Scandal with the Duke

Chapter 5

|Mirrielle Elizabeth Rivantroz|

“Eli,”

The puffy eyes immediately landed on the man approaching me. Dressed in his usual dark knee-length overcoat, a maroon waistcoat with a gold watch chain strung on it, black slacks, and holding his cane, Uncle Alfaro quickly gives me a tight embrace the moment he arrived in front of me.

“I’m sorry,” was all he could say.

I remained stumped in my position. I still want to cry about what is happening but I can't shed any more tears. I chose to bury my parents on the high grounds of lakeside found in the center of our plantation. It’s a five-minute walk from our home. My ancestors are also buried there and I want their remains to be with my family.

Uncle let go of the embrace as he stared at the view in front of me, where my parents were finally buried. Their newly set tombstone on the ground made my heartache for more. Starting this day… I won't be able to see them anymore. The warm smile of my mother and my ever-supportive father who would always let me do whatever I want. I can only imagine the days we were together and that thought once again pulled me back into mourning because of their loss.

"I immediately went here when I heard the news," uncle tells me.

Without thinking thoroughly, my eyes flew to him. The concern in his expression and eyes seemed real. I gritted my teeth, stopping myself to lash out in front of him.

If I’d suddenly confront and tell him that he was the cause of my parent’s death no one would believe me. It hurts me deeply with what is happening right now but I have to consider what can happen when I suddenly explode in the scene. I didn’t know how it happen. I don’t know why I came back. But the only thing I can do now is to continue living and change the wrong decisions that I had made. As I promised myself, I will avenge my parent’s death. Now that I have my chance, I will make a way to overthrow Uncle. I don’t know when this chance of mine will last. So I have to be careful with every single step I’m about to do.

Anger and hatred for my uncle traveled through my eyes. I saw how he blinked as he stared straight into my eyes. But I quickly calmed myself down and cleared my throat.

 “They left me,” I said. I quite remember that I also said those words. But this time… this will be a bait on how will my uncle react to the next thing I would say.

 “They left me when I am not still prepared for everything. I still love being their child, uncle. I don’t want the responsibilities yet,” I lowered my voice as much as I could. I just can’t control the emerging anger within my being.

Here, in front of me, was the man responsible for my parent’s death. But I still have no concrete evidence on hand to point him to the unforgivable act he committed.

I lifted my gaze. My dripping tears helped a lot. When our eyes met, I don’t know how I was able to witness the strange expression in his eyes. And I saw that once… before I died.

The greed in his expression was overwhelming. I don’t know why I wasn’t able to pinpoint this in my previous life. But now…

 “Then… let me take care of your family’s business. Let me carry that responsibility. But I can’t shoulder the title of your family, Eli. You must be the countess of your family. I will take care of the private conferment of your title as the new Countess Rivantroz. You don’t need the public eyes— ”

 “We need the public announcement, uncle. If that is the tradition, that is what we will follow,” I interrupted. I couldn't stop myself from cutting him off mid-sentence because I couldn’t bear to hear any lying words from him.

That’s also what Uncle said in my memory. He set and planned privately the succession of my title. In my previous life, that has been much better for me. I hate the crowd anyway. But if that was the root of why I died and fell, I had to avoid it and change the course.

I need to change the decisions that I had made…in order to save myself and have my revenge.

Uncle stared at me intently, as if he couldn't believe what came out of my mouth. Of course, uncle Alfaro also knew how I hated the crowd, how I prefer to lock myself in my own room instead of joining the socializing whenever a party is held in the mansion. He has been a witness to how I was as a caved kid. So I know he was very surprised by my decision today.

 “Are you… sure?” he trailed off. He kept staring straight into my eyes as if he’s looking for a hole in my decision.

 “Yes, uncle,” I said with full conviction. I haven't thought about the consequences of my decision yet, but what I really know and understand right now is that I need to act.

His eyes never left mine as if it was glued or something. The look in his eyes is telling me that he’s weighing something. But after a few seconds, his shoulders fell, and heave a deep sigh.

"Well, if that's what you want then I’ll oblige," he said in return. “Then… what do you want to happen in your business? Do you want to manage it?” he asked.

I bit my lower lip. I equaled the look he was giving me.

Manage it? I really do not know.

My father had told me and taught me things on how to handle the winery. But he didn’t teach me everything. I just love the time I spent with him whenever we stroll around the storehouse. He always told me what to do and what not to do. And I don’t know if that knowledge is enough to lead almost a hundred of our staff.

But if I managed our business, I would have no reason to arrest and reveal Uncle for claiming our business. I may have no reason to look for evidence of his involvement in my parents' deaths.

In order to expose my uncle’s secret, I need him to be within the range of my sight. I need to be close to him. He has to think that I am still his niece who is submissive to everyone, his niece who seemed naive to his manipulations, his niece who still had a lot of trust in him even though everything is upside down right now.

 “I’ll let you handle our business, uncle,” I said. He straightened up when he heard those words straight from my mouth.

"Are you…sure?" he asked with a pinch of doubt in his tongue. “Maybe it would be better if you’d run your winery yourself. This is your family’s business after all,” he tries convincing me.

My jaw clenched hard. I didn’t know he was really good at acting. If anything, he convinced me of this without my knowledge.

"I'm not ready yet," I simply reasoned out.

 “No one is ready in anything, Eli. No one is really prepared in this life,” he preached. I bit my lower lip hard to avoid making myself do an eye roll in front of my uncle.

 “I don’t think I can handle our business at such age, uncle. My coming of age will be in the next two days. My parents told me that I have the decision if I wanted to manage our business or not… Because they will take care of everything until I am ready. But now that they are gone…” I sobbed. Now… this feeling of mine isn’t an act. I’m still really couldn’t grasp the thought of my parent’s loss. "Now that they're gone… I still don't know if I'm ready for everything, uncle," I concluded. I lowered my face and the tears flowed again out from my eyes. Uncle approached me and I again felt his warm arms wrapped around me.

 “Hush now. Alright then, I’ll handle your family’s business until you’re ready,” he took the bait because of what I did. I sobbed.

"Really?" I tried to sound happy about it. He stroked my back, shushing me from crying.

 “Yes of course. If my niece is not yet up for it then I will do the honors. Don’t worry, I will manage your business,”

I just nodded while Uncle hugged me again. Although I wanted to loosen up and break free from this drama, I stayed where I was for a few minutes. Then after a couple of seconds, I stepped away from him.

 “Are you fine?” he asked when our eyes meet again. My eyes are still puffy. I smiled at him like I always do.

“I’m fine, uncle. Thank you for being here,” I said with all honesty.

 “Of course, I’ll always be here. Now more than ever that I am the only family you got,” he said.

I wouldn't be alone today if it weren't for you, I wanted to tell him. But before those words escaped my mouth, I stopped myself, biting my lip really hard. The bitterness went through me but I didn't let him notice it.

“Of course, uncle. I will be always grateful to you,”

He let out a deep breath before hugging me again. We lingered in front of my parent’s grave a few more minutes before he bid his goodbye.

 “I need to process and prepare your succession. I decided that it will be also held on the day of your coming of age. I want to continue the plans of your parents before the accident happened. Instead of having a private celebration, I’ll be inviting the nearby nobles to know you. Are you fine with it?”

I fell silent.

If it was just me, I wouldn't want to celebrate my birthday first. I’ll be 21 in the next two days, my coming of age. What else would be the reason for me to celebrate my birthday without my parents? They just died yet… Do I still have plans to celebrate?

But on a different note… I also need this. One of the decisions I made was to show myself at the celebrations. I know I will hear such gossips in the said event… but I will make sure that nothing would affect me.

My focus, for now, is planning on things on how to bring my uncle down. I need to seek loopholes in his life that is worth stripping off his title and making him lose all of his properties.

"It's fine by me, uncle," I said. He nodded.

 “Then I guess I’ll be heading out first. Are you going to be all right here?”

 “Yes, uncle. I’ll be home before the sun sets,”

My uncle quietly left in front of me.

Once again I was left alone in front of my parents ’grave. I decided to stay here even after the funeral ceremony was over. The few acquaintances of my family who attended the funeral are definitely in the mansion right now. Some of our handmaidens wanted me to be home with them but I preferred to stay here. I want to be alone. There is no threat to my life here so I prefer it here. If I were in the mansion I would only hear the concerns of my parent’s friends about how awful what happened to me; I lost my parents before I could even reach the right age. I don’t want to hear any of their consolation and sympathy. It will only worsen how I feel and that’s the last thing I want for me.

The whole area was quiet, the only thing I could hear was the dancing of the leaves of the trees, rustling around me because of the wind. The whole scenario was almost the same until the sun went down. I was enjoying the silence and the rays of sunset peeking through the trees when I heard a rustling sound of leaves on the ground behind me.

I quickly turned my back, and my eyes almost widened as I was exposed to an unfamiliar face. He was dressed in the usual men's attire; a dark overcoat, a waistcoat, and a white undershirt paired with dark slacks and leather shoes. And the only unusual in his attire was the cloak he was wearing. It's as if he just came from a cult ritual.

I was automatically stoned in the seat because of shock. And the man standing now a few meters from me mirrored the same reaction.

 “I…” he was about to say something but I went ahead of him.

"W-Who are you?"

He got stuck with my question. It was as if he couldn't believe what he heard. My forehead furrowed after seeing how he reacted. But I couldn't help but feel nervous as I stare at him.

I swallowed hard. His intimidating demeanor made my heart thump wildly inside my chest. As much as my mind wanted to feel wary on this man’s presence, I still tried to think of another reason why he would suddenly appear behind me.

Maybe he's just lost or…

“I’m sorry milady,” he suddenly said. Kinuha nito ang suot-suot na top hat at bahagyang yumuko, nagpapakita ng respeto sa akin. “I was hoping to visit your parents’ grave to give after hearing the news. I thought everyone was back to mansion already kaya ngayon ko naisipang bumisita,” he explained.

“I apologize, milady,” he suddenly uttered. He took off the top hat he is wearing and bowed his head politely, showing respect to me. “I was hoping to visit your parent’s grave to pay respect after hearing the news. I thought everyone went back to the mansion already so I just thought of visiting,” he explained.

Somehow, I felt relieved after hearing him say his intention. And he seems to know me even though I’m not familiar with him. I honestly thought he’s that kind of person that was about to do something with me. But well, now that he mentioned my parent’s death… why would he suddenly show up at the place where my grandparents and my ancestors are buried if he doesn’t visit the grave, right?

 “I’m sorry if I had… startled you of my presence. I’ll just take my leave and pay my respects late— ”

“No. You can stay,” I said.

He looked up to me before standing up properly. The skepticism in its expression is too obvious.

"Do you know my parents?" I asked. I barely moved to the side of the seat. He still remained where he stood. Now that I look at the man, I think he's in his late twenties.

"They were… my advisors," he said carefully while frowning while staring at me.

"Is that so?" I said and gave him a warm smile. "Come. Have a seat with me," I added and tapped the space of the cloth where I was sitting as if he had been my friend for a long time and it was normal for me to say it so casually to him.

I don’t know why those words came out of my mouth. And I really dared to ask him to sit next to me. I’ve never done that in all my life, and most especially with a man that is a total stranger to me!

 “Oh. Please, no, milady. There’s no need. It’s just — you don’t know me. It’s very unfit for the lady to have that kind gesture for the man she barely knows,” he suddenly pointed out. That's when I was stunned and met his gaze.

Because the sun was going down, I couldn't see the color of his eyes very well. But his thick brows and deep-set pair of eyes were complimenting his pretty face. It is not new for me to see some handsome men. But there is something in this man that tells me that he’s something different. But I can’t pinpoint what it is.

 “Oh…Yes…Yes. Indeed. I apologize. I don't go out much so I apologize if…I don't know you,”

"It's fine," he said with a smile. He then started walking towards me. My eyes followed him until he finally landed in front of me. "I'm only here for a quick respect," he continued. I just nodded and the surroundings became quiet again. It was only now that I noticed the basket of daisies he was carrying that he had now placed in front of my parents ’grave. He then knelt down his one knee to the ground. I couldn't help but stare at him as he closed his eyes to maybe offer a prayer for my two beloveds.

I took my eyes off of him before he even caught me staring at him. I never saw him visit the house.

I wonder how he knew my parents. He said they were his…advisors? But for what?

It didn't take long for him to end with his prayer. I felt him turn to me so I turned my gaze back to him.

Light brown. That’s the color of his eyes.

 “You don’t really know me…at all?” he suddenly asked, frowning at me. But I was then suddenly alarmed after a few seconds.

"Uh ... Should I…know you?" I asked in return. He grinned again and stared at me as if what he had just found out was very interesting.

 “No. It's better that you don't know me,” There was no smirk on his lips. But something really in him is telling my being that I should be wary of his presence. But I can’t say what that is.