The dumbfounded Duke sat there quietly like a stone. He couldn't believe what he heard from the lips of his precious daughter. All the nice things that he thought were only a creation of a theatre play. His heart was broken as he felt that he failed again as a father. A father is someone who will comfort you when you cry, scold you when you break the rules, shines with pride when you succeed, pulled you back when you are astray, and has faith when you fail. However, he believed he was nothing like that. He was never there to see his child grows up, just like his own father. He once vowed to never turn out like his father, but he was a perfect mold of him.
At that time he believed that even if he changed and be a perfect father for me, it wouldn't change anything. As his sin was too vast to be forgiven. However, it didn't stop him to change.
"Edward, order the maid to clean the Rose room. It will be Deanna's room," he ordered.
The butler was shocked as the Duke never let anyone inside the room, except for a few maids who enters to clean it from time to time. The room was always locked, despite it was one of the biggest rooms in the house. The room was facing directly towards the rose garden, and the smell of the rose lingers inside the room. That was why it was called the Rose room. Even Lady Chlaricia begged to have that room was futile, as the Duke didn't even bother to think twice. That room was very precious for him, the room of the previous Duchess, Lady Angela's room.
"Yes, your grace," he responded with no question asked.
Then, Edward walked out of the office and started doing what he was told. While the duke started doing his work, to solve the problem that lingering inside his mind. He needed to know everything that had happened in the household when he was not here. He called for his trustworthy right hand, Baron Marcius to investigate with him, as he didn't know whether he could trust others. All this time, the questions that he had asked the maid, tutors, and even Lady Chlaricia and Eliana, about Deanna, was a lie. They told him a fictional story, as he who was not there, he would believe anything that came out from their mouth.
As Baron Marcius enters his office, he tells him about his doubts and worries.
"Marcius, you are the only person I could trust. I feel like everyone has been lying to my face all this time. Can you help me?" the duke said as he is pleading.
"Help me do a thorough check on the finance, especially on Chlaricia expenses. Leave no room for doubt," the duke said with feeling worried yet determined.
Baron Marcius leaves the room with shock, as he never thought things like this could happen. Although there was something that seemed odd in his eyes, he never thought that far out. So he decided to help the duke and the young lady of this household.
Morning came again and seemed like everything was in rewind. I sat quietly by the window and stare towards the back garden. Everything seemed surreal, yet it was reality. Some say sleep will heal, as you woke up feeling fresh and strived for the brand-new day. However, for me, it was not I didn't want to sleep, but I couldn't. I hate getting flashbacks from things I don't want to. It was not that I detest the memories, but when your heart was in agony, even good memories become poison. Then, you started hoping and became delusional.
"I'm okay. I'm okay," I kept on repeating those words in hopes that I, myself would believe it.
As I was living inside my head, the sound of knocking brought me back to reality. It was the maid who came to inform me that Sir Calisto came to visit. I asked her to bring him to the drawing-room and prepared a tea for us.
As I arrived, Sir Calisto stood up and greets me. He saw the sign of my lacking sleep and puffy eyes, even though I tried to cover it before I came here. He wanted to ask but he didn't, as he doesn't want me to feel burdened. Hence, he hopes the news that he brought could comfort me.
"I'm sorry I didn't visit you sooner," he asked with concern.
"It's fine, Calisto. You don't actually have to come. I know you were busy," I said with a forced smile.
"The owner of the tavern was arrested yesterday, and his ownership of the tavern was seized," he said.
"I'm glad to hear it," I said as I tried to avoid his eyes and kept stirring my tea. I didn't want him to notice that I had been crying.
"He has multiple charges against him, from illegal trade to raping. As we arrested him yesterday, many came with a shout a hurrah," he said, with his gaze doesn't leave me for a second.
"So, I have to be rape first for you to notice he was a devil," I said with a faint voice, with a thought of what happened that day. However, the words that came out from me were not my intention. Although, it was already out before I realized it.
Then, I hurriedly change my statement. While Sir Calisto just sat there and didn't said anything but only look at me.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to," I apologized as I was afraid I might have offended him.
"No, it's alright," he said.
I just sat there silently. I blamed myself as I knew Sir Calisto was only trying to help and comfort me. It was not his fault.
"Deanna, are you alright? I have told you didn't I, that I will always be here for you," he said with a worried voice. He tried not to ask, but couldn't. He was just too worried, to live in denial. That the person in front of him was sad.
"I'm fine," I said. However, to my surprised, I was smiling but my tears started to fall. I hurriedly turned my head away and wipe my tears away. I couldn't control myself. I was too sad. When he asked me that question, I thought to myself whether I am alright. The words that I kept on repeating before were mixed up, between I'm okay and I'm not okay. In the end, my tears betray me.
As usual, he didn't say anything but just stroked my back to calm me down.
"Thank you. I'm fine now," I said with a sniff.
"I think this quite often, but you really do cry a lot," he said to lighten the mood.
"You must think I'm a nuisance right," I said as I look down on my fingers while playing with it.
"No, I didn't mean that. I'm sorry. I'm just happy you rely on me," he demanded.
"Deanna, would you like to marry me?" he asked as his ears turned red.
He knows his question was not appropriate at that time, but he couldn't just let me get hurt. It was like bad things keep on crawling, just to see me fall and never gets up. He didn't want anything bad to happen to me, so he decided on this rash decision.
"Calisto, I'm sorry," I apologized. I know he was one the best man, and I may never find a man as good as him. However, I didn't feel that kind of love towards him. He was only like a friend or a brother to me.
"No. Don't be. I hope you can marry someone you love," he said. He was sad, but he thought it was for the best, for now. He just has to make me fall in love with him.
"Thank you, and I hope you too," I said.
After some time, he makes his own way, while I went back to my room. While walking to my room, I met Eliana who ran towards me. She heard about Sir Calisto coming, though she was too late. If she was a bit early, she would meet him.
"Deanna, where's Sir Calisto?" she asked, as her head was moving to the right and left looking for him.
"He's gone already," I said as I walked past her and didn't even bother looking at her.
"Hey!" she pulled my arms to stop me.
"What?!" I shouted. She was surprised as I never shouted at her before. Then, I pulled back my arms.
"Why did Sir Calisto come here?" she asked.
"Why does it bother you?" I asked her.
"He's mine," she said as she put her hands on her heart.
"What makes you say that? Has he ever come here to meet you? Or even better, has he ever ask for your hand, in marriage?" I said with a sneer.
"…D..id he asks you to marry him?" she stuttered as she was shocked.
"I don't know. Does he?" I smile and turned away from her.
I walked towards my room and it felt good seeing her flustered face. Now, I have to make some plans on what I should do first. I have to gain more powers. I can't be the unknown daughter of the duke any longer. Then, I realized that the Spring Ball was coming. It was a perfect place to gather alliance.
At that time, Eliana was furious and walked angrily towards the garden to meet her mother.
"Mother," she called as tears started to fall down her cheeks.
"What's wrong my sweet little angel?"
"Deanna, he met with Sir Calisto. He hasn't replied to my invitation, but he's here. He must be here for me. Did Deanna didn't allow him to meet me?"
"I thought when her beloved maid was gone, she will cool down. But now she's worse than ever. Even the room that I have been begging falls into her hands. She took everything from us. We cannot leave her be," Lady Chlaricia said as she stood up and walked furiously towards my room.
"True mother, or else she will step on us," Eliana walked beside her mother.
Both of them marched towards my room. They were both angry because everything hadn't gone their way. So they have to put things back to where it was supposed to be. Where my place was always beneath them. All the maids who saw them right now knew something was about to happen.
"Deanna!" Lady Chlaricia shouted as she slammed the door open.
I just ignored it, though inside I was shocked by the loud noise.
"Didn't you see mother's here? Greet her," Eliana said with a high-pitched voice.
"Ooh, I'm sorry. I thought the wind blew the door opened, as I didn't hear a knock," I said with a forced smile.
"Isn't it a basic courtesy to knock before entering someone's room?" I continued.
"You think you better than me!" Lady Chlaricia shouted with annoyance.
"Mother, you shouldn't shout like that. I could see from here the wrinkle on your forehead," I said, pretended to be worried.
Then she touched her forehead, and relax her face. Despite she was still furious and annoyed.
"Do you know mother, that some spiders killed their own mother? It's frightening, right? But at least their mother dies for their young ones," I said with a smile. I watched it on the National Geographic channel about the black lace weaver spider.
"Ooh before they ate their mother, they ate their siblings. Interesting isn't it?" I said as I look at Eliana.
"Mother! She's gone crazy," Eliana cried for her mother.
Lady Chlaricia walked towards me and slapped me on my face. I was stinging in pain, though not a single tear falls down. I glare at her with contempt. I, who was standing at that time was pushed down by her, as hard as she could. Anger is nothing more than the act of fear, frustration, and hurt. But violence is only a show of how low you can go by being pathetic and weak.
"You think you are bigger than me now. You think your father loves you just because he listened to you. Keep on dreaming child. If he loves you, would he just sit and do nothing, while you crawled down on the floor like a dog?" Lady Chlaricia said while she looks down on me.
Then she bent down to face me on the floor.
"You should never forget, you are the one who killed your mother," she continued her words as she grabs my chin.
"I hope you don't test my patience, mother. I haven't slapped you back not because I'm afraid of you. But because you are an elder woman, just waiting for the day to die. Please don't make it come faster," I said with contempt. Her grabs become tightened with each word I utter. However, it didn't stop me to continue my words.
Then, she let go of my chin and suddenly grab my neck. She started strangling me.
"Mother, stop! What if she's dead, what are you going to tell father? That's enough mother," Eliana persuaded as she was worried.
I am the eldest daughter of the duke, so it wouldn't be surprising if the duke himself led the investigation if anything happened to me. That's what she was afraid of, not because of the killing. The thought of her wealth, power, and title being taken away terrified her.
However, Lady Chlaricia who was overcome with rage, couldn't think straight. The attempt to break through her grips was futile, as I haven't been eating properly since the news of Laura's disappearance. Hence, I didn't have much energy in me to fight her.