The Return of the Luna Duchess

15 A Commotion

"You look happy," I say, smiling in Keenan's direction as I lift a wide awake yet still very well-behaved Kieran from the crib.

After the Head butler knocked on my door and inquired about what we would like to have for breakfast for the day, Keenan returned to my room, skipping his way to take a seat on the edge of my bed.

Keenan just gives me a grin. "Well, I am!"

"May I ask why?" I ask him while I check Kieran over and gauge if he had a restful sleep.

Save for the creases from the mattress of the crib, Kieran looks like a well-rested and happy baby. And there's nothing more I can ever ask for.

"Well, Mommy and I are finally going outside of the room!" he cheers before he catches himself and starts twiddling his fingers shyly. "Not that Mommy's room is bad or anything. It's just...I...We...well..."

He tries and fails to express what he's feeling but he doesn't need to try so hard. Especially when I know what he's actually feeling.

For the past three days since I woke with the knowledge of what's in store for us in the future, I've only been holed up in my room with Kieran and Keenan.

I asked the Head butler that I will be unavailable for three days and delegated most of my work to the administrators, who actually still exist in the estate.

Huh, to think that I've been doing all of their work for the past five years, I'm wondering now what they've been doing all this time.

Now that I don't need to bury myself in work just so I can forget about my longing for my boys. I'm going to start culling their numbers if I find something suspicious or if their work is acceptable or up to my standards.

This will be their one and only opportunity to be able to receive a genuine feedback from me. One where I don't exaggerate my opinions and make them feel like they are not worthy to be in my presence.

I may have changed and would finally shed off my Detestable Duchess title, however, that doesn't mean that I'm going to become a sucker or a pushover who will turn a blind eye when someone does something fishy.

Even if I am not the Detestable Duchess anymore, I'm still going to retain her attitude and strictness when it comes to the welfare of the duchy.

This IS the home of my two beloved boys now and in the future.

Therefore, I have to take good care of it and maintain it for them since it will be something my sons will have as their own and use.

But I digress.

The three of us spent the whole three days cooped up in my room, trying to catch up after all those years that we've missed without each other's company.

That also meant that I had asked for the Head butler to pause Keenan's swordsmanship classes during that time.

No one but the Head butler attends to our needs like food, water, snacks, and the occasional reports of important matters regarding the duchy that I need to see to myself as the Lady and temporary Master of the House.

Additionally, since he's the only one I trust in the household so far--who is not my child, that is--I trusted him enough to ask for his help and have him teach me how I can take care of Kieran.

Which he agreed to so enthusiastically that I wondered if I even remember the Head butler being this way back then.

But then again, since I changed, I guess I'll have to expect a lot of changes to happen around me as well.

Both of my son's drastic change in how they interact with me is already proof. Because of that, I better be alert, stay on my toes, and not rely on the past so much if I want to adapt and avoid drawing attention to myself.

I am already the Detestable Duchess but my bad attitude can still be excused.

If people know that I've been spouting nonsense about what will happen in the future, then that's another story entirely.

They'd label me as someone insane and not even my title can save me from the people clamoring that I will be sent to an asylum. And I'm sure, since I serve as the Detestable Duchess for five years already, I understand that there will be a lot of people who want me out of their way.

Worst case scenario, they'll end up making a plan to send me to an execution instead of a mere imprisonment in an asylum.

And I'm rambling off the topic again.

Anyway, despite being together in my room for three days, it can get stifling. I just want to be with my boys for a moment before I start my life as the Not-so Detestable Duchess.

I feel some tugging in my hair and when I come back to my senses, I see that it was Kieran, a fistful of my hair was in his small grasp.

Ah, so that's why I felt like someone was pulling my hair.

"What is it, sweetie? Why are you getting Mommy's attention, huh?" I ask Kieran who only looks on at me with those sparkling red ruby eyes of his.

It's...rather peculiar because are babies supposed to stare at you like this? I mean, it's fine and all but I wonder if it's normal for babies to look at you without a hint of emotions in their eyes.

It's as if Kieran's gaze is so guarded, that all he can give me is a blank stare. I don't even know what he's thinking right now.

Was Keenan also like this when he was a baby? I mean, aside from that one and only contact I made with him after he was born, there wasn't any other opportunity for me to figure out what was up when your child is still a baby like Kieran.

"Hmm? What did Kieran do, Mommy?" Keenan inquires curiously, taking my attention from his brother to him.

From the corner of my eye, I can see him hop off the edge of the bed to skip toward me and Kieran. He stops in front of me and looks up at us before rising on his tiptoes to see what the fuss was about.

With a gentle and warm smile on my face, I bend down on my knees so he is at eye level with his brother.

I am glad that even though Keenan somehow lost his way, he didn't forget about his little brother even in his toxic attachment to that Olga woman.

Keenan gasps when he sees a fistful of my hair in Kieran's tiny grasp.

"Kieran! No, no, no! What are you doing to Mommy's hair? Bad, Kieran, bad!" Keenan then tries to pry my hair off from his little brother's hold.

"Baaaaaaad! Baaaad!" Kieran mimics his brother but doesn't let go of my hair.

He looks towards the door and shakes his chubby fist that is still filled with my hair since he's being pretty stubborn and doesn't want to let go.

"Maybe Kieran also wants to go outside?" Keenan hypothesizes while still trying to make Kieran let go of my hair.

"Most probably. So, how about we just go outside? This must be why he's being so grumpy and getting violent with me," I joke and start to rise.

"But, Mommy! Your hair!" he panics and lets go of his hold on his brother.

"Haha, leave him be. He'll eventually let go of it once we're outside. I know he is not the only one dying to get out of here," I tease Keenan and was rewarded with a slight pinkening of his cheeks.

"Well, let me tend to Kieran and we'll head out to the dining area and eat together. How does that sound?"

"It sounds great!" he cheers while he jumps and pumps a fist in the air.

"But...uhm, are you sure you know what to do now, Mommy?" he gives me a wicked grin.

I make a face towards Keenan at his teasing and stuck out my tongue to him.

My first time bathing and changing Kieran with the Head butler's help was a little less than ideal. It did more mess to my room and made Kieran even messier, that in the end, I just had to watch the Head butler do it.

I guess some things just don't come to you naturally like how it was when I fed Kieran for the first time.

It took a moment but I finally managed to clean up Kieran with less mess than I did the first time. I also had to supervise Keenan while he changed from his sleepwear to his swordsmanship gear for later.

And of course, I also didn't neglect myself and had Keenan keep an eye on his brother for me. Heading to the bathroom, I clean myself up and make myself look presentable for the day.

Normally, I would have personal maids see to my preparations for the day. But because I am the dreaded Detestable Duchess, there is no one here who would like to serve someone like me.

Not that it bothers me.

Despite the loneliness I am feeling being alone in my room like this, I prefer spending time alone rather than being with people who obviously don't like me.

My sons' presence is the only one I need to transform this desolate and isolated room into something that is liveable and one that is filled with joy.

And transform my room, they did. Because of that, I am forever grateful.

I quickly finished my routine and once I am properly dressed for the day, I head out of the bathroom and made a beeline for my boys, who are fresh, clean, and amazing as they play on my bed.

Scooping Kieran from the bed, I plant a kiss on top of Keenan's hair and turn towards the door. "Come on, my guy, let's go have to breakfast."

"Alright!" Keenan cheers and heads for the door and opens it for me.

I thought that the day could not get any better. I feel a little lighter and a little happier the moment I take a step out of my room with Kieran in my arms and Keenan skipping beside me.

With my boys by my side, nothing can easily ruin my day

However, it seems that I may have spoken too soon when we turn a corner, a hearty sound of a slap seem to echo in the empty hallway that leads in and out of the Duchess's Wing where my room is located.

Now that I returned from the past or dreamt of the future, I am now seeing my surroundings with fresh eyes.

And I don't like what I'm seeing.

It seems that even though I was strict when it comes to the condition of the rest of the duchy, it seems that my own wing looks to be neglected.

There are cobwebs gathering in the corner and of the walls and chandeliers, the countertops and the tables are full of dust, the heavy curtains are unwashed and faded, and the ornamental plants are as good as dead.

Is this because I don't care what happens to me in my own wing since no one comes here anyway?

SLAP!

Another meaty slap was heard and that made me blink. Whatever it was, that sounded like a hard slap.

Glancing at Keenan, I see him glance my way the same as I did. I can see the question swirling in his blue eyes and I am sure that's also what's reflected in mine.

As if thinking what I'm thinking, we both nodded to each other and start to head towards where the slapping sound can be heard.

I can't help but smile at the thought that finally, Keenan and I are in sync.

Thinking that this scene right here, right now was impossible to even imagine back then, I am feeling really happy that I get to experience it and not just imagine it.

Who would have thought that--

"What? You want another one?" a voice of a woman can be heard which seems to be from around the corner to the right, three doors down from us.

I glance at Keenan and motion for him to be quiet, to which he responds with a nod, and I motion the same to Kieran, hoping he won't make a noise while we investigate the commotion.