Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 87

After days of carefully planning her next steps, Mila received the news she had dreaded—Leo was departing soon. The sight of him preparing to leave was almost too much to bear. She sobbed, standing beside Luce, who was also in tears. The two of them united in their grief, faced the painful reality of Leo leaving for war.

"Leo, do you... have to... go?" Mila's voice trembled as she spoke, her hiccups punctuating her words. Luce clung to Leo, having spent countless hours trying to convince him to stay, but they both knew that the Emperor's orders were absolute.

Leo, ever the protective older brother, gently petted Mila's head, offering her a reassuring smile despite the heavy burden in his heart. "Mila, I'll be sure to come back. Luce, take care of my little sister." His voice was steady, but the sorrow in his eyes was unmistakable. He embraced Luce, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead as she wept for him.

Watching Leo leave, Mila's resolve hardened. She knew she had to act quickly to finalize her plans. There was no time to waste. If she did not go now, then there would be no more chances.

The following day, Mila sat down for tea with Luce, trying to distract themselves from the impending separation. Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a messenger, who delivered a message directly to Mila.

"Lady Mila has been invited to attend a women's hunting match tomorrow," the messenger announced, his voice formal and composed. Luce, seated beside Mila, listened intently.

Mila, caught off guard by the sudden invitation, spat out her tea in shock. She coughed, her throat stinging from the abruptness of the news. "Who sent me an invitation?!" She demanded her tone a mixture of confusion and suspicion. Something about this invitation felt off. 'This smells like nothing but trouble,' she thought.

The messenger hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. He had been instructed not to reveal the sender's identity, knowing it would spoil someone's carefully laid plans. It could even mean death to him.

Mila, perceptive as ever, quickly pieced together the situation. The messenger's reluctance to speak and the nature of the invitation pointed to one person—Vita. 'I see. She thinks that embarrassing me will chase me away once again. We'll see about that then.' Mila's thoughts were sharp, her mind already working out her next move.

"Mila? Are you sure you'll be alright? Attending such an event isn't easy," Luce's voice was filled with concern as she looked at Mila. She knew that one way or another, Mila was being forced into attending this gathering. Luce was also aware that Mila had never been involved in social events with other ladies, and the prospect of it worried her.

"I'll be fine," Mila replied with a reassuring smile. "Besides, I have Cotton and Net with me." At her words, both Cotton and Net nodded in unison, looking up at Luce with determined expressions as if to assure her that they would protect Mila from any potential bullying.

Luce sighed, still uneasy but trying to trust Mila's words. "Just don't get into trouble, alright? I don't want to let Leo down. As his wife, it's my duty to protect you as well, especially now that you're my little sister. But with my father still in hiding and the situation as it is, I'm being watched constantly. There's not much I can do."

Mila squeezed Luce's hand gently, her smile softening. "You're not letting him down at all. Leo loves you no matter what happens. None of this is your fault. You and Leo were meant to be together." Mila's words were filled with sincerity, and Luce couldn't help but feel a wave of warmth and gratitude. She wondered what she had done to deserve such a loving husband and a kind sister-in-law, who felt more like a true sister than she had ever had.

The day moved along quickly, and soon enough, Mila was dressed and ready for the hunt. This event was meant for noblewomen of high status, but Mila refused to share a carriage with her half-sisters. Instead, she made her way to the location on foot, preferring to arrive early and avoid unnecessary interactions. When she reached Little Forest, she found herself alone. The only sound was the rustling of leaves as she stood waiting for the others to arrive. "Tsk, not a single person in sight," Mila muttered to herself, sighing at the thought of how these noblewomen would likely take their time, focusing on their appearance rather than the event itself. 'Why do they always feel the need to dress up so much? It's a waste of time,' she thought, finding the whole process of being "ladylike" tedious.