Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 59

"No, let's not get into too much trouble just yet," ZH said, his tone thoughtful as he considered their situation. He knew that if they returned too soon, they would likely run into Aiken, who was probably fuming and searching for them. "Right now, we're the mice, and there's a particular cat out there looking for us. So, let's enjoy the night breeze together instead."

With that, both Mila and ZH settled back down on the soft grass, letting the cool evening air wash over them. Their horses grazed peacefully nearby, contentedly nibbling on the meadow grass.

"What a nice view!" Mila exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement as she gazed up at the sky. The vibrant hues of purple were beginning to spread across the horizon as the sun dipped lower, making way for the moon to rise.

"You've still got enough energy to shout like that?" ZH remarked, turning his head to look at her. He couldn't help but be amazed by this girl—she was the only one who had ever truly captured his attention from the moment they had met. "How do you manage to have so much energy left?" he mused, a playful glint in his eye as he reached out and flicked her forehead with his middle finger.

"Ouch!" Mila yelped, rubbing the spot where he had flicked her. The day had been nothing but fun for her, filled with laughter and challenges. Yet, as she massaged her forehead, a thought replayed in her mind—a lesson she had learned today. 'Never underestimate this guy.' The realization was clear: she should never get ahead of herself when it came to ZH.

"Don't flick me like that again!" she scolded, pouting slightly. "I'm only letting it slide because you won!" Her voice carried a mix of mock indignation and genuine playfulness as she turned to face him.

ZH couldn't help but smile at her reaction. His eyes landed on the small red spot on her forehead, the evidence of his flick. The sight of it made him burst into laughter. "Hahahaha!!!" he laughed, unable to stop himself. Mila's expression, combined with the day's events, struck him as irresistibly adorable.

Mila found herself smiling, too, watching him laugh so freely. It was a rare sight, and seeing him so carefree made her heart warm. Before long, she joined in, her laughter mixing with his. "Hahahaha!!!" she echoed, the sound of their shared joy filling the air.

Without even realizing it, they reached out and held each other's hands, their fingers intertwining naturally as they lay side by side on the grassy meadow. The world around them faded into the background as they shared that moment, enjoying the simplicity of each other's company.

***

"Where did those two idiots go?!" Aiken shouted, his voice echoing through the corridors of the palace. His face was flushed with anger as he surveyed the extensive damage that had been caused. "They have to pay for all the destruction they've caused!"

Emmett, Sara, Thelma, and Tim stood at a safe distance, exchanging uneasy glances. None of them wanted to be dragged into the chaos that Mila and ZH had left in their wake. They knew all too well that even their combined monthly salaries wouldn't be enough to cover the cost of the damages.

"Should we hide too?" Sara whispered, her voice tinged with nervousness as she looked to the others for agreement.

"Yeah, I've got a place," Tim quickly replied, eager to avoid any potential blame. He led the group to a discreet spot where they could stay out of sight, away from Aiken's fury.

Meanwhile, Aiken continued his rant, pacing back and forth. "They'll have to come back eventually! There's no way they'd miss dinner!" His voice was growing hoarse from all the yelling, and he was clearly out of breath. Beside him, Vere had his hands over his ears, trying to shield himself from the relentless tirade.