8 The young miss's motherly love

Early in the morning, Clara found her young miss Emma, leaning on the window's frame and gazing at the brightening sky. She somewhat found her young miss's action funny.

Since the Duke allowed the young miss to wander around the town, she was so happy and excited that she miraculously woke up early in the morning. Clara helped her young miss to wash up.

When Akari saw the wardrobe of sparkling clothes and jewels, she was petrified. If she wore those expensive and sparkling jewels, there was a 100% possibility of getting kidnapped (and that's the least things she wanted).

Scrunching her face, she asked her maid, "Can I select a dress for myself?." She would like to avoid those sparkling clothes for many, many reasons. Hearing her young miss's request, Clara stepped aside. Since her young miss was going to the town for the first time, she understood that the child wanted to be dressed extravagantly.

Akari silently looked at the wide wardrobe. She was annoyed by what she saw. Sparkling gown, sparkling skirt, extremely sparkling shirt, and many more sparkling dresses. Just as she decided to give up, she suddenly found a dress without any glittering designs. With bright eyes, she turned to her maid and pointed out, "I want to wear that."

Clara followed her young miss's tiny finger and took out a dress. When she saw the dress, she was surprised and confused. The dress wasn't extravagant as she thought to be. It was a simple white frock with blue borders and a dark blue ribbon at the back. If not for the quality and smooth texture of the clothe, she would never allow her miss to wear this simple dress.

While Clara disliked the simple dress, Akari was extremely satisfied with her choice. Back in her world, Yumi would constantly ask her to wear those expensive and disgusting dresses for accompanying her to dates. Since then, she hated dresses which were expensive and overly extravagant.

After wearing her desired dress, Akari hesitantly asked Clara to tie her hair.

Even though she disliked many things, hairstyle was not a part of it. Since she had long hair, her mom would take the job of binding and combing her hair. Now that her mom wasn't here, her heart ache whenever she looked at her(current) long black hair. She missed those gentle hands and soft smiles of her mom.

Shaking her head, she let out a regretful sigh. Just at that moment, Duchess Catherine came in the room. When she saw her step daughter's breathtaking appearance, she paused for a moment. Since Emma possessed the blood of an elf and a vampire, her blooming beauty was breathtaking and very adorable to look at.

With round and clear violet eyes, cute button nose, fair and flawless skin, long eyelashes, glossy lips, jet black knee length hair and a deep dimple on her left cheek, it wouldn't be a surprise if she grew up to be a nation calamity beauty.

Catherine was slightly disappointed that the child didn't inherit her father, the Duke's ruby eyes. "Emma", she subconsciously called her step daughter's name, causing Akari to turn her head and looked at her.

Clara was startled by the sudden visit of the Duchess. She held her skirt and curtsied, "my lady." Akari quickly followed up, "Good morning mother." Why would the young miss mother come to see her early in the morning. She was slightly curious, but more confused.

When she saw the woman, staring at Clara, she immediately understood the reason for the sudden visit.

Since the young miss was loved and dotted by the Duke, the Duchess also loved her second daughter (right?). Maybe the Duchess was jealous of Clara, cause she (Akira) asked Clara to tie her hair, instead of asking the Duchess. Realizing the fact, Akari took the comb from Clara and went to the young miss mother. Holding the comb in her hand, she asked in a soft voice, "would mother like to bind my hair?."

Catherine was taken aback. She looked at her step daughter, who was expectantly looking at her with a smile, the center of her left cheek deepening to form a dimple. She looked so cute and harmless!(unlike the previous Emma, who looked cold and evil) Catherine rapidly nodded her head. Her step daughter called her mother!!! She was overwhelmed with happiness. While combing her daughter's luscious hair, she was so careful and gentle, afraid that she'll hurt her daughter.

Her eyes became wet with tears, and she couldn't help but cry as she covered her face. For the past 4 years, her step daughter had never took the initiative to speak with her. She had also lost her hope of gaining love from her step daughter. Now that her step daughter was smiling and also talking to her, she can't help but cry in happiness.

Akira was petrified. Wha-why is the young miss mother crying! Did she (akira) do something wrong? Was she not supposed to speak with the Duchess? Wh-what did she do to make the young miss mother cry? Confused and scared, Akira didn't know what to do.

Out of survival instinct, she hugged the duchess's leg (her head only reached till the duchess's thigh). "Don't cry, please don't cry," she raised her head and said in a calm manner. Though she looked calm, her heart was in turmoil. She was afraid of being punished! The Duke might punish her for making his beloved wife cry. "Don't cry," she said and tucked the duchess's dress.

Out of all possibilities, why is the young miss crying in her room?! Akira now wanted to cry.

Catherine bent down and hugged the little child. Droplets of tears fell from her eyes and damped the child's shoulder. She sniffed and said, "Mother loves Emma." How many times she wished to say these words. How long did she wait. How many times did she dreamt of Emma calling her 'mother'.

She waited, waited as days, months and years go by, but Emma still didn't accept her. Now that Emma was taking the initiative, she couldn't help but cry out in happiness.

Akira patted the duchess's back and awkwardly replied, "I know." Does she know? No. Even though she knew that the woman was the young miss's mother, she (Akira) never experienced it. So, she doesn't really know whether the woman really loves her daughter or not.

After Catherine controled her emotions, she kissed her daughter's cheek and said with a smile, "my lovely angel looks very beautiful today." Her step daughter was more beautiful than girls in the entire kingdom. Akira arc her lips into a stiff smile, "thank you mother." Even though she expected kisses from the young miss parents, she still wasn't willing to accept the fact of being someone else's daughter.

Catherine gently split her daughter's hair, made two braids and tied off the hair with two purple bands. Catherine smiled and said, "I'm done." Akira pinched the braided hair, her eyes glistening with colourless water. Her mom always loved to braid her hair, cause she doesn't know any other hairstyle than that.

She hugged the duchess's neck and mumbled, "thank you." Even though the woman wasn't her real mother, she'll try her best to accept her. Catherine giggled and kissed her daughter's cheek, "anything for my sweety."

"Is my wife trying to steal my angel from me?", Duke Cyril chuckled as he looked at the mother daughter pair. He was really glad that Emma was finally accepting Catherine as her mother. Even though he expected this sweet moment, he wasn't happy to see his daughter clinging to his wife. Akira smiled and expectantly ran to the Duke, "dad!." Her thoughts and plan were as simple as water.

Since she didn't want the Duke to punish her for making his beloved wife cry, she had to immediately hide the deed. She can't allow the Duke to know about her wrong doing.

Instinctively, Cyril opened his arms. When he finally reacted, a soft little girl looked and smiled at him. Her big eyes, black as grapes, narrowed into a silt. And she called out her father in a muffled voice. Cyril hugged Emma and walked in front of his wife. Unlike his usual expressionless stoic face, a wide smile was plastered on his face.

Catherine's hands itched to grab her daughter out of her husband's arms. She first looked at the little girl and then looked at her husband. Annoyed, she asked, "Why are you here? Didn't you say that you'll be leaving today?." The previous night, her maid said that the duke would be leaving the Kingdom early in the morning. So why is her husband still here!

Knowing her wife's thoughts, Cyril smiled and replied, "how can I leave without bidding goodbye to my little angel? I haven't yet left the mansion, and you're already planning to chase me out." Fortunately, he still had a little more time to board the ship. Thus, he came to see his daughter. He simply didn't expect to see his wife, stealing his daughter as soon as he decided to go out.

Hearing the Duke's words, Akari wanted to laugh in frustration. Why didn't the Duke just leave the palace? Why did he come back!? Bidding goodbye? She doesn't need it!! She blinked her eyes and asked, "did dad have his breakfast?." Food comes first. She still hadn't eaten her breakfast yet. Her stomach was starting to protest for food.

Cyril's brows subconsciously twitched. Since when did his step daughter become a foodie. Shaking his head, he said, "Not yet. Do you wanna join me for breakfast? I've asked the chef to prepare your favourite dish." When Akari heard the last two words, her eyes brightened. Favourite food!!

She wiggled in the Duke's arm, "let's go, let's go have breakfast." Cyril laughed and put his daughter down. His step daughter was unlike Ada, who always maintained her distance with him. Even though she love everyone, she always drew a trespassing line in between her and others. So she usually never had physical contacts with her parents.

But Emma was different. She would allow her parents and her elders to carry her around as much as they want to. Though she was interacting with everyone in the mansion, she was also vigilant towards unknown people. His step daughter might look obedient and carefree, but she was a tigress in sheep clothes.

Though she might seem lazy and unaware of her surroundings, she was fully prepared for whatever comes in her way. Without a clear plan, she never does a job. The change in her behaviour was so abrupt, but he never cared after seeing her smiles and bright eyes. When Emma was happy and content, the guilt and regret in his heart was erased as soon as it came.