At The Banquet

"You said you don't hate me at all, right?" Melanie broke the silence and asked, her face looked perplexed. The Duke gently carressed her face and nodded with a gentle smile.

"Then...why?" Melanie asked again confusion visible in her purple eyes. "If you truly cared about me then why? Why would you let a child like me grow up here all alone?"

"I...It was...It was because you reminded me so much of your mother. And I am a coward. I missed her terribly and seeing you grow up becoming more like her, I only felt guilty deep within for not being able to save her. If only I did know better, you could have grown up with your mother. I felt sorry for my only child for missing the opportunity to live with her." Duke Orvin replied solemnly, his eyes glistening with sincerity. "I have never hated you. It was never your fault. It was me. I was in the wrong. I was so selfish and only thought of my feelings and have not considered your feelings as you grow up. I am truly sorry."

Melanie did not speak for a moment once again after hearing what the Duke has confessed.

"To be honest, I don't know what to say, Your Grace." She finally said to break the awkward silence. "Do I have to say, 'it's alright'? And then say that, 'I forgive you'?"

Duke Orvin immediately pulled his daughter to his warm embrace, his eyes full of regrets. "You don't have to do anything. As your father, I have truly failed. I'm sorry, Melanie, it is my fault for making you feel this way. It is my fault for letting you suffer like this all these years."

Melanie froze in her place once more and kept her silence. But she let the Duke embrace her warmly.

"Like I said, you don't have to forgive me because what I did as your father is truly unforgivable. I have deprived you of many things and I regret it so much now. I thought that staying away from you would make your life happier because you didn't have to deal with a father like me who's been living in the past. But now I see how wrong my choices were. I am sorry, dear child. My daughter. Please give me a chance to atone for all the sufferings." Duke Orvin pleaded whole-heartedly.

Elijah sighed after recalling her conversation with the Duke. She still couldn't belive that the Duke genuinely cared for Melanie and that he truly loved her daughter. In the origibal book, not much was said about Duke Orvin. It was just mentioned that he neglected his daughter because his wife died when Melanie was born. Thus, blaming the child and abandoning her in the Duchy on her own. Thinking about Melanie's life so far, Elijah's heart throbbed in pain. She didn't know if it was her synpathizing or because this physical body still feels its life's misfortunes.

'I have already confronted the Duke of the abuse and neglect that's going on this Duchy. Ever since then, almost half of the servants were replaced. Duke Orvin is truly a man of action, he did the changes subtly in the last two weeks after our conversation.' Elijah thought and smiled bitterly. 'I still feel resentment towards him though. If he could have paid more attention, then Melanie dmwouldn't have suffered for more than 12 years. So far, my plan is going well. It's really the riggt decision to confront the Duke and tell him the truth. It might have been a shock to him, but I do not wish go around the bush. Since I am living as Melanie now, then I have to deal with it sooner or later. And I don't see the point of hiding it and suffering silently. I am not a martyr or a saint. Like one of my favorite quotes, no one attacks me with impunity.'

"Miss, it's time to leave. The Duke is now waiting inside your receiving area." Nanette, her new personal maid called out and smiled.

Going back to reality, Elijah just gave her a small nod in response.

"You will be the most beautiful lady for tonight's banquet, miss." Nanette praised and smiled cheerfully.

"Thank you." Elijah replied and smirked.

'It's really good to have someone by your side' She thought.

***

"Your Grace, Duke Orvin Von Diovre and his only daughter Lady Melanie Von Diovre has arrived" The announcement rang throughout the hall and their was silence all around.

Elijah walked beside the Duke, who proudly looks at her. He truly looks amazing despite his age.

'I cannot believe my father is this handsome and that he didn't remarry.' She thought. 'He would truly be a heartthrob had he also been born in my world.'

"Are you nervous?" Duke Orvin asked gently.

Elijah shook her head in response. Her grip on his hand tightened. "Why should I be? You are here, Your Grace."

Duke Orvin felt happy after hearing her words. "That's right. Never ever forget that you can always rely on me."

All the important guests were then led to the main hall. Elijah was immediately surrounded by all the murmurs, smiles, and smirks. Her hair was tied up high and adorned perfectly with a red rose pin. And she was wearing an off shoulder vibrant red dress that was actually designed by her. Anyone can see how well the dress fits her and her features, highliting her beauty. Though she's still 12, no one can deny the elegance of a perfect young noble lady in her. It was simplistic in adornments but the elegance is shown, a mermaid cut kind of dress and the bottom part just flows smoothly. The dresses here were far too colorful and has too much adornments and so she gave Adelaide dress shop a drawing of her dress and how she'd like it to be made. Lady Adelaide who owns the shop felt that Elijah's drawing was an enlighted and she really loved her dress too. She even said this design would be popular among nobles after tonight.

'I guess Lady Adelaide will be busy for a while after today.' She thought.

After sometime of just standing beside the Duke while he busily introduces Elijah, some stared at her openly, while others stole glances at her. Some were curious and some jeered. There was both sympathy and contempt. Sympathy for growing up without a mother and an absentee father, and, contempt for her undeniable grace and flawless beauty which is incited by their jealousy. However, Elijah known as Melanie, the center of attention, kept her gaze on her glass of juice and enjoyed her peace, as if all the clamor had nothing to do with her.

Lord Pierre Von Diovre and his wife, Lady Glorriette, who were here to laugh at Melanie's expected awkwardness weren't satisfied by Melanie's calm and peaceful demeabor at all. They saw the girl grew up and since she wasn't really taught how to socialize and be graceful in public, they assumed that the young lady would humiliate herself in this party.

"How come?" Lord Pierre blurted out his annoyance. The girl had really grown her horns now. She can even act elegant and confident in front of so many people. "What a vixen. Just like her mother. Since when has she practiced her etiquette? She's been getting into my nerves recently. My brother suddenly started busying himself with the Duchy's affairs and almost replaced everyone. Even personally checking things he haven't before. I wonder what made them closer. I am sure that vixen will never tell my brother anything because he is mad at her for losing tgat woman. But then, how did it get like this?"

"Let me deal with her." Lady Gloriette said and walked confidently towards Elijah who's quietly standing beside the Duke.

"Greetings, Your Grace." Lady Gloriette greeted with a sweet and warm smile. "You look rather beautiful today, Lady Melanie."

"Greetings, Lord Pierre and Lady Gloriette." Elijah courtsied to show respect after the Duke nodded in acknowledgement.

"You're really a lady now. I can still remember when I first met you. You were just a baby. Time flies so fast. Thank goodness you grew up well even without your mother by your side." Lady Gloriette said with concern and sympathy in her eyes.

Duke Orvin's eyes immediately went sharp as he looked at his sister in law who flinched a little when she saw his gaze. She didn't expect him react this way.

Elijah hooked her arm on the Duke and that action calmed the Duke's rage right away. Her face then changed from being stoic. Her eyes glistened with tears and she suddenly looked sad but still forced a small smile.

'Do you really think you're the only one who can act?' Elijah thought and sneered inside.

"Oh dear, don't be sad. We're all here for you —" Lady Glorriete even though a bit taken aback took Elijah's hands and said in a clear voice. "My dear Melanie, you can stop pretending. It breaks my heart to see you force yourself like this. As someone who watched you grow, I feel like your second mother. I only wish for your happiness from now on."

"Thank you for your concen. However, had you not mentioned my late mother, my spirits wouln't have been dampened. Right? I love my mother but mentioning her everytime makes me sad. Sorry for my impudence but you always do this to me, Auntie. Even in the Duchy, you always remind me that I am someone who grew up without a mother. And that breaks my heart." Elijah smartly replied but sounded aggrieved. She saw how shock Lady Gloriette is with her words. She didn't expect that she will confront her in front of all this people in the banquet. "As someone who feels like my second mother, you should have known this, right? And what about my father. Everyone knows of how much he loves my mother, how could you just have reminded him as if it wasn't a big deal, Auntie? It's truly heartbreaking."

Elijah just kept staring back at her and waited for the woman continue. She wanted to see until where her mouth can take her.

"Oh...but...I...I did not mean it that way. I just-" Lady Gloriette stuttered, unable to recover from her shock right away.

"Whatever the meaning is, you still should have not mention my mother that casually, Auntie." Elijah interrupted with a bit of conviction, looking hurt.

"That's enough, young lady! Your Auntie is just concerned about you. Why are you taking this negatively?" Lord Pierre reprimanded this time.

"I will be the one to scold my own daughter if she did something wrong, Pierre." Duke Orvin interjected and gently pulled Elijah towards his back, covering her. "And if you don't want your dear wife to be talked about negatively, then teach her to shut her mouth. No one has the right to talk about my wife so casually in front of my face. Also, take note that she is never a second mother to my daughter nor will she ever be."

So... the others saw the light suddenly. They all turned to Elijah who was still looking hurt behind the Duke then at Lady Gloriette who looked shocked and mad. Even the brothers who both exuded authority. The banquet mood immediately dropped.

"Gentlemen, please please. Ehem. Should we just go try the newly imported wine from the East Continent?" Viscount Colleen spoke up to ease the tension and lighten up the mood. He looked sweaty. He was truly afraid that the brothers will eventually fight in the hall.

A slight pull on his sleeve made the Duke to look behind and saw hid daughter shaking her head a little. He was still mad but he sighed gave a nod at the Viscount before leading his daughter away towards the terrace.

Everyone who attended murmured by themselves as they continued to openly stare at the couple. That was nerve wrecking. They had thought that the relationship within the housegold was harmonious. Lady Gloriette had always highlighted herself as a selfless woman who took care of a motherless child. But seeing how the two are not that close, they all sneered inside as they looked at her. As it turned out, she was only acting. Bothe have now heard faint voices and murmurs about the lady.

'Lady Gloriette is so fake.'

'I thought that she was shameless. So, she's only pretending.'

'How can she constantly remind a child of her late mother? That's emotional torture.'

'I didn't know that she was a scheming woman.'

'I would have run away in tears if I were her. How can she just stand there?'

'The young lady is truly pitiful to have such awful Auntie.'

'Right. Isn't she just a concubine? She's thick face to even say that in front of the Duke.'

Lord Orvin couldn't take the humiliation any longer and asked the Viscount to be excused earlier. Then he forcefully led his wife back to their carriage.

'How can he marry such a spoiled and haughty woman who did not even consider that the Duke is present? No matter what he was was the Duke of a nation! How could she simply mention his late wife?' Lord Pierre thought with much frustration. 'How could he marry a waste and become a laughing stock?'

He did not care about Lady Gloriette at the moment because all he felt was the humiliation. He had completely pushed the blame to her and wiped his slate clean eventhough he somehow consented when his woman said she will deal with the young lady.

'What a real vixen that girl is!' He cursed inside and thought of how his niece has drastically changed ever since she went home from the palace. 'I will personally deal you soon.'

Then Pierre turned to the womam beside him inside the carriage. Without a second thought, he raised his hand and slapped her.

"Ah!" Lady Gloriette cried out in pain, a red mark stretched throughout the cheek of her already ashened face. She was beyond shock that her husband had hit her. He always doted on her and she was his favorite. Lady Gloriette silently cursed Melanie and blamed her deep inside. She just made herself looke pitiful as she caressed her belly which instantly reminded the man of his heir.

"You better not do this again." Lord Pierre warned before he helped the lady back on her seat. "The young girl has changed and even my brother is not acting in our favor. We have to change plans. Do you understand?"

"Yes. Yes, my Lord." She replied softly.

'Just so you wait. Once my child is born, I will make sure he becomes the heir.' She thought grimly.

***