Temporary Crown

15 | putting into place

As Lucien left and went towards the library, Nesta was called by the duke afterwards. The servant had told her the that duke was expecting her in his study. Although that left her a bit confused about the duke summoning her presence since he was the one that told her earlier that she needed to rest for today, Nesta followed.

After walking through the hallway, she bent her index finger and knock on the door gently. “Father, it’s me, Nesta.”

“Come in.” A firm voice called her in. She did not hesitate to open the door and walk inside.

Then, Nesta’s eyes traveled to the whole office. Stacks of bookshelves were position together occupying the room. The table of the duke was in front of a big window enabling the light from the sun and outside to shine the whole room freely. In the middle were two sets of sofa adjacent to each other and a coffee table. Below them was a black luxurious carpet.

Everything in here was so familiar for she had been staying in this office for a long time now discussing about politics and the potential threat to the duchy once the duke dies. Nesta had also used this office back in her previous life when she was put in the temporary position of the duchess.

As memories traveled in her mind, she felt fondness flooding over her. In the back of her mind, she treasures everything back in her past life. From Her and Lucien’s fights and their cooperation with each other. Their scheduled tea times and even their conversations in late nights. Even her death when he, who did not even cried once in his father’s funeral before, had cried for her.

Everything in this mansion had become a part of her that she will never throw away. Never again.

Feeling her eyes teared up a little, Nesta tried to get her wits together. She smiled gently.

“Is there something you wanted to ask, father?” Nesta asked casually.

Her eyes observed the duke going through papers and documents. She then made herself comfortable and sat on the sofa. Her eyes traveled once again to the whole place of the room. Only then she realized that there were no servants inside the duke’s office.

“It’s not a pressing matter but I feel like I needed to tell you.” Duke Charles stood up and headed towards Nesta’s direction. Her shoulder tensed up. All of the feeling of reminiscing was slowly disappearing making her guard up.

In that instant, Nesta’s expression suddenly turned serious as her gaze were also sharp. For her, this only meant one thing. One was there were important information they needed to discuss and they do not need an ear or eyes prying on such matters.

“As you know, I have been with Lucien earlier,” the duke begun talking. His gaze was controlled. He looked up.

Nesta listened attentively. For some reason, every step the duke was taking felt heavy as though it was meant to be notice. “He had many questions and I answered them truthfully as a good father that I should.”

Duke Charles eyes landed on Nesta’s hazel one. “From my illness to the reason why I had adopted you. Although I have been thinking that I have been such a neglectful and irresponsible father, I also understood after everything that he has the right to know.”

“Yes, Father. I thought so too,” Nesta replied back. She wanted, at the very least, mend their relationship before the duke pass away for she knew that Lucien deserved that. He was his son.

Just as this time, the duke stopped his steps and sat down to the sofa. He face Nesta and held her eyes captive.

“However, as an employer like me, I can’t help but think how noisy you are, Nesta.”

Nesta flinched as she swallowed. This was all not in her expectation at all. “Father?”

“Ah, yes, I am your father now but I want to remind you, my dear little lady that you are nothing but a tool meant for my son to soar high. You are nothing but a shield in case all of my enemies started to prey on my son once I pass away. You were not supposed to step out of your boundary acting like his true sister. Nesta,” The duke drifted. As his voice gradually fade, his sharp eyes landed on Nesta as she can feel the bloodlust of the duke crawling up inside of her making her heart palpitate so fast.

In that very same moment, Nesta’s eyes trembled and her hands started to sweat. Compared to the duke, Nesta was nothing but a human- a thief. She was supposed to stay out of the Von Stein family matters.

“I-I-I’m” Nesta tried to speak but she felt like something was block on her throat. She felt like she was inside a void drowning with no hope of coming back to the surface. Fear crawled inside her slowly.

“I’m sorry, Father” she tried to breath. “It won’t happen again! Please forgive me, father!”

The duke did not say any word, instead, he was just looking at her as though she had committed a sin punishable by death.

In that very moment, Nesta collapsed and sweat started to form in her forehead. “I- I- I’m sorry. Please father, forgive me this once- ugh!”

In a blink of an eye, the feeling of blood lust disappeared as though it did not exist in the first place. Nesta was able to breath again and her body begun to adjust once again stabilizing her body. However, she did not let her guard down. Her wary eyes landed on the duke once again. This time, his eyes looked too gentle as though he was really her father.

“I hope that this matter won’t be repeated again, Nesta. Remember your role more clearly this time and do not put your nose into someone else business.”

Nesta nodded as she clenched her jaw. “Yes, father.”

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