Chapter 73: 'But I’m family too, right?'

It was a beautiful but equally hectic—not to mention, chaotic—kind of morning. As if Madame Camelia's not enough to personally come and dress her, Sybil has joined in too.

"We'll make an outstanding team, young lady," the seamstress noted as she approved almost everything that Sybil suggested.

"I am eager to learn from the best seamstress in the duchy," Sybil reciprocated, smiling from ear to ear.

It's finally the day of the first of the many balls she'll be hosting. And since Mr. Beauchant accepted his position in her council a few days ago, Sybil has been in the palace every other day to help her plan the ball. The ballroom hall that was just decorated for her actual birthday days ago was stripped of everything and then redecorated.

"You think Irene will come today?"

"For now, let's not care about other people, okay?" Sybil waved her hand. "It's your day, remember?" Amelia took a deep breath and nodded.

She has sent a letter to Irene asking her to meet after her father, Count Brant, was dismissed. She just wanted to talk though she knew it was wishful thinking at that point. Amelia's certain that she has hurt Irene's feelings, but she hoped she'd get the chance to turn that around. Sybil said the lady hasn't been in her salons to chat too.

Anyway, as Sybil mentioned, she shouldn't think so much of other people since this will be her day, though lately, she has been thinking of one person in particular—Alexander. He has been away to sea since he left Osmea. He has been regularly updating Amelia on the happenings around him that it has become a part of her day, and since he's away, she only got about two letters at most. The second one being the one Christa read for her.

"Good morning, your grace…" Amelia gave the one who entered a side-eye since she couldn't turn her head because it was being brushed.

"What is it now, Oswyn?" she asked, annoyed. The man has been a constant visitor and he only comes to chat a little and then leave. "Don't you have something to do at the Keep?"

"Ahem!" he fixed his coat and smiled at her, "As of today, I am to be your aide."

"My aide?" she sounded baffled. She wanted to turn her head but Camelia's assistant doing her hair prevented her. "Who told you that?"

"Mr. Vance did. Yesterday he called me and told me that it's high time you get another aide by your side."

"I have my ladies-in-waiting. What does he mean by another aide?" Amelia's voice rose and everyone looked at each other uncomfortably. Even the woman brushing her hair stopped.

"They have things they need to do, and your advisor said I should get used to assisting you so the transition would be—" Oswyn wasn't able to finish his sentence when Amelia suddenly stood up, hands fisted on her side, and eyes shaking.

"Transition?!" she gritted her teeth. No, she didn't want to seem upset or angry, but, in truth, she is. She hasn't spoken to Vance for days. She knows she hurt him by ignoring him for days, but she's hurt too.

Amelia wanted to cry. She could feel the tears at the back of her eyes, but she wouldn't cry. Not this morning. Not today. Usually, when she's feeling overwhelmed, she knew Vance would be there to comfort her; to talk some sense to her. Now that's even going to change when he's gone. She can talk to her ladies-in-waiting, but… it's different.

Just when Amelia thought about storming out of the room to confront her advisor, a knock sounded that appeased the situation, and in came Laila with three more servants with huge boxes in their hands.

"Just place those over there," Laila instructed the servants to place the boxes on the table in the adjoining room.

"Oh, wow! They better be from someone because that box looks really expensive," it was Sybil who popped out behind to see the boxes up close. "Oh! I know where this came from!" she excitedly said, clapping her hands.

Though to be honest, the moment she saw it, she knew too who, or where, it was from.

"It's from Lady Leticia Clement," Amelia's shoulder slightly slumped when she heard Laila say, "She apologized that she couldn't attend your ball because she has urgent matters to attend to overseas, and that she wishes you all the best for your first ball."

One box contained a high-quality fur cloak; another contained an intricately made lace shawl. The third box was smaller than the two and inside was a beautiful headband set in gold with clear crystal that reflected assorted colors when light hits it. Then, the last box, and the smallest that was in Laila's hand, was a crystal sculpture of an eagle perched on a rock with its head turned sideways as if looking at her.

Amelia drew a small smile before telling Laila to bring it to her office.

The rest of the duchess' morning was uneventful after that. She had snacks in between but not as much as a full meal. Sybil went in and out of her room since she had taken over the last-minute preparations. Oswyn has also been in and out of her room and that annoyed her. Seeing him was like acknowledging that her advisor will soon leave despite her intervention.

With her face and hair made, Amelia was able to relax and walk around in her room after mid-noon to eat something and drink tea, and before the sun started to set, her ladies-in-waiting, and Sybil, went to get dressed so they can start greeting people arriving for the ball.

"Duchess…" Amelia perked up and looked at the entrance of the adjoining room and saw Vance all dressed in his usual sleeked back hair, and black leather gloves.

"Uncle," she whispered. She wanted to run to him and hug him and she knows that even though she had ignored him for the past few days, he would gladly welcome her and hug her back. But Amelia missed the chance and now Vance's almost in front of her.

"How are you feeling? It's your first ball." He asked and Amelia almost started crying. Vance sounded sad. His voice didn't have the usual cheer to it to get her in the mood. Whenever he sees her, all dressed up, he would normally compliment her first and then ask questions after.

What if he leaves Osmea after this? What if she wakes up the next day and someone will tell her that he left? What ifs clouded her mind and the more she looks at her advisor, the more questions entered her mind.

"How have you been these past few days, Uncle?" that question almost didn't leave her throat.

"I've been… busy. You were occupied most of the time too, so we didn't get a chance to sit down and have some tea."

"Hm-mm…" Amelia nodded and then turned to the window to look at her guests. "I remember looking out the window just like when I was little. Mother and Father will have guests over and I'd hear music from the ballroom hall. Miss Carmen stayed with me then you'd drop by with a plate full of snacks that you said you sneaked out from the ballroom when no one was looking."

"And now you're old enough to host your own ball." Was Vance's only remark and that broke Amelia. Her heart felt heavy, but she knew better than to succumb to negative emotions.

"But not old enough to stop you from leaving," she said, and for the first time since Vance came to see her, she saw his expression changed.

"I need to leave to help my family." Vance looked straight at her, and she looked back, further assessing whether it was the right time to ask him. Looking around, she noted that the attendants have moved out of the adjoining room, probably sensing the subtle tension between them.

Amelia discreetly took a deep breath.

"But I'm family too, right?" Amelia's voice finally cracked as she reached out to hold Vance's arm. "Your real family… I'm family too." She declared, a streak of tears falling from one eye then another. She couldn't hold it in anymore and Vance exactly understood what she meant when she repeated, "I'm family too, Uncle… Don't leave me. Not you too. Please... I'll beg if I must, I'll kneel even if that gets you to stay. Just… pl-please… not y-you too." She didn't care if her make-up was ruined, or her dress is ruined, or how she looked with her face all wet with tears. She only looked straight at her advisor's eyes, and she noticed how similar their eyes were—the color and the shape.

That realization was Amelia's undoing.

She cried so much that she was gasping for air while repeatedly saying 'don't leave me' and 'please'. Vance tried to wipe her tears, but it seemed never-ending.

And then, Vance pulled her towards him and hugged her tight. She felt his heart beating fast and that somehow calmed her down a little. "Grandfather…" he finally whispered. "Oh, Amelia…" he said, his voice trembling and his chest moved faster. Warm drops of tears fell on her shoulder.

Amelia hasn't seen or heard her advisor—her grandfather—cry before. Not even when both their worlds came crumbling down.

He's not just his uncle. He's her grandfather!

Grandfather!

Amelia hugged him back. Her cries muffled by Vance's chest. She felt her knees weaken and all she wanted to do was sit on the floor and cry.

She has always looked at Ancel, Arabella, and Reignold with a little envy before and thought how nice it would be to have someone dote on her as well. Then, all along, her own is just beside her, dotes on her all the time, scolds her when necessary, and lovingly calls her Lia.

All these years…

Looking back to when she was little, he was always there more than her parents ever were. Every good memory she could remember Vance was there.

The tears came in waves. She would settle for a while then her tears would come running down her face again when she remembered all these lonely years when she thought she had only herself.

"Why didn't you tell me? All these years, I thought I have to stand up for myself because I only have myself. I didn't have a family I can call my own." she talked in whispers.

"I will tell you after your ball is over. Right now, you have guests to meet and welcome—and Alexander. I heard he arrived with Reignold." Vance was composed and even inserted some teasing.

"You'll still be here after the ball, won't you?" Amelia lifted her chin and she saw Vance smile down at her.

"Of course, I will." He said, kissing her forehead and wiping her face with his handkerchief. "I guess I have to change," he kidded to lighten the mood. "And I guess you'd have to retouch your make-up, as well, to hide those red eyes." He tucked a stray hair behind Amelia's ear and kissed her forehead again, before turning his back and saying, "I'll see you at the hall, my dear granddaughter."

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