Duke's Intention: Part 3

***

Evelyn and Duke Keene are in the office discussing future plans.

It would seem heartwarming for the others who didn't know what is really happening inside. But the butler knows...

Jede was standing beside the white walls, trying to become one with it. He's suppressing his presence because of the clash of icy stares the two are having.

"What ridiculous thoughts are you having, Evelyn?"

Duke Keene was the first to open his mouth to question what Evelyn said. His red eyes flashed for a bit before returning to that indifferent stare.

"You heard me, Duke! I don't want to become a Crown Princess! I want to become an adventurer!" Evelyn argued.

"Haa... This is the most ridiculous thing I've heard today. You can go back now, Evelyn!"

"No!" Evelyn pursues.

"This talk is over, Young Lady. Go back to your room!" Keene said with a warning shot to Evelyn.

But Evelyn still continues to stubbornly persist her Father. She needed to at least made the Duke cancel the engagement... and the other part?

'I can handle that on my own.' Evelyn thought.

"I'm telling you Evelyn that what you want is impossible! You can't even defend yourself from the assassin's and you want to go explore and become an adventurer? Haa... Do you hear yourself?!" Duke Keene said, placing his two fingers in his temple to reduce the aching head from stress.

"...and I'm telling you that I don't want to become a Crown Princess! Did you even hear me?!"

The Duke then looked at Evelyn with rage but he's holding it in well that Evelyn believes that she has a chance to change his Father's mind.

'Haa... Look at that! I knew it. He was pretending to be nice these past few days but I don't care, I'll push this through!' Evelyn determined thought.

"Haaa... Fine! I'll decline your engagement. But I won't let you become an adventurer."

Evelyn was happy with that and eventually agreed in the end. She needs to step back for a bit to not anger the lion and to be free from his grasp.

Evelyn bid her goodbye. She holds the pink dress side and lifts it to a degree forming a fan and leaning her head to bow down and saying words like...

"I've taken enough of your time, Duke. I'll take my leave."

She turned back, moving toward the wooden doors every step she takes, and before holding the knob, Duke Keene approached Evelyn.

"Evelyn..."

"Yes, Duke?"

He doesn't know why... But every time Evelyn called him "Duke" a slight pang can be felt in his insides.

"...call me "Papa" again"

He looked down and stretch his arm to pat Evelyn's head but stop midway. He doesn't know if it's the right thing to do.

While Evelyn just stares at him in confusion. His words baffled Evelyn.

"Why do I need to call you that?"

Duke Keene flinched...

Evelyn's words were innocent yet it was cold.

His red eyes deepen and were thinking why his daughter asked a question that common sense can answer. Nonetheless, Duke Keene replied.

"Because I'm your Father..."

"Father?"

"Yes..."

"Since when?"

Evelyn didn't notice that what she thinks was said out loud.

After realizing her spoken words, she panics inside her head and tried to see the Duke's reaction.

Her words were like poison in the Duke's ear. He scrunched his face and an evident frown can be seen.

Upon watching that, Evelyn quickly comes up with an explanation.

'This mouth of mine will be the death of me... Why do I need to say it out loud!"

Duke Keene was about to answer but Evelyn beat her to it...

"Evelyn..."

"I'm sorry, "Papa". I must have said something stupid again." Evelyn bowed her head in embarrassment.

". . ."

"I'll be on my way then. Goodbye, "Papa"..!"

She hurriedly left the speechless Duke and run with all her might.

Her words were questioning him at the same time ridiculing him. It was better to leave in a hurry before punishment befalls her.

***

Evelyn arrives at her room, panting heavily. She then plopped her whole body down the soft cotton sheets and pillow in the bed.

"Ahhhhh... I survived. Thank God!"

"Child... you know it would be easier to used me if you really want to get out of that engagement."

"Don't joke with me, Gil. I know full well that you will just use your power and then what?!"

"What's wrong with using my power? It's efficient, Child"

"And then what? After using your power what?"

"You're free then, Child"

"Ughhhh! Then? I'll what? I'll be damned, Gil! Those fools won't let me go if I wreak havoc. That's the same as saying that I should just go and die"

". . ."

*Sigh~

"And besides I'm not fully equipped to use your power, Gil. I'm not strong enough."

"Don't worry, you'll get your power back, Child."

"Yeah~"

She right then, fall into the darkness as her heavy eyes blinked before closing and falling into a deep sleep.

"You'll get your powers back as well as your memories, Child. Don't worry. I won't let you get hurt again..."

Evelyn didn't hear Gil's determination as Evelyn was in deep sleep, visiting the Dreamland.

***

*Knock... *Knock

"Who is it?"

"It's the butler Jede, Lady Evelyn."

*Sigh~

Evelyn put down her book and let Sheila open the door.

"Lady Evelyn, the Duke wants you to join him in the garden this afternoon."

She tilts her head and asked.

"What for?"

"For tea..." The butler didn't look at Evelyn and only waited for the reply.

"Tea... I wonder what's gotten into the Duke?" She mumbled the words, enough to herself.

"Okay... Tell Father that I will go."

"Yes, Lady Evelyn."

*Sigh~

"Really... What's gotten into him?"

Sheila, the maid, only stare at her Lady who was absolutely concerned about the Duke's changes.

'If I were the Lady, I would be confused too. Suddenly being nice to someone who you've been neglecting all along, will make you wonder what's the difference now? *sigh...' Sheila thought.

She then walks towards Evelyn who was looking at the clear blue sky through the glass window.

"Lady Evelyn, are you alright?"

Noticing her concerned maid, Evelyn nods and smiles to reassure her.

"Don't worry, it's just tea. Nothing will happen."

'...I hope'

***

*clack... *clack... *clack...

The sound of Evelyn's shoe, touching the hard pavement going through the main garden.

It was a prohibited area that only her brother and Father can come. Evelyn doesn't know why... She just obeys the rules in the mansion.

She was an eyesore to them and Evelyn knew that. So, she didn't bother asking why and also didn't go into the main garden.

Looking at it, closely. Evelyn knew that it was different from her garden in the back of the house.

The shabby appearance of her garden and the wild grass that the gardener didn't bother to groom was all over the place.

Well for Evelyn, it has its own charm. It's the place where she most feels tranquility.

Along the path, different kinds of roses, tulips, lily's greet her along the way and a beautiful gazebo was placed in the center of the vast garden.

It was picturesque, to say the least.

But Evelyn stops at her tracks. She saw her father watching the swaying flowers and thought that it was too perfect of a scene and didn't want it to be disturbed.

But Duke Keene saw Evelyn and their eyes meet, the Duke's eyes were calm like undisturbed water while looking at his daughter.

Evelyn blinked slowly. She's really confused about what's going inside the Duke's head.

"Sit..."

Evelyn walks and obeyed his Father's words.

***

Duke Keene watches his daughter slowly walks towards him.

She was graceful and every day he thinks that Evelyn was slowly reflecting his wife's appearance.

It made him pay extra attention to Evelyn's growth and his actions towards her.

Remembering his daughter's words 'since when?'

And the lurking emotion behind it seems to make an impression that what he said about being a father was a complete lie to Evelyn.

In Evelyn's eyes, it resembles hopelessness... Like his ruby eyes when his wife died.

It made shivers run down the Duke's spine. His face crumpled like a piece of paper without him noticing it.

And Evelyn who saw that speak in a tiptoe manner.

"D-did I do something wrong? Papa?"

Hearing her call him "PAPA" again after last week's event, Duke Keene's face softened and he smiles lightly.

"Nothing..."

"Then... Why did you call me, Papa?

Duke Keene was quiet for a moment and Evelyn was fidgeting non-stop. Seeing his daughter fiddle her little fingers and glance at him every now and then with an embarrassed face, he slowly thinks that Evelyn was...

'Cute...'

Duke Keene also stops thinking and answered his daughters inquiry. He felt that if he takes longer answering, his daughter will be sweating buckets.

"We should spend our time together..."

"H-Huh?"

". . ."

"W-why?" Evelyn was stammering. Perplexed with the Duke's unexpected answer.

"Because you're my daughter..."

'Huh?'