𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐎'𝐒 𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐒

05; 𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐒

𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 stares blankly at the stars that twinkle in the night, the moon illuminates through the whole forest as Philio watches her space out 'She's doing it again' He thought worriedly. Just after her miscarriage, she started a hobby of spacing out, staring blankly or emotionless at the air. It's like she's starting to imagine impossible things.

She also ran her fingers into her stomach, rubbing it softly. Philio softly grabbed her wrist "You're doing it again, love" he said with a slight amusement in his voice, Celeste quickly got herself embarrassed, and she looked away with a blush on her face "I'm sorry" she said and once again sighed tiredly.

Leonia looks at them weirdly "Hey, Miss Lady Angel! When did you meet mister?" She asked out of the blue, puffing her cheeks while looking at Celeste whose eyes widened "Why the sudden curiosity?" She suddenly smiled. The child just laughed "Mister seems to stare at you all the time!" Leonia exposed with a Cheshire grin, the said man quickly averted his eyes away from the two.

Celeste laughed at her mischief "I met him when we were still little, darling. He's somewhat a curious yet amusing child" she said, remembering the good and old days when they were kids. Leonia seems to successfully make the lady smile as she listens to her bubbly rants and somewhat embarrassing stories about Philio, how he follows Celeste around like a lost puppy.

"That sounds like mister!" She grinned like a man, Philio shot her a short glare before they all fell quiet when Leonia's stomach started to grumble in hunger. Celeste frowns before the carriage has suddenly halted in its tracks, Philio immediately looks over at the window as two knocks are heard.

"What is it, Dame Levipath?" Philio questions as Dame Levipath bows at the two presence "I apologize for the sudden stop, Your grace" she apologises, looking at Celeste "Considering the time of night and young lady's well-being, as well Duchess Celeste's condition. I propose that we stay at the Inn, in front of us" Dame Levipath explains.

"Oh dear, we're both ok—" Celeste was cut off by Philio who seemed to agree "Let us do that"

Leonia glares menacingly at him "Hey! Lady Angel was talking mister!" Celeste covered her short laugh with a cough, clearly amused by the protectiveness of the child.

The woman started to pet Leonia's hair "I might as well need some rest." She says softly as Philio looks at Leonia "You're listless from hunger yet your vocal cords seem to be doing fine" he comments, causing Leonia to huff in anger. Philio looks up from his window and stares at the inn in front of him, glancing at his wife to see her slightly fixing Leonia's hair who seems to be drifting to sleep 'It seems alright for the two to rest here' he thought.

He then steps out from the carriage and offers a hand to Celeste who gladly takes it and smiles at him, Leonia follows her from behind. Not aware of her surroundings, she looks around.

"Dame Levipath, make sure we're ready to leave once Leonia has regained her energy" Philio ordered.

"Yes, You're Grace" Then in a second, Leonia lost her balance and was about to fall out from the carriage with a slight scream and right when she almost hit the ground, a figure took a kneel and wrapped their arms around her tightly. Leonia sighs in relief.

"W-Whoa! That could've been it for me" Leonia says in surprise before looking up at Philio "You have an amazing reflex, Mister!" She added. Celeste knelt next to Philio, not caring about the dirt that was already staining her dress, she wiped the dirt around Leonia's face with her handkerchief "You must be careful, Leo" she stated earning a small nod from the child.

'The duke and duchess just took a kneel..!' The dame took a surprise, on their knees or rather took a kneel, the idiom takes a knee implied the action of kneeling/bending a knee. Rarely any Duke or Duchess do this action, they rather do it on special occasions.