Shortly, almost everyone was stunned by Inanna's sudden statement as their eyes widened. The only individuals who remained unfazed and normal were her father and the boy.
At Inanna's statement, the nobleman was rendered speechless that he couldn't believe what his ears had heard.
"P-Pardon me?"
He stammered.
"The maid and the boy, Your Lordship. Apologize to them, not us."
She repeated with earnest eyes and a confident posture beside her father.
'As if I'll apologize to these lowly commoners!'
He inwardly hissed, but soon regretted his thoughts when he saw the two scarlet hair beholders with serious faces. Clearly, they weren't joking.
They meant every word the girl voiced and expressed as they patiently awaited for his genuine apology for the two individuals he tried to wrong for his own unfed ego and sense of pride.
"But—"
"Your Grace, I think everything is simply a misunderstanding. How about we forget it and move on from this minor disagreement?"
The chubby man interrupted his son as he tried to persuade the Duke with a cunning grin and clasped hands.
'Don't worry, useless son. I won't let them make you apologize to some unworthy lowlifes!'
The chubby nobleman sneered inside his head, but kept his amiable facade.
However, the man didn't expect to get the opposite reaction of what he intended to aim for and receive back.
"Are you going against my daughter's wishes, Your Lordship?"
The Duke questioned with a darkening glare.
At her father's piercing voice, Inanna faintly shivered when she felt the powerful mana slipping a bit from her father as he tried to hide it and remain calm from the anger he was experiencing momentarily.
It was the power he used mainly on the battlefield and outside the empire's walls. Rarely on other occasions or when his emotions got the best of him. The mana blessed and given by the Scarlet Dragon.
A power even if the possessor can completely control their mana, those with strong mana such as Inanna can easily sense it with just the slightest amount of mana being leaked or exposed.
'Even though he's always perfectly concealing his mana from Judith and I, I can now sense how suffocating and strong it is by getting a mere taste of it. A power truly to be feared by anyone.'
In the past lifetime, Inanna never got to firsthand experience the powerful mana her father possessed, since she would hardly spend time with her father and paid no mind about the mana they seized.
After all, she had other priorities then.
"W-what? No! Your Grace, I'm merely suggesting we—!"
The chubby man panicked, but didn't complete his sentence as the scarlet-haired man interrupted him with his stoic and deep voice.
"Then do as she says."
The Duke demanded.
Once again, the father and son were lost for words as they stared at the Duke with wide eyes and open mouths. They couldn't lose the man's favor.
It was then, the chubby Baron nudged his son's side with his elbow, then he slightly bowed to the Duke, showing that they had no other choice but to follow.
The young man solely scowled and bit his bottom lip when he bowed and lowered his head as his father did beside him. To his dislike, he apologized to the maid and boy.
"My apologies for my rude behavior. I hope we can move on from this matter and not hold a grudge against one another."
He grimaced and awaited their response, hoping the Duke and his youngest child would believe his feign sincerity this time, along with the inconvenient maid.
To his luck, the young maid accepted his apology with a simple nod and a gaze of approval toward her two masters of the Bessa household.
With that, Inanna looked at her father and asked him a question she's been meaning to pose since his arrival.
"Father."
She uttered softly to her father, and he instantly gave all his attention to her with a gentle and caring facial expression.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
He voiced almost like a whisper.
"Is there a reason why you're here? Are you looking for something?"
She asked keeping eye-contact with her father, the Duke.
At that, the scarlet-haired man caressed her identical scarlet locks they both shared and responded to her curiosity as he then turned his head toward the Baron.
"You're right, sweetheart. I came here because I was looking for not something, but someone. Particularly, a child."
Of course, Inanna's gut-feeling was right. She could guess that the reason her father was here is that of the tattered boy with bronze skin. She just needed to confirm her suspicion.
Subsequently, the Baron quickly moved toward the boy standing a few steps away and hastily grabbed him by the shoulders.
"Your Grace, this is the child slave I was speaking about prior to our arrival!"
The Baron's eyes twinkled and widened with pride at the thought of getting very close to his goal and the reasoning for visiting the Duke Bessa's residence as he spoke.
He felt like he was a few steps away from achieving his dreams and negotiation with the Duke. One that'll surely make him rich and gain the favor of the scarlet-haired man before him.
"Goodness! What are you doing, child!? Show some respect to the Duke!"
However, the chubby man panicked when he witnessed that the foolish boy refrained from bowing out of respect and courtesy to the highest and strongest nobleman in the empire standing in front of them.
'Stupid boy! You're going to get me in trouble for your insolence!'
Thankfully, the Duke didn't seem to mind the boy's behavior as he spoke.
"It's alright, Your Lordship. There's no need for that. I only wish to take in this boy for the meantime. He'll be under my care until I find him a proper home or place to stay."
The Duke apprised as he approached the small figure of the boy.
"That's if you don't mind staying here?"
Seeing that the boy didn't have any objections as he remained silent, the scarlet-haired man smiled and patted his tiny head.
Then, his expression changed to a serious one as he looked at the chubby man and conversed with him.
"I'll take the boy, but with no money being involved. His life isn't something that should ensue purchasing anymore. It never should've been that way to begin with."
The scarlet-haired man stated as he gave the older maid a look instructing, 'Take the children inside the house. I'll be there shortly to discuss further on this matter,' which she instantly obeyed to.
Promptly, Inanna heard the older maid speak to her and the silent boy with a gentle tone and a soft expression.
"How about we go inside and try the fresh sweets the chef recently baked?"
The old maid kindly suggested.
Both children simply nodded, and they began walking away from the scene, followed by the younger maid walking along behind them with a smile.
Yet before they left, Inanna parted a last glance at her father, who had his back facing them as he discussed with the two stunned figures—the chubby nobleman and his son.
'I suppose brother's visit will have to wait.'
Making their way to the main doors of the residence's garden, Inanna saw a worried and unhappy Lucy with hands against her slender waist, standing a few yards away.
The girl could only let out a nervous laugh and scratch the back of her head from the earful scolding she'd hear any minute.
"My Lady, did you enjoy your short trip around the garden?"
Lucy asked with a straight smile, but Inanna knew better than to think any less of Lucy's harmless question.
Clearly, she wasn't happy about the situation.
"Lucy, you see..."
Inanna nervously began to utter, but stopped mid sentence to think of what excuse she could use to lessen Lucy's anger as she heard her steps getting close.
To her surprise, Lucy hugged her and cradled her back as she let out a deep sigh.
"I'm just glad you're okay, My Lady."
Inanna's heart wavered and almost sank at hearing Lucy's words and the relief she expressed seeing she was okay.
"I'm sorry, Lucy."
The scarlet-haired girl whispered in guilt as she leaned over the woman's comforting and warm embrace, feeling deeply remorseful for her reckless and inconsiderate actions.
The brown-haired woman simply smiled and continued holding her small structure. Shortly, she separated herself from the small girl as she looked over at the thin boy.
It merely took a simple glance to understand that the boy was malnourished and horribly mistreated before his arrival.
His body was pure skin and bones, with zero trace of fat or muscle. Various bruises were visible on every part of his tiny body that some looked infected.
His hygiene wasn't good either.
Overall, an appearance of never having a proper meal, a warm bath, and being genuinely taken care of before.
The woman's blue-eyes thinned as she stood up and walked over to the boy.
"Hello there. My name is Lucy. I'm a maid and a nanny of the Duke Bessa Household. What's your name, sweetheart?"
She tenderly spoke as she bent down at the boy's height level and tilted her head to get a better view of his face.
She waited for his response, but he didn't reply nor acknowledge her presence and didn't seem interested in doing so.
At that, Inanna felt confused and unsure of what to think about his unresponsive behavior at the moment.
'He acts almost dead now. The opposite reaction of what I witnessed when he gave that nobleman a lesson by flipping him over against the ground for lifting his hand on one of our maids.'
Before she knew it, memories of the past appeared as she remembered the tall bronze man who always presented himself as a stern and calculative person to those around the Crown Prince.
Amber-colored eyes that frequently narrowed at the sight of anyone who approached them and black wavy hair that covered his creased forehead when extremely annoyed.
A contempt expression he maintained whenever he attended a social gathering hosted by the imperial family.
Even then, he never looked at her with hatred or hostility like the others. He simply kept a neutral face whenever she tried to speak or get near his master; the Crown Prince, Kavin Castes.
Nevertheless, Inanna didn't trust his calm outward appearance. For all she knew, he might've put on a harmless facade since she was the fiancé of the Crown Prince.
Widespread extensively in the aristocracy as the future empress of the Amerta Empire.
Inanna couldn't help but frown upon seeing the boy she once knew as a confident man of the past, having no sense of emotion or presence whatsoever.
'He's different from his intimidating and remote demeanor of the past. He.. he seems lifeless. An empty shell with no ounce of any emotions. A soulless boy.'
Slowly, the scarlet-haired girl made her way to her nanny and the boy with steady steps as she reached out for the dandelion she kept in her attire the entire time.
When she stood beside the woman, she curiously stared at the boy, looking at the rocky pathway.
'Though I can't be too sure it's him. I'll have to wait and see for the color of his eyes after a makeover.'
"Lucy, how about we first head inside and get him cleaned up? Then we can get him a proper meal while the family doctor checks his injuries."
Inanna suggested when she made eye-contact with the blue eyes of her nanny.
"You're right, My Lady."
Lucy replied as she thought it was a good idea to get the boy's injuries treated rather than prioritizing to get to know him immediately.
After all, she could comfort and get familiar with him afterwards.
That being the case, the scarlet-haired girl moved her gaze toward the boy and neared him as she leaned on her side.
Her vibrant wavy hair fluttered to her side as she stretched her arms out to him and showed him the pretty flower she held.
"This flower here is a dandelion. It's one of my favorites because it symbolizes healing, hope, and resilience. I believe it suits you, so I want you to have it!"
The girl cheered with a bright smile, which enhanced her lovely and adorable features even further.
'Even if my assumption is wrong, I'd still like to at least get along with him before father finds him a proper place to live. It must be a hard and difficult time for him.'
Inanna sympathized as she felt strongly about the boy's situation.
The environment the boy unwillingly grew up in was traumatic. No child should ever experience such horrific circumstances and conditions. It wasn't appropriate and humane to be raised and sold as a slave upon the black-market.
It angered her how people could be so cruel and evil to hurt anyone, especially an innocent child.
'Don't worry, from now on we'll take good care of you and soon find you a loving forever home!'
On the other hand, the three maids were in awe at the scene before them.
Unaware to Inanna, the boy meekly gazed at the girl underneath his outgrown hair as he neared her and swept a piece of her scarlet locks away from her face.
Afterwards, he began to move his boney hands toward her cheek and caressed it tenderly as he uttered shocking words.
"Your eyes... they're lovely."
He murmured softly.
Stunned, Inanna plainly stood there with wide eyes and flushed cheeks as he remained unmoved and unfazed.
'Love at first sight!'
The maids mentally squealed in sync with gleaming and goggling eyes.
"Oh, my."
Lucy gasped at the cute interaction between both children. It seems like she didn't have to worry about them getting along.
"W-we should get you cleaned up!"
The girl shouted shyly as she moved back to lose contact with the boy's gentle touch and turned her head away from him.
The black-haired boy could only stare in a daze at his hand from the loss of warmth he felt for a moment and clenched it.
"We should head inside. Merith, prepare a bath and a new pair of clothes for our little guest."
The brown-haired woman instructed the older maid as she neared the boy and patted his head before reaching out her hand for him to grab onto.
"Yes, Lucy."
The older maid responded with a smile as she led the way towards the house.
For a moment, the black-haired boy stared at the soft, tender hand of the smiling woman until he realized she wanted him to hold her hand when he saw the girl his age take her hand with a soft expression.
Hesitantly, he looked at both of them before connecting his hand with the woman's slender hand, to which they simply smiled at him and began guiding him inside.
'I...'
For an odd reason, he felt something fuzzy inside his chest. He couldn't describe the feeling or quite understand what it was, but he thought it came from the warmth he felt in his hand.
Not until he recalled the feeling he felt with the scarlet-haired girl.
What he felt with her was different when he watched her enchanting, shiny scarlet hair and her graceful facial features. Her bravery and determination to defend him. The will to protect those around her.
Something he always wanted and wished upon the stars in the cells he slept in. For someone to care for him like they did for each other.
'... I want more.'
He thought as he observed the chatter of both females. In particular, the cheerful girl on the other side of the woman.
He couldn't help himself from feeling greedy for craving more of it.