Chapter 30
Alice stood out of the room, hugging her crying sister as Margaretta watched them. Daniel paced around with worried face. Even the Snowball, looking at stressfulness around, sat silently.
"It's fine. Nothing will happen to father" Alice said patting Stella's back.
"But… but… father" Stella said trying to overcome her tears.
When they heard the creak from the door, all became alarmed and looked at the door curiously.
The person who opened the door was a lady with beautiful face though there are some signs of wrinkles. Her blonde hair was tied in a bun. Her face was calm, making others to unable to judge the situation while her pink eyes reflected the tensed faces of the people before her.
"Grandma… is father….is father…." Stella said but was unable to complete her sentence as the sadness blocked her throat.
"Grandma is father alright?" Daniel completed his sister's sentence.
Countess Ashaxe smiled gently.
"Don't worry. Your father is alright." She said gently, "he just collapsed because of the overwork. He will be fine after some rest".
"Really?" Stella said, wiping her tears.
"Yes. Trust me. Did you think he will die because he collapsed once?" the Countess tried to joke, calming to already tensed moods.
"No. I was just scared" Stella said dejectedly.
Everyone in room suddenly became gloomy by hearing Stella's answer, making their grandma regret her joke.
"Can we meet father?" Alice asked.
"The Duke is sleeping right now so be careful not to disturb him" the Countess said.
Suddenly everyone in the room smiled and the stressfulness around them started to disappear.
Alice, Stella and Daniel walked in as Margaretta waited outside. The room was big and decorated with gems and gold. In the middle, there was a huge bed with Duke sleeping on it peacefully. The Duchess was sitting on the chair placed beside the bed, as she wiped his face.
Her sad pink eyes looked at her sleeping husband, were filled with tears. Her face that would always have a beautiful smile is now dull. The cheerfulness around her is no longer felt, instead only sadness can be found.
Dr. Charles was standing beside her, checking his patient's pulse. Ben and Maria were taking care of the medicines and sanitations. The Count Ashaxe stood farther away looking at everyone calmly.
"Mother" Stella called.
The Duchess looked at the three visitors who just entered the room.
She put her index finger on her lips and said "shuu".
They walked towards the bed as Stella nodded. The Duke still looked pale, no different from before. But with his closed eyes, he looked calm.
They stayed for some time, and then Duchess asked them to leave and let the elders take care of him. Alice took her siblings out as she felt that they will only feel terrible if they watched him more. Outside, they found only Snowball waiting for them. It came licked them continuously, trying to cheer them up.
Alice patted its head and asked to be silent.
Alice took her siblings and her pet to garden and found her grandma and Margaretta talking with each other as they drank their tea under the parlor. When Margaretta noticed them, she waved at them. Alice waved her hand and led others towards them.
"You are finally here" Countess Ashaxe asked.
"Grandma, thank you to accompany Maggie" Alice said.
"It's fine. I can't leave a guest alone in the hallway" the Countess.
"Alice let's go to shopping" Margaretta suddenly suggested.
"What?" Alice asked, completely taken aback.
"You see. I am leaving tomorrow. I was unable to spend much time with you because we both were tired and resting" Margaretta said with pitiful face.
"Can't you stay for few days. Today it might not be…"
"Stella, Danny, Snowball, let us to shopping" Margaretta declared.
Alice smiled realizing how her brilliant friend finds solution for problems in such a weird way.