Chapter 40: I know what you don't (1)
"Is that true Elizebeth formally requested my audience?" Duke bit his pen nervously.
"Yes, My Duke," Haris answered him.
Duke glanced at the door again. It's his 20th time as soon he heard the news one hour ago. The composed Duke now was trembling with excitement, his stoic face was still the same but the eyes were sparkling like a shining star in the sky at night.
"Is she here yet?"
"In any minutes now," Haris answered the Duke still, patiently. He asked the same question without stopping every three minutes.
"Do you prepare what I've told you?"
"Yes, My Duke."
"Good. Good." The Duke muttered and focused on the task on the table.
TOK! TOK! TOK!
"The lord Elizebeth is here, My Grace." Told Derrick in place of Elizebeth.
Duke flinched, halted his work that started to get productive since the news dropped. The pen fell dramatically as the stoic face sat upright.
Haris, who witnessed the disturbing change of the duke in the first seat just stared at him calmly. "I will open the door, My Duke."
The calm demeanor changed into a chill. His eyes have gotten sharper.
"Welcome, My Lady." Haris greeted her on behalf of the duke.
"Thank you, Haris." She smiled. "I'm greeting the duke of the Shar city. Duke Brice Chandler." She bowed and flexed her skirt like a noble lady.
"Yes." Duke's calm voice hitting her ears without delay.
'Good luck, My Duke,' wished Haris sincerely and stepped outside.
Duke however couldn't get rid of the uneasiness when he faced Derrick that stood tall behind Elizebeth. He saw the invincible bond between his daughter and the knight and another couple of knights as well. Emily had the same exceptional bonding going on with her too.
"Greeting the duke of the Shar city; His Grace Duke Brice Chandler." He greeted the duke as well in a knight manner. "I am sir Derrick the leader of Elizebeth's knight is dropping his Lord safely to the intended place. I will step aside now."
'The Lord' as in 'My Lord'. He knew too well the implication of the heavy claim. His stoic face examined the sincerity of the knight and he saw nothing but politeness while standing behind Elizebeth. The body language showed that he's indeed respected Elizebeth at the highest level. Even higher than the duke himself.
"You are bound by oath." exclaimed the duke, his voice was colder than before.
"Yes, My Grace." He bowed.
Duke kept quiet. His eyes traveled back and forth between his daughter's clear face and Derrick's respect bow. He put down his pen with a loud 'thud' as he got up from the seat.
Elizebeth, his last child and the loveliest amongst all. She was a clever girl, he knew as much but he didn't know at what extent her knowledge was. To receive a knight oath was sounding fairy tale and easy when the reality it's hard to achieve. The knight's life was one with the master. It plays with the knight's life and death.
"You may go."
"Thank you." He bowed to the duke and kissed Elizebeth's backhand before back away.
"Take your seat. Our desserts will arrive shortly."
"Thank you, father." Elizebeth followed behind the duke and only sat upright after Duke.
"What's the important subject you wished to discuss, Elizebeth Diana Chandler?"
Elizebeth didn't hurriedly answer her father, instead, she took a look around the office. The room was too big for the duke alone yet fitting enough to be his working place. It's plain with nothing but books, a couple of desks and also a set of sofas in the middle.
Elizebeth blew out a deep breath and grabbed her skirt tighter. It's no big deal. She just needed to tell the duke about the misdeed of the maids and also her other intention. No big deal that her father would be there, was there. He's her father still. He loved her still. She's his beloved still.
She blinked and inhaled sharply. It was just a report and advance investment Elizebeth. You can do this. The secrets must be kept tight in the jar but the well-being of the duke must be taken into account. There're some secrets she had to let go of. One of many she had to share over the upcoming years. It's a business necessity.
"I will be straightforward, father." She clenched the skirt tighter.
"Do as you wish." The Duke let her be.
Feeling more confident, Elizebeth straightened her back. "There's a hierarchy involved in the maid department."
Duke breathed. His eyes permanently on her face to her liking. The chilly atmosphere that she sensed back there now became prominent even for her untrained nose. Her father tried to surpass something, although she didn't know what.
"Is the reason you imprisoned the maids and some of the butlers?" He said after bereft of silence between them.
"Yes, father."
"Very well. Do as you see fits."
She perked, "even means if I strip off their title and banish them from the duke's mansion?"
Duke blanched. Her innocent face was so unconvinced but the words were so brutal. Mismatched her cute face and pure appearance. Was that serious to establish a hierarchy in the house?
"To establish hierarchy was not wrong, father." Elizebeth calmed as she went on. Picking up the biscuit that was prepared by Haris sometimes ago. The biscuit was so warm, it's fresh from the oven.
"What are you trying to say?" He leaned on his hand.
"As what I said, father. I don't care about the hierarchy but bullying is an unacceptable act inside the mansion, father." Her lips stiffened up, her gaze sharper. The aura she released unaware attracted the duke.
"... indeed." He decided to let go of her aura issue for now.
"To snatch back the title for the arrogant should suffice." A small smile colored her face.
Duke mystified, however. Sitting in front of Elizebeth, a few meters away, he saw everything very clearly. Including the evil smirk at the end of the lips. He knew when he saw one. It's his favorite smile when he exterminates the enemies. It Seemed Elizebeth learned a few things from him after all.
And to snatch the title that bestowed upon and banished them from the duke's mansion was the same as a clean kill for the servants. Even though the recommendation letter was still distributed before they left, it's meaningless without a title that has been snatched back by the duke. They were as good as a jobless commoner. They couldn't debut in high society anymore. Until forever. That's how brutal her plan was.
"Do as you wish." He permitted him, regardless. To brutally destroy the enemy was Chandler's style. Elizebeth exhibited the true power of Chandler's family. He shall be proud.
"Thank you, father." She bowed happily.
"Do you have any other issues you need to discuss further?" there's a hint of knowing voice in that straight tone that only family members could distinguish. The duke was never an oblivious person, he has an exceptionally sharp sense, even sharper than the king.
Her smile wavered, panic spiking somewhere in her stomach but still muffled under the far more prevalent confusion, "yes?"
"Stop the pretending game, baby. I know you from when you were born. The hands personally changed your clothes, Elizebeth."
The panic started to override the wavered smile and Elizebeth turned away, quickly gathering her thoughts once again. Turns out, to speak this issue with the king was easier than the duke.
"Is indeed the heaviest topic more than the maid conflict." Guessed the duke. He could understand her thinking, more or less.
She used to pester her about the magical realm, but now she had quiet down. Specifically when she talked with the king. The king seemed to know something about her, seemed to exchange secrets but he couldn't pry. The king's lips were sealed tightly.
She clumsily nodded.
"What are you trying to do?" It's a sincere question from the bottom of his heart.
"I want to explore the magic forest and learn about our aunt."
The duke almost slipped the cup in his hand, his face rigid. "To explore a magic forest?"
She bobbed.
"And to know about your aunt?"
She did it again in a similar fashion.
"Magic forest… how- how do you know about your aunt?" He could not fathom his shock. She was too random but successfully jabbed his heart at the same time.
"I have my source, my father." She didn't distort the truth, just covered it.
Duke scowled. If Elizebeth wasn't his family member, he would already kill her on the spot for trying to make a fool of him. He was completely certain that Elizebeth hid something from him, and the way the king acted, it was the biggest yet. Should he interrogate her thoroughly to get what he wanted as always?
'Sheesh, I'm in a dilemma.' Duke gripped the armrest tightly to control his anger.
"I will not tell you anything, father." She said bravely. The determination shone on her face. "But I will be truthful to you, father."
Duke gritted his teeth. Elizebeth stirred his sadistic side, yet he surpassed it. She was his daughter. "Can I trust you?"
Elizebeth stared at the duke's back, tilted her head with a cute smile, masking her true inner turmoil. "Has I ever lied to you, father?" The voice sounded nothing but cute and at the same time eerie to even for him. She was pissed. He knew the look so well.
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