✓ | REBIRTH OF THE REBEL [Book One]

EPILOGUE

[ Epilogue ]

ROSHAN THADDEUS

The Butler of the House of Reidensteigh took a deep breath before his right hand held the level and pushed the door to open. His round eyes, perfectly molded in deep brown hues, roamed around the room, looking for his agenda while both thick light brown eyebrows raised upon wonder where could His Grace be.

"Your Grace?" his light pink heart-shape lips opened. A single stroke of his boots entered the silent realm of the Duke's chamber, and it was followed by another, until he found himself stuck in the middle of the black fur carpet. "Roshan, I know you are here. Kanina ka pa umalis sa silid ng Emperor at walang nagsabi na umalis ka."

"Get out, Erwan." A cold monotonous voice came from the west part of the room echoed like thunder. A sound that is dangerous when near, a tone that should not be messed up with, and a person who can't be disturbed.

Erwan traced the direction with his eyes and his body followed right after. There he saw the Duke standing in front of the wide window leading to the outside of the Mansion he was staying and is part of the Emperor's Palace.

"Ano ba ang sinabi ng Kamahalan?" tanong ni Erwan habang papalapit rito. His heart was not at ease, because he knew the Duke was not in the mood to talk about certain things.

"He is expecting an heir," he coldly replied to him.

Erwan gasped in surprise. "Tapos, ano naman sinabi mo?"

Alam ni Erwan na wala sa mood ang Duke, pero gusto niyang malaman ang buong kwento kaya hindi niya pinigilan ang sarili na magtanong. He saw how Roshan's shoulder loosen, and a deep sigh followed.

"Her body, her rules..."

Napataas ang isang kilay ng Butler. His fingers crumpled together behind him. "Sa pagkakasabi mo, parang wala talaga kayong planong magka-anak no? Alam naman natin na pakitang-tao lang talaga lahat ng ginawa niyo sa labas ng Duchy, at nasa loob ang baho. Pero kung ipapaalam mo ito sa Dukesa, maaari siyang sumang-ayon, total may pagtingin naman 'yon sa 'yo."

"I can't..."

A simple response from Roshan made Erwan mentally sigh. He knew the reasons as to why the Duke can't, but he doesn't want to outthrow the Duke's decisions. He never intervenes if it is about His grace's emotional aspect for he knew that what lies behind skin deep is a terrifying terrain of traumatic experience he bears since Annabelle's passing.

"Anong gagawin mo? The Emperor will never stop unless he gets what he wants. He'll nag you even more," sagot ni Erwan. "Based on the Physician that is attending the Duchess, she's healthy to bear an heir anytime. Her monthly cycle never missed, so conception will likely happen in a single try. You don't need to-----"

"And if she dies?" Roshan cut him off. "And if she cannot bear the pain, and she dies the same way as her?"

"Your grace," Erwan said in a low tone. "The Duchess is not her. We will be careful this time to aid the Duchess in her conception. Isa pa, she will be willing to bear your heir, which makes the problem already solved."

Hindi agad sumagot ang Duke. Binalot ng katahimikan ang silid, at habang tumatagal ay parang hinihigop ang Butler sa kawalan. Erwan flicked his two fingers to accompany the brewing silence, and tapped his right foot slightly to remind himself to stay awake.

"Ano ba ang gusto mong gawin?" saad ni Erwan sa kanya. "You had been married for three years, and still nothing happened. Hindi kita pinapangunahan Roshan, pero bilang kaibigan at hindi isang naninilbihan sa Duchy, hindi ko nagugustuhan ang kinikilos mo. Yes, we are wary of her because she's from that lost line of noble family. Pero kung tutuusin, sa tatlong taon, wala naman nangyayari. Bakit hindi mo siya pagbigyan?"