Chapter Thirteen
_ He looks just like him
* * *
Hans was looking at the man walking in front of him with a mixed sense of confusion and anticipation. As soon as they took the first step into the corridor leading to the dining hall, they noticed a crowd of servants in front of the hall. Elion looked towards Victor, who nodded to him in understanding and gestured to a servant who was near the crowd. Once the young servant saw Victor and the Archduke, he hurried toward them, bowing, and then spoke in a quiet, disciplined voice, briefly explaining what was happening..
"You may go.."
The servant moved, leaving the place, while Victor looked at Elion, who stood still for a moment and then headed with calm, wide strides toward the hall. As soon as he reached the crowded door, the servants moved anxiously. Silence spread through the room, while Damian's objecting and deep words echoed in the room..
"But I want to share a meal with my mother.."
"Why hasn't dinner started yet?!"
His words were like an alarm that put everyone in a state of solemn readiness. Those in the dining hall bowed due to his intense momentum, while Damian looked at Elion with sad eyes; which made Elion fall silent for a moment, then he sat quietly in a place he could not consider his own. As soon as he sat down, the servants, who had been frozen for a while, realized what they had to do. The tableware was placed in front of Elion, who was looking at Damian calmly. Without words, Damian realized he had to sit down as well, so he gripped the edge of his shirt tightly and sat down, trying to suppress his tears..
"Miss Harvey.. You should not be sitting here"
Damian looked with painful eyes at Elion and then looked at his mother, who smiled encouragingly, when the Archduke fell silent for a bit, then looked at Nyla silently and said:
"It is your duty to monitor the child's etiquette properly.."
"..."
"Therefore, you must sit in the seat opposite him from now on.."
The victory smile faded from the faces of Lina and some of the servants, while most felt shock and anticipation. Hans blinked in an attempt to comprehend, but he saw Nyla smiling at him with gratitude and sitting in the chair opposite Damian, whose sad features changed in an instant..
After a few minutes, silence filled the hall except for the sound of cutlery. Damian looked at Elion in an attempt to thank him, but he noticed that the piece of meat in front of him was almost untouched. He frowned slightly and spontaneously..
"Why isn't His Majesty eating?!"
"..."
And before Elion could open his mouth to say a word, Damian said in frustration while looking at his mother..
"If you don't eat well, you will get sick..."
Elion looked at the very serious child, as if the sky would fall because he wasn't eating, so he calmed down a bit and then swallowed a few pieces of meat while wiping his mouth. He spoke quietly as he stood up to leave the hall..
"When you finish your dinner, come to the office.."
Damian's eyes widened with bright looks that melted the heart of Victor, who was watching from behind. He looked at his master, who looked at Damian calmly and left the hall..
* * * "Are you going right now?!.."
"Certainly.."
He was suppressing his excitement while Nyla adjusted his shirt collar. She winked at him and pinched his nose.
"Won't you tell your mother the secret?"
"Later.."
He left Nyla, hurrying out of the hall, but before crossing the door, he took a step back and said, remembering:
"Mother.."
"Have you decided to tell me?"
"No, but is it possible to borrow your maid?"
Nyla looked suspiciously for a moment, then smiled as usual..
"You can. Celine, go after Damian"
The maid bowed obediently and followed Damian, who left the dining hall with the maid behind him. He looked at her playfully..
"Celine, this must remain a secret from my mother, agreed?"
"I am at your command, young master.."
"Good.."
He continued his way with enthusiasm until he reached the office door..
Knock knock knock!!!
When he heard a voice allowing him to enter, he turned to the maid and said with a dignified smile:
"Wait for me here, I will be back quickly.."
The maid bowed her head obediently while Damian entered the office with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation.
Click!!!
Damian closed the door with the feeling that the office was a world isolated from this palace, a world that would swallow him. It was very quiet and very impressive, but the man in the middle of the large desk was majestic in an indescribable way..
'Does he belong to this world?!!'
Damian's silence was strange, so Elion raised his eyes to see the boy contemplating his surroundings quietly. He wanted to know the child's desire for the sake of getting rid of the annoyance, as he believed. Without raising his head from the document in front of him, he said:
"What do you want?"
Damian regained his composure and bowed quickly, offering his greeting, then hesitated in speaking for a bit and barely said:
"I want to go out to the late spring festival with my mother tomorrow.."
"Impossible"
Elion's refusal was categorical without a moment's hesitation, but Damian was more stubborn than he imagined. He raised his head with steady looks despite his hands trembling behind his back and asked:
"Why?"
"Just because.."
"I won't accept.."
Damian's stubbornness was interesting, so Elion raised his head and looked at the child calmly, then said:
"And how will you convince me?"
Damian looked surprised for a moment, then lost himself in thought, placing his small hand under his chin. Then he looked at his father and said:
"I finished all my lessons early.."
"..."
"Ah.. I..."
"..."
He looked at Elion, who was waiting for him calmly, and realized the way, so he said confidently:
"I swear we won't run away. You can bring as many knights as you want for protection. I will follow every word of the Archduke to the letter.."
Damian fell silent after the words burst from his mouth and looked with curious eyes at the reaction of his father, who fell silent for a bit and said coldly:
"Fine. Make a plan for your outing and send it to Hans.."
The child's smile widened and with enthusiasm he stepped toward the seat, took Elion's large hand between his small hands, and said with genuine gratitude:
"Thank you very much..."
He deliberately elongated the letters, let go of Elion's hand, leaving, and looked at his father with excitement:
"I will write the schedule immediately"
Click!!!
As soon as Elion finally heard the sound of the door closing, his mind returned to work. He looked at his cold hand; the warmth of the child's hands was strange. He felt a tickle in his heart, so he looked at the closed door..
'Why?... Why does he look like him so much?'
* * *
He was walking with steady and elegant steps in the luxurious corridor. The man looked with annoyance at the many documents and muttered in frustration:
'Why does the work never end? I'll die before it finis—'
"Ouch.."
He felt a heavy blow and barely saved the documents except for a few falling papers. Before cursing his luck, he saw small hands handing him the papers. His expression brightened, and with a kind, dignified smile, he thanked him:
"Thank you, young master.."
"No problem, Mr. Hans, I am the one who caused that"
Hans gripped his heart in his imagination, 'My master is extremely kind.'
"I apologize for my curiosity, but.."
"?!"
"Did my little master just return from the office now?"
"Yes, and His Majesty has approved my request.."
"Really? That's wonderful.."
"I will write tomorrow's schedule and give it to Mr. Hans in an hour. Can you stop by my room?.."
"Certainly, I will be at your service"
"Alright, I'll head back to my room"
Despite Hans's dignified features, his ears felt itchy with anticipation to hear the news. Damian was planning to hurry, so he moved forward a few steps, but he turned back and looked at Victor, and with innocent eyes said:
"Mr. Hans, I have a question.."
"Go ahead, I will try to answer what you want within the limits of my ability.."
Hans became excited, contrary to his calm face, and answered without hesitation..
"Mr. Hans, which is more important in respect: age or status?!"
"Status, sir. You will see old men sometimes bowing to a child.."
Damian nodded convincingly and then said:
"My mother says I must respect those older than me regardless of their status"
Hans felt that the child held a grudge, so to calm the situation and perhaps out of his realization of Nyla Harvey's intentions, he said:
"I think the Lady does not know that there are people whose actions you must not overlook; the masters must discipline them.."
"Good idea.."
"..."
"Ah, where is Mrs. Amanda? I haven't seen her since this morning.."
"She went to visit her daughter in the countryside. Taina gave birth to a beautiful child.."
"Beautiful news. Will you visit her too?"
It was a kind smile and innocent curiosity. Victor fell silent for a bit and then shook his head in negation..
"I am very busy; it will be difficult to go.."
Damian was about to speak, but he saw that Victor's expression was tired, so he answered regretfully:
"That's a pity.."
"..."
"I must go.. Goodbye"
Victor felt that these were not the words Damian wanted to say, but before he could ask him, the child retreated energetically toward the kitchen..
* * *
"Why is the young master here?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Look at her.."
The servants had formed a barrier in front of the kitchen door, while they were whispering in clear voices, when the kind child was sitting on the chair and in front of him was a blonde young woman sitting on the floor in a humiliating position..
"I don't even remember your name.."
"Young master.. I didn't mean to.."
"You must not interrupt me"
Lina's limbs trembled. He didn't scream, but he spoke in a steady tone and with a look that carried much hatred. Lina shrank a little while he breathed calmly:
"I don't care who you are, but if you or anyone in this place tries to approach my mother or disturb her.."
"..."
He looked at Lina and then at the surrounding servants and said firmly, as befits the House of De Walter:
"I will act in my mother's way.."
The tone was scary despite their ignorance of Nyla's behavior in these matters. When the servants bowed in fear, saying:
"As you command, Your Highness.."
"Then we are agreed..."
"..."
"Umm, I don't want my mother to know about our short conversation.."
The change in his expressions from anger to playfulness was more terrifying. Some eyes that realized to whom this nature belonged trembled..
Lina looked with hatred at the child's back. How could she be humiliated like this, and for whom..
'That slut Nyla Harvey, you are a witch.'
* * *
Martha was helping Nyla dry her hair. Nyla turned to Martha and asked curiously..
"What do you think Damian is hiding?"
Martha put down the towel and said quietly while holding the comb..
"It seems it isn't the first time the young master has tried to hide secrets from you"
"It's not the first time, but I find the answer quickly.."
Martha smiled as she combed Nyla's hair and said with realization...
"Mrs. Harvey, you have truly soft hair"
"Are you trying to distract me from the matter?"
"..."
"No matter. If I left it to thinking, it would be worse.."
Martha was looking into Nyla's eyes, which were half-closed. How could she feel such familiarity with a strong and arrogant lady like her in less than a day..
"Martha, how old are you?"
Martha became flustered and almost pulled Nyla's hair, but she pulled back and said with a smile:
"I turned twenty-three this month.."
"Good, you are younger than me.. Perhaps if you serve my sweet child well, I will help you find a good husband.."
This was a common practice among noble families. If she were close to the lady of the palace, she could marry well and not worry about her future. Martha sighed and smiled with sad eyes..
"I am not thinking of marriage. I will serve my master for the rest of my life.."
Nyla looked at Martha through the mirror with a calm expression and then said..
"I love your loyalty, Martha, but I love the ambitious ones.."
Martha raised her eyebrow in lack of understanding, but Nyla turned to her with a playful smile:
"If your ambition is linked to loyalty, then I will need you more"
Martha stopped breathing for a moment. She didn't understand... now she no longer understood the person in front of her, so she said in a shaky voice:
"I will not betray De Walter, ever.."
She stood almost frozen, so Nyla stood in front of her, and despite her shorter stature, she locked eyes with Martha and with a sweet smile said:
"That is what I want.."
Nyla extended her hand and gestured to Martha, who understood and placed her hand while looking into Nyla's eyes..
"If it is for my master, then I am with you, my Lady.."
"Good"
Knock knock knock!!!
Nyla looked at the door and then at Martha and said:
"Umm.. let our agreement remain secret.."
"As you command, my Lady.."
Martha stepped forward and opened the door for Celine, who bowed before Nyla..
"Did you finish your mission?"
"Certainly, and I have returned the young master to his room.."
Nyla nodded in understanding and looked calmly at Celine, who was clearly flustered by her gaze..
"Did Damian tell you to keep it a secret?"
Celine remembered her conversation with her young master and hesitated:
["Celine, don't tell my mother"]
["The Lady will be worried"]
["I know, but she will be angry.."]
["Young master..."]
["Don't tell her, please.. "]
Innocent eyes were truly a weapon, so she couldn't refuse. Celine hesitated but nodded yes and lowered her head in fear. Nyla looked at Celine for seconds and then said:
"Fine. Since it's a secret, don't speak.."
Martha opened her eyes in surprise and looked at Nyla, while Celine raised her head in disbelief. Nyla moved her shoulders helplessly..
"I have to give my child some privacy.. don't I?"
The two girls nodded yes. It seemed their mistress had surrendered..
...... To be continued ......