The Return of the Luna Duchess

12 A Very Early Situation

I pace back and forth across my room as my youngest son coos and babbles inside the crib that I asked the Head butler to bring in my room not too long ago.

I don't know why but it seemed that he looked pretty pleased with something when I ordered him to bring Kieran's crib in and seemed to have left my room with a spring on his step.

Fortunately for the both of us, I am thinking way too much to even comment on that. I said 'fortunately' because I don't know if he wants to share whatever it is he was thinking for him to look so pleased, and I don't think I want to know either.

And I am also fortunate that he didn't get to see why I asked for the crib in the first place since I had Keenan cover Kieran and have him hold his brother away from the door.

I am still unsure if I should be telling the Head butler all of this yet or not. So I decided not to. For now.

Anyway, back to the dilemma at hand.

Kieran sounds fine and dandy, cooing along in his crib like nothing major has happened. He's acting and seems to be doing things just like any normal baby would do.

However, nothing is normal in my situation right now...nothing is normal in Kieran's situation as well.

Keenan is currently peering over Kieran's crib, eyeing him with a critical eye and occasionally reaching a hand inside to poke at his brother's cheek which, in turn, makes Kieran laugh with glee at the attention.

Oh, did I mention that the cheek Keenan was poking is covered with fur and was not the usual, smooth skin of a Human's?

Granted that we're not Humans in the first place and that should not be a surprise. But what's not normal in this situation is that Kieran is not supposed to be looking like he is right now at his age.

Biting my lip anxiously, I rush to stand beside the crib and watch my youngest son's appearance as his eyes immediately sought mine once I was in his line of sight.

And instead of greeting me with his usual babbling of 'muh, muh, muh', he whines and gives me a little bark.

Yes. He barks now.

My youngest boy is covered with soft black fur from head to toe. Not only that but he also doesn't have any facial features that are similar to a Human's nor have arms, legs, fingers, and toes like a Human's as well.

And instead of a mouth and a button nose, he's sporting a snout, small fangs are showing through his toothy grin, hind legs that kick with glee, paws that wiggle in the air, and a wagging tail thumping on the soft mattress of the crib he's lying on.

Yes, my description of my son is not wrong and no, I am not mistaking my Kieran for someone else's pet right now.

It's just that Kieran...has Awakened.

I have heard of Early Awakeners. I know about them and I am also familiar with them.

It's all because have seen countless of their proud and preening parents that attend the balls I was obligated to throw as the von Hansen Duchess.

And most of the time, the balls I was required to prepare are mostly about welcoming the new additions of Early Awakened pups in society before they are sent to the Palace.

Usually, such an event should be held and prepared in the Royal Palace itself.

But why are we the ones holding the venue and the preparations, one might ask?

As the second highest status in the Luna Kingdom, with my husband being the nephew of the King himself, and aside from being one of the most powerful and strongest Dukedoms, the Dukedom of the von Hansens received the 'privilege' of hosting such an event.

And since most of the Early Awakeners are from the poor, I bet that the King doesn't want to mingle with the peasants and depended on his nephew to do his job for him.

But that's just my opinion.

Additionally, since his dear nephew isn't here most of the time, guess who gets to do all of those things for him?

Yes, that would be me. Lucky me. Whoop dee doo.

I did that then and I am still doing that now. Doing my husband's jobs on my own.

Additionally, because my Father neglected me, and used and abused me to satisfy his greed for wealth, I was never trained to know what my duties are as a Duchess and how I should do them.

I had to learn etiquette, manners, table placements, seating arrangements, and more all by myself. I studied and burned a lot of magic light into the wee hours of the morning just so I can successfully host an event that won't besmirch the von Hansen name.

Even though I was known all throughout Xielleium as the Detestable Duchess, I made sure that it will only affect me. I always ensure that the von Hansen name, and most especially my children, are not connected in any way to the shenanigans.

But I digress.

Still, thanks to those balls and events I had hosted, both then and now, made me familiar with the Early Awakeners despite me being someone who is the total opposite of them.

I have interacted with the children and they are absolute darlings even though my presence with them puts a sour expression on their parents' faces.

Because of my position as the Duchess, the parents are forced to give me their respect. And since they are not of the nobility, they can't just ignore me so easily even if they wanted to.

Ha.

Even though I was considered to be a noble, I am only an adopted daughter of the Bloomsdales with no clue of my true origins. An unknown background with unknown blood flowing through my veins and, on top of all that, a Stunted Awakening state.

With all those odds stacking up against me, it was no wonder that even the peasant's never deemed me worthy of their respect and subservience.

But no matter.

I do feel a little sad for those children. I know that their families might be richer and will be living even more luxuriously after they are sent to the Palace, however, I know what life awaits them once they step foot inside the Royal Palace.

Because my husband doesn't come home often, preferring to be out on the battlefield and dealing with the monsters that plague the outskirts of the Kingdom, I am the one dealing with everything there is to oversee in the duchy.

And that includes poring over the documents regarding the training of the Early Awakeners.

Since the Dukedom of the von Hanses is where the bulk of the military comes from, the Royal Palace is requesting knights available here that can be mentors to the Early Awakeners.

From the rough plan I read as to how the Palace wants to train the children, I know that the activities are going to be rough and very tough for their small bodies to handle. The trainers are also made bound by their honor and their code as Knights to spare no mercy nor sympathy in training them.

As much as I want to do something about it, I am donning my Detestable Duchess mask in front of everyone.

Therefore, I can't express my worry for the Early Awakeners I get to receive greetings from each and every event I hosted.

It also doesn't help that their parents see me as an eyesore. After they say their greetings, they immediately herd their children away from me as if I was some kind of plague they have to avoid as soon as they're able.

With a small and self-deprecating smile on my face, I lean down to cup Kieran's cheek. I want to comfort myself as well as hide my expression lest Keenan looks up at me and sees why I've been making faces.

I don't know if I can stop myself from telling him what was exactly on my mind if he asks me what was wrong. And I don't think he's ready to hear everything yet.

Kieran's black fur, the same color as my hair, is soft and warm under my skin and I close my eyes, relishing and basking in the warming presence he is giving me.

What can I do in this situation when I know just what kind of future is waiting for Kieran if someone other than me and Keenan knows what happened just now?

"Whoa," Keenan whispers beside me. "I still can't believe it."

Despite the heaviness, anxiety, and worrying I'm feeling, I can't help but smile at Keenan's reaction.

"Yes, you're right, sweetie. It is, indeed, whoa," I tell him.

From the corner of my eye, I see him look up at me. "Are you upset that Kieran managed to turn, Mommy?"

Swiveling my head towards him, I see that he's also worried. However, I know that he's not worried for the same reason as I have been.

He doesn't know that I am upset to discover that Kieran Awakened so early. If someone finds out, they'll only send him away to the Palace for that damned training. And I know that the King will be very interested in my youngest since he's the first pup to Awaken at the age of two.

And Kieran will be taken away from me again.

No, Keenan has no idea of what's going into my mind right now.

For all I know, he probably thought that I am upset that Kieran had turned and I...well, I will never turn like he or anyone around me does.

In truth, I don't care whether I get to ever Awaken in the future or not. Because I know I never did and it never bothered me.

What bothered me the most back then was not being able to be with my boys.

Shaking my head at Keenan, I give him a serene smile and reached over to softly run my fingers through his hair.

"No, sweetie. I am not upset that Kieran turned."

I use his term for Awaken. He probably doesn't know that is the term for what just happened to Kieran.

"I'm actually worried because there have never been any reports of pups in the Kingdom who turned at Kieran's age," I continue.

"And..." he frowns, his face scrunching as he thinks about what I just said. "That's a good thing, right? Being a first is always a good thing, anyway."

He says that with a shrug, looking so cool and confident with what he just said. It was so adorable that I want to just grab him and hug him close.

However, this is Keenan, not Kieran. He is a different story so I will take my time before I can do such a thing with him.

I think I can wait since with how we're talking and interacting so freely and less wary compared to last night, I think me wanting to hug and cuddle him won't be so far ahead in the future.

"Haha, well, normally, that IS the way to go," I tell him. "However, there are also times when being the first one is not good..." I falter and purse my lips together, not knowing how I can proceed from there.

I can't tell him what will happen to his brother once people know he had Awakened at this age. However, I know I have to tell him something--

"I get it, Mommy."

Keenan's voice suddenly pierces through my thoughts and I had to do a double-take his way to make sure that I heard him right.

Did he just--

Seeming to read my mind, Keenan gives me a nod and turns his attention back to his brother. Reaching down with a hand, he ruffles his brother's hair which made Kieran giggle.

"You want to keep this a secret until Daddy comes back, am I right?" He turns to me with a beaming smile.

I don't know what to do. I want to laugh or sigh in relief at that and in the end, I found myself doing both.

I don't want to lie to my boys.

But not telling Keenan about what I know and what I have experienced so far is already considered lying by omission. Since I'm already lying, saying another small white lie to protect his innocence and make him not worry about his brother's future won't make that much difference.

At least, I hope it won't.

"Haha, yes. But how about this?" I turn to him and put my hands on his shoulder while I suggest with a smile. "Since Kieran is still a baby, he will need to become stronger first to control his new abilities before we tell Daddy. And if Daddy finds out that Kieran has Awakened--uh, I mean, turned, and is also strong like you and Daddy, won't Daddy be happier?"

I watch as he seems to ponder my words carefully. I may look like I am calm with a serene smile on my face but in reality, I am actually shaking with nerves on the inside.

Before my mind can think of all the what-ifs, Keenan suddenly looks up at me and smiled.

"Yep! I think that's a great idea!" he then looks away, seeming a little bit shy all of a sudden. "D-does this mean that this is my and Mommy's secret? Just the two of us?"

"Yes, baby. This is just between you and me." I want to sag with relief that he is okay with keeping this to ourselves.

He lifts a hand and offers me his pinky. "Promise?"

Grinning back, I hook my pinky with his. And with that, another promise was struck.

Both Keenan and I will keep Kieran's very early Awakening under wraps until I find a way to spare him from going to the Palace. I think I recall Keenan not going to the Palace when he Awakened but I don't know how he did it.

I need to find out what it was so I can protect my two boys from sharing the same fate as those Early Awakened pups.

And maybe...just maybe, find a way to also spare those children from a life of intense hardship.