Temporary Crown

3 | DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE

In that very moment, Lucien felt his head throb with pain and he felt like he was short of breath. Still, he tried to hide it. However, in his mind, his memories and nightmares were playing.

He stared for a moment to this woman who had the beautiful hazel hair that resembles the autumn leaves. Fresh brown eyes that mirrors the vast sky. For some odd reason, he felt like he heard her soft and fragile voice that always calling his name.

He frowned. Lucien did not like this at all. Something was stirring inside him that he can already feel the storm coming his way. He clenched his jaw trying hard to appear calm.

“Hello, young master,” the woman said with her bright eyes. He was caught off guard once again.

Lucien stiffened not knowing how to react. His usual expressionless face looked too surprise as if he was not understanding the situation at all. The lady his father introduced stood up, lifting her dress a little to give a greeting.

“I greet the young Lord of the Von Stein Duchy. I am Nesta Claire. I hope we could get along well in the future, young master.”

Lucien felt like he was thirsty. “Nesta is twenty right now.” He heard his father. “She will be your elder sister. Treat her well.”

Twenty? Lucien asked. His Emerald eyes that looked too tired lingering a little bit more to this person before turning to his father. “What do you mean?” he asked. His voice ice cold but it seemed like Nesta was not bothered by his tone as she returned from her seat after giving him a greeting.

“Nesta is the daughter of my friend who died. I am quite close to my friend and gave a promise to take care of their only daughter. I am adopting her to the family and will be registered as your sister.

“This is the first time I am hearing this,” Lucien frowned even more not bothering to look at Nesta’s direction. His father, Duke Charles coughed, clearing his throat. “We’ll discuss this matter later. For now, let us eat.”

Lucien restrain his thoughts and questions. He held back his words like he always do whenever he was with his father. Still, something in his heart felt heavy as though a new burden was making him lose his appetite at all. Heaving his breath, He stared at her for a few seconds before moving his gaze to the food. He felt like he’s going to have an indigestion.

He should ask for the servant for a pill later on.

How annoying, He scoffed in his mind.

--

“Father, what is all of these? Can I ask the real reason why you brought her here?” Lucien did not engaged in useless pleasantries as he felt annoyed inside him. It was even a miracle that he was talking like this. He went straight to the point the moment he stepped inside of his father’s study asking for his reason hoping that in the end, he could understand.

“It’s odd that I am hearing such disapprove tone on your voice,” the duke jest but he seemed quite serious. Lucien mirrored the duke with his expression. Both of them looked like each other while the other one had the evidence of time with them. While the other one was young and full of vigor.

Lucien took a step forward. His eyes wondered to the documents his father was reading before meeting his eyes. He tried to control the choice of his words.

“It’s not everyday that a father who mostly is away from the mansion would cater a commoner just because she was the daughter of their friend. Do you have specific reasons of making her a Von Stein, father? Is she your bastard from another mistress?”

Lucien’s tone was harsh. The duke was even surprise to hear him say his thoughts like this however, he understood why. “Rest assured that I have not taken any woman after your mother.” there was a sense of longing in the duke’s voice but it disappeared before Lucien could ever decipher it.

“She was the only woman I loved. But just like what I have said before, she is someone who needed to play a role for you. You do not understand now but you will understand soon enough. Nesta will make you understand. She’s a bright but somehow lonely child.”

Lucien frowned not understanding what his father said. “What?” He pressed.

“Nesta, that child will have tons of hardship for us, Von Stein and I hope that you could understand that. She is indeed my friend’s daughter. I hope you can understand me without telling all my reasons, son.”

This was the first time Lucien was seeing emotions to his father’s face after his mother died. He clenched his jaw. A stinging pain spread on his chest and he did not like any words that he heard at all.

He wanted to say more. He wanted to understand but the words were limited in the very start. Furthermore there seemed to be a line being drawn from the very start.

“I don’t understand, father,” He said frankly. The duke’s eyes stared at him giving him a gentle smile. He did not understand the reason why she needed to be adopted. If his father only wanted to honor his vows then a support form the Von Stein family alone can do that. Why bother adding her to the family registry and allowing her to live in the mansion of Von Stein would suffice.

“You’ll understand soon, son.” His father’s eyes were warm.

His father spoke words as if there were any meaning behind them. Lucien felt like he was lacking on deciphering them. Regardless, this also meant that he can’t change what decision his father had made and need to follow it despite of him not wanting to accept it.

That woman will be my sister? How ridiculous. He can’t help but ridicule the thought.

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