Shaken Heart

"Lady?"

My heart fluttered at the sound of Erden Abaddon calling me.

The same name,

The same voice,

The same person.

My insides were churning and screaming, crying out his name and asking me to hug him.

I thought I let go of this man.

But even now... he's all that I wished for.

"Mom, are you okay?" Lucas tugged my dress. I was taken aback by the shamelessness I showed.

"I-I..." I looked at his confused face. I can't act like this. "I'm okay baby.. sorry for making you worried."

"Oh good! Mom this is Dad! Dad this is mom!"

"Is he?" I smiled while looking at Lucas's face. He's so happy and in the moment...

As for the man in front of us...

He doesn't seem to mind.

"Nice to meet you, madame."

A pang in my heart came, thinking that he was even going so far as to pretend not to know me.

"Eustia greets the Duke." Did I stutter? I hope I did not. I was doing my best to appear normal. "I'm very thankful that the Duke humored my child." I smiled at him. "And I hope Lucas was not in your way." This time, I gripped Lucas's arm. "Shall we go, Luke? It's almost time for bed time."

"It is?"

His glowing eyes suddenly drooped.

"Mmm-mm."

"You need to listen to mama, little one."

"Riiight~ so Lucas can grow big."

"Big??" The stars in his irises returned once more. I giggled. Luke is really... so cute. "I wanna be big and strong."

"Yup! So shall we?"

"Okay!!"

Me and Lucas bid our goodbye to the Duke, and I also asked him for pardon.

Erden... he doesn't exactly looked fazed by my existence nor Lucas, nor does he overly acted as if we did not exist.

Was it all an act? Or did he really not know?

I tightly held my baby's little hand.

"Lucas,"

"Yes mom?"

Don't talk to Erden ever again...

"What do you think about your dad?" I asked as I helped him change into sleeping clothes.

But I can't possibly be that horrible.

I should not make my son miserable just because I am.

"Hmm!! He's so cool!"

"Is he?"

"Yup! I hope I can play with him again."

"We walked around the huge garden, then Dad gave me cookies."

Lucas rattled on about the story of how they first met.

I unruffled his hair as I listened to his words.

Luke was growing quite fast... and I'm sure he'll learn the real meaning behind the word 'Dad' one day, and he will ask me about it.

I kissed my son's face.

I hope this innocence will last a little bit longer.

*****

"I wonder if they met?"

"Pardon my lady?"

Oops, I let the words slip out.

"I just saw something interesting." I giggled.

Finally, something worthwhile in this boring party.

As a rich lady born with almost everything, life's been pretty meaningless.

So I always chase one high after the other.

And then I saw her,

Eustia.

At first, I wasn't really interested in her... well, there was nothing really interesting about a commoner woman having common features, brown hair, brown eyes... I saw her just as how I saw anyone.

'Til she showed how shrewd she was.

What I wanted at first was a maid, but Eustia proved to me that she was more than just a statue I could keep around.

It's rare to be fascinated by something that can't be bought with money.

Also, I need capable people so I can continue living my lazy life.

That doesn't mean just anyone though, of course I did a background check on her before taking her in.

It happens that my sweet little swan was one day taken in by one of our older maids, for the first year, she kept knocking on the jail doors asking for a man named 'Erden'

It was quite the news. Well, stories about lovers are one of the public's favorite, in such a small town like ours, of course, that would reach my ears.

Fast-forward to years later, a Duke who was rumored to have a 'forgotten' lover surfaced, and the said Duke looked exactly like the lost lady's son wouldn't be so interested in that?

So even when I was planning to decline this year's spring garden, I decided not to miss this drama for the world.

Setting up the stage was quite complicated though, but the anticipated ending was enough to go through all that trouble... even if it meant that I was letting all these ladies in the Spring garden waste their time and money.

Oh but who cares?

Nobles deserve to be stepping stones.

I wasn't born a noble, I was just a commoner and well, because my family is so rich, we were granted a title. Being a noble grants many benefits, and should I also say an unreasonable income?

That's why I believe that the nobles fighting for the seat of the duchess deserve to be milked dry.

I smiled at the thought.

I wonder how I should sell our products here.

"Sir! Please calm down!!" A robed magician followed a blue-haired man.

He was striding towards the garden.

Their voices are quite loud so everyone's eyes follow them.

"Aiish! Get away from me. I need to find him!" He irritatingly answered.

Find who? Find the Duke??

After destiny rolled on its own to make him meet with his lost family?

I watched the man. He was speaking so shamelessly that I easily believed that he was probably someone who could act on his own without thinking too much of repercussions.

Could this man be the Duke's aide?

I raised an eyebrow.

So this person might foil my plans?

"Hold my cup."

"Yes?" Seiz blinked at my sudden command, nevertheless, she still followed what I said.

I stride with a business smile towards the man.

"Hey there."

"I'm busy go away."

What?

The man continued walking, he was striding as if there was no tomorrow, and before we knew it, we are already at the garden.

"Sir!" The magician followed.

Why won't this bastard listen? I just want to talk! To stop him from---

From ruining this moment.

Thirty steps away from us, Erden, Eustia, and little Luke were together.

"Please stop!" The magician was huffing, this bastard kept walking.

No! I can't let him ruin this event!

"You!" I shouted in a quiet manner. I don't want the three to hear us. "I said you!!" I called again, and then again, I was not noticed.

Then suddenly, he stopped.

I bumped into the broad back.

Fuck!

"What the hel---"

"Who's that?" He whispered, almost unbelievingly.

My eyes followed his sight. He was frozen, looking at Lucas.

One could immediately tell from our perspective how identical Lucas and Duke Erden was.

Someone dumb would not realize it sooner but I'm not dumb---nor is this man.

"This is why I told you to stop."

And then he raised his feet to start walking again.

This man really won't listen huh?!

"Don't blame me for this." I grabbed him without thinking twice and bumped my head into-- "Hm?"

*chuk*

I pushed him away.

Eyes filled with the hues of silvery clouds stared right back at me.

"What the fuck?!" I can't help but scream. "T-This..." I felt my face getting hotter by the passing second.

"Sir!!" Squealed the magician. I can't see his face but I can feel the horror in his expression.

"Y-You---"

The way the man opened his mouth made time seemed slow...

"What have you done to me?!"

"No! What have you done?!" I shouted.

If he hadn't turned his head after I called him for the millionth time---that... that wouldn't have happened!!

"Why is it my fault?!"

"You twisted your head!!"

"Sir! Lady! Please---I---"

"What were you even trying to do?!"

What am I trying to do??

Does he want that?

"Ah, let me show you, you little shit."

I grabbed his head and headbutted him with all my might.

"I'm telling you! Don't you dare bother Duke and Eustia!! Never!!" I angrily told him off before running away from the unwanted situation.

My heart was beating fast and my face was burning.

Why would he do that??

Why would he turn his face when I was gonna headbutt him so he wouldn't bother them??

Why should our lips even kiss?!

As I ran away from the scene, I touched my lips that were still warm even if it was just a short while.

T-This...

*badump* *badump*

Ugh! I should drink until I don't remember anything tomorrow!

Deaf bastard!