The duke and his maid~

As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw a faint figure. I sat up and gently rubbed my eyes. *Oh, it was that maid from yesterday. Brown eyes and brown hair... Not bad.*

She bowed and then looked at me while holding the tray of pancakes, her hands trembling. "My- My lady... Breakfast is ready..."

"Hm..." I looked straight into her eyes and asked with a cold tone. " What's your name?"

She gulped and immediately avoided my eyes. "L- Lina..., my lady."

I smiled slightly "It's nice to meet you Lina. Why tremble? I'm not gonna bite."

I meant that as something to calm her but the way my cold voice sounded... It's no surprise that she looks like a rabbit that's about to cry right now.

I simply sighed and signaled her to bring over the tray.

I picked up the fork and slowly started eating the pancake on the tray. A few minutes later, Lina cleared her throat and fidgeted her hands.

*She clearly has something to say. Am I really that scary that she can't even let out a single letter? Tsk.*

"Speak." I said firmly while eating.

Lina gulped once again and took a deep breath. "Duke Dandelion has summoned you into his office." She finally said after a 10 second pause.

I put the fork down as I finished eating. "Get me ready." I said as softly as possible .

Lina's eyes sparkled. She quickly nodded and helped me bathe and dress me up.

~A few minutes later, Infront of Duke Dandelion's office~

Lina knocked on the door and announced my presence. "The lady, Alexandria Dandelion asks for permission to enter." She said politely.

A cold voice that seemed pretty similar to Alex's was heard from the inside. Lina gently opened the door and let me enter.

As I stepped into the duke's office, I felt a strong, scary aura. That of a beast and not a human. The duke looked up from his paperwork and locked his eyes with mine. I could feel my knee tremble as I felt his intense gaze.

Duke Dandelion slowly stood up and walked towards my direction, I gulped as I tried to maintain my composure when he stopped Infront of me. He had the same black hair and eye color as Alexandria.

"Alexa..." I couldn't help but look up to him as he called my name.

"My precious daughter!" He hugged me tightly which made me freeze.

*And yes... I made the Father of the villainess an overly loving and spoiling father... But behind that childlike act is a very scary person, ready to kill anyone at anytime. He has a soft spot for his children especially his first born and only daughter, Alexandria.*

I snapped back to reality as a woman beside his desk cleared her throat which made Duke Dandelion gently pull away from me.

"Oh, right... You don't recognize me." He said softly and sadly. He stood straight and said with a smile"I am Duke Hendrix Conan Dandelion, the Duke of Dandelion Duchy and your handsome father."

Before I could react, the maid at the side of the Duke's desk couldn't help but chuckle softly. Her chuckle made Duke Dandelion turn to her and slightly pout at her. "Astrid... Don't laugh at me." He said as if he was a child that's being wronged.

After he said that, I, myself couldn't help but chuckle as well.

He then turned to me and sighed. "Why are you two conspiring against me... tsk, tsk." He said cutely. For a 40 year old, the duke's looks is still breathtaking.

I bowed slightly to show respect to him. "Nice to meet you, Duke Dandelion."

He looked at me with sadness in his eyes. "Too formal. May I request for you to call me "father"?"

I nodded and looked at him without a hint of emotion. "Yes, father."

He smiled and sat back down on his desk chair. As the duke sat down, my eyes quickly shifted to the maid beside her.

*That maid standing beside Duke Dandelion... My Astrid.*

There she is... Astrid. I'm so proud to have created her.

Astrid is 30 years old, and she has been the personal maid of Duke Hendrix Conan Dandelion. She has been in the Duchy since she was 10 years old, and has served Duke Dandelion for 20 years.

When Astrid was 10 years old, she was saved by the duke at an auction when she was almost sold as a slave. On that very day, she gave her loyalty and life to the duke. The young duke at the age of 20 was intrigued about her witt and knowledge considering that she is still a child. The duke was intrigued enough to bring her to the duchy and have her trained as a maid.

At 14 years old, the duke offered her the position as his assassin. And Astrid agreed without a single hint of hesitation. And at 15, she mastered all kinds of weapons and fighting skills. When she was ready, the duke started giving her various missions such as retrieving information, investigating and taking out certain politic rivals and many more.

And of course... Kind hearted me... Wrote it that she has a one sided love for duke Dandelion the moment he saved her. And even though the duke married and had children... Her feelings never faded, though at times she wished it did.

And she... My sweet lovely assassin... Is my favorite character. With her brunette hair and emerald green eyes, and beauty that surpasses even a gem. The emperor has been trying to posses her any chance he get, his obsession with Astrid grew so much to the point that he Captured her and kept her in a box made of glass as though she were a statue. And 0f course... My favorite character isn't excused from the tragic ending, to be fair.

*Oh... I wanna hug her!*

I cleared my throat and looked back at the duke. "Father, why have you summoned me."

"Sit down first, Alexa." He signaled me to sit on the chair Infront of his desk.

As I sat down, he glanced at Alexa then back at me. He smiled and asked "My love, how is your memory?"

I slowly shook my head.

"I understand..." He said softly and reassuringly. " Since this could be a problem, how about you have Astrid as your personal maid for the time being?"

Astrid froze because of his statement. "Astrid?..." I said in a confused tone.

He chuckled softly" Oh, how rude of me." He smiled at me softly. " This is Astrid, my personal maid. I trust her very much and I believe that she will take good care of you while your memories are having complications."

" Okay" I said softly but I'm aware of how mean my voice sounded.

Astrid slightly bowed at me and greeted. "Greetings my lady, I am Astrid. The duke's personal maid. And now, I am your personal maid for the time being."

I nodded to acknowledge her greeting. I turned looked back at the duke. "Is there anything else father?"

"Hm. There is." he said with a bright smile.

*Uh oh... He's smiling brightly... That can't be good.*

"If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Whether it's Astrid, me, or Alex." He said warmly.

*Uh?... That's all?*

-"And, you will not be allowed outside the duchy for the time being. Even a single step outside those gates and I will have you punished." He said seriously, his voice filled with warning.

*Uh huh. Told you so.*

"Understood, father." I said in an unconciously cold tone.

He nodded and softly said "Dismissed."

I opened the door and saw Lina waiting for me. "To my room." I said as I walked towards my room.

Lina opened the door and I quickly belly plopped onto the bed. "Lina..." I said as softly as possible.

" U- uh, Yes? My lady?" She said just as softly.

"...Am I scary?" I asked not looking at her.

" Of course not, my lady. My lady is the most beautiful in the empire." She said with a happy tone.

" Haha, Lina is a sweet talker, I see." I said and looked at her with a genuine smile.

Her facial expression shouted 'shocked' when she saw me smile. And I couldn't help but chuckle.

She looked at me with worried eyes.

"My lady... Do you perhaps have a fever? Um... Is the heat too much? I could-"

I cut her off " No, no. I'm okay, it's just that Lina is very amusing." I said with a teasing smile.

She nervously looked at me and immediately blushed when she saw my smile. "You're very beautiful when you smile, my lady."

"So I'm not beautiful when I don't smile...?" I said with a teasing tone.

"No, no, no. Of course, my lady is beautiful always it's just that-" she said while stuttering.

*Hahaha, so cute.*

" I'm teasing you." I lied down on the bed. "You're dismissed."

"Yes, my lady." She bowed and walked out of the room and closed the door.

*Sigh...Wait, since I've literally got nothing else to do... I might as well manage the tone of my voice and facial expression so I could live a little longer in this world. *

I got out of the bed and faced the mirror. After spending the whole day speaking softly and smiling sweetly to myself in the mirror... I feel crazy, literally.

I looked out of the window and saw that the moon is already saying hi and the sun has set.

"I might as well sleep before I lose my sanity." I sighed and lied down on the bed and slowly drifted to sleep.