“Hmm. Look who we have here. If it is not Lady Marlowe.” Maximus caught everyone’s attention by saying that, especially Maxineirah who quickly threw her head back to the girl in surprise.
‘Marlowe? If it is really the Lady of Marlowe, then… no wonder she seems very familiar.’ Maxineirah thought.
Lady Marlowe was the same girl she stumbled into in the women’s restroom of the birthday banquet of Drenschville’s third older brother. At that time, she already seemed too familiar but did not pay her any attention since her goal that time was to meet Drenschville.
Now that she finally knew her name, the images of her in the past suddenly popped out of her mind.
Heramia…
The Heramia in front of her right now was too young. Beautiful and cute, contrary to the past when she also looked like a total villainess, much like her.
Her pinkish short arm-length hair was curly and her yellow eyes were still clear as if she had not yet to be corrupted by her parents.
The reason why she did not recognize her right away was, first, because she never saw Heramia’s younger appearance until now. Next to that was because of her short hair.
Heramia of the past had very long hair because her mother did not want to cut it, for her, it was a symbol of beauty and virtue.
Last but not the least, her eyes were purer, much cleaner and there was still a lot of hope mirroring her yellow orbs, unlike the last time she saw her from the past, deprived of hope and as if clinging, hanging unto a thin thread. Vitiated and exhausted of responsibilities that were placed in her back by her parents.
Responsibilities she did not own.
And she was looking totally opposite now compared to then.
It was really Heramia!
Her Brother Maximillian’s fiancee who took the same path of villainess as her.
Her eyes welled up after recognizing the girl in front of her but she immediately diverted her eyes from her and silently wiped away the tears that have not rolled down yet.
“This humble person greets you, Your Excellency.” Heramia and her maid did courtesy.
“I see that my son here did something uncouth, please pardon my son for his rudeness.” Maximus apologised and even gave her a bow.
Maxwell was irritated that after being ignored by his father, he was branded as boorish.
He was about to repel when his father immediately pulled him back and simply covered his mouth with his hand and grabbed him on the head before forcing him to bow in front of the little Lady.
“Hmmmp!”
Although Maxwell tried to escape from his father’s grasp using his own strength, Maximus was still a lot stronger than him.
Heramia was satisfied with the apology since it came from the Duke.
“I can not refuse Your Grace’s apology, can I?” Heramia accepted the apology politely with the slightest smile on her face.
“Certainly, My Lady.” Maximus forced a smile in return.
“I wanted to chat with you more, Duke but…” Heramia paused and looked at the picture in front of her. She spared a slight glance on Maxineirah before returning her attention to Maximus.
“…it seems like we are both busy.” Heramia continued.
“That is unfortunate. I hope we can have it next time.”
“Will do. I will not bother your walk anymore, Your Grace. I will be leaving first. It is nice to see you here.” Heramia did another courtesy before excusing herself after that.
“Puah!” Maxwell interjected when Maximus finally released him after Heramia left.
Maxwell was mad at his father and boldly gave him a death glare but he could not do more than that because he was still his father.
Maximus ignored him and looked at his daughter who was spacing out, staring at nowhere.
He placed his hand on Maxineirah’s shoulder to catch her attention. “She was Heramia, your eldest brother’s fiancee.” Maximus said because he thought that his daughter was curious.
“Oh…I see…” Maxineirah replied after coming back to her senses.
Maximus observed her reactions after knowing that her brother was engaged at such a young age but contrary to what he had expected, Maxineirah did not show any weird or shocked reactions.
Maximus was the one who felt weird towards his daughter’s normal expression. Was he expecting anything? What was it?
They continued their stroll and ate street foods on the way.
They paused on several stalls and Maximus tried to stop them from buying anything cheap but what could he do if his daughter wanted it?
Maximus glared at the owner of the stall. “Are you sure that this is safe and healthy?” he asked in an intimidating voice.
The children giggled at his actions and picked up sticks on the stall with something on it.
The sales owner was scared that he nodded so fast without thinking. “Y-y-y-yes-s!”
Maximus sharpened his gaze one more time before diverting it on his children. His expression turned 360 degrees in a second when he faced his children, especially his daughter.
‘What a doting father!’ the owner thought, surprised at the quick change.
Maximus acted the same for every food stall that they went to.
Stall owners felt like they were facing death whenever the man asked a question, or should rephrase it as a threat?
They were close to the uncrowded area where shops were selling old stuff when Maximus suddenly stopped.
In fact, it was the place Maxineirah wanted to go to.
The place has this weird atmosphere that you could not fathom if it was an eerie feeling or was it just really quiet. Although they could still hear the noise from the market behind their back, they can feel the silence of that particular part of the area just by looking at it.
The people in their shops have this look as if they were alert and auras of barbarism. There were not completely no customers because there were at least five people quietly making a deal with the owners.
But they were all acting not to be suspicious which just made them more suspicious of Maximus.
“Let us go back to the area.” Maximus said as he suddenly grabbed Maxwell and Maxineirah’s neckline to stop them from continuing their walk towards the weird area.
“Aaaaah! Why Dad?! It looks exciting!” Maxwell said and pointed at the place.
“There is nothing exciting there.” Maximus sighed.
“But it also does look exciting to me too.” Maxineirah said, tilting her head to the left while looking at the place.
“Oh, not you too…” Maximus felt hesitation because of his daughter.
“Dad, pleaaaassseeee?” the two of them plead with their palms clasped in front of them.
Maxineirah tugged her father’s sleeve to make him bend to her level.
When Maximus was finally on his daughter’s level, he did not expect what she did next, all he felt was her lips touching his cheek.
Maximus froze and his grip on their necklines was loosened.
Maxwell and Maxineirah get that chance to run away from their father who became a boulder of ice surprise because of the shock, leaving him in that state.
Maximus was having regrets. Why was her daughter born so adorable? Who did she get that to?
Maxwell and Maxineirah parted ways to go to the stall they liked.
The stuff that they all sold were extremely rare and unique but the outer designs were so crude that no one would think it was something valuable.
Even Maxineirah seeing those things, she also thought at first that it was unworthy but after appraising it in the past, she knew that the stuff they sell in this area were no others.
Maxineirah did not need to think about what to buy and pulled out a gold coin.
She looked around her secretly before facing the stall owner who was not even excited to see her holding a coin worth of a hundred Dimia.
“Place of the shiny stone that fell on the forgotten mountain.” Maxineirah said in a low voice when she handed the coin over.
The stall owner was puzzled to hear that from a brat, moreover, to a noble kid, but because of their ‘Code of Conduct’, that they should tend to anyone who offered a right payment, he could not refuse.
He immediately answered in a natural way. “The product lacks one more gold, Young Lady.” The owner said with a welcoming but cunning smile.
The product that the stall owner was referring to was the information Maxineirah wanted to know.
From afar, Maximus was watching them. He knew what kind of place they went to. From his point of view, he deemed that there were no unusual things going on so he felt relieved and let his children roam around although the Knights who were escorting them are still watching them from the shadows of the place.
Maxineirah tsk-ed and thought that all the people in the Underground Intel were money grubbers.
“I will pay full after I get how valuable the product is.” She said cleverly.
The Mister was impressed with her and grinned playfully. “If that is what the Lady wants.”
They ate lunch outside before going back to the Estate and proceeded to the things they needed to do.
Maximus went on with his duties as the Duke and Maxwell and Maxineirah proceeded to their separate lecture room.
Their teachers came to teach them but it was a short period since they were told that the children would have to prepare for the next day.
The children both slept earlier to condition their body for the sparring match.
Drenschville was served by the maids especially this morning because it was what he instructed them to do.
They all ate a balanced diet to stabilize their body for the next few hours.
They even wore something greater in quality than just mere silk and cloth. Those were sturdy and durable leathers that they purchased and readied a long time ago.
It was 7 in the morning when the four children gathered in the training ground.
Duke Gabriela came with Grenchant.
After seeing Maxineirah in a combat outfit, Franzus, the Gabriela’s Duke could not help but loiter around her.
“I greet Your Grace.” Maxineirah greeted and did curtsy after seeing Duke Gabriela.
Her etiquette was close to perfection that only made Franzus more amazed.
‘She really has Maximus’ blood running on her veins.’ He thought.
“Say, Little Lady, do you not want my son?” Franzus asked, trying to fool Maxineirah into an engagement.
“Dad! Me! I like Maxine!” Grenchant said mindlessly with an average loud voice because of enthusiasm.
Maxwell and Drenschville on the corner who were arguing who would win between the two of them heard Grenchant’s remark and threw their heads to him.
“Grent! Stay away from my sister!” Maxwell said raging and Drenschville could only shake his head at them.
Maxwell trudged angrily and went in between Maxineirah and father and son like a little cub, posing protectively.
Franzus forced a smile on his face. Now that he thinks about it, ‘Maxineirah was more like her mother, Brittania and Maxwell and the rest of their brothers were like their father. How could he be mistaken? Tsk.’
“Young Master! Ah. What a pleasure! You have grown up splendidly!” Franzus exclaimed and spread his arms as if to show his happiness to see the boy when he obviously felt the opposite.
“Duke Gabriela, stay away from my sister!”
“And why is that?” Franzus asked playfully, teasing the mini-me of Maximus.
“My father said that you are like a snake.” Maxwell said without hesitation. Everybody was shocked to hear that outward insult towards the Duke.
The Knights’ eyes widened and their mouth agape, almost dropping their jaws on the ground. They wanted to laugh at the Young Master’s unique remark but stopped themselves from doing so.
‘You are the best, Duke Zachrono!’ The Knights thought that the Duke raised his children logically.
Those words hit Franzus’ pride that he became like a crumbling statue in front of them.
Maxineirah hit Maxwell’s shoulder because of that. Maxwell looked at her with a confused look and pouted.
“What? Am I not right? Father always tells us that Gabrielas are snakes but Duke Gabriela was a python and more poisonous than the rest of them and just now, he acted like one, did he not?” Maxwell asked innocently.