CHAPTER 5: I AM THE DUCHESS?

Upon arriving at the tavern, I walked straight toward the bartender.

"Hello, Yana." Karl greeted me.

"Is Sir Herwin here?"

"Ah yes, he is in the office."

"Thanks..." Leiana smiled and left.

I just discovered that this tavern was just a fake façade and the real face of this is an information guild and place where mercenaries usually come. How did I discover it? It is because of Leitz. I am working here as a server. I always bring Leitz with me.

There was this one time that he went upstairs where only the owner, Sir Herwin, and the manager, Karl.

FLASHBACK

While working I am always checking Leitz now and then. Karl gives him a space in the corner of the counter.

If Leitz doesn't want to play outside, he just sits there reading books or talking and helping Karl with small things. I don't mind Leitz doing it as long as he didn't bother other people here or give trouble.

Karl loves Leitz's presence so I let them be. I checked him now and then since Karl couldn't focus his all attention on my son, for he also had some work to do. I caught in the corner of my eyes he is walking upstairs.

I sighed. I know my son is full of curiosity but he already knows that upstairs is off-limits. I followed him to bring him back down. However, when reaching the second floor. I couldn't see Leitz nor his shadow.

"Leitz?" I try to call out his name but no one answered.

My heart started to get nervous when I couldn't see him and there is only one door on the second floor. I know that it is the office of the owner but I still got a little bit nervous about this.

I walked toward the door and grabbed the door knob. I twist it open and enter the room. There I saw my son talking with Sir Herwin, whose age is enough to be my father. The two of them look at me.

"Oh, Leiana. Your son is very clever," Sir Herwin complimented while laughing.

"Pardon?"

"Hmm... this boy is smart. You raised him well."

"I am sorry, Sir. But I couldn't understand anything. Also, I apologize for entering your office on his behalf."

The old man chuckled. "It is nothing. I like this boy."

"Thank you..." is all I could say with my confusion.

FLASHBACK END

Ever since then, if Leitz doesn't want to play outside. He stays in Sir Herwin's office. But at that time also, I learned that the second floor is covered in magic. If an ordinary person went upstairs, usually they will see many doors. And the door to his office shouldn't be visible.

But then, when Leitz went upstairs he managed to find the door to his office and break the magic that was cast upstairs. The reason why only see one door since I am following him.

I reached the last door at the corner on the second floor. I knocked before opening the door and then enter, before closing the door behind me. I saw a man, sitting behind the desk reading a document. I silently sat on the couch taking off my hood.

"Wow, I couldn't believe that you are so confident entering my office as it was just like your home." Putting down the document, he read and looked at me.

"What brings you here, Yana?" he smiles.

They started me calling that nickname as time passes when I am working here.

"Sir Herwin I need some information regarding the Duke of Galhardo."

Herwin flinched. "Your straightforwardness always surprised me, Missy."

"What? Do you want me to try having a cute conversation with you?" I said with a blank expression.

Sir Herwin is pestering me to be his daughter and let Leitz be his grandson. But I always refuse him for it is no sense to do so. He told me that he always wanted to have a daughter. However, the god didn't want to for he got three sons.

"That would be scary," he chuckled. "Leitz is a cute child. I wondered where he could inherit it. If it isn't from you, from his father instead?"

"Oh? So, you are going to tell me now? who is Leitz's father?"

"As the head of the well-known mercenary guild. I doubt you still don't know when you saw him in flesh."

"I did?"

"Of course, before you lost your memories."

Of course, what, would I expect from the great leader of the mercenary and an information guild? It will be a surprise if he didn't know about my situation.

"Saying that, did you gather information about me?"

He just shrugged his shoulders.

"Then, may I know about my identity as to why I am here? Why I did get pregnant. Seems like I am hiding here. I ran from somewhere."

Sir Herwin stares into my eyes.

"Let's say I will tell you one thing for now?"

"One thing?"

"Choose well. What do you want to know? About Leitz's father or your identity?"

I went into silence. It did give me a second thought and tempted me to ask about myself instead. However, Leitz is my utmost priority here.

"Please just tell me about the duke."

"Hmm..." he stands up and on the couch across from me. "Is that really what you want to know?"

"My son is my utmost priority."

"Why? Did Leitz ask about his father?"

I shake my head. "He didn't even look for him. It's just something happened today."

"Happened?"

"Leitz and Hebron caught in a fight today with kids who were five years older than them."

"Did he suffer serious injury?" he asked worriedly.

"That would be understandable if that happened. However, Leitz didn't have that many injuries, I know I should be happy. But, those kids older than him were covered in bruises and they are putting it on, Leitz."

"Did Leitz do that?" he confirmed.

"Hebron said so. Such a child wouldn't lie right?"

"Hebron, the son of Vera, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, that kid is good so I know he won't lie for such a thing."

"Right?"

"Did he say something else?" Sir Herwin asked casually.

I flinched but then compose myself.

"He said that he saw Leitz's red eyes glowing."

"That is understandable," he said while nodding his head.

"I don't understand at all," I bluntly said.

He laughs and sits comfortably on the couch.

"Your son's black hair and red eyes are already strong proof that Galhardo's blood is running in his veins."

Well, I know that he is the duke's son so, of course, his blood is also running in his system.

"But glowing red eyes? Your son can't be denied now that he is a bloody member of the Galhardo's family."

"So? What is this about glowing red eyes and the Galhardo?"

This old man is keeping me on edge.

"You know it is not that easy to gather information about the Galhardo Duchy. As you can see, they already existed before the Empire."

He is taking a rounding way conversation. Ugh!

"So, you are saying that you couldn't take a bite of the cake?" provoking him.

"Yana..." he sighed. "Why are you provoking an old man like me? Don't you know it is bad for my heart?" acted weakly.

"If your heart is weak then I guess you shouldn't be here sitting in front of me?" I crossed my arms in front of me.

"Old man... I know you can still afford to wage a war so don't exaggerate things."

"Ah~ this child. You are really cold, aren't you?"

"Pardon?" feigning ignorance.

"Before your face was so calm that I thought you never know how to smile or get angry. If you only just stood at the corner, I will think of you as a human doll in the corner. Then you blinked and then move. It gave me a heart attack you know! I thought a doll was moving!"

"Did I ever change?" hesitantly. Would he know that I wasn't the real Leiana?

He sighed.

"W-Why are you kept on sighing old man?"

"Because I am old..."

What the heck is this nonsense conversation?

"Let's go back to our main topic, shall we?"

"What topic?" he feigns ignorance.

Why? you! Ho~ calm down Leiana. He is an old man that you must understand.

"Damn old man. If you are sick then I will leave. I will find a way on my own..."

I was about to stand up when he stops me.

"Fine. I will tell you what I heard about them."

I sat comfortably again and smiled. "I want to know about their crimson eyes."

"Of all things... why it has to be the crimson eyes?"

"Of course, Leitz has it. As a mother, I should know what it would bring to my son."

"If you want to know about their crimson eyes, it's the same thing as asking about their origin. From what I have heard, their origin exists before the royalty and it was kept a secret from the outsider. No, let me rephrase that. It was not kept a secret but no one exactly knows about their origin except the family descendants, servants who serve the duchy for generations, and the imperial family."

"So, you don't know anything?" I pointed out.

"All I know is a rumor."

"Rumor?"

"Yes. It said that the reason why the Galhardo Duchy has a unique crimson eye is that there was once a duke who made a pact with a demon woman. The duke wanted his heir to be powerful as well as the future generations. Therefore, he made the demon give birth to his heir, and that made them a half-demon. That child was born with unique crimson eyes just like his mother demon and black hair like his father's. Then, the next generation had a trait with crimson eyes and black hair."

"What does the effect of their eyes glowing?"

"When their eyes glow, it enhances their strength and gives them power. So, there is a possibility that Leitz really could have done that to those three 10 years, old kids."

Why do I not remember this trivial matter? What's the use that I read the story once but only remember the fragments of remarkable events and the plot?

"If you don't plan to let Leitz be the successor of the duke you must hide him well. I heard that the duke did not take in a new duchess nor did have a new heir. If he knew about Leitz's existence then for sure he will come to get him."

If I remember correctly Leitz will meet his father at the age of fifteen years old. Then, Leitz and Leiana were brought to the mansion, and it became messy and Leiana was killed.

But why Leitz didn't even blink to kill his mother who gave birth and raised him? I tried to remember something from what I read, but I really couldn't remember more than what I have now.

What is the common reason that a child can kill their parents? Was it, that they weren't treated well? They are being abused? Beaten? If so, did the original Leiana didn't love her son? But before she go, she did say that he love him.

"Y...na"

"Ya..."

"Yana!"

"Yes?" I blinked and looked at Sir Herwin.

"You lost in your thought..."

"I am sorry... what is that you say?"

"I was talking about the traditions of the Galhardo."

"There was a tradition?" furrowing my brows.

"Hmm!" he nodded and smiled. "Divorce isn't approved at the Galhardo duchy. All the children of Galhardo including the illegitimate must be acknowledged as Galhardo and be treated as one of them.

To avoid Galhardo's children being raised outside the duchy, divorce is against their tradition.

No children who have a Galhardo's blood be raised outside of the duchy and without their knowledge. Is the utmost law of the Galhardo family."

"And what is the divorce thing connected to me?"

"Huh?" he tilted his head. "Aren't you the duchess?"

"HA?" I gaped.

I am the what?

He smiles mischievously. "So, what is your plan now, duchess?"