2. My land

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"You used this land?" William asked.

Mary flinched. "I apologize, Your Grace!"

Julia anger rose to the clouds, Mary is kneeling down. How could he make Mary, an old lady on her 50s to kneel down, has he got no shame? Julia was furious.

"Mary, stand up!" Julia ordered angrily.

Mary did not move then said "My Lady, if you don't apologize we will be punished for trespassing!"

"I will apologize since I came here and Mary won't have to kneel down." She glared at William "so stand up in this instant."

Julia take pride on her actions and decisions, most importantly she takes pride on her peoples, and it is Mary, she was mad, she didn't like her only family to kneel down.

She glared at him with eyes asking "how dare you made her kneel?" And he returned a glare as well and expression answering "did I tell her to?" They both quite stared at each other silently.

Mary stood up and held Julia shoulder "that is Duke, My Lady, please show proper attitude." She whispered to Julia.

But Julia thought if she moved her eyes away she would lose, that was unreasonable, despite that, he felt the same too.

"I have found this place since I was young and I have been coming here as no one stopped me i thought the land had no owner. I apologize if that hurt you because I have caused no sort of damaging to the place." Julia apologized.

It was not close to be a sincere apology, empty of remorse for her mistake, William did not like that, but she glared at him so adorably and he wanted to gaze into her more and more so her face will be carved into his mind.

"It is my land. You trespassed my lands, you should show an apologetic tone and remorse for your mistake. I might take legal actions." He told her.

Well, his friends in the back were confused, he is not like that. He would just ask her to not come again, simple, but he want to take legal actions, so not like him. Why? Because he is lazy, he would prefer to lay down in bed than having such a conversation at the moment they dragged him off bed with all their might earlier to compete.

"I said sorry!" Julia exclaimed.

"Not enough!" He said back.

Julia walked away. "You know what I will come tomorrow and the day after." She declared.

Mary couldn't understand what her master was spouting, Julia is a prideful person but when she knows she made a mistake she would apologize sincerely. Now she is behaving abnormally, especially in front of someone like the Duke.

Suddenly he grabbed her hand. Julia turned to him in surprise. Why did he hold her? Why did he stop her? Julia felt his gigantic hand around her elbow, his calloused palm on Julia elbow made her jolt in surprise.

"You can come," he said "I will not stop you."

He lost. He gave up on his prideful act as a duke and let her do. It was kind of stupid to begin with. Why put an act if he simply desired to see her again.

"However, I am kind of hurt that you are not thanking me for saving your life earlier." He added with a smile.

Julia eyes moved from her elbow that was engulfed by his hand to his face. She couldn't help but smile looking at his face. He is not just breathtakingly handsome, he is nice enough to let her come here again, he is playfully trying to make her look into him.

"Then what shall I do so i can show you i am grateful. I doubt just a thank you will be enough." She told him.

William let her elbow go and put his hand on his chin thinking of a suitable payment he would love to receive from her. But his dirty mind is not thinking about anything other than grabbing her closer to him and kiss her.

He shook his head continuously, how could he do such a thing to someone, this is a dishonorable act for both of them.

"I will think about it!" He added as he was the first to walk away his friends followed him thinking he might pass out because of fever. They were certain he was sick. Julia held her horse rope and they left.

Each went on their way back home. William and Julia were left with the beautiful memory of their first meeting.

"You will turn 18 the next month, it is time to find a spouse for you." Julia father muttered during dinner.

She was called for dinner for the first time in years, she was happy that her father called for her, he finally remembered he has a daughter. She had no idea that he has already planned her future when he never acted her father, he had the audacity to decide her fate for her.

"My Lady." Mary said in a low sad voice holding a candle holder at night, Julia was sobbing mess at the horses stables and her horse neck around her small body covering her like it was covering her child.

Mary hugged Julia then tried to stop her tears by erased them with her sleeves. Julia cannot stop those tears, not when her father voice still echoing inside her ears.

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