A Mission

"Give him to me," the Duke told me. My mouth parted when he said that. I glanced at Lulu who is also looking at the Duke. "We will talk," he told me. At first, I hesitated, but the child in my arms looks like he wanted that 'talk'.

"A-are you sure about it?" I asked them both. "And why are you saying that I am not a witch?"

The child in my arms trembled when I asked the Duke that question. I quickly hushed him down while patting his back. "Okay, okay, I won't mention that ugly witch."

COUGH COUGH.

I immediately turned my head in Evan's direction when I heard him cough. He closed his eyes for a while. He glanced at me before averting his gaze. "You're pretty, Even in man's clothing," He said.

My eyes went wide as I suddenly felt that my cheeks became hot.

DARN IT, WHAT'S WITH THAT SUDDEN ATTACK?!

I mean-- I know I'm pretty and I've been praised by him in the past, but why do you have to attack me now?!

I went back to myself when Lulu jumped out of my arms. He immediately went to the Duke and pulled him into the chair and made his seat there. I didn't bother to tell a word and I just watch them there.

I don't know if the two of them are really talking, but they are staring at each other's eyes intensely as if they are having a conversation in their minds.

It's impossible, Lulu is still a child. He can't have that ability yet.

But who knows?

A witch is after him anyway.

After a minute, I suddenly felt dumb when the two people shook their hands with each other. It feels like they have signed an agreement. It looks cute tho, especially my son Lulu. His hand is too small for the Duke's hand.

Lulu jumped out of the chair. "If you broke the agreement I will tell the witch," he said before running in the direction of the door. He suddenly hummed a familiar song which made me confused.

London bridge, wut?

Ahehe, it's the nursery rhyme that I used to sing for my brother when he was a kid. He doesn't like twinkle twinkle that's why 'London Bridge' is his childhood nursery rhyme.

Never mind, Gabriel probably taught it to Lulu.

"Lulu, where are you going?" I asked him.

Lulu's body stiffened before he glanced at me. "Ask uncle to get Cookies and milk," he only replied then he run away. "Bye-bye." Before I could ask him a question, he suddenly vanished.

Cookies eh?

Sometimes I think that Lulu likes Cookies than me, his Mama.

But anyway, what did the two talk about? I curiously glanced at the Duke who was left in my room. it is about the witch who made my little Lulu scared?

It looks like the two of them reconciled.

"I'm sorry for not replying to your letters," The Duke suddenly uttered while staring directly at me. "A problem occurred, and His Majesty, the King wanted me to solve it right away," He explained. I noticed that his stiff face drooped while saying those words.

Isn't it confidential? Why are you even telling me this?

Nevermind.

"How about Maria? How is she? She's not replying to my letters. Did something happen to her?" I asked him with a worried tone. His eyes staggered for a moment as if he is hesitating to tell me something. "Is there a problem?"

"I made her cry, and she won't even talk to me," He said.

"Ha? What? Why? What happened?" I asked him like a bullet. "Why did she cry? Is she stressed or something?"The Duke remained silent. I quickly understand that silence. He doesn't want to tell me the reason.

I took a deep breath before glancing at him.

"Don't worry, Your brother is secretly infiltrating in my manor to see her," He suddenly replied. "They don't know that I know but I won't stop him because he is improving Maria Eleonor's emotions."

PFFFFT!

I almost choked from my own breath while looking at him with a ridiculous expression. I can't seem to digest the information that he just told me. Like what the f*ck? Did I hear him right? Gabriel is secretly infiltrating at the Duke's manor?!

BROTHER?! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HUH?!

IF YOU WILL INFILTRATE TO SOMEONE'S MANOR, MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T KNOW IT!

Geez, the lessons that I gave to him became useless.

"Ahem! P-pardon my brother's behavior. You won't back down to our agreement because of that, right?" I asked him with a nervous tone. The Duke only stared at me intently. I stared at his beautiful eyes which made me suddenly become shy.

I'm not simping.

No to Simp.

"I won't," he told me. I smiled happily when I heard it from his own mouth. I know that he won't break his own words but I found a relief when he told me that personally. "Maria Eleonor can stay with your brother from now on," he said. "Take care of her as you always do."

My forehead creased when I heard something unusual in his tone.

I don't know, but I feel that he will say something sad.

"Do you have something to say other than that?" I asked him. "Why do I feel like you will be gone or something? You will visit your grandchild, right?" My eyes became curious while staring at him. I suddenly noticed a familiar expression on his face.

"I will," he replied to me. "But I will be gone for months," he said.

"Huh? why?" I asked.

"A problem occurred in the border between the 'Mystical Forest' and in our kingdom. I have to resolve it before crack at the magical border became worse, or else the monster that is residing in that area will break free," He patiently explained to me.

Mystical Forest?

I placed my hands in my chin while trying to recall that word. If I am not wrong, magical beasts and beings are residing in that area. That place is rich in mana, but it is also deadly for ordinary people because of the beasts.

That is the reason why they placed a magical border between our kingdom and that place.

And if I am not wrong, they also imprisoned the Previous king in that place...

Well, that motherf*cker won't escape, anyway. The Novel never mentioned that the Previous King escaped from that forest.

But... I wonder what caused that problem?

"The storm that was made of Mana caused this problem. A certain being tried to break through the barrier which caused the cracks in it. To resolve it, we have to replenish the mana barrier," He said.

"Eh, you? why you?" I asked him.

"My mana is compatible with the barrier," he said. "My ancestors made that barrier. Me and Maria Eleonor are the only person that can replenish that mana barrier," He explained.

I remained silent while listening to him.

It wasn't dangerous, right?

"When will you come back?" I asked him.

"I don't know..." He replied.

I took a deep breath. I guess I should not question him about that anymore, but this news made me feel sad. Although he has a problem with his daughter Maria, I thought of him as a friend.

I guess I could only wish for his safety.

"Then please be safe, I know that Your Grace is talented because of his Mana, but you should be safe when you come back, okay?" I said. I suddenly felt relieved when he nodded his head. "Anyway, are you going to attend the banquet later?"

His face went up when I asked him, but it suddenly went down for some unknown reasons.

Ah, I see.

With that attire, I think he is planning to leave immediately. Don't tell me he'll depart today? As in today? I have no problem with that but knowing my brother... I think he is planning to announce something about his relationship with Maria.

That bastard is impatient!

I am sure that it will cause negative rumors around the kingdom. To lessen it, the Duke should stay tonight to express his support for their relationship. "If you attend later, I will dance with you," I suddenly uttered with a teasing tone.

I'm only kidding. My dancing skills are only average so I am not planning to dance with anyone. Besides, I don't think that this white-haired Duke will be persuaded with that. I mean, there's nothing special with dancing.

I should think of another way to persuade him.

His eyes went up on me. "Okay," he suddenly said. My eyes immediately went on him with shock. I small smile appeared on his face which made me f*cking breathless. "Let's dance."

Nani?

I was just kidding, you know.

And that smile...

THIS IS A MIRACLE FROM HEAVEN!

"Ohoho, I-I'm just kidding, I'm not really good in dancin--" I said but the Duke just stared at me with a silent but bright face. What happened to his stiff face? Where did it go? Why can't I tell him that I am just kidding anymore?

"Are you sure?" I asked him with hesitation.

"Yes," he told me and a smile is still on his face.

Stop smiling, I'm not yet immune to your face.

Maria, I think your father is seducing this old woman.

•••••••

The Conversation Of Lulu and the Duke:

[Not a child. You were the one who undo the magic disguise in the countryside], Evan conversed with the Magical being Lulu who was currently sitting in front of him. [Why did you do that?], He asked calmly.

(A/N: Remember Chapter 3?)

[I don't know what you're talking about], said the grumpy Lucius. He snorted at the man in front of him while crossing his arms. He doesn't like this man more than the Young Gabriel!

[I'll tell her that you're not a child], The Duke told him coldly. Lulu, who was sitting comfortably jolted his body. [You're not a child], He suddenly fell intimidated by the mere human in front of him. [You were also the reason why the barrier between the Mystical forest and the Kingdom has a crack]

"Hngg," Lulu couldn't help but whimper. The child-like being gritted his teeth.

[If you do that! I will also tell her that you are stalking the witch's house once a month in the past! Do you think that you can blackmail me, Human? Your daughter is scary when she's angry but the witch is scarier!], He angrily told the Duke.

Evan's face turned white when he heard it. He suddenly changed his mind. [Let's make an agreement], Evan proposed to Lucius. The child-like being became interested when the Duke told him about that. [ I won't tell and you won't tell].

[Deal!] Lulu replied.

And then they shook their hands.