Remaking Of Lady Cruel

Chapter Twelve: Duchess

Viviene was not affectionate to the duke, her own father, due to the reason that she acts cold and never showed his face when she needed him the most. She always thought that she doesn’t have a father to avoid being hurt from expecting. But now its different. She’s talking cheerfully to him and not some kind of empty doll. Of course she still has the plan that she planted in her head.

‘I need to look great in front of him. Maybe he can help me fix my reputation.’ She thought.

“You’re quite lively today.”

“Of course father. Is my attitude not to your liking? I apologize. I’ll change it—”

“No. It’s a little surprising yet its not hateful to see. You’re free to act according to your own preference however, it shouldn’t be too much as to act stupidly.”

His words were harsh but she’s not a bit hurt. She’s immune to those kinds of words that she always hear every time, in and out of the mansion. She smiled at him and continue eating. After that, she met Finnian and handed her the papers she need to be a duchess. It contains information of the past ten years until the current date and she needs to know these all to be aware of the things related to the position. Reading all the documents make her feel dizzy and tired.

‘I cant give up yet.’ She thought.

She needs to attend some social gatherings and manage the house well. Reading the financial statement and felt satisfied of the information she knew. She decided to take a walk around the manor and examine it herself to know some minor problems. There’s indeed some little problems but she can confidently solve them. As she walk, she saw the greenhouse which was managed before by her mother. It doesn’t look good anymore and needs improvement, the plants withered which added unpleasant feeling if someone can see it.

‘I guess I’ll start here.’ She thought.

She hurriedly went to the Duke’s office where he saw her father working with documents. She’s surprise of him being there for she thought that he’s resting in his bedroom.

‘He just returned and now he’s working? Is he a robot?’ She wondered.

“Hello father.”

“What brings you here?”

‘Straight to the point. Really? Does he not want to see me? I pity his eyes.’ She thought.

“I’m going to renovate the greenhouse.”

“Do as you like.”

Viviene is disappointed by how quick he decides but what can she do? This is her first task and she needs to prove herself in this house.

“Thank you father! But, why aren’t you resting?”

“I have so much things to do.”

She understands that he has too many responsibilities as the duke however, he cant just set aside his health. She remembered before, when she’s working too much to the point that she’s having only two hours of sleep during the day and worked over time a lot to pay her bills. After that, she fell sick and had to leave for two weeks.

“You may not need this advice, father however, please take care of yourself. No one wants to see you sick.”

The duke met her eyes. They’re gentle and caring staring at him. She didn’t wait for his answer and went out from his office. He lean on his chair and stare at the door. He felt her sudden change of personality. Somehow, her existence in the house seems a bit nice and warm unlike before. The duke doesn’t want to see Viviene before because of her ill-manners that caused too many headaches to him. He doesn’t even like her to call him father yet, during breakfast, when she called him father, her voice was surprisingly soothing in his ears.

‘I heard she fell in Lake Faszia. Is she alright now?’ He thougbt. His gaze went to the window and saw the blue sky outside. ‘Drinking tea outside would be nice.’ He added.

Viviene is busy commanding the servants regarding the greenhouse when a maid called her. She said that she was summoned by the duke in the garden to have tea.

‘Tea with him? This is the first time.’ She muttered to herself as she recall the possible times when she and the duke had tea with each other. ‘I wonder why summoned me?’ She wondered and walk towards the garden. The flowers are in full bloom and some butterflies are flying freely. Not far from where she’s standing, a table with tea and desserts were placed. The duke is sitting there, having tea as he face a vacant seat.

‘I thought he’s busy. Why did he call me?’

She walk towards the table confidently and face the duke with a smile.

“Hello, father. You called for me?”

“Yes. Sit down and have tea with me.”

She did what he told her to do. She glance at the duke who’s calmly drinking his cup of tea. This is new to her. The same feeling of what she felt with Arthur a few days ago. The sudden change astonished her secretly and she tried her best to hide it from them. She doesn’t want to make a fuss about this insignificant feeling.

“I heard you caused a commotion in the palace and drowned in the Faszia Lake.”

“Yes. I wont deny it.”

‘So this is why he called me? To asked about my sins?’ She wondered and drank her tea to swallow the bitterness in her mouth.

“Doing awful things will result to something more awful, always remember that.”

“Yes.”

She answered like an obedient child. She’s staring at the tea, looking at her own sullen reflection when he suddenly ask something she didn’t expect.

“Are you alright now? Child?”

She raise her head and met his eyes. A hint of confusion is in her face as she held his cold blue irises. From her memory, the duke is not an affectionate one. He’s a type of man who’ll choose the empire than to choose his hurt daughter who almost died in the lake. Just like Arthur, he’s cold as ice. Yet why is he asking her now? Why is he curious of her well-being?

‘Was it because I told him to take care of himself? But those were meant nothing for me.’

Her thoughts made her feel empty. From the moment she open her eyes negative emotions stirred in her chest. She knew that its Viviene’s feelings toward the people around her. The feeling of pain, loneliness and being broken were too heavy and she cant help but thought of how she endured it all. With a smile, she answered the duke base on the feelings she had.

“… I’m always alright, father. You don’t need to worry and just focus in your work.”

The duke was astonished of her empty words yet her face is brightly smiling in front of him. He cant determine whether she’s happy or sad like a complicated riddle. Faye Anne, the person inside Viviene’s body is a natural pretender. Its like she’s in work and concealing her feelings are as easy as breathing oxygen.

“S-so, there’s a tea that fancied my taste bud for some time father. I heard it’s a relaxing tea, would you like to acquire some father?”

“Go do what you like to do.”

“But I don’t know if it will suit your taste.”

“I’ll not hate it.”

“Really?”

“Hm”

‘He’s a man of few words.’ She thought and never ask questions again. After spending time with the duke, she went back to her task and ask Finnian to acquire the she talked about the duke. Finnian, who’s also aware of the tea gladly obeyed her. As she read some invitations for social gatherings, her attention stopped at a certain letter from the Marchioness McGregor.

‘A tea party with her and her acquaintances’ She thought.

“I heard she’s popular in the social circle thus being acquainted with her seems not bad. She can help me fix my reputation.”

After choosing what social gatherings she’ll attend, she wrote letters for the senders and ordered the servant to send the letters. She had a lot of things to do that she finished reviewing the documents in midnight. She felt a slight dizziness as she stood up from her chair. She wrote everything she needs to do this morning from the renovation of the greenhouse to the attaining some wines to the storage. Everything is done and all she needs to do is sleep and wait for the sun to show up.

While walking in the hallway, she saw the duke looking outside the big glass window. She couldn’t deny that her father is handsome even if he’s already in his mid-forties.

‘He looked like a ghost with his white hair standing over there.’ She thought nervously.

She was having a hard time if she’ll approach him or not. Judging by how serious his expression, Viviene can tell that she mustn’t interrupt his thinking process. She was about to walk back to her own office when he called her.

“Viviene.”

She stopped from walking and face the duke with a force smile.

“H-Hi father.”

“You’re done with work?”

“A-Almost but don’t worry, I’ll finish it as soon as possible.”

She answered cheerfully. Her lively tone somehow lifted the gloomy atmosphere in the hallway.

“I see. Rest now.”

“Yeah? How about you father?”

“I’ll rest later.”

She stare at his face for a while before standing beside him and look at the view outside. The duke glance at her muddleheaded by her actions.

“I suddenly felt fully awake right now.” She excused to avoid leaving him behind. He smiled a little at her petty excuse.

“Uhm, the view is nice.. So as the darkness outside.”

She muttered seeing nothing but the dark view outside. There’s no moon nor stars in the sky and because of the tall trees its even darker to see things. She cant understand what the duke saw that he cant take off his eyes from the window.

“I-Is there something I cant see that you can see?” She whispered beside him.

‘This is a magical world, maybe there’s a ghost or spirit in front of us. I usually don’t believe in that kind of stuffs but because I just saw magic a few days ago then maybe there is!’ she thought. The duke cant help but to smile at her silliness.

“Silly girl, there’s none. I am not a person related to spirits and do I look like one?”

Viviene look at him. She come up to an idea that the duke isn’t that kind of person.

“Right. Haha. I’m just kidding.”

She stare at him again. She can sense that he’s uncomfortable at her presence so she decided to end their useless conversation.

“Father, I’ll be going now. Goodnight.”

“Viviene.”

She turn her head towards him, puzzled of why he’s calling her.

“What do you think of me?”

His question bewildered her. She’s not that smart to answer deep questions and it kinds of annoyed her, thanks to the Crown Prince. She recall all the philosophies she knew while studying to get a good answer for the duke.

“You’re a great man.”

She answered without breaking their stares at each other.

“A great man? How did I become a great man?”

She cant understand him why he’s doubting his self. How did he sink despite all the achievements he had. He’s empty, and oblivious of his own self-worth. Viviene press her lips, a little annoyed of his behavior. She calmed herself and took a deep breath as she speak again.

“I don’t know. You’re the only one who knows that.”

“I commit mistakes, did a lot of awful things, how did I become what you said?”

“I said you’re a great man, I’m not saying you’re a perfect man.”

The duke stared at her, unable to talk and bewildered at her own words. She smiled at him as she notice his expression.

“Being great doesn’t mean being perfect.”

After she said those words, she left the duke astonished. The next day, she’s always spending time with the duke and her brother. They’re sharing the same office despite the thought that they have their own.

‘Just what is happening here!? How did it become like this!?’ She stood up, unable to take their stares toward her.

“I-I’m going to take a walk for a while.”

“Then, I’m coming with you.”

“So as I”

“I apologize father, brother but I want to walk alone.”

She left the room with a slight headache. She cant believe that those two can act childish. As she walk downstairs, she met Finnian who’s going to the either the duke or Arthur. When he saw Viviene, he bow down and greeted her politely.

“May I ask where you’re going, Milady?”

“Taking a stroll in the garden. Don’t worry, I just finished writing the documents, you can take them now.”

Finnian did not expect that Viviene could be this competent. He smiled at her showing how delighted he is about her competence in work. She can see that Finnian is showering her with compliments in his head.

“How was the greenhouse?”

“The carpenters were already repairing the parts you mentioned and the gardeners are already taking out the withered plants and the weeds.”

“And the tea?”

“The delivery will arrive fortnight.”

“Alright. Thank you, Finnian.”

“Its my pleasure, Milady. Also, I have told the servant to prepare the carriage tomorrow for Marchioness Tea Party that you mentioned before?”

“Yes. I appreciated it. Thank you, Finnian.”

The lady’s personality suited Finnian’s standards for a duchess. Competent and confident enough to manage the house and those eyes, he love how they shine like small suns in front of him. Somehow, he felt ashamed for not giving Viviene a chance to show his abilities to run the household. He hoped for the best for Viviene who’s sincerely doing her job well. Those thoughts ended when he decided to go to the duke’s office to report something. He knock and opened the door seeing the two with their heads low, reading a bunch of papers from left and right.

The room became less spacious after they moved from their own designated offices. He didn’t know that Arthur and the duke love spending a lot of time with Viviene and when he means a lot of time he meant all the time.

“Your Grace, a letter has arrived from the palace.”

“Again? Cant he solve his own problems? He’s giving me too much to handle.”

Irritation is very clear in the duke’s tone but they paid no mind at all. He took the letter and read it. His face hardened after reading and crumpled it.

“Is it about the issue of the border again? Are they making they’re moves?”

Arthur asked who already knew what the duke’s expression mean.

“He’s asking us to go to the north eradicate pieces of shits.”

“for how long?”

“one year”

Arthur lean on his chair. Its ridiculously long and too much for their little time. They still have not done some issues in their fief. There’s too much to handle with only their hands. The duke grab a pen and a paper and wrote his reply. He had a sullen face and his eyes sharp that can slice someone alive.

Meanwhile, the weather is nice and the wind was filled with the flowers scent that made her relax from all the stresses she had in the office. Remembering the faces of the people inside the office make her mood turned to sour but thanks to this pretty scenery, everything went back to being good. One day has passed since the duke appointed her as a duchess. Its hard and tiring but she did nor complain a single thing about it.

‘You should face struggles to gain success.’

That’s what life is. She’s struggling up until now but its normal for her. She accepted her fate in life ever since she’s born. All she can do is hope for a better tomorrow and always do her best.

“Yes, lets struggle and avoid the dramas.”

She mumble as she smiled facing the sky.