Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 29

"Oh, by the way, are you all going to the ball?" Iris asked, her curiosity piqued as she noticed the group hadn't mentioned it yet.

"A ball?!?!" Mila's eyes widened in feigned surprise, trying to play her part convincingly. She had never attended a ball before, not even in her previous life, where certain circumstances had always kept her away from such events. 'I have to make this believable. I'm still a child, after all,' she thought, allowing an excited expression to take over her face as she looked at the others.

"Have you never been to one?" Iris asked, genuinely surprised by Mila's reaction.

"No, I'm always at home studying. Is it fun?" Mila replied with a bright smile, looking at Iris, who suddenly grabbed her hands in enthusiasm.

"I don't understand why you've never been to one! You're lucky to have missed out so far!" Iris exclaimed, her tone a mix of envy and excitement. She never particularly enjoyed royal balls herself, but seeing Mila's innocence made her think the experience could be different if they went together. "But you're definitely going this time!" she declared, making the decision for Mila.

At that moment, both Leo and Ambrose, caught off guard by Iris's announcement, spit out their tea, nearly choking on it.

"Pffftttt!!!!"

"Lord Leo?! Lord Ambrose?!" Sara quickly handed them napkins, her face filled with concern as she checked the tea. 'Is the tea bad? Did I do something wrong?' she wondered, completely perplexed by their sudden reaction.

"Okay!" Mila agreed cheerfully, still holding Iris's hands, her excitement seemingly genuine.

Just then, Duke Reynard entered the garden, noticing the commotion. "What's going on here?" he asked, seeing Leo and Ambrose struggling to recover from their coughing fit while Perry couldn't stop laughing at their expense. His gaze then shifted to Mila, who seemed to be the only one in control of the situation. "Mila, what happened?" he asked, hoping she could shed some light on the scene before him.

"Father! I'm going to my first ball!" Mila exclaimed, rushing to Duke Reynard with a wide smile on her face.

"A ball? You already know about it?" Duke Reynard knelt down, meeting her excited gaze with curiosity. He could see the anticipation bubbling in her, and it warmed his heart. "Did you want to go?" he asked gently.

Mila nodded enthusiastically, her innocent smile beaming up at him. "I want to go with you and Leo! And I want to see my friends there!" She glanced at her friends who were standing nearby, all smiling in support. Mila felt a deep sense of gratitude, knowing she had met the right people in this life to stand by her side.

Duke Reynard chuckled softly, touched by her excitement. "We'll have to take you to a tailor to make your dress," he said, watching as her eyes lit up even more, her happiness palpable.

"Thank you, Father!" Mila exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. She kissed his cheek in a rare display of affection, catching him off guard.

Duke Reynard was momentarily stunned but quickly returned her embrace, his heart swelling with pride and love. Iris, watching the exchange, couldn't help but feel a pang of warmth. 'They have such a great father and daughter bond,' she thought, reminded of her own close relationship with her father and brother. Growing up without a mother had made those bonds all the more precious to her.

"I'll come with you to the tailor," Leo added, not wanting to miss the opportunity to spend time with his sister. It would be the first time they'd all go out together like this. Mila rarely ventured out, and when she did, she often wore a mask to cover her scar. Over the past few years, the scar had shrunk as she grew, but there were still lingering doubts about how others might react to it.