My Dear Duke(BL)
Chapter 204: Closer To Dreams, Far Away From Home

Chapter 204: Closer To Dreams, Far Away From Home

"Good morning to Anne’s sister!"

Asher chuckled as he watched Anne who woke up early, got ready by herself and rushed down to visit her sister.

"Anne, your hair is a mess. Bring me that comb. Let’s comb it."

Asher said and Anne nodded, sitting on the bed as Arthur started brushing her long hair.

"Anne, did you brush your teeth?"

"I did. Hmmph! You don’t trust me?"

"Well, I trust you. But what if you haven’t brushed your teeth long enough? What if they fall off early?"

"I am not scared of those lies anymore Papa. I have brother Lucas. He said physicians can do anything. He can glue my teeth too, right?"

"...They wouldn’t look the same."

"At least it will look good enough."

"...Whatever! So, did you check if you wore your socks inside outside by mistake?"

"Papa, I am not that stupid anymore. I can now take care of myself. I am big and I can even take care of my sister."

"Then I trust you, hm?"

Asher braided Anne’s hair and watched as she caressed it and smiled.

"Thank you papa."

Asher forgot since when he became Papa and Felix became dad. But it makes Asher happy.

And, it made him feel more closer towards Anne too.

It’s been 4 months since their comeback.

Things had been growing increasingly pleasant for this family.

They are very happy.

Also, they get a lot of visits from Karl and Lucas who are also eager to see them.

Maybe, after being together, they also felt quite the separation anxiety now that the friends were gone.

And, good news!

Asher is now rich.

Because Karl gave him another big gift.

It was supposedly not because of something Asher did. It was to prove his love.

Apparently, sir Lucas had wanted to gift Asher something for making him realise and trust Karl.

So Karl took over the task.

’It was 1500 gold coins. It was enough for me to buy a mansion and then rent it out to get an income.’

Now, Asher earns monthly due to that. With that, he got interested in lands and houses, buying, selling and renting.

Also, he asked Feix to stop giving him the salary as it felt unfair.

Felix reluctantly agreed after Asher explained he wanted to earn money now that he had won the lottery and had enough money to start something.

Like that, Asher is now a businessman. And, very mature now. He takes business very seriously and he now sees the world widely. He now understands. Money is a big power.

Throughout all of Asher’s business and his requests, Felix fully supported him. He knew...his lover was already successful.

He is also very happy for Asher now that Asher is an independent man people know about.

’I know this is all thanks to Felix. I will remember and be grateful to him and his friends till I die.’

Asher was grateful. Very grateful to all of them.

’Thank you god. You sent me to such nice people.’

.....

5 years later,

"Don’t cry papa. I will come back soon, okay?"

The young girl held her papa’s face and wiped his tears.

"Anne, you are really leaving us."

"Papa, only that academy abroad has the best teacher. I will be back in two years. Alas, I might even be able to come before that. There are breaks. I will come to visit you, hm?"

Asher couldn’t agree. He couldn’t agree to this. But...he had let go.

Asher knew it had been Anne’s dream to enter this academy she found out about for almost three years now. He didn’t want to stop her but...she was still a little girl. How could he be assured she will be fine on her own even though there are more children like Anne there?...It’s not the same as home.

He felt scared but he endured it.

"Asher, it’s enough crying now, isn’t it? Look, your face is red."

Asher looked at Felix whose hand was around Asher’s waist, ignoring everyone’s eyes on them.

Now, they have matured. A lot.

Being fathers to two children, and being respected by high class people, they now had the privilege and the power to ignore others.

Asher always knew money’s worth.

But he now knows it clearly.

If you have money...you are well respected.

Felix was right.

Money can do anything.

And...it can also bring happiness.

Asher and Felix are a very discussed topic in gossip, but...none dares to say anything bad about their famous relationship.

To everyone, Asher and Felix were a special couple.

They were powerful and very lovely. Also, perfect. So perfect that it made young women feel envious.

But, there were still some gossips about Felix’s silent and scary look and questions about Asher’s choice though.

Felix is so done and he just doesn’t understand why people are so mad about his face.

He was handsome enough to his Asher.

So...who cares?

Actually, who cares?!

"Sister! Go? No."

As Anne said her goodbyes to her fathers, she smiled when her sister, who was carried by Felix on his other hand that wasn’t holding Asher’s waist, tried to talk to her.

"Little Bella, sister will come back soon, okay?"

Anne kissed her sister’s cheeks and followed the same with her fathers. This made Asher cry even more.

But just then, everyone turned around to hear a familiar voice.

"Is my granddaughter going to leave without telling this innocent old man?"

Felix rolled his eyes and turned back to see his friend standing there with half of his face covered with the familair mask he used to wear to hide his identity to avoid getting recognised when outside.

Beside him, stood Lucas who just finished rolling his eyes at his husband.

"Brother Karl, brother Lucas!"

Anne happily shouted and waved her hand as they then walked there. Bella in Felix’s arms alao giggled.

Bella is already 5. She has grown up fast. She is actually not as cheerful as Anne. She is very shy and even though can talk very well, doesn’t talk much. But Anne does sometimes watch as she starts to talk more than ever..

About bugs...

Anne somehow passed down her interests to Bella who was also very excited as much as Anne when the topic became bugs.

And, Karl spoiled her as much as he did Anne. So, Bella is also very close to Karl and also to Lucas who is always by Karl’s side.

Well, he would be.

They are not just lovers now.

They are husbands.

They got married.

Karl and Lucas also held a secret marriage ceremony just six months ago.

But this time, at Felix’s office.

It was also managed by Anne. So, she was very proud of these two couples she helped marry off.

"You have to be careful and always remember me too, okay?"

Karl said and Anne hugged him tight, nodding.

Karl and Anne had always been very close. They are like actual siblings or...grandfather and granddaughter?

Their relationship was heartwarming.

After a hug to Karl, Anne then turned to Lucas who was waiting patiently for his turn to say byes to her.

"Brother Lucas, don’t miss me too much okay. Brother Karl will be jealous."

She then winked at him and muttered.

"Sigh...You and your brother Karl. I am not going to miss both of you."

Lucas said teasingly and Anne giggled as she then peeked at Karl.

"No need to lie brother Lucas. Like I said, If you ever want to leave brother Karl, come to me. I will take care of you better than him."

Anne said as she watched Karl coming to pinch her.

Asher and Felix watched this, sighing as they thought to themselves about this drama that unfolded three months ago that is still dragging out between Karl and Anne.

After marriage, Karl had been quite possessive of Lucas. This is witnessed by Asher, Felix and Anne as they all often see each other and share a lot of things.

So, Anne, being mischievous and always up to piss off and make fun of Karl, kissed Lucas’s cheek right in front of Karl.

Even though it was a joke, due to Karl’s and Anne’s competitiveness, Karl and Anne started fighting for Lucas’s attention.

One fought for his husband Lucas’s attention while the other fought for her brother Lucas’s attention.

It got very competitve that Lucas smacked both of them to stop their fights when they went confessing how far they will go for the comfort of Lucas and who would care for him the best.

Actually at that time, Lucas was almost in tears. But it was not for a bad reason.

’They both talked about putting my life before theirs. Do they really care about me so much that they give me so many privileges?’

He was flustered.

He had seen Karl and Anne treat him well.

But at that time, even though for competitiveness, the words they said with confidence...

They made Lucas love these two even more. He felt very loved at that moment.

Still, he was pissed that these two always bicker at each other whenever they see each other.

So, he wanted it to stop.

In the end, He did have to go through the trouble of promising and even signing a contract to show equal love to both of them if they wanted to stop bickering all the time.

But everyone knows.

Anne knows too.

’No matter what, Brother Lucas is brother Karl’s. And, he will always love brother Karl more than anyone or anything in this world.’

Even though Anne felt a little envious that her brother Karl had more attention from brother Lucas...guess who is their biggest fan?

It was still Anne.

She was now a bigger fan of them than Asher.

Anne went as far as to encourage Karl and help him prepare romantic tea parties, dinners which she helps with to her dad too who is the most clueless about romantic things.

But...now this overseas academy?

Why did she choose to leave this beautiful family she loves?

Actually, she was very doubtful about this decision.

This was a selfish one she knew.

But...she was really interested.

Baking....

She had always been interesting.

But...she wanted to be the best at it.

Not just good at it.

Everyone gave her the approval and encouragement to choose this overseas academy that is very known for the outstanding talented bakers outed from there.

Asher was the one who hesitated the most.

But, he, in the end, agreed on the promise she made to him about being safe till she came back.

So...It’s finally the day.

She is a big girl now.

She is going away from her home for a big journey.

"When I come back, at the first tea party, all the sweets will be by me."

Anne said and Karl chuckled while others happily nodded.

"As long as it won’t give me a stomach ache."

Karl thought back to the time he had to even take medicine from Lucas after devouring a whole cake made by Anne. Maybe he ate too much though.

"...Why do you always have to be so negative minded? Mistakes do happen."

Anne said, pouting. Then, Lucas scolded Karl for bringing it up again as Anne had apologised for that incident a few times already.

While they eventually got back to usual talks, Karl, who was smacked by Lucas, sulked and stared at Anne who smirked.

"Of course he is going to take my side."

Anne mumbled and Karl huffed, putting his hand around Anne’s shoulder.

"Little brat. When you come back, I will make sure he won’t be by your side. I will give him two babies so he won’t have time to care for you."

Karl said with a grin and Anne rolled her eyes.

"Then he won’t have time for you either. But eww brother Karl. How dare you say you will give him babies to me. Aren’t you so shameless?"

"I have always been shameless."

"Hmmph!"

"Hey...Take care of yourself well, okay? Even if you are busy, don’t forget to eat and rest, okay? I will bring your parents and Lucas to see you."

"Mmm...."

"...We all will wait for you."

"Don’t miss me."

"Of course I won’t. I can finally be in peace now that no one is going to fight for my husband."

"...Keep your husband for yourself. I will get myself a cute husband too. I can find a foreign guy that is better than anyone here."

"Don’t you dare! Little brat! Just past 15 and already talking about husbands... I will find you a good husband when the time comes."

"Hm Hm. But it won’t be easy for you. I have very high standards."

"You obviously do since your parents are both rich and you are basically being very spoiled by my husband too."

"Yeah. And, I have the emperor wrapped around my finger. More likely my neck now."

Anne chuckled and hit Karl’s arm around her gently as Karl also chuckled.

"I know what kind of a husband you want. Obviously someone like your papa but also like my husband, then like your dad but also like me."

"Hehe, wow! You are so smart. So can you find a person like that? Gentle to me but is responsible and smart and powerful enough to protect me from anything?"

"I will try. Only if the cakes you are going to bake once you come back won’t give me pain this time."

"Deal?"

"Deal!"

Their conversation was very secretive so no one heard anything but Lucas heard a few words like ’husband’ and ’deal’.

’These two brats. What are they planning now?’

After Karl and Anne finally said their byes, Lucas also said his byes, greedily holding Anne’s hand.

As much as Asher and Felix were parents to her, Lucas and Karl were parents to her too.

It was sad to see her leave.

To think she would be away for two years...

"Everyone! I promise I will be safe. Time will go fast! I love you all!"

And like that...their byes ended.

The ship sailed, taking Anne away.

Closer to her dreams...but away from her family.

’We will wait for you Anne. We are proud of you.’