Arc I: Chapter 12

Duke Luca's POV

Am I hearing things right?

"Father?" Crystal said.

I came back to my senses and stayed quiet for awhile.

"I can't allow that.." I said to Crystal sternly.

"But papa it can also be a self defense for me. What if I get harmed? What if they put magic cancellation on me? Then the only thing I can depend on is self defense or swordsmanship." Crystal said sadly with puppy eyes.

"But... I'll talk to your mother first then we can decide after that." I told her and patted her head.

"Okay papa, and papa what is the problem, you seem so busy now." Crystal said to me worriedly.

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Crystal's POV

Papa's been staying at his office since last week, he dotes on me a lot so the only time he does not dote on me is when he has problems with the kingdom or our fief.

I heard that one of the forest in our fief has a lot of cacao tress but the thing is people don't know how to use cacao, so they can't make any profit from it.

"Has there been any problems with the White fief? Brother also had to come with you, right?" I asked worriedly.

"Well.. Yes, but it is because of the dry season, you know that our fief is near the sea meaning as the temperature rises at the sea, the hotter in our land. Which causes the crops to die because of the heat, and the only one crop isn't affected by that are cacao trees." Father said to me seriously.

"Hmmmm... Can I try father?" I asked while pondering seriously.

"Try what my adorable daughter?" My father asked using a confused tone.

"Can I see some cacao?" I asked father.

"You mean their seeds? We have a lot because we are trying what we can do to them to help our fief." Father asked confused.

"Yes. Can I have a look and also try?" I asked.

"Well, that is not a problem. Sebas can go with you to get the cacao, but what are you going to do with it?" Father asked questioning my actions.

"Hmmm, I'm still thinking, but I wanna help also. Can I?" I asked father with pleading eyes.

"Well.... It is not like you can't, so do whatever you want Crystal." My father said to me while smiling.

I guess he thinks I'm just going to play with it. Well that makes sense though.

"Thank you, father!" I said and hugged him.

"Sebas, go with her." My father said at sebas after our hug.

"Okay. Young miss, let's go." Sebas said to me, while smiling gently.

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Sebas's POV

I've been here ever since the duke was young, I've watched him grow and the family I built even grew to love the White family. My eldest son, Allen is now training to be a butler to our young master, and Lili my wife is the attendant of the young miss.

The duchess is an admirable woman, when the duke introduced her in the family no one could oppose, because she was way beyond perfect. No one could disagree, but many people were jealous.

When the young master was born, the house became even more livelier but when the young miss was born, it was like a light shine upon the house of White. Everyone was in light.

I was also happy, young miss was a good girl. She doesn't whine, even when her family dotes on her she doesn't act spoiled. You can't not like her.

But I'm wondering right now, why does she want the cacao? I don't think this is a play thing for her, the duke thinks otherwise though. I know she is mature, I'm sure she has something up her sleeves.

"Young miss, what will you do with the cacao?" I asked her curiously, while we were walking.

"I'm not yet sure Sebas, but once I'm done I'll immediately go to you!" She said exclaiming at me.

I smiled, she was so cute.

"Okay, I'll be looking forward to that." I said to her.

I just hope she makes use of it properly. I mean, I know she is a child but she is intelligent, so I know. I know something great will come out of this.

~A few weeks later...~

It's been more than a week, since young miss asked for 6 cacao and she hasn't come to me yet. Maybe she failed?

I'm here at the duke's office arranging his things, while his out on the fief helping those affected with the dry season.

Knock knock.

"Sebas, are you there?" Young miss asked outside the door.

I walked my way through the door, and opened it.

"Yes, young miss?" I asked.

As I open the door I see the young miss holding a tray with a drink and some little things on it.

"Hi Sebas, this is for you. I told you you were the one who was gonna know it first, right?" Young miss told me, while grinning.

"But what is that?" I asked confused.

"Oh! This is a chocolate drink and chocolate sweets!" Young miss said happily.

"Chocolate? I haven't heard of sweets like that." I asked confused.

This empire has sweets, but not these kind of sweets. We have sweets made from fruits, or milk, but not this dark or brown color.

"This is the cacao, I made it like this." Young miss said proudly.

I widened my eyes in confusion and in surprise.

Huh? Surely that isn't it right?