My Dear Duke(BL)
Chapter 114: How Great You Are

Chapter 114: How Great You Are

"Duke, do you think Miss Anne will be upset with me for going way too far with you?"

Asher, on a very casual day, went to visit the duke and asked as he sat down to talk with the duke.

"Are you serious? She will be the happiest to know."

Felix said confidently.

"Is it because she wants you to not be alone or..?"

Asher asked, curious.

"I don’t know. She had never shown interest to others like she did to you. And...even though she sometimes says weird things, she never tells me things like that about others."

"Things...like that?"

Asher asked curiously again.

"Yeah...she wanted me to treat you better. She sounded cheeky too. And, she even said at that time, she wanted both of us together."

The duke said and Asher couldn’t help but grin.

"How surprising...she said the same to me too."

"Did she?"

Felix turned to Asher, an eyebrow raised.

"Hehe, I am sorry I didn’t tell you...Remember when you asked if miss Anne has ever said anything weird? There were somethings. I just didn’t tell you because she sounded very excited. Maybe it was just out of excitement. But well...she knows a lot of things haha."

"Mm..that’s how she saved you too."

The duke said casually.

"Save...me?"

Asher, surprised, asked the duke.

"...Right...I guess you didn’t know. Anne can use magical powers. Because she liked you so much, the first time you guys met, she had put a spell on you to protect you. Because of the spell she put on you, she said to me she felt you were in danger. She was very worried and I ended up giving into her demands and looking for you. I will be honest I really didn’t want to get in too much trouble saving a stranger. I...had never been that kind actually. It’s just because of Anne that I saved you. I was planning to just break in and bring you back. But, we were too late and had to attend the auction, then buy you. I think you know the rest from there."

The duke said, his tone guilty. Truth to be told, Asher wouldn’t blame him. The duke was cold to him at first. This guy basically just wanted to be alone. Maybe being lonely was what gave him peace so he distanced himself whiv gave him a lack of skills to make good impressions on other people.

"...I didn’t know she was that great."

Asher said, amazed.

"...She is great..."

Felix mumbled under his breath.

After everything she did, Felix didn’t know she could be called great.

She was actually great for deciding to give the justice he deserved. But in an exgattering way that overwhelmed Felix. It was not that good of a feeling for him...

"I really thought it’s a coincidence. When you said your sister, well. Now daughter, like me so much and you brought me here for her, I didn’t even think of that kind of possibility. I Thought you looked for me for her and found me there, bought me. So...turned out she warned you."

Asher said, not upset about missing out on such an important piece of news, yet excited to find out his miss Anne was special.

After a moment of silence, the duke hesitantly turned to Asher as if he wanted to know something.

"Mm...Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah. What is it?"

"If...someone you are close to was harmed by someone, will you...get revenge for that person?"

The duke asked. As soon as he asked, Asher stared at him, then leaned closer.

"Do you not trust me?"

"What? No...I mean, I trust you. This is just a curiosity. Not relatable at all. Just tell me your thoughts."

Felix atumbledon his words for sometime and asked Asher who then sighed.

"I don’t like revenge. Because it’s just like holding on to the painful past. But...maybe the sadness can drive people crazy and take revenge. So...I will protect who I love so I wouldn’t have to go as far as to take revenge. Everything will be good that way."

"I see."

The duke seemed to be bothered by this matter but Asher, knowing the duke wouldn’t answer properly, just let go of it and decided to change the mood.

"So...the duke is attending a ball tomorrow?"

"Yeah...it’s at night. But I will come early."

"Ah...So, has the duke gone to a ball before? Can you tell me what it is like? I am curious to know."

Asher asked excitedly. Well, he didn’t really understand the concept of those noble parties much. It was very different from how commoners celebrate their special events in the bar, drinking. That’s what his uncle told him. And while the three of them lived together, they would together cook food and cheer, sing and laugh altogether. It was really enjoyable. That’s how a celebration should be.

Bur for nobles, isn’t it very different?

They don’t just celebrate with their close people, but with the whole city, even with people they don’t know very well. It’s just like a show off.

Despite having a bad impression, Asher knew it would be a fancy party and was interested to know more.

The duke, after some thought, only had one word to describe his experience.

"Boring."

"Bo...ring?"

Asher ended up laughing at the duke’s answer as Asher realised he indeed guessed they must be boring.

"I had gone to a few balls with my father when I was little. They were the only ones I quite enjoyed because I didn’t understand many things. I wasn’t allowed to have toys or play at home. So during those balls, my father sent me to the area separated for children where they had a lot of toys. I really liked going to balls back then."

The duke said with a cupcake and Ashe watched him in disbelief.

He went to balls so he could hold a toy and feel happy?

Was he that desperate?

Asher knew Felix’s father was very strict but prohibiting a child from doing what children do is crazy.

And, the way the duke said it so casually....

Asher felt sad.

"What did you prefer a lot from those toys?"

"You mean one toy I liked?"

"Mm."

"Ahh...Nothing particularly."

The duke said, but seemingly hesitant.

He definitely had something in his mind.

"I know you are lying. I want to know what you liked so much."

Asher asked with a firm tone.

"...It’s a wood carved cat."

The duke, after some hesitation, ended up confessing.

"Is it a big one?"

"No...very tiny. I could clench it in my palm and hide it. Actually...I liked it so much that I stole it."

"Stole?"

Asher asked in disbelief but knowing Felix was little back then, he wasnt judging him.

"...Yeah, I brought that wooden cat back home clenched in my fist. My father didn’t notice. I kept it hidden under my bed for a long time till I got caught and ended up confessing how the toy ended up there. My father was angry but because I did well in studies, he didn’t punish me. But...he threw away the cat."

"That’s...sad. But you brought the toy back from the ball, right?"

"Yeah."

"So...the children are not supposed to bring back any of the toys home?"

"Ah...no, we can bring them home if you like."

The duke said and Asher was confused.

"Then...you didn’t steal it."

"...No...I stole it."

The duke insisted.

"Did you take it from someone else?"

Asher asked again in confusion.

"No."

"Then, how is it stealing?"

"Because...my father told me so. I stole it. I...was a bad child back then."

Asher stared at the duke, dumbfounded wondering if he was being serious. Just because his father said? What the fuck?

"Duke...tell me from your point of view. Did you steal that cat?"

"Yeah."

"Think again. In your point of view. Not your father’s."

Asher said in a firm tone, sounding quite angry.

After some time, the duke finally mumbled, his tone sounding not very confident.

"...I just liked that toy. I didn’t steal it."

As soon as he said that, Asher leaned closer and comforted the duke.

"Right duke. You didn’t steal. You were just a normal child. Not a bad child."

"...I was not bad?"

"No. So...please believe what your heart says, not what others say. Don’t believe me either. Believe in yourself. You are a good person. That’s why I like you so much...and love you. And, will protect you..."

’So...please remind yourself how great you are...’