The Scoundrel's Tribute

Guardian angel

Dmitry

I ordered Rene to be dragged into my office but now that she was standing in front of me I didn't really know what to do or say. According to the information Victor gave me, she indeed defended Dina, both at the party and when they got attacked. But how? How could this childish, egocentric, cold and fragile woman handle these situations? For God's sake, she just turned eighteen. I hated the Emperor for forcing me to marry a child who was barley nine years older than my own kid. I could still remember our wedding day, it looked like a transaction instead of a wedding. They handed me a fragile girl in hope to give a son back to them and my own loyalty. Yet, what was the most disturbing thing in our wedding was how prepared she looked. When I met Catherine she was so innocent and cute, but Rene, she looked and acted as if she had been raised to warm my bed. Her pushy attitude didn't help at all and we grew distant, even more than we were before. Now, she was standing in the middle of my office, covered in dried blood, looking tired but proud and strong. The little girl I met two years ago was long gone, but also the childish one who tried to harm herself to get my attention.

- Tell me what happened. - I said and Rene sighed.

- Please be more specific, it had been a long day. - Victor grinned at this comment and I could not notice that he looked at her with a little respect. "What is happening under my roof?" - I shook my head and groaned in frustration.

- First, what happened at the party, I heard that you slapped Viscountess Ruby and Baroness Gertrude. - I expected some excuses and trembling but all I could see was tiredness on Rene's face.

- Their daughters were very disrespectful towards the Little Lady, and since you told me to take care of her, that's what I did. Emotional damage can be worse than physical one. - he voice got a little lower when she said this and for the first time since I met her, I saw her as a human being, and as an adult. I felt a bit ashamed.

- What did their daughters do? - she smiled gently.

- I don't think that's something the Duke really wants to know.

- That's not up to you to decide. - she nodded.

- Excuse me. So, the daughter of Lady Gertrude said to the Little Lady that she heard a rumor, regarding her future social standing once the Duke and I will have a child together.

- Rene, I'm tired too. I want to see my daughter as soon as possible. Be objective and direct. - she nodded again and said.

- She said thay the Little Lady is going to be kicked out of the Duchy. - I felt my hands clench into fists.

- The daughter of Lady Ruby said to the Little Lady that both her, and Lady Anna arr replaceable as their mothers are no longer alive. - I hit my desk with such force that a piece shattered out of it. Victor jumped back but Rene remained in her place. "Just what are you Rene? Why are you so numb?" - I thought but I was too pissed.

- Continue. - I ordered.

- As you wish, after I heard these insults I grabbed both girls to educate them, that's when their mothers arrived. I slapped them because as I said, a problem must be fixed by its roots. I also reminded them to educate their daughters better because if something similar happens in the future I'm going to show them what it means to be replaceable. - I looked at Victor and pointed at Rene.

- Did she really threaten them? - Victor nodded.

- Yes Duke, I heard it with my own ears. - I stared in disbelief at Rene.

- Okay, what happened at the carriage. - she seemed hesitant but spoke up.

- The carriage suddenly stopped, Lord Victor got out to check what happened and I peaked out between the curtains. When I saw that we had been attacked I hid the little lady and disarmed two attackers.

- You?

- Yes.

- How? - she paused for a second and continued.

- They haven't noticed me in the carriage and I used their daggers to stab one of them, when the other got distracted, I sliced his throat. - as she said it out loud, I saw that Rene's hand trembled. She noticed it too and grabbed her wrist to stop the trembling.

-When the... So, when they got out of our way, I told to the little Lady to hide while I'll take care of it.

- You don't expect me to believe that you, single handedly got rid of six men who were trained to exterminate human beings and get rid of the evidences.

- Of course not! I rushed back to the carriage but got into a fight woth their leader. Out of nowhere a huge mist came and I hid under the carriage, they stabbed each other thinking that they were the Duke's knights. Their leader remained and I hit his head from behind. After that I ran to find the Little Lady and luckily she was fine. I'm sorry that she got dirty.

- Fine. Go to your room and get yourself together. - she bowed and left. I leaned back in my chair and looked at Victor whose eyes followed Rene till she left the office.

- What do you think?

- The party is exactly the same that happened, the carriage incident seems to be a bit off but I've been knocked out, so I cannot say it's untrue. Also, the Little Lady said the same thing. She saw a big mist and Lady Rene knocking out the leader assassin from behind.

- Wasn't she too calm? - I asked and Victor shrugged.

- We were the same at our first war Dima. Do you remember what came after that? - I smiled and nodded.

- How could I ever forget? Nightmares, sleep paralysis, being on the edge all the time.

- I advise you to keep an eye on Lady Rene, if she experiences similar issues, she said the truth, if she remains calm, either she lied or she has some problems in her head.

- Okay, that's what we are going to do. But now, I'll check on my little angel. - I headed to Dina's room and heard her tell the nanny what happened through the slightly open door.

- You should've seen it nanny! The Duchess slapped those ugly ladies so strongly that I saw their faces tremble, their daughters got so shocked that I think they peed themselves! Oh and when we got attacked she was so cool and calm! She made sure I was fine and than bam, bam hit the bad guys!

- Oh I'm glad that despite everything the Lady had a good day. I was worried that you'll be shocked.

- I won't say that I wasn't afraid, but the Duchess kept her promise and chased the clouds away. She is really brave and nice.

- Really? Wasn't she always cold and distant to our Lady? - Dina sighed while the nanny dried her hair.

- Maybe I misunderstood her nanny, I mean, when I visited her she was kind. Could it be that she thought I hate her and that's why she kept her distance? - Dina's heart is so pure, just like Catherine's was. If she would've met Rene, Cathy would probably think the same.

- I don't know my Lady. Unfortunately, I'm not close enough to the Duchess to be able to answer this question.

- Who could? - she asked from the nanny and I looked as she got pensive.

- Maybe, her maid, Magda.

- Not daddy?

- I'm afraid they are not on the best terms my Lady but that's not my place to say. - I decided to knock on the door and Dina's focused expression lightened up.

- Daddy! - she jumped off of the chair where she had been sitting until now and the nanny bowed.

- Duke.

- Thanks for taking care of my little angel. Do you want to have dinner with daddy? - I asked and Dina nodded. I held her in my arms and headed with her to the dining room.

- Duke! She is already in sleepwear! - the nanny said and I shrugged smiling at her.

-In this case we are having dinner in my bedroom. What do you think angel?

- Yay! Pajama party at daddy's room! But daddy, will we invite the Duchess too? - I froze for a moment and looked into her sparkling eyes.

- I don't think she would like to join us love. She must be very tired after today.

- But, it's not nice to leave her out. Those ladies did the same.

- What are you talking about? - I stopped and Dina looked a bit troubled.

- At Anna's birthday party, first they were talking with her, but I could see that they weren't nice. And after that, they chatted together and left the Duchess out completely. She didn't seem sad, and kept stealing glances at me to make sure I was having a good time. She acted today like...

- Like what love?

- Don't be angry with me daddy.

- I won't.

- The Duchess acted today like a real guardian angel. - I sighed.

- Do you want to check on her?

- Yes! - I chuckled kissing her cheeks and hugging my little daughter strongly. "I guess she deserves a thank you for today at least."