheek.

"Then, this is today's love from Alice to daddy to heal the longing in daddy's heart!" Alice exclaimed as she touched the duke's chest whilst grinning cutely from ear to ear. The duke immediately stiffened as he stared rigidly at the little girl in his arms.

Leonard watched the scene dumbfoundedly with his jaw hanging down. Meanwhile, Sister Astrid kept her benign smile but the image of Lady Alice in her heart had changed.

Not knowing how to respond to his daughter's kiss and enthusiastic behavior, the duke only looked at her in silence before stroking Alice's head gently. However, Kalliope was dissatisfied. She needed to make sure that he was completely on her side and would defend her against the priest.

So, 'Alice' tilted her head and asked sulkily, "Daddy, where is my kiss?"

The duke froze in that instance. His hand paused on her head as he pursed his lips in awkwardness. Frowning, he opened his mouth to reject, "I--"

However, every word got stuck in his mouth the moment his eyes met her rose-colored ones. They used to look like his, a sterling grey color. But, now they were pink and burnt with youthful zest and expectation towards him.

Thud, went his heart in that very second. There was no way he could reject her with that pair of soulful eyes looking at him full of hope. So, the duke's precious lips finally fell upon her soft cheek. And the moment it landed, Kalliope whole being stiffened. The smile on her face froze.

She looked at him blankly as the duke uttered, "My love."

'This is today's love from daddy to you.'

For a while, the hallway was enveloped in a peaceful silence until Sister Astrid broke the tranquility, "Ahem!"

The duke shifted his attention back to her, and Sister Astrid went ahead with the archbishop's request once again, "Your Grace, since the lady is already here, let me just give her a little check right now."

Knitting his eyebrows, the duke was about to retort when suddenly...

Drip... drip...

He felt something wet fell onto his shirt. He turned his head to Alice, only to find tears trickling down her face. She wasn't crying but merely stared at the duke. But, the tears continued to roll down her cheeks.

"Alice?"

The duke's worried voice knocked her out of her reverie as her body jolted.

"Huh?"

"Why are you crying?" He asked while his fingers proceeded to wipe away her tears. "Do you feel unwell?"

"Ah...no..." Alice shook her head in confusion and even more surprised when she realized she was crying.

"Alice, what's wrong?"

"Ah..." Kalliope didn't know what to say and she ended up laughing to bury the prickling sorrow that threatened to devour her heart. As she continuously wiping her tears, she said while chuckling, "I don't what's wrong with me. Ha ha ha....I'm sorry, dad. It'll stop in a minute."

In that moment, when he heard his daughter apologized for crying, the duke felt a stab in his heart. A familiar feeling that he had long forgotten.

"Alice--"

However, Sister Astrid cut his speech as she said, "Your Grace, perhaps the lady is still in pain. As you said, she's still recovering. I'm worried that there might be a leftover residue from the poison like His Excellency suggests. My power can be of help."

Then, she stretched out her hand towards Alice. "Let me heal her, Your Grace."

Kalliope instantly froze. The hand that was wiping her tears immediately paused and her crying stopped. Both the duke and 'Alice' turned to gaze at the hand that was offered to them.

The sunlight poured through the French window and shone upon the standing priestess, casting a long shadow beneath her feet. That was when Kalliope glanced past the sister head and a shiver ran down her spine. Then, Astrid's voice echoed once again.

"Well, My Lady, would you please give me your hand?"

Kalliope moved her eyes back to see Sister Astrid smiling at her. Her heart began to pound violently.

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