Chapter Six
_ Ian's Relatives
* * *
She sat at the head of the luxurious dinner table with elegance. Louis looked at his sister, who, despite the grandeur of her position, was still tender on the inside..
"Louis, my brother! How was your tour?!"
"It was good"
"It is nice that you enjoyed it"
The two siblings looked at each other; Louis chuckled and said:
"My beautiful little sister, what are you plotting in that little head of yours?"
"I want to forge a safe path for Ian, even if I have to pave it with blood"
"Would you like my help?!"
Elite smiled with genuine kindness at her older brother despite the sinister dialogue:
"I would be happy with that"
"Consider things handled; I will help you with every step"
"Thank you.. Loui"
Louis laughed merrily and said:
"It is my pet name that our mother used to call me..."
"Mother pinned many hopes on you"
"I disappointed her; I could not protect the two of you"
Louis felt disappointment and lowered his head. Elite spoke in a soft voice:
"No, my brother did a lot for us. My sister married well because my mother had planned her marriage from the beginning, but my marriage went poorly because our father was a greedy man. My brother was helpless... there was nothing in your hand"
"My sister, I should have helped..."
"You did what every brother does. You thought about helping me escape several times until my father imprisoned you, and you were subjected to flogging and confinement several times for my sake. Loui, my brother, I appreciate that very much"
"When did you find out about that?!"
Louis looked at his sister in shock and barely opened his mouth. Elite smiled at her brother with true love and said:
"Before my father was sent to the Imperial Palace for trial"
Louis was moved, tears glistened in his eyes, and he covered his face with a very complex feeling. Elite smiled at her brother, thinking to herself:
['After Ian's death, Louis came to me, tears burning his eyes, blaming himself. Even though he was a high-ranking priest, he knelt at my feet and apologized sincerely. He told me everything and said that if he had been able to take me from that palace, perhaps I wouldn't have been that miserable. My condition during that period was very wretched; my body and soul were wasted, and my eyes were always red from intense crying and insomnia..
Louis told me about everything he did; he was very regretful for it. In this life, before my father was led to trial, I asked him:
["Father, why were you afraid of Louis?!"]
Although it was a small question, it exploded everything my father was hiding:
["That disobedient son who tries to sabotage everything I do! He said he wanted to retire; why didn't he do it?! ... You are the one who encouraged him..... Did he tell you about his heroics, about his attempts to smuggle you out.... Certainly, you hated the Duke, so when he tells you that he wanted to get you out and that I was the villain who prevented him, you will support him and forget your father who made you reach this place... You are ungrateful, you brat... I wish your mother had never given birth to you... And how did you convince the stupid Elaza? I hid everything so that you two would never meet, the letters and the stupid gifts, so that you would live in loneliness... so that you would think your father is the only one who cares about you. But here you are, acting like a fool, kicking your father out of your palace and selling me out... You will regret it, I promise you that you will regret it..."]
There was a lot of anger and resentment in his words. I used to think my family had abandoned me, but I was wrong. My two brothers loved me just as they did when our mother was around... The feeling of happiness returned to me. Then there was another event: they were the ones who paved the way for my escape after Ian's execution in my previous life... So I wanted us all to live happily.']
Louis brought Elite back to reality when he placed a beautiful silver box decorated with a red ribbon in front of her...
"What is this?"
Elite looked at her brother in confusion, and he said:
"A gift. In fact, this gift should have been given to you more than four years ago..."
Elite opened the small box and was surprised by a silver necklace with a small ruby gem that resembled her eyes. She knew this necklace very well...
She looked at Louis with trembling lips and said:
"Where did you get this from?!"
"It was a gift from my mother to you; she entrusted it to me before her death. I have sent Elaza's gift as well..."
"..."
"Our mother told me to give you both the gifts when your weddings were held, and as you know, I attended neither... I am truly sorry. These are my mother's belongings that she wanted to give to you. I almost lost them due to my father's greed, but I am still trying to fix my mistakes"
Tears leaked down Elite's cheeks, and she said in a happy voice mixed with tears:
"I am happy. I thought it had disappeared after my mother's death... Brother, thank you"
Elite looked contemplatively at the necklace and thought:
'The Fire Ruby. It was a necklace my mother cherished, and she promised to give it to me when I grew up, but my mother died when I was young, and I never received it in my previous life until Ian was nineteen. It was being sold in an underground auction, and strangely, I received an invitation to enter that auction. I obtained it after I thought it had disappeared. I found out later that Ian knew about the necklace and facilitated my getting the invitation. Ian in my previous life was a genius and sophisticated... but he was deeply dark. I have decided now to protect his heart, to protect him and my whole family.'
Elite smiled through her tears, and Louis, who felt a lot of happiness and relief, smiled sincerely at his sister.
It was a family dinner full of tears.
* * *
"What did you talk about?!"
My sister became flustered at the direct question and looked at me with a shy face, and after a wait, she opened her lips:
"The Duchess asked me to be her friend, regardless of the matter of marriage"
I was puzzled. The Duchess is a terrifying and harsh lady, yet she wants the friendship of my kind and naive sister. I looked at my little sister and said gently:
"Dora, are you sure?! The Duchess is not that kind of person... I mean, she is someone..."
"A sharp and scary personality, is that what you want to say, brother?"
Aldora interrupted me with the very words I was going to say, but the way she pointed to the words seemed different:
"Brother, the Duchess is a wonderful person. She is harsh to those who cause harm to her precious people, and her heart is very tender toward those she cherishes... She is moderate in everything, but she is very extreme in affection"
I was very amazed by my sister's assessment. I looked at her and said seriously:
"Did you talk about the matter of marriage?!"
My sister hesitated, and I saw the redness of her ears, but she answered truthfully:
"Not exactly... but she asked me to meet the Count"
"The Count?! And did you agree?!"
My sister was even more embarrassed and lowered her head:
"There was no time to agree or not, because she invited him to the Duchy..."
I got really angry. This evil woman, does she want to force my sister... is she imposing a meeting with her brother on her...
"Why is she acting like this? She knows it's not proper. I will talk to her and tell her of my refusal, and let happen what may, I don't care..."
"Brother! But I agree..."
I stammered and looked at my sister, who was smiling with embarrassment. I approached her, sitting on the floor to meet her eyes...
"Dora, can you tell me everything... what matters to your brother is your happiness only"
My sister looked at me with a warm smile and a gentle voice:
"No one forced me. It is my pure desire..."
I held her hands and said with a warm smile:
"If this is your desire, then I agree... but you will tell me everything"
She nodded in affirmation and told me everything. I was truly amazed. Did the Duchess allow my sister to call her by her name? Not only that, but she met the young Duke in a pleasant and informal atmosphere. I understood why my sister agreed with conviction...
I do not know if my sister's choice is right or wrong, but I will support her with all my strength, even if I have to stand in the face of the Duchess....
* * *
After Louis left yesterday, I wore my necklace and was at the peak of my happiness. Perhaps in my previous life, my father took it from Louis to oppress him as he always does, but it is good to be rid of him. I looked at the papers on the desk and went back to working on them. The sky outside the window was clear and the weather was beautiful; I felt a desire to go out...
"Would the weather be suitable for a picnic with Ian..."
"At the young Duke's age, this time of day is not suitable for going out"
I had murmured aloud upon seeing the weather, but his voice brought me back from my thoughts, so I smiled:
"It seems Baron Stanley has a lot of information about childcare"
Martin raised his head from the papers facing me and said:
"When Dora was an infant, I was ten years old. My family was too poor to have a nanny, so I used to help my mother care for my sister. I learned many things about children..."
I looked at him with a mocking smile and said:
"Baron Martin Stanley, you have something to say, so speak..."
Martin sighed and sat up straight, saying in a steady voice:
"Your Grace, I want you to tell me what your interest is in my sister's marriage to the Count. I do not want to involve my sister in any game or plot for anyone, even if I have to submit my resignation and leave the Duchy"
'As I expected, this is Martin Stanley...'
I put the papers down from my hand and stood up, moving away from the desk. I headed to the sofa opposite the one where Martin was working. I sat on it and rang the bell without uttering a word. The Baron was looking at me in confusion, but he was still waiting for me in silence. The maid entered and placed the tea and sweets she usually prepares when working in the office...
She placed before me the honey lemon tea that I prefer, and before Martin a cup of black tea which was one of his favorites. He looked at me as if to say, "What is all this?!"
I smiled gently and said:
"Matters concerning the family must be discussed in a proper manner.."
"My sister is not of your family..."
They were impulsive and reckless words for a man who had lived disciplined all his life, but I appreciated it out of his concern for his sister:
"I have sent the marriage proposal; until it is rejected, I will consider her family..."
I felt his stammering and confusion. He barely gathered his words and said:
"Your Highness!! Please tell me, I don't want...."
"You don't want your sister to be harmed, and you desire her happiness, correct?!"
I knew what he wanted to say, so I cut off his words because I feared he might think of refusal. He looked at me with questioning and strong eyes:
"Your Grace knows what I want, so please tell me..."
I smiled with genuine kindness; I don't want them to be hurt again, so I said in a gentle and cheerful voice:
"If I tell you that I desire a happy life for the people precious to me, would you believe me?!"
"..."
I felt his shock, but I urged him to answer:
"Do you think I am sincere?!"
Martin stammered more, then sighed and looked at me firmly:
"I believe you, my Lady, but if I feel danger for my sister, I will not hesitate"
His threat was gentle, so I laughed softly and told him:
"Thank you, Baron Stanley, for the advice, and I appreciate that very much..."
The Baron hesitated and then spoke:
"This evening we will send the response letter, my Lady..."
I was surprised, but I replied in a kind manner:
"I await your response impatiently"
Martin bowed and then said in a somewhat nervous manner:
"Alright, I will return to work..."
He sat in his place on the sofa and began working on the papers. This manner might be somewhat impolite, but I ignored the matter and stood up. Before returning to my place, I spoke:
"Umm, I will go out now to see Ian. If there is an emergency, please inform me"
He looked at me in shock, then nodded yes...
I knew there was much and much work, especially after the exclusion of my father.. He used to do a lot of work, and that is something I cannot deny. Excessive ambition makes a person work hard too. Currently, Louis is busy restructuring Bryant Manor, so there is still much and much work...
* * *
I left the office and before I went up the stairs, I found Celine:
"Celine, prepare the magical communication tool and bring it to my room"
"I follow the Lady's orders"
I turned my back and went up, and I felt a prickle on my back... Why is she staring at me? I felt she wanted to say something. I looked back at her:
"What is it?!"
"Does the Lady hate me?!"
"Why do you think that?! I have promoted you to the position of head maid; is that not enough?!"
I felt her confusion and hesitation:
"I don't mean that. The Lady's treatment of me has changed... I feel the Lady no longer trusts me"
Celine was the first maid I trusted in Altan Palace after Rose, so I made her my private maid and more than four years have passed. The truth now is I don't know since when Celine was following Count Ronda, who tried to poison Ian, as he was the most capable of obtaining the title if my child died. Ian was seven when he was poisoned, so I didn't know if my maid had been deceiving me from the beginning, or if there were motives behind her approach to me...
At the moment, Celine has not done anything that might harm my child, and more correctly, she hasn't had the chance, so I cannot judge...
Let us wait for the results to arrive from the Guild and then judge in the correct way, but caution does not hurt.
I looked at her calmly and took a deep breath, saying in a cold voice:
"Trust or lack thereof is something earned, not requested... Let us leave it to the days and see"
I turned my back to her as shock clouded her face. I felt her gaze on my back, but this time I ignored her completely..
* * *
When she reached her room, she was greeted by the sound of the little one's murmuring. She headed to his bed to find him laughing in a beautiful and happy voice..
I did not want to disturb him, so I decided to contemplate him. My kind and beautiful child, were you laughing like this in the past?! I was deprived of your beautiful laughter in the past; I was truly a failed person in the past...
Knock knock knock!!
"Enter"
Celine entered carrying a device about the size of Ian. She looked at me and with a simple bow...
"The magical communication tool is ready..."
"Place it on the tea table"
She placed it on the nearby tea table and bowed. I noticed her gaze on Ian, who was laughing in my lap. I looked at my child and at her and spoke, addressing my child..
"Ian my little one, would you like to see your aunt? She will be happy to get to know you, my love; she is one of Ian's relatives"
As if I realized she was still here, I spoke with a gentle smile:
"Celine"
"Hah"
"You may leave. When I need you, I will call you"
She bowed and left quickly. I realized she was watching Ian intently; I must be more cautious...
I dismissed the matter for now after hearing my child's voice, to stand and head to where the tea table was. I sat in my chair with Ian in my lap and poured the simple initial magic onto the device, and it began to operate...
_ Alexia Marquissate, who is calling?!
It was a middle-aged man, and on his chest was the symbol of the sword and the wolf, the emblem of the Alexia family. The man focused, and before he could speak, I spoke:
"Duchess Elite de Altan speaking"
The man stammered and became flustered, then said:
"Your Excellency, I apologize for keeping you waiting..."
I had sent word to the Alexia estate explaining my desire to speak with my sister via the magical communication device...
Indeed, the servant hurried, and within minutes the connection was restored and I heard a voice I hadn't heard for a very long time, even in my previous life I hadn't heard it:
_ Elite!
"..."
I felt suffocated when the image of my older sister appeared, with her gentle face, her amber-red eyes, and her long platinum hair. She was another version of my mother. For a moment I felt I was facing my mother. I couldn't open my mouth; I felt suffocated and felt nothing but the warmth of tears on my cheek. My older sister rushed through the device as if she wanted to embrace me:
_ Elie my sister! Please do not cry, I feel helpless when I see you like this.. Elie!
I tried to gather my composure with difficulty and from between my tears I spoke:
"Ela, I missed you, sister"
_ And I as well
...... To be continued ......