Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 50

Mila found it hard to believe that he had asked Ambrose the same question. She turned to him with a gentle smile, her voice soft but firm. "No, there's no need to hold onto such unnecessary feelings for someone who only sought to benefit from you."

As the wind gently tousled Mila's hair, he couldn't help but think of his lover. The way Mila smiled reminded him of memories he thought he'd buried. "Oh, you never told me your name," Mila continued, her tone light and innocent. "Will I just keep calling you 'mister'?"

He sighed inwardly, amused but also slightly offended by her casual address. 'The way you only call me mister is offensive to the emperor,' he thought. "You can call me Aiken," he finally said, "but when I'm wearing my other mask, it has to be 'your majesty,' got it?" Aiken looked at the little girl who had somehow managed to amuse him and annoy him all at once.

"Okay!" Mila agreed cheerfully. She didn't think much of it; she already knew who he was. His identity wasn't a secret—only the mask he wore was different. "Hey, what's with your family's thing about the mask?" Mila asked, curious but hoping she wasn't crossing a line.

Aiken hesitated for a moment, then asked, "If I tell you, will you think of me differently?" His question hung in the air, but Mila didn't need time to consider her response.

"I would never think of anyone differently!" Mila's voice held a quiet strength, her composure unwavering despite the emotions simmering beneath the surface. "I only have one thought and feeling for each person. If a promise or trust is broken between that person and me, then our path will be nothing but shattered fragments of the past. I will never change how I think of an individual at first glance. I trust my senses and instinct."

Aiken scoffed softly, recognizing that Mila was truly one of a kind. 'What a strange girl,' he mused, noting how she trusted her instincts above all else. "This curse has been with my kingdom for generations," he began, his voice steady. "If I were to remove this mask, anyone who saw my face would die within a day. Honestly, it wouldn't bother me if they did."

Mila, curious, tilted her head slightly. "Then why do you wear it?" she asked.

"I have people I care about," Aiken replied, his tone softening. "I do this for their safety. If I were truly heartless, everyone in this kingdom would be forced to wear masks, too." He glanced at her, still finding it hard to believe such wisdom and kindness came from someone so young.

Mila smiled gently. "I think you're a good emperor. You want to see your people and loved ones happy. I don't wish any harm to come to you. You're one of the best rulers I've met. I only wish the Mireraweth emperor could be as considerate instead of drowning himself in his harem." She spoke with a sincerity that struck Aiken deeply.

"I know your emperor. He's a disgusting man," Aiken said, his voice laced with disdain.

Mila nodded. "I've seen him before. We can bad-mouth him all we want because he's not the ruler here." She laughed, and Aiken found himself laughing along with her.

"Hahaha!!!"

"You would bad-mouth your emperor behind his back?" Aiken asked, both amused and impressed by her boldness.

"As I said, I don't change my feelings or thoughts about someone at first glance. You're a good person in my eyes." Mila extended her hand toward him. "Till we meet again," she said with a warm smile.

"Till we meet again," Aiken replied, shaking her hand as she prepared to leave. He watched her go, standing on the roof for a moment longer. Then, without turning, he spoke, "I know you're there. Why don't you come out?"

Emmett stepped forward, moving to stand beside Aiken. "You didn't want to expose me. Why is that?" he asked, puzzled by Aiken's choice.

"I didn't want to hurt the little girl's feelings," Aiken responded calmly. "She's unique, and you've been with her longer. I don't want to cause any 'broken fragments,' as she put it."

"Thank you for your consideration," Emmett replied, "but I should tell you that she already knew I was here."

Aiken raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh? How so?"

"She's not an ignorant child. She's been trained her entire life to sense others. She's far from weak. She was born into a home where most of her siblings despised her, except for one. They found a bond in their shared struggles, and she won her father's favor early on. Any servant or maid who mistreated her was severely punished."

"She's from a noble household?" Aiken asked, realizing there was more to Mila than he initially thought.

"Yes, but her mother was a maid, and her father was a nobleman. She was seen as the lowest of the low, left alone, but she found friends and people willing to serve and protect her. She brought all of us out of our dull lives into hers." Emmett smiled, recalling the hardships that had bonded him to Mila.

Aiken observed Emmett closely. "So, you do care for her? You weren't planning on helping your kingdom?" Aiken knew that the war would have tempted Emmett to act.

"I did think about it," Emmett admitted, "but I'd rather watch my kingdom crumble than see my loved ones perish. My kingdom isn't my pride or my life. My loved ones are." Emmett's words left Aiken speechless. "I have nothing more to say. If you don't trust me, then trust my young lady." With that, Emmett turned and walked away, leaving Aiken alone with his thoughts.

"Tsk, you people are strange. I thought the girl was, but you all are," Aiken muttered to himself, finally deciding it was time to return to the palace.
***
Mila ventured out on her own, her thoughts focused on finding Skye. Time felt like it was slipping away faster than she could manage. As she approached Maedda's holy monastery, a sacred place where only women were permitted, she paused, feeling a familiar presence.

"Hey, what are you doing here at this time?" Vivian's voice echoed in her mind as Mila stood at the entrance.

"I just wanted to see if I could make any connection here," Mila replied, her eyes scanning the ancient structure before her. With a determined nod, she stepped inside, greeted almost immediately by a kind-faced nun.

"Greetings; what brings this little lady to our monastery?" the sister asked, her tone gentle and welcoming.

Mila smiled politely, her manners impeccable. "Greetings, sister. I wanted to visit this place. I haven't had the chance to see it before."

The nun nodded, understanding in her eyes. "You're welcome to explore, but no weapons are allowed inside. Please, allow me to hold it for you."

Another nun stepped forward, her hands outstretched, and Mila handed over her sword without hesitation. She didn't want to offend or show any disrespect.

As she entered the sacred space, a powerful aura washed over her, almost overwhelming in its intensity. It was a sensation she recognized all too well.

'Master??? Are you here already?' The voice was soft but urgent, resonating with her deeply.

"Skye..." Mila whispered, her eyes darting around the monastery. The air was thick with the presence she had been seeking, a presence she knew belonged to Skye. Every step she took felt charged with anticipation as if she was drawing closer to something significant.