Kabanata 19
Duke's little Duchess
The party has lasted for a good couple of hours but when Amaury said she was done for tonight and wanted to go home ay agad tumango si Dale.
They quickly bid goodbye to the host of the party and took off immediately. Amaury was indeed tired she fell asleep instantly on the carriage, leaning her head to the Duke's shoulder. When they got to the mansion, the duke hesitated whether to wake up the sleeping beauty on his shoulder or not. In the end, binuhat niya ang dalaga at marahan ang kilos na pagpasok.
Kaeden greeted them, "Master! What happened to our Lady?!" Medyo may kataasan nitong boses na tanong.
Dale hissed, "Don't be so loud! She's just sleeping. I am going ahead to my bedroom."
Kaeden bid a whisper and bow to the Duke habang diretso nang pumunta sa kwarto niya while Amaury on his arms. When the Duke got to his bedroom, he immediately went straight to the bed para ihiga ng maayos ang dalaga. She slept on a carriage earlier he's guessing her back would hurt by tomorrow. Nangtatanggalin na niya ang braso na nakakapit sa dalaga, Amaury clutches his arms tightly preventing him to escape. Isiniksik nito ang mukha sa bisig niya.
"...what?"
Dale chuckled as he surrendered. Marahan siyang humiga sa tabi ng dalaga trying not to wake her up from her sleep.
* * *
The first thing that I saw after I wake up was a pair of grey eyes staring at me.
"Are you awake now? Good morning, sunshine."
Nanlaki ang mata ko sa pagkagulat, this place is not my room! I immediately sit up from the bed. Ang una kong chineck ay kung may damit ba ako. I am still wearing the same clothes I was wearing last night. But then... Why is my back hurting?
Okay, Amaury you need to calm down. I need to calm down so I can access everything clearly. Now Amaury, ask this man casually, like it's nothing.
Hilaw akong ngumiti kay Dale, "W-what happened last n-night? We... We didn't do anything, right?!"
Ngumisi siya at isinandal ang ulo sa kanyang kamay, "Oh last night? Did you forget already?"
Napalunok ako sa narinig. Did... Did we do something sinful last night? Okay in my world there's nothing big deal about sex. But then! This is not my body. It is Amaury's! I can't just do as I please with this. Nanghihiram lang ako!
"You we're hanging on to me all night long."
When a devastated look shone on my face mabilis siyang tumawa.
"When you get back to your room, I prepared a massage for you to ease your back pain. Your body will hurt because you've sleep on the carriage while sitting habang pauwi tayo." Paliwanag niya.
Nakahinga ako ng maluwag sa sinabi niya. Thank goodness nothing happens. Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Dale when he saw how relieved I am.
"What's with your reaction? You know we will soon do that when we got married."
"I know. If... we got married." Tangi ko nalang naisagot sakanya without telling him I have no intention to sleep with him.
We will soon divorce after a year. And our marriage is for business and political purpose only. I think there's no need for some attachments to it. No string attach para madali ang pagkalas kapag oras na ng paghihiwalay.
* * *
Nang makaalis si Amaury sa kwarto ni Dale, Kaeden immediately enter and told him the news.
"The one you've been waiting has arrived, Master. Shall I order our people to start it?"
Ngumiti si Dale, "I want it to be finish in two days."
He's been waiting for it for weeks now. Sa wakas ay nandito na rin. He can finally start it.
* * *
After the calming and refreshing massage, one of my maids entered the room holding a letter address to me. It was another tea party hosted by the youngest daughter of Count Alba. Though I hate parties and socializing so much, I need this now if I want to have a dignified image on the society. And I can only do that if have enough presence on social occasions. And this tea party would be my start.
Amaury, despite of being a Count daughter, from a wealthy family, she was on a low social ranking on the noble ladies. Her character being a meek and timid girl causes her to become a laughingstock. But that started to change when I got into this body. I will make sure that no one can bully and belittle me again. And to make sure I'll survive the day when Beatrice tries to attack me. I am slowly rising, being known to the nobles and aristocrats because I was thr Grand Duke of Brixton's little wife. What if our time is over and we got divorce? All the people who respect me as the Duke's wife would look down on me again. That's why I need my name to be the one who will become known. Not just the Duke of Brixton's wife but as Amaury Blaive Clerebold. A noble lady from the Household of Clerebold.
"Send a letter to confirm my attendance, thank you."
A few days has passed and today is when I must attend the tea party hosted by Lady Steph Alba.
I haven't seen the duke for a while now, Kaeden told me he was busy doing something. And I am not allowed to know what is that something is. I left the mansion with just Sir Adam by my side. Hindi na rin ako nagpaalam pa kay Dale because as Kaeden said, he is busy doing something. Napairap ako nangmalala kung paano pagtakpan ni Kaeden si Dale. Whatever he's doing, siguraduhin niya na hindi madadamay ang pangalan ko. I am trying to build my own reputation here, you know?
When we arrived, a maid guided us kung saan nagaganap ngayon ang tea party.
Lady Steph smile at me and greeted me, "It's good to finally meet you, Lady Amaury." She spoke.
I smiled a little, "The pleasure is mine, Lady Steph."
I heard one of the noble ladies spoke, "Look how fake she looks! The audacity of her to attend the tea party that she doesn't belong to."
Ngumisi lamang ako sa narinig at saka umupo sa upuan kung saan pa bakante. Napalunok ako when the person besides me was Emeline. The heroine in the story herself!
"Greetings for you, Lady Emeline." I politely greeted her.
She gave me a little nod and told me to sit beside her, I obliged. I badly wanted to talk to her but then my attention was caught by Beatrice nang mag-simula siyang mag-malaki ng kanyang mga debutante gift. Emeline is still drinking her tea and not paying attention to Beatrice.
Then one of the girls caught me looking at them she grinned and said, "How about you Lady Amaury? Did you perhaps receive something?"
Hindi ako makasagot sa kanila. Because the truth is, I told my parents to not give me anything. I actually don't have any interest in this world kaya wala akong nasabi na gusto ko when they asked me about it. Ang interest ko lamang ay ang makasurvive at hindi nabigyan pansin ang mga materyal na bagay. In the end they named one of our properties to me. Can I say it? Pero ayokong magtunog na nagmamalaki.
They took my silence as a hint na wala akong nakuha, tumawa sila.
"Oh, don't tell me wala? Oh, poor Lady Clerebold."
Kung kailan ko gusto magsimula iangat ang pangalan ko saka dadating ang ganitong problema. I rolled my eyes to their obvious scheme. But when I was about to answer, that's the time when Emeline took action on the situation. Emeline doesn't hate any girl in particular. She just hates how the nobles and aristocrats act. Just because they're born wealthy and powerful ay mang-mamaliit na sila.
"Lady Amaury, don't need to please any of you."
Beatrice snapped when Emeline took my side. This is getting out of hand. I am now thinking that attending this is indeed a bad idea.
"I am Duke's Childe daughter! If I want her to please me, she will do so! A Count's daughter has nothing compared to me. And how dare you to talk to me like that!" Singhal ni Beatrice.
My House is richer than you, I wanted to say but I can't butt in. Emeline and Beatrice are both determine to win the argument.
Ngumisi si Emeline at pinunasan ang gilid ng labi niya gamit ang napkin. She must think how ridiculous Beatrice sounds right now. They're both from the family of Duke. But then Emeline's house was on much higher status than Beatrice. Kaya kung sino ang dapat na magpakumbaba dito ay si Beatrice. And the two houses were nothing compared to the dela Fleur status.
"The one you're insulting is soon-to-be the Grand Duchess of Brixton. A much higher position than a mere Duke's daughter like us. Are you sure you want to displease our Excellency?"
Beatrice gritted her teeth. Gustuhin man niyang kontrahin ang sinabi ni Emeline ay hindi niya maikakaila ang katotohanan doon. Kaya naman instead of targeting Amaury, she directed it to Emeline instead.
"Ano ang kinaiinit ng ulo mo, Lady Emeline? I am just asking about Lady Amaury's debutante gift. I don't see any problem with that at all." Ngisi ni Beatrice.
Bored na tiningnan ni Emeline ang mga babae na ngayon ay bumubungisngis, "And as I've said, Lady Amaury doesn't need to answer any of you. Leave her alone."
Tumango-tango si Beatrice tila ba inaasahan na ang sagot na iyon ni Emeline, "She doesn't want to answer because there is nothing to say. Of course, a measly noble from the countryside will never have such extravagant gift like mine."
I can see something's change on Emeline's face. But then mabilis niya itong naitago gamit ang ngisi niya.
She turned to me and whisper, "I have a garden. I'll tell them that it's yours. It is not that big but it will help you to escape this ridiculous topic."
I wanted to tell her that she doesn't need to defend me because I am capable of doing it on my own. But before I can say something, Sir Adam walked in and announced something.
"Lady Amaury, the flower on your garden has bloomed. "
Kumunot noo ako, "Huh?"
Tumikhim siya at inikot ang mata sa paligid, everyone is watching.
"Your debutante gift from the Grand Duke."