𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐏𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐃 across the room as they were now ready for departure. Celeste silently observed every corner of the orphanage, it was nothing but cold, rugged and dusty. They only cleaned the open spaces yet you could see some specks of dust under them. She held her grimace and quickly pulled Philio out, who seemed to notice her discomfort as his wife was a clean freak herself.
"Have we already met all the children in the Orphanage?" Philio asked Rupert as they were now proceeding to leave, planning to visit another orphanage.
"Yes. Counting the last child, you have met all eighteen" Rupert replied and Celeste clasped her hands together "To the next orphanage, it is" she said without missing a beat "Yes, m'lady" Rupert nodded.
Celeste intertwined both of their fingers as Rupert took a few steps behind, letting the two have their moment, letting him breathe.
"You're Grace!" The head of the orphanage calls out. Celeste And Philio stop in their tracks as he walks towards them "My sincerest apologies for not serving you and Duchess Celeste satisfaction" he apologizes with a hint of fake sincerity in his voice.
"They are pretty children. I'd say the best of their life is behind them, now that they met your grace. O-On that note... It's almost wintertime. I fear the children might be able to last" he nervously claims while fiddling his fingers, silently praying as they felt their burning gazes on his skull.
Celeste hums "Wanting some supplies I see... Or you wanted money?" Her golden eyes darkened which made the staff and the elderly man gulp "From What I've observed from this orphanage, you seem to have a lack of interest in cleaning or running this place well, care to explain to me, why?" She asked and held her fan, patting it on his shoulder harshly "These children are depending on you. Their lives are depending on you. If you can't take good care of them, why run yourself an orphanage?" She asked, stating the obvious as Philio smirked. Rupert silently nodded his head in agreement.
"I-.." The elderly man stuttered only to be silenced by a child wailing "LET ME GO!!" She screams at the man who's trying to hold her back, only to get bitten, he immediately lets go causing her to run towards the couple.
"Hey, Mister!" Philio hums as Celeste looks at the child. Surprisingly, the child didn't even shed a tear from looking at the duke which leads Rupert and the guards to be dumbfounded. The staff workers and the director look surprised to see.
Rupert warily glances at Celeste who seems to get silent 'Her hair and eyes... are similar to the duke!'
"I-I apologize! Hurry and put her away!" When he was about to even lay a hand on the child, vines quickly held him in his place, wrapping his mouth and preventing him from blabbering. Celeste loosens its hold "Rupert. She's not on the lists" Philio stated.
The wife seems to notice how the head struggles on the vines and quickly explains once Celeste loosens the vines on his mouth "I-it's because this child is ill-mannered and always causing trouble" he says, trying to think of an excuse.
"You dare try to deceive us" Celeste's eyes glint in anger and the dean shakes vigorously "I'm certain I communicate the Duke's desire to meet ALL of the children in the orphanage" Rupert stated which made the head freeze in shock and horror. Celeste quickly let him go as the vines untangle his body, not noticing how the child's eyes sparkle while looking at her.
The head and his workers quickly went down to their knees "I-I'm sorry! Please forgive us..!!!" He begged.
The child glanced at him as they were on their knees, and the girl couldn't help but look in amusement. Celeste looks over to the child, her stoic face hasn't changed "So.. What's your name" She simply asked.
"I don't have one" the little girl answered.
"Even if you were born in the orphanage. You should have a name" Philio bluntly interfered as he looked down at her "The adults call me Nia but I hate that name" The girl retorted and Celeste brought her fan near her face, covering her amusement.
"You're bold" Philio comments and takes a step closer to her. A spark started to enlighten between them "Do you know whose path you are standing in right now?" He questions. A dangerous aura formed around the two as Rupert and the other stepped back, Celeste watched the two in slight amusement as she caught the little girl's eyes glinting the same golden orbs that her husband had.
"You're right" Celeste interrupted them as she raised her hand in the air; vines started to grow around the child, they tangled around her small feet and lifted her in the air near Celeste's level. She carefully brought the child in her arms, not minding or caring about the dirt on her, she was too busy staring at the eyes she held "Your name doesn't suit you" she plainly says.
Philio observes the two. Celeste looks deeply at her before muttering a name.
"Leonia Boleoti"
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