Chapter 4

"Knock, knock "

"Princess?"

A maid knocked at the door of princess Evelyn.

"Yes, What is it?"

"His grace the Duke Valore is in the drawing room."

Surprised Evelyn jumped up from her bed where she was reading her book.

She opened the door and spoke harshly.

"What?"

"You should have told me about him coming hear as soon as he arrived."

"W-We're sorry princess, please forgive us this time"

"Leave that for now and dress me up beautifully so that I can meet up with the duke."

"Y-yes"

The Doors opened and a beautiful girl appeared in front of the Duke Valore.

She bowed her head and said her greetings to the Duke.

They left the drawing room and went into the garden of the royal palace and had chat over there for while.

The duke got up from his seat.

"It was nice meeting you today."

"Ah,yes"

"If you face any problem in future then feel free ask this uncle of yours."

"Hmm" Evelyn nodded energetically.

"I should be get going now."

Then She spoke to her caretaker "Gannett, I'm going to send off the duke."

The Duke spoke up

"Ahh, there's no need for you to come with me to send me off."

She looked dissatisfied but agreed reluctantly.

"Then please give my regards to Dahlia and the Duchess when you go back."

"Uh, yes sure."

The Duke left by himself.

As he was passing through the avenue he saw a small girl hiding herself behind the bushes in the garden.

He looked at her from afar.

She was trying to eat a hard bread.

She was not even able to take bite of it.

He kept standing there and watched her for quite some time.

She looked so cute as she was trying to eat that bread like a squirrel eating nuts.

Although she tried to take a bite of it in every possible way, the bread was too hard for her to eat.

Then he silently came near at the back of her.

"Lady, what are you eating like that?"

"!!"

When Luna turned back hurriedly she made an eye contact with a middle-aged man who had crows feet wrinkles around the eyes and cheeks raised up.

Corners of his lips raised diagonally on his face.

He was smiling as if he saw something very intriguing.

He had a huge build and a body fit to be called muscular.

She stood up and bowed her head.

"Greetings to your grace, the archduke Valore."

"Ah, look up here lady, I did not meant to bother you, I just wanted to see if you are doing fine."

She looked up with the wide eyes.

With her small figure and big bright pair of bright eyes she looked adorable enough wanting to hug her.

"I'm really flattered as the duke was concerned about me but as you can see I'm doing fine."

"Ah, really?"

"Yes"

"Then, what about that bread, it looks in much better condition than your small teeth."

With her ear and cheeks flushed red she held the bread tightly at her back.

'What, did the Duke see me eating it like that?'

"Pfff ha ha"

He carefully placed his big palm on her forehead and shook it gently.

Then he took out a candy from his pocket, it was wrapped in a beautiful wrapper.

He put it in her hands.

"Here eat this, although it is not much but it is much better than eating that thing over there." He pointed towards the Bread

Her eyes shone brightly as she saw the candy cause, she had not eaten anything sweet since coming to this world.

"Cough, cough "

But she controlled herself, the Duke who saw that was barely able to hold back his laughter.

She spoke up as she tried to give it back.

"I hate to say this but I cannot accept this sweet offer of yours."

"Then you would not eat it?"

"No"

Although her heart said yes but her mind said no.

"You should give this her highness, the Princess, she would love it, if you give it to her by your hands."

"But I want to give this to you."

"But I can't ta-"

He immediately cut her off.

"No buts, eat it right now in front of me."

'What, why is he so persistent on giving it to me, shouldn't he give it to Evelyn.'

'Well I don't see any problem with it, so I shall accept it, it's not like I want to eat this sweet and delicious candy.'

Putting the bread aside, she unwrapped the candy in her hand and ate it.

"!!"

'Finally I got something good to eat, this sweet and savory flavour, I missed it so much.'

As she tasted the candy she subconsciously closed her eyes and held her cheeks with both of her hands.

The Duke who saw this burst into laughter.

"Hahaha"

"Did you like it that much?"

"Yes"

She answered shyly.

"Hmm, then meet me up here tomorrow at this time only, okay?"

"Yes?"

"Then take care of yourself."

"...."

The Duke left and Luna was left alone there with her bread beside her.

'So the duke is coming meet me up tomorrow, whatt!!'

She looked at the bread beside her.

"Then what should I do with you?"

🪚⚒️💣

...****************...

In the carriage of the Duke Valore.

"Next day hmm."

"She is really an adorable kid."

"Although I reprimanded those maids last time but they are still treating that kid poorly."

The carriage stopped in front of a huge mansion.

"Your grace, we have arrived." Chariot spoke

As soon as he opened the doors and got out of the carriage maids and manservants lined up in a row in front of him.

Then a man in a uniform different from other servants came before the duke and greeted him. Wrinkles were all over his face, ash grey hairs were flowing out of his head and a slender body fit to be called middle aged.

"Welcome your highness, the duke."

"Ah, Raulus."

They walked into the mansion as the Duke questions to the butler.

"How is Dahlia?"

"Although we are trying our best, but her condition is still worsening with the passing days."

His expression became grim.

They entered into the big hall.

"What about the duchess ?"

"Her highness, the Duchess is with Lady Dahlia in her room."

"Is that so?"

"Should I call her ?"

"No need I'll go there."

"As your wish."

"Creak" The door opened.

Duke entered the room of his beloved daughter.

It was quite big and was beautifully decorated, sunlight from the west was entering through the mirador.

A small young girl with deep blue hairs like that of ocean, pale white skin similar to a dead person, was sleeping on the huge bed as if would never wake up.

Beside her was a woman who sitting there like a statue.

Her listless brown eyes that were looking in the young girl's direction looked as if would burst into tears any moment.

Her brown hairs that lost their glow were floating in the wind and her face looked as pale as winter hazy moon.

The Duke held her in his broad arms from behind her back.

"Don't worry our daughter is strong."

"She has the god's blessings afterall, god would never let any innocent suffer."

"I'm sure when she would wake up, she would hug you so tight that you won't be able escape."

"So you have to stay strong."

A faint smile showed up on her face, a tear drop fell from corners of her eyes.

She held his arm that were encircling around her.

"Yes"

...****************...

In the dark room moonlight was entering into the room from the window.

A small young girl was lying on a shabby bed.

A pair of golden eyes sparkled by the reflection of moonlight.

'The duke will meet me tomorrow, huh!'

'Although today I did nothing but I have to do something soon, I cannot stay here any longer otherwise I'd die before my fated day.'

'What should I do ?'

'....'

"I think I should wait for tomorrow."

'Winters are approaching, and I think this would be Dahlia's last winter.'

'Don't know whether it's this year or not, but I am getting a feeling that she is going to die this winter.'

'I wonder why I feel sympathetic towards her, is it because she is also a side character who would die just like me in this world.'

'Although I don't want her to die, but who am I to say such things, I myself, am in a dangerous situation right now.'

"Haah" she led out a big sigh

'Rezef Valore, the heir apparent of the Askerin duchy.'

'In the novel he became the guild master of the secret intelligence guild in the Empire and worked for the male lead, his best friend.'

'Being filthy rich it was not hard for him to establish a secret guild.'

'Deep blue hairs, sky blue eyes and good looks, he really inherited the best genes from his father, the archduke Alphonse Valore.'

'Although he was kind of a Playboy, but he did his job seriously.'

'In the novel he lost his right eye.

'When he was asked how he lost it he said that he lost it in an assassination on his back to homeland Zeren after his graduation.'

'That means it was after the death of Dahlia.'

'Well I guess he would probably look better if he had both eyes.'

She turned to the side and slept.

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