Abelardo woke up from bed being less tired than usual. Although the stress remained, the image of his adorable son helped lighten his mood. Just thinking about his smiling face let Abelardo's senses soften. He needed to get back to work as he needed to fulfil his duties as the duke. Today he hoped his son Aden would visit him again.
Two hours pass and his usual adorable son is nowhere to be seen. Abelardo starts losing focus on the documents and asked the butler to come.
"Greetings your Grace."
"Hans, where is Aden right now?"
"That is...he is resting."
"Resting? Did something happen?"
"That. I am sorry your Grace, the young master has forbidden me to speak about the matter."
"Aden? Why would he do that? What happened, tell me!"
The butler hesitates. No matter what he was told by Aden, he couldn't disobey the orders from the his master.
"Young master Aden was injured yesterday...he is now healing."
"What!"
Abelardo stops all work and runs out of his office. The butler stared at the expensive wooden desk that seemed to have a fist like crack engraved on it.
Abelardo panicked, it wasn't long since he lost his wife and now his son was injured. If he lost a son this time he wouldn't know what to do anymore. He recalled Aden's small figure, barely reaching his knees looking at him with pure innocence. The doll-like hands that poured tea for him, the heartwarming smile that comforted him these past weeks, helping him go back down the right path. He cared little about etiquette as he dashed across the hall to Aden's room.
"Aden!!"
The entrance swung open. His son was sitting on the couches still in his nightwear looking tired. One of his hands was tightly wrapped in bandages. Abelardo's limbs froze for a moment. Cold sweat dripped down his body.
"What happened!! Why did none of you tell me! What is this a game to you all?"
Aden quickly got out of bed and ran towards Abelardo with a pleading look.
"Father! Stop please don't blame them, I'm the one who asked them not to tell you."
"I'm calling the doctor this instant. What is a child like you doing not telling his own father about this!"
"Wait! Father, I already had my hands checked yesterday, it's not a big deal."
"Not a big deal? Have you gone mad? Why did you not tell me, I am the one who is suppose to protect you!"
"Father please sit down, I wanted to tell you in person so that the truth comes out."
Abelardo watched his son's shaky hand point towards the couch. The words he wanted to yell out were now stuck in his throat. His anger instantly subsided. Without replying he slowly sat down beside Aden, his eyes glued to the bandages.
"This. How did you get it."
"It was an accident, I wasn't being careful and injured myself."
"Could you not tell me in greater detail? What if you were poisoned?"
"No that would be impossible because it really was an accident."
"Aden tell me what happened. The full story, only then can I stop worrying."
"Well I jammed my hand when a door was closing, it was my own foolishness that caused this."
Abelardo looked towards Mary who was closest to them.
"Is that true?"
"...Yes, young master Aden did injure himself due to the door."
"Who closed the door?"
"...It was Young master Ian, your Grace."
"Ian! How dare he!"
Although no one saw it, Aden's expression showed a bit of displeasure.
-
[What was this level mistreatment?]
I couldn't help but think that. You gotta be nice to Ian, he's your son too man.
"Father I told you it was my fault, I rushed towards the door and hurt myself."
"Even so, he'll be taught a lesson. Don't worry anymore Aden, we can keep you separated if you want. I actually think it's better to do that, you don't need to stay in contact with 'him' anymore."
[Sigh what a doting father you are...a very unreasonable one. This is what you call child neglect!]
"Father, I don't want that. Ian is my older brother."
"He hurt you."
"I told you it was my mistake."
"Still, I think it's better for you guys to not meet for a while."
"But-"
"Stop, I said I forbid it."
[Damn this guy is so stubborn!! ARGG He treats his first son so coldly what the hell is wrong with him!]
"...Fine. Under two condition will I listen to you."
I crossed my arms lightly so that my sensitive hand wasn't under any pressure. I looked at my father straight in the eye.
"Sigh...Fine I'll listen to them at least."
"The first condition, you cannot punish brother. If you do I won't drink tea with you anymore."
"..."
"The second condition, be nicer to brother. "
"...Why are you being so nice to the person who hurt you?"
I sighed.
"Father if I am being honest I think you are the unreasonable one."
"Aden?"
Abelardo's pupils shake in disbelief. His face looked similar to a guilty puppy, the image was almost identical.
"Isn't brother your son too? Why can't you be nicer to him, we are all suffering through loss."
Be nice to Ian? Abelardo thought for a moment. Now that he thought about it he never paid much attention to his first son. His excellent grades and praised he gets from the teachers were satisfactory enough for Abelardo. Ian clung to his mother more than he did to his father, to be exact he avoided his father since his father didn't see him as much. Abelardo felt weird after being hit straight in the face, by his favourite son at that.
"...Father will think about this...Anyways we'll call a doctor."
"Ehhh"
"I won't be satisfied until I hear from the doctor himself."
[This guy's stubborn as hell.]
The doctor hurriedly came after the duke called for him. Mr Aldo seemed worried that my treatment didn't go well and took a very close look at my hand. Since there were no signs of bad development Abelardo finally let the issue go. He told me I don't need to make tea again and that I should just rest these days.
The drama eased down after this talk. After transporting into this world it was really tiring everyday. I spend so much of my days worrying for Abelardo and Ian's mental growth that I didn't even have time to relax by myself. Now that I was officially given a "break" from the duke, I could temporarily stop worrying about everything! It was just a week, no possible misunderstandings could rule up within a week right? I happily grinned and slammed my infant body onto the soft bed sheets.
Wahh...The beds here were amazing. They were massive in size, it could probably fit more than 20 kids my size. The food here was also magnificent although I missed tasting fast food and other junk foods.
After I fix the relationship with my villainess family I could stop worrying about my death. And since Ian will be the one inheriting the duke's title I could just live the rest of my life leisurely like this, without worrying about a thing.
-
A week wasn't long and it quickly past. I've been increasingly lazy during the break rarely ever getting out of bed. I also dropped the childish acts I always put on. It was so comfortable sleeping and slacking off all day I started to worry that I'd give up my plan and just let Abelardo lock me up since I didn't really mind it. Ack no, shouldn't think like that, if I do I might really break my promise from the goddess~
* The servants however thought that their young master had grown depressed after the incident, making them extremely sensitive to Aden's every movement. *
"Young master Aden would you like to go outside for a walk? You've barely moved these days"
I looked outside the window for a bit. It was still the middle of summer, and today the temperature was perfect for taking a stroll. I saw benches placed around the massive garden. Ahhh taking a nap there would be amazing!! My eyes lit up.
"Mary lets go out!!"
Mary sighed in relief, glad that her cute young master finally smiled. She watched the tiny figure jump off the high bed onto the carpet.
She helped him dress up in a simple shirt and short black pants. The young master had been picky about clothing lately and refused to wear anything frilly or tight. He looked like a beautiful doll in those frilly rich clothes, however his new taste in clothes did not cover his adorableness. He still looked like a piece of art even with just a simple white shirt and black shorts... Mary who loved dressing the young master up hesitantly asked.
"Young master Aden, would this cardigan be alright? It's a bit windy out there so I think it's better to wear a light jacket."
Aden's big round eyes stare at the light blue woolly cardigan that was the same shade as his hair. His hands touched the fabric sleeve and he smiled.
"This feels so good Mary! Ok I'll wear it!"
It occurred to Mary that as long as the fabric wasn't too girly and was comfortable the young master would wear it. This new discovery drew flames inside Mary's eyes, she was determined to make sure that she could continue to dress up the young master.
With the outfit complete after finding a pair of black loafers and white socks, Mary escorted Aden to the garden.
"Young master would you like to have a look at the flowers?"
"Young master?"
Mary looked at the young master who ignored her suggestion and instead was running close to the edge. She hurriedly followed him. He stopped at a bench that was shadowed by a tall tree. The tree's shadow helped the metal stay cool and firm. Aden got on the bench and...fell asleep. Mary was truly worried about the young master's level of laziness but she did not say much and stayed by his side.
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