Scandal with the Duke

Chapter 6

|Enrique Lorenzo Vasquez|

“That’s all, your grace,” Esteban concluded.

I heave a deep sigh after hearing his report.

Esteban remained in front of me, apparently waiting for my next order.

“Keep searching. He may not have gone far yet. I want positive reports before I return to Seville”

Esteban nodded quickly. I waved my hand as a gesture that he’s finally dismissed. He immediately got what that meant. He bowed his head slightly in respect before taking three steps backward while still facing me, and then he finally turned his back on me and left my room. When he was completely out of my sight, I firmly closed my eyes and squinted at my senses. My head was already aching as my brain processed the reports heard from Esteban.

The bastard couldn’t still be found. How sly that fox was that I couldn’t grasp its tail? He can always have his way to escape so fast every time I’m about to find its tail! I can’t even imagine how many men I have already deployed all over Spain just to find the ‘traitor’!

“Here, your grace,” 

A glass of wine welcomed me as I opened my eyes. I quickly accepted that and, with no hesitation, I drank everything in it. The familiar taste of the alcohol spread on my tongue. I hissed when the heat of the alcohol traveled down my throat. I returned the glass to Matias, my butler, he then poured another shot on my glass.

“Your grace, have you heard the news?” he asked as he gave me the glass of whiskey. My jaw clenched while gazing at him.

Matias doesn’t need to specify what he was asking. With the amount of information he told me, it was the news that was now spreading that surprised me.

Count Anna and Martin Rivantroz are dead. The carriage he was in fell into a ravine while returning to Barcelona yesterday. That’s the same reason I hear in every corner of the hotel I stay in. The news spread like a wildfire this morning. And that immediately dawned on me the moment I woke up. As much as I want to attend the funeral, that must have been held at this hour, I can’t because of the things that I have to do, especially since all of that has to do with the king of Spain.

“Yes,” I respond.

Hearing the sudden news of the death of Anna and Martin, I couldn’t help but feel a substantial loss. I almost treat them as my second family. They became a part of my life, especially when I was growing up as a child.

“When are you going to visit?” Matias asked me again.

“We’ll be going once everything I had for this day is done,” I answered as I gazed at him again.

His usual expression flashed at me. The fine lines on the side of his eyes depict he was not getting younger. It’s not actually surprising since he’s already been my personal butler at eighteen, while I was still seven years old. Matias was almost my teacher in everything when I was little. And he’s always been with me wherever I go.

“Do I have anything left to do today?” I asked.

 I saw him immediately shake his head.

  “Esteban is your last appointment for this day,” he replied. I nodded and immediately got up from my seat.

 “Then we shall go,”

 Matias swiftly took my hanging cloak on a chair away from me. When he secured it in his hands, he went back to me and put it on me. I wore the cap to hide my face before we decided to go out of my hotel room.

 Showing my face to the public is not a big deal to me. But today is just like some days that I need to hide my identity. No one should know that I am here in a town in Barcelona. So, I am just going out of my room if I really need to, to avoid being seen. And if I ever came out, I was always wearing my cape.

My room was located on the secured floor of the hotel. The only one who knew of my presence was the hotel owner, who was also my friend. Some warden guarding the hallway toward my room quickly escorted me. That is why it was easy for Matias and me to get to the carriage waiting at the unnoticeable exit of the hotel.

 I removed the cap of my cloak as I sat inside the carriage. Matias sat in front of me while looking around us. After seconds of making sure that everything was good, the carriage moved.

 “We need flowers,” I said.

“I’ve bought a basket earlier if you can think of visiting the Rivantroz today,” he immediately informed. I smiled and stared at him for a few seconds.

 Matias is really an effective butler. They spent probably because almost half of his life serving the Nobles. He was a veteran in his work.

 He could do any household chores in my Alcazar in Seville. He is also my personal guard, even though I don’t need one. I could also send him on a secret mission if I wanted to. But because I still need him, he’s always following me wherever I go.

“Good,” was all I could say.

I turned my attention to the scenery that can be seen outside of the carriage window. They made the window of iron casement with an ornate design. The holes were small, so it was impossible to see the people inside. This is not my carriage. Every carriage bears the insignia of the House. And the carriage I am using now is owned by Ramirez, a friend, and also owns the hotel where I am currently staying, so going around this town isn’t a problem.

 It took us about an hour of travel before the surroundings became familiar. We are nearing the Rivantroz estate. Instead of passing the carriage on the path that would take us right in front of the Rivantroz mansion, I told Matias to take the other way that would take us near the lake.

 Entering through the main entrance of the estate is not in the choice. I am hiding my presence in the entire town, so it’s better that I should secretly visit Anna and Martin. I arrived at their place at the right time, especially since the sun was going to set in the west in just over an hour. I’m sure that no there’s surely no one left in the grave since Anna and Martin’s children are already taking care of those who may have been guests at their funeral.

 I’ve memorized the Rivantroz estate like it’s on the back of my hand. Their plantation is my playground when I was little. I can even remember the times where I was always at the lake taking a dip while I was here. I may have not been back for how many years, I can still somehow remember the ways in this entire land.

 “Please put the carriage at the entrance. Go straight until you see a space on the left. Park the carriage there, ” I ordered Matias. With no hesitation, he nodded and do what I said. He opened the small window behind him where he could talk to the Couchman. He immediately ordered the man what I wanted to happen. 

 The carriage entered the familiar entrance of the linear forest that separates the other part of the plantation from the Rivantroz. I suddenly felt nostalgic as I watch the place. I went down the carriage as I looked at the beautiful place around me. Even with the slightest change in the landscape, I still felt the same way about the lace.

I missed this place.

I bid my goodbye to Matthias. I visited Anna and Martin’s grave already. Matias handed me a basket of flowers before walking away from where I was standing.

 From what I can remember, I had to cross a river before I finally reached the other side of the forest. And after a few minutes' walk, you will see a peek of the grape plantation behind the tall trees.

 And I did after a few minutes of walking. Although I wanted to go for a walk for a while, I restrained myself. I need to pay respect first before I decided to secretly visit my favorite place on the plantation in a brief span of time. I climbed the hill that would take me to my destination. Behind these trees are the grave grounds of the Rivantroz, overlooking their plantation and their mansion on the right side and the lake in front.

 I was confident that they left no one on their grave grounds. The entire area is quiet and all you can hear is the chirping of birds and the noise made by the leaves that seem to dance with the winds. I actually don’t give a damn for the noise I was making with every step I took on the dry trees and leaves on the ground. I was looking around as I was nearing in my destination. It shocked me as my eyes glued to the people around the grave. I didn’t expect that they were still here.

 Seeing a young.. woman sitting in front of the new tomb stopped me from walking. Her reflexes made her look at me quickly before I could even step back.

Our eyes met.

Fuck.

No one must know that I am here.

“I….” I was about to say something but the woman in front of me cut me off.

“Who are you?” her sweet and raspy voice immediately rang into my ears.

I was momentarily distracted there before I finally got my own thinking back to normal. But the woman’s question immediately overwhelmed me as my brain processed it.

 What?

The first thing I was expecting to hear from her was my name and her queries regarding why I am here. I was also expecting to see the shock in her face upon recognizing my presence. I saw the shock in her eyes and expression, but not what I was expecting.

I continued staring at her. It took me a couple of minutes before I concluded that this must be Anna and Martin’s daughter. She looked like Anna. Most of her features were from her mother. Only her eyes were a mirror to his father.

I have never had a chance to come here again to visit in the past years. That’s the reason why I haven’t got the chance to see Anna and Martin’s daughter growing up because I’m too busy focusing on my education and the training that my father wanted me to have. My time even got hectic after he threw me to fight for war.

And now...seeing their daughter for the first time after so many years...I must say she grew up pretty well. She’s glowing, but her beautiful face could not hide her swollen eyes.

But everything came back to me that made me think why this woman in front of me didn’t recognize who I am. I am not being boastful but I know how influential and known my name in the public. Just hearing my name and seeing my face, people are already stepping back.

But this woman ... she didn’t even flinch in her seat. She even remained gazing at my eyes as if she’s taunting me if how much can I go.

 Of course, she has the right. She will stay here whenever she wanted because her parents just died. I should understand.

  “I’m sorry milady,” it took me a while before I finally uttered those words.

I took off the top hat I was wearing and slightly bowed my head to pay respect to her.

 “I was hoping to visit your parents’ grave to give respect after hearing the news. I thought everyone was back to the mansion already, so I got the chance to be here,” I said with all honesty. That’s the truth. I usually don’t spill the truth behind every decision that I make. But this time, it’s different, this is just the first time that I met her, but I already told her the truth.

At hindi ako ririsgo ng pagkakataon na may makasalamuha ako kahit isang espirito. It seemed that I failed on that part.

 I am even doubting myself if I really made a mistake?

Just remembering her question of asking who am I earlier and seeing her reaction, did I really fail in attempting to hide the information that I am here in Barcelona? Especially where the Rivantroz live?

Maybe I should leave. It’s the best choice I have right now. How will I know that the now new countess of Rivantroz might just be pretending not to know me?

 ‘Her name will be Mirrielle Elizabeth, Enrique. I want you to treasure her when she grows up,’

I shook my head when I suddenly remembered her mother. I still inscribe her voice inside my head. Anna even explained to me why she named her daughter Mirrielle. I quickly erased that from my mind. Maybe I’ll come back later when no one is here.

.“I’m sorry if I had…startled you by my presence. I’ll just be back later—”

 “No. You can stay, ” she interrupted me. I shook my head when I heard her sweet voice again. My eyes suddenly went to gaze at her. I couldn’t help but feel shocked again, so I finally stood up properly while staring at her.

Is she serious? Did she really want me to be with her here?

Doesn’t she really know me?

My eyes lingered longer on her beautiful face. I was assessing if she really didn’t know me. But she doesn’t seem to have any idea who really I am.

 “Do you know my parents?” she asked. I even saw her move on the other side of the picnic blanket as if to show that I could sit in the wide remaining space whenever I wanted.

 “They were my… advisors,” I replied cautiously. I did not move from where I was standing and continued to stare at her. I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth as I tried to read her expression from afar.

 “Is that so?” she said. She smiled halfheartedly. She then even tapped the space next to her as she realized that I wasn’t making any move from where I was standing. My jaw clenched even more.

 This woman…

Does she know how to be wary of her surroundings and to strangers? Or is this how she really treats people she just met? She doesn’t think badly about them? Irritation filled me thinking that it might be really like that.

  “No need, milady. It’s just—you don’t know me,” I said. I emphasized the last three words to remind her that I am a stranger.

If she really knew me, I wonder if she would still offer me to sit beside her. I smiled at my own thoughts.

“Yes. I’m sorry. I don’t go out much, so I’m sorry if I don’t know you, ” she said.

 She seems to regret the last things that she said. What caught me was when she said that she seldom went out. Once again, I remembered what Anna and Martin had told me about their daughter’s shyness. Is this what they mean? But why would she suddenly offer me to sit beside her?

But well…if she really doesn’t know me… I don’t need to worry that she saw me here. I couldn’t help but grin. 

“It’s fine,” I began to walk closer to her.

 I turned my gaze to Anna and Martin’s grave. I still can’t believe that they are really dead. “I’m only here to give my respect,”

 I bent down my one knee when I arrived in front of their tombstone. I laid down the flower basket I was holding in front of the two. Then I closed my eyes for a quick prayer.

 I was really shocked upon hearing their sudden loss. The last time I met the two of them was when they heard about my father’s death. They stayed at the Alcazar for about a week to attend the celebration after taking over the title of being the new duke of Seville.

 When I finished praying, I opened my eyes and looked at the woman who was now only about a meter away from me. Our eyes met again. Her eyes really showed her grief for her loss, and despite that, couldn’t help but compliment her beauty.

 Like I said earlier, almost all of her mother’s physical traits can be seen here. Her blond hair, her sleepy-looking eyes, her cute pointed nose, and cupid’s bow-shaped lips. Her ice-blue iris were the only thing he had to get from her father.

. “Hmm. You really don’t have an idea who am I?” I can’t help to ask her again.

I still can’t believe she doesn’t really know me. Even if maybe she locks herself in their mansion, I can tell that she still hears gossips from their housemates, doesn’t she?

 I could suddenly sense her panic when she heard my question. And because of that… that became my proof that she might not really know me.

  “Uh... Is it really necessary...that I should have known you?”

 My jaw clenched. The only daughter of the Rivantroz, who became my first parent when I was little, did not know who I was.

 “No. It’s better that you don’t know me, ” I replied quickly.

Maybe it’s better that he doesn’t know me. But I wonder if I told her my name, will she be able to recognize me?