My Dear Duke(BL)
Chapter 141: Lost

Chapter 141: Lost

"I did not mean to scare her..."

As soon as Anne left, Felix weakly mumbled and Asher left a sigh, pulling the duke again into a tight hug.

"It’s alright duke. I think it’s normal to get angry and have disagreements like this."

Asher said, placing gentle kisses on the duke’s face.

"Mmmm..."

Felix closed his eyes, mumbling as he buried his face in Asher’s neck, feeling calm.

"You can go and check on her."

Asher heard the duke say and him pulling away. Asher hesitated at first but he indeed wanted to check on his little miss too. She looked pitiful.

His little Miss might need someone to cry on too...

Feeling quite warm as the duke expressed his genuine worry, Asher didn’t leave immediately even though he was ready to leave. Only after staying with the duke a little more and giving more gentle kisses to comfort him did Asher finally left.

It was the first time he ever saw the duke getting angry and raising his voice to miss Anne. He had always been loving and they looked like they would never have any problem. Well, even Miss Anne looked surprised at that time so maybe she didn’t expect this to happen either.

’I think he was just upset when he found out Miss Anne knew about our secrets. He only got angry when Miss Anne kept refusing to give an explanation. And...it sounded like this had happened before too. Is it what the duke said to me at that time? He said Miss Anne somehow had found out about his past, didn’t he? He said he didn’t know how Miss Anne knew about it either. So, maybe it was what he was talking about at that time, meaning all the time?’

Asher found it weird that Miss Anne was so informed of things even the duke wasn’t aware of. At that time, when the duke asked Asher if Miss Anne had ever said anything about her knowing his and her real relationship, Asher was dumbfounded and was taken aback thinking maybe the duke was too emotional to process things clearly.

’Now it...make sense.’

Asher was confused and couldn’t find or confirm his assumptions since he knew he wasn’t informed about a lot of things. There were some things he felt that were weighing heavy in the duke’s mind which he still wasn’t willing to share with him. And, Asher felt that it was also something about Miss Anne since the duke said he would let him hear it all by Miss Anne herself as he was also not aware of how some things happened exactly.

’Sigh...This problem is more complicated than the original one that started all this...’

Asher knocked on the closed door of Miss Anne’s room as he thought but eventually got impatient and troubled as he got no response. He couldn’t deny he felt quite taken aback when he got no response but soon he left a sigh in relief when he heard Miss Anne’s low voice calling him to come inside.

Asher went in and saw Miss Anne wiping her tears, trying to avoid looking at him.

"Are you okay?"

Asher asked gently, feeling quite lost as to how to approach her without making her feel like he was taking one’s side.

"I am sorry brother Ash."

Anne kept her head down, apologising in a shaky voice.

"...It’s okay."

Asher didn’t know why she was apologising or what that apology was for but didn’t question it because he felt like it would lead to an unnecessary, pressuring conversation.

"...Really?...But I know brother Ash also must be upset like father."

Anne continued, sounding disappointed.

"I am not mad. But, I am curious and surprised."

"...Does brother Ash think father will forgive me if I explain to him like he wants me to do?"

Anne looked at Asher, her tone sounding unsure this time.

"He will. Isn’t the only thing he wants is an explanation?"

"But...what if that explanation makes him more angry? Because, I know it’s going to make him not so happy. Should I still say it?"

Anne asked again, her voice shaky and putting Asher also at a loss for words as he also...didn’t know the answer for that.

"...Is it...really like that?"

"Yeah. I am sure he will be more upset. Ugh! I am so foolish."

Anne pulled at her hair, complaining through gritted teeth.

She was so mad at herself.

How dumb did she have to be to cause this?

Asher watched this and felt bad. But...in a very weird way, he couldn’t go to comfort her.

This is...the best he could do...

"Did Miss Anne hesitate to explain things to the duke because you were afraid he would be more upset?"

Asher asked and watched the girl nodd.

"Yeah...If I let this out in the middle of this, it will be worse than I would ever want to imagine."

Anne said again, looking terrified and really shaken.

"...But you have no other choice now, don’t you think so, Miss Anne?"

Asher, even though he knew what he was going to say might upset Miss Anne even more, after some hesitation, he finally said it out loud.

She now...has no choice.

That’s how the situation was for her...

Actually, Asher knew she was also at a loss with how things are happening. Maybe she never expected things to take this kind of a turn.

So...what did Asher feel when releasing this little innocent angel of hers knew very secretive things about the duke -well, about them?

Honestly, he was just confused. Very confused...

And, he was also curious as to why the duke had such a strong reaction. Well, it was serious and upsetting to find out his daughter knew things he didn’t want others to know, let alone Miss Anne, a child to know.

But as the duke’s and Miss Anne’s argument continued at that time, Asher felt the duke was more upset about just the fact she knew things about him. It wasn’t just about her knowing what Asher and Felix do or their deal, it’s just how she knows it and might know more things too.

Asher thought the duke must have felt like he had nothing to keep to himself once he realised Miss Anne knew about things he never told anyone. It also must have made him suspect it is possible she knew more things about him. More than he might expect.

’It is...really serious.’

"Yeah...I feel terrible. Brother Ash, I really can’t face him. What am I going to do?!"

Anne, troubled as she realised what Asher said was right, panicked.

"...You can take your time to think how to deliver this in a better way maybe?"

Asher said to which Anne shook her head, still panicking.

"...Brother Ash, can I tell you everything? You can tell him."

Anne suddenly jumped up, ran to Asher and said as her eyes glowed in excitement through the disappointment she had before.

"Uh...Bu-"

"Please. I really don’t think I can tell him this. Brother Ash, please help me."

Anne held Asher’s hand, almost begging him.

Actually, it didn’t sound like a bad idea...Till! Asher thought about the duke.

The duke would not be happy to know she, in the end, indeed avoided speaking to him about this.

Well...the duke would get what he needs, the explanation anyway.

But...

It makes a big difference.

Even if the story might be the same, the duke would be really disappointed to get it from another person...

Alas, Asher wasn’t ready to be the first to hear whatever this that he felt like wasn’t going to be very exciting to hear.

And, what if the duke would not be open to hear her explanation from him? It would make things complicated.

The duke could be stubborn too since he already made it very clear he must receive an explanation from her.

Well, he definitely had the right to be stubborn here since he was a victim in this whatever the situation.

Even though Asher hated to use that word, it was like that.

The duke must have felt disappointed. Or what was it?

Asher couldn’t think of a proper name to explain what he thought the duke must have felt.

Like, Betrayed? Exposed? Disregarded? Disrespected?

Whatever it was...obviously, it was more than anger...

So!

Coming to this talk with Miss Anne, Asher argued with himself to think of ways to stand between the both peoples’ side.

However, he was faced with a problem as he realised he was pushed more to the duke’s side.

He was doubtful to help Miss Anne.

Will this be considered a betrayal or a disrespect if he decides to help Miss Anne to do this?

He really...wasn’t ready to take such a risk. Even if anyone calls him selfish he wouldn’t care.

And when he thought about this logicay, it was most likely he would be making things worse for the duke by getting involved like this...

’The duke needs an explanation. And, it is also supposed to directly come from Miss Anne, isn’t it?’

It made sense, but...Miss Anne looked really helpless and unwilling too...

’Haa...’

Asher was lost.

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