Scandal with the Duke

Chapter 7

|Mirrielle Elizabeth Rivantroz|

"But I will still introduce myself, milady," my unexpected visitor broke into the momentary silence that mediated between us.

 “I thought I didn’t have to know who you were,” I said. I don’t know where I got the courage to say that. I’m not used to conversing with people I just met, especially with a total stranger like him. But now that I managed to converse with him like I was used to… it was a quite shock for me.

The smirk reappeared on his lips. I couldn’t bear to let him play. I know my eyes are still puffy from crying. And the whole night had to pass for that to disappear completely. And I know it wouldn’t just disappear that quick even if I will go home much later. I will definitely cry again when I think of my parents.

The stranger seemingly went back to his senses after seeing my reaction. He straightened his back and at the same time cleared his throat. He averted his face away as if I haven’t seen him grinning at all.

 “Still. I want to introduce myself to you so I could really prove that I’m not a kind of man with ill motives,” he retorted. I was overwhelmed with doubt about the last two words he told me. His forehead even creased as he said those words like he was also trying to convince himself of what he just said.

 “Are you not… really?” I tested him. My heart was gradually growing in an upbeat. I really don't know the character of the man sitting in front of me now. What if… he’s exactly that kind of guy, opposite to what he says. I mean, he sneaked behind my back. If I hadn’t heard the crumbles of the leaves from his footsteps, who knows what he could have done to me.

But he knew my parents. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

The man did not answer immediately. It took him a few seconds before he finally looked back at me. We stared at each other for a few more seconds before he heaved a deep sigh and muttered an answer.

 “Your parents have been kind to me. It is not in exchange for their kindness to do something unthinkable for their only daughter,” he replied, which is why I felt more comfortable.

I smiled. I knew it.

"Okay," I replied sparingly and turned my attention back to my parents' grave. But again I turned to the man in front of me because of what he said.

“You believe me?”

His shrinking eyes greeted me. He even tilted his head to his side, obviously showing how unsure he was of me. I frowned again at what he said.

 “Why? Is there any reason that I should not believe you?”

"What if I'm lying and I'm a bad person with motives who just pretend to be nice to you?" he asked with full interest. He sat neatly on the lawn. He even bent his elbow on his thigh so that his hand could catch the inclination of his chin. “What if I am here to do something dangerous to you?” he added.

I stared back at him. I can’t help but appreciate what he says. I know he was only saying those words to test me. Because who would have believed that I immediately accepted his reason without questioning him.

"I know my parents very well," I responded. He seemed interested in hearing what I had to say. "I may have locked myself inside the premises of our estate, but I know that most people who get involved with them are good people," I tell him. I couldn’t help but smile once again as I remember my parents.

Ever since I was a child, my mother would always teach me that I should be kind to everyone no matter what class they belong to. That I should not cultivate anger because it only destroys my being. Maybe that’s why I wasn’t immediately disturbed in the present when the stranger man appeared in front of me today. If I wasn’t taught that way, maybe I have already panicked and ran away from him as fast as possible. I let my head lean to my side.

 “So… what’s your name?” because I have repetitively labeled him a stranger inside my mind.

He stared at me for a few seconds once again. Although I was amazed at the color of his eyes, I chose to avert my gaze away from him because I was gradually feeling uncomfortable with his deep stares. I don’t know if it’s just me or what but there is something with his gaze that makes me nervous and lose my calm.

"The name’s Lorenzo, milady. It’s my pleasure to be your acquaintance," he finally answered. He held out his hand to me. I looked at his hand with his black gloves on. I am wearing the same but in the color of white. Instead of wearing traditional black robes, I am the only who is wearing white, from my headdress down to the color of my shoes.

My forehead wrinkled in an instant because I lost track of what to do next because I was still trying to figure out in my mind where I had heard that kind of name. It’s…strangely familiar. I wonder where I had heard it?

It took me about a few seconds before I quickly accepted his hand.

“I’m—”

I would have said my name to him but then he preceded me.

 “I know you, Lady Rivantroz. You don’t need to introduce yourself to me,” he said. I tilted my head and lifted my eyes at him.

Did he know me? My heart skipped a bit.

Oh. Of course. He knew my parents. It wouldn’t be impossible for him to know me either. I smiled and glanced at my parents' tombstone again.

 “I’m glad to know that you already knew me. Only a few people could recognize me. But most don’t, especially if they don’t know my parents or my parents don’t know them either,”

"Yeah, I heard about that," he then agreed.

"What?" I uttered and threw my eyes at him.

Lorenzo blinked, seeming to realize what he just said.

 “Y-Yeah,” he said with uncertainty. "Your parents would never fail to mention about you every time when they go to Seville," he stared at me as he said it. I nodded and turned my attention back to elsewhere.

There are times when I am left alone at home when my parents had to leave for their business agendas. When I was little, they took me because I could not be left in the mansion. I would always scramble down the floor as soon as I see them both leave. But as I got older, I chose to stay home. I would rather lock myself in my room than ride in the carriage for a few hours. I remember I had been to Seville as well. But I was still young during that visit. I'm probably only six or seven years old when I last went to that place.

I was slightly taken aback when I began to notice something. I looked back at Lorenzo again. If I have deduced it right, he may be living in Seville. But how could he be here right away? The journey from Seville to Barcelona will take a week to come here. So how…

Lorenzo seemed to notice the disturbing expression that my face wears.

 “I have a business here in Barcelona when I heard of the tragedy, Lady Rivantroz. So I was able to visit right away,” he said like he could hear the questions in my head and gave me the answer that I needed.

I jerk my head again after hearing him explain himself. But I frowned in an instant after realizing how he has been addressing me.

 “And please, just call me by my name, Lorenzo. Calling me Lady Rivantroz is too formal. There’s no need for such formalities,”

 “But you’re now the Countess of the House Rivantroz, for sure,” he pointed out. I smiled sparingly in return.

 “Yeah. I may be now in the eyes and ears of the people. But I would only be an official countess of the house two days from now, which is also… my coming of age,” I tell him. I could suddenly feel his stares piercing through my skin. I felt something creepy in my nape, but I quickly shrugged the sensation away from my thoughts and cleared my throat to calm myself.

 “Still. Official or not, you’re still the countess,” he replied. “And forgive me, I forgot giving you my sincerest condolences, milady — I mean… Lady Mirrielle?”

My smile faded when I heard him say my name.

 “Well, it’s fine, milord. Your presence and your prayers of respect for my parents are enough,”

He was stunned with surprise with the way I called him.

“Just call me Lorenzo, lady Mirrielle—”

"Then you should probably call me Mirrielle, too, Lorenzo," I ended to what he was about to say. The two of us stared at each other. I didn’t try to look away.

I must say, his face exudes different from most of the gentlemen I know. He’s handsome. Really. His jet-black clean-cut hair, his eyes which I admire at first glance, hooded with thick brows and lashes made him look ruthless for an unknown reason.

Lorenzo grinned at me. He glanced behind me for a moment before turning his eyes back to me. Then he looked at the watch he was wearing. That's when I realized the existence of time.

The orange hues and blue above the sky were beginning to blend in with each other since the sun is about to set. I had completely forgotten about the time. Gillie even told me that she’ll be back here to fetch me if I didn’t come home before six.

 “I should probably be going,” Lorenzo said and stood up from sitting on the lawn. I automatically looked up to follow him with my gaze as he stood up and fixed his clothes.

“And I think, you should probably need to head back to your mansion too, Mirrielle,” He then made a step forward near me and offered his hand. I smiled sparingly at him.

 “Yeah. You’re right. I should, too,” I accepted his hand. "My handmaiden told me that she'll be here by six,"

He pulled me upright with minimal effort. And maybe he was used to exerting too much force because I even sank into his chest because of what he did.

The heat immediately spreads from my neck up to my cheek. I know it was only an accident and was never meant but I can’t help but feel ashamed of what just happened. I quickly took a step back away from him and lowered my face.

“I-I’m sorry,”

“I apologize, milady,”

We both uttered in chorus. I couldn’t help but lift my eyes back at him. There is something pulling me and even if I wanted to avoid his eyes right away I couldn’t make myself follow what my brain is telling me.

“I should really be going, milady—”

"It's Mirrielle, right?" I corrected him.

A smile appeared on his cheeks.

 “Mirrielle. I think I have to head out first. It's getting late. I can already see the person that will pick you up. You should really go home too,” he tells me.

I automatically turned my back and immediately saw Gillie. She was already walking half the distance towards my location. She even raised her hand to wave, signaling that she came to already pick me up. I was unable to wave back as I turned my attention back to the man in front of me.

 “Well, then be careful, Lorenzo. Where are you staying temporarily now that you are in Barcelona?”

I bit my lower lip when I realize I am opening another topic to prolong this moment with him. He’s going home, isn’t he? Why am I even asking further questions?

"Just at an inn in town, Mirrielle," he replied. His critical eyes pounded my heart again. Especially since the dark surroundings add to his aura. I feel like he looks like a demon in his figure.

"If you don't mind me asking more questions, Lorenzo, can I know how long are you planning to stay here in Barcelona?"

I can't help but wonder when we'll meet again. Even if we just met… I somehow felt comfortable having a conversation with him, even if it was my first time hanging out with a total stranger that is out of my comfort zone.

His eyes lingered on me as if the stares he’s serving me had become darker. I swallowed, feeling even more nervous for an unknown reason.

"I'll be staying here until three more days, Mirrielle,"

My insides were suddenly revived. I couldn’t help but take a step closer to him especially because of what I heard from him.

 “Then, can I invite you to my upcoming birthday? And there will also be a ceremony to honor me as the new countess,”

He licked his lower lip before he answered.

 “You just met me, Mirrielle. I’m just a stranger to you— ”

"Then if I told you that you're my friend now, will you come?"

I don’t know why I suddenly offered him to go to my birthday and my countess ceremony. He’s right. I barely know him and we just met minutes ago. But why am I so excited to invite him? Is it because… for no apparent reason, even though I feel some trepidation in his presence… I feel comfortable with him?

 “Do you know what the word friend means, Mirrielle? The meaning of that word is too much for someone like me that you just barely know,” he revealed. I stared at him for a few seconds. But it didn't take long for my brain to process what he meant.

"And I have never considered anyone I just met as a friend," I became even more interested in what I heard from him.

 “Then that should settle our score. A friend has a deep meaning to me too. I was told I would almost confine myself to our estate. I have no friends other than our maids. And if you accept my offer, you will be my first friend. Same to you as to me,”

We began to look at each other critically. His menacing eyes were getting uncomfortable for me. I don't know why I gradually couldn't bear to look at his gaze even just for a whole minute.

He glanced at my back then his eyes flew back to mine. My forehead furrowed. I feel like he’s in a hurry for something.

"Are you in a rush?" I pointed out. He did not answer. He was silent for a few seconds, continued on staring at me before he nodded his head.

“Then…can we still meet tomorrow to hear your answer?”

One of his eyebrows rose. "You wanted to see me again?" he asked in return with an amused tone.

 “You’re still considering having me as your friend, so I’ll give you one night to decide. Let's meet again here, in front of my parents' grave. Two o'clock in the afternoon. I offered you friendship which I never did to anyone. If you come, it means you accept my offer. If I can't see your shadow, I will accept that you don't want me to be your friend. As simple as that,” I explained at length.

A smile flashed on his lips. Even as it gradually got darker, I could feel the color of the setting sun just perfect for him.

“You’re threatening me,”

"I am not," I quickly denied.

"You are," he said with a smile plastered on his cheeks. I just stared at him. He laughed then he slightly bent his head down and shook it. He tried to conceal his laugh, maybe to respect my parents who were just buried. He even pinched the bridge of his nose, before he looked up to me again.

"Then I really guess you have to wait for my answer tomorrow, Mirrielle," He said with formality and picked up his top hat that was sitting on the ground before putting it back on his head. “It’s nice meeting you, Lady Rivantroz,” he added and curtsied in front of me. I did the same.

 “It’s nice meeting you too, Lord Lorenzo?” What’s his family name? "We'll meet tomorrow," I added.

He grinned again. "There’s only one way to find out, Mirielle," was all he could say before finally saying his goodbye.

My eyes followed him as the darkness of the shadows of the trees eats his majestic form. Behind the woods, he passed a quiet road. So, somehow, I was assured that he would not get lost in his path.

 “Who were you talking to, milady?”

I almost jumped in surprise to hear Gillie's voice behind me. I was holding my chest as I turn around and look at her. I was greeted by her attention focused on the woods behind me.

"No one," I replied quickly. I started walking down the hill. But also immediately returned to the front of my parents' grave to pay their respects one last time before continuing the walk.

 “It's getting dark because I can't see the person you were talking to very well. But based purely on its form, he’s a man. Is he one of your family’s friends?” Gillie's curiosity strikes again.

"A friend," I replied sparingly.

"Friend!" she screamed in a pitched tone. Her voice almost echoed all around so I widened my eyes at her, warning her. She quickly covered her mouth. It took her a while before she recovered from the shock after hearing my answer.

 “You have a friend? Since when? Why don’t I know any about that? And on top of that—a guy!” she asked in succession.

"Are all the guests gone home already?" I ask instead to change the subject. I don’t want to tell her what happened just now between me and Lorenzo. I still need to wait for Lorenzo’s answer before I could finally tell Gillie that I have a friend. Well, I told her already that I have one even though Lorenzo hasn't said more to confirm anything yet.

 “Almost everyone has already left. But there are still some who remain and are waiting for you to formally say their goodbye,” he said.

I nodded in agreement. But Gillie never seemed to lose sight of what she learned from me, about me having a friend.

 “But won't you tell me about your friend, milady? It's just really refreshing to hear that you have a friend other than me,” she said.

 “Hush. I’ll tell you at the right time, Gillie,” was all I could reveal to her.

 “Oh. I didn’t know that something like that exists, milady?”

 “Yes. So, let’s just hurry up,”

I quickened my pace. It was good and I did not stumble on the rocky path. I was still holding the hem of my white dress. But despite that, I couldn't help but think of Lorenzo along the way. It’s like my mind was still entangled with my encounter with him earlier.

Will he come tomorrow? My grip tightened on the hem of my dress. Just make sure he’ll show up tomorrow.

What will I do if he doesn’t anyway?

Tch.

I'll have Enrique Vasquez find and seize him then!

I was suddenly horrified to think of the name of the Duke of Seville. Lorenzo was also from there, so he must have known the duke as well.

Who wouldn’t know the Duke of Seville? Even though I confine myself to our land, the news has ears and wings. With just Gillie’s character of being talkative, all the gossip outside the mansion I knew, especially with regards to the duke of Seville.

But the downside… I never really met the duke. I wonder what does he look like?