Please be Patient, Grand Duke - Chapter 6.2

“You! How dare you?” The Marchioness yelled. She was livid, and she was no longer the strict yet kind person Lia knew, and Lia’s eyes welled up with tears. “Do not be with them! How dare you try to take Kieran’s place!”

Lia’s mouth was agape, as she had thought she had been slapped for burning Claude’s hand. However, the Marchioness was angry at Lia being among them.

“Answer me!” she shouted.

Lia spoke with lowered shoulders. “Yes, Madame.”

“The prince was among them! How dare you embarrass Kieran!” 

Lia had never been told that the prince would be there. Her body began to shake as she sobbed with her head bowed low, and the Marchioness continued to speak, not allowing her a chance to respond. “I don’t know why you think you can cry. Your role is just to live quietly. Don’t step forward unless you are instructed to do so!”

The Marchioness turned around and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Lia sat back down on the chair and covered her red cheek. Betty came running with a wet towel, and she hugged Lia with a saddened face. Lia cried openly to the only gentle person who hugged her here.

***

The Marquis’s eyes were surprised as Lia came out to the dining room with swollen eyes, and the Marchioness did not even glance at her. Lia had to sit down next to Claude, and he sighed on seeing Lia’s red eyes.

“I am sorry to hear that Lia made a mistake in the shooting arena, Claude,” said the Marchioness.

The Marquis spoke as he sipped wine, and Lia avoided Kieran’s fierce gaze as she unfolded the napkin.

“No, it’s my mistake. Lian’s not at fault, and he managed the situation quite well.”

Lia stared at Claude, appreciating his light answer, and she noticed his bandaged hand and could smell that sage and other herb oils had been used to dress it.

“Thank you, I owe you a great debt,” said Theodore, interrupting the awkward situation, “I thank you for lending me your library.”

“It’s nice to hear that you like it,” replied the Marquis as he raised his wine glass high. Theodore had said the Vale library had even more rare books than the Imperial Library and the teacher had long anticipated a visit to it.

Lia did not speak during the meal, and Kieran did the same. She met Claude’s eyes, still avoiding Kieran’s gaze though. Putting a small piece of meat in her mouth, she chewed on it for a long time and it felt like everyone’s eyes were on her. Managing to finish the meal, she then stood up, despite knowing that was against manners, and ran from the mansion and hid in the gardens. 

Moonlight shone a path on the white snow, and she followed it to hide by the gigantic statue of an angel that she could see from her bedroom window. It was perfect for hiding from the cold as its wings were folded as if they were protecting something. She found a comfortable spot and snuggled against it with her knees folded, looking up at the bright moon. She was conditioned to the cold and didn’t feel any pain. This is the perfect place.

She had been staring at the star-studded sky for a long time when a tall shadow suddenly loomed over her. Lia saw Claude’s clear blue eyes looking down at her and he had on a heavy coat, unlike her.

“Your Highness,” she whispered.

He looked around instead of answering and kneeled on one knee while looking deeply into her eyes. Lia stared at Claude’s face and thought he was more beautiful than the night sky. He continued to look at her while grabbing a fistful of snow and then held it against her cheek. She was unsure whether this was to console her or punish her. Claude’s smile was eerily beautiful, and her cold cheek began to sting.

“Was it like this?” he asked gently.

Claude had said something she could not understand and he tilted his head before standing up. He then disappeared as if he had never been there.

“What did he mean?” Lia said aloud as she climbed off of the statue with her brow furrowed. But Claude was no longer there, only his footsteps over hers, showed her that she hadn’t seen an illusion.