Just let me sleep!

Chapter 10

Chapter 10 : Family

The duke's eyebrows twitched. Maybe he wanted to say something more, maybe ask the same question one more time, like the desperate man he was. 

I kept my eyes fixed on the covers, pretending, well trying to act calm and casual, like the man in front of me was just another person in the room, nothing more.

"A duke." I finally let out a voice as I raised my eyes. " Duke Trumane." My eyes met his.

There is a pause in Duke 's demeanour as his body paused, processing the words. But instead of pushing, the man takes a small step forward, as though he is trying to grasp the situation.

"Yes but.." Duke starts with a voice a little too vulnerable to show. He took a slow steady breath as he knelt next to the red loudspeaker, who openly glared at him. No fear in that small body, that's for sure.

The bigger red loudspeaker pulled Alexander aside as he panicked. To which Alexander was about to protest but his father covered his mouth. Watching the scene in front of them unfold with nerve wracking intensity.

"... do you not recognise me?" Duke's voice was low but insistent.

I lowered my head, he was too close for me to look at anymore.

[ I wish I didn't. ]

"Well, it's not like you are a stranger right?" I asked such an obvious question, my tone too casual, too forced.

"We are family."

My heart dropped.

There is a moment in Duke's expression, where it falters. It's as if he wanted to reach out, wanted to bridge the gap, but my refusal to engage with him is palpable. The Duke swallows hard, clearly caught between wanting to push for more yet not wanting to force things.

After a long silence, I nod stiffly.

"Family... ...yeah." I repeat but it was hollow, with bitterness on my tongue.

It feels like a lie on both of our parts.

The people in the room could cut the silence into pieces and feast on it.

[ Are we though? ]
I sighed.

[ Just because we share the same blood doesn't mean we are family. ]

I sighed one more time as I looked at the doctor who watched the scene before him.

The doctor immediately understood the look, but he didn't save me this time since Marquis, well, a bigger loudspeaker, stepped out, still holding Alexander in his arms.

" Since you reunited, and it's already quite late, would you like to stay for dinner? "

Bless his soul for trying to lighten the atmosphere.

" No. "

I looked at the Duke.
Ah, did we need to say it at the same time? It feels disturbing.

The Marquis blinked his eyes and awkwardly laughed, not pushing the matter. "I-is that so!"

The duke sighed and stood up. "Fetch me a carriage." He ordered as his expression changed into cold gaze when he looked at the staff. Nothing changed, he still treated everyone like his servants.

All the staff members in the room flinched, not sure who the message, or more specifically, an order, was for, so they all bowed and quickly left. I wish they could take me along.
_______

The carriage ride was uncomfortable, not because of the stiff cushions or the bumpy road. It was because the cold rock, labelling himself as a  father, was sitting right across from me.

His eyes were looking at me, his snow orbs watching me. I ignored it, letting my eyes watch the scenery from outside the window. Plain but pretty.

" You could've gone on a horse."

" I wanted to ride with you."

" .... "
" ... "

Yeah, a very heartfelt conversation between family members.

Well, at least he stayed silent afterwards. Or maybe he didn't, I just wasn't really listening.