My Dear Duke(BL)
Chapter 73: Idiots

Chapter 73: Idiots

So that’s how that day ended.

Then, coming to that very important moment, the very next day.

The first time Anne finally gathered her courage to call Felix, father.

Yeah, Asher was present there as well.

Which actually was a coincidence but great because he caught some worthy sights.

He must have been blessed to witness such a moment.

Before, Asher felt Anne was pushing so hard to please the duke but little did he know the other side was also the same. Asher didn’t really think the duke had the same problem as Miss Anne.

Despite crying on Asher before and complaining to him about how Anne was avoiding him, he was also left questioning how to call Anne from then on and kept it to himself as he wondered what to do. He just didn’t ask that part from Asher because he felt like he would bother Asher with too many personal things.

So, he wondered if he should call her Anne like usual.

If Anne starts to call him father, wouldn’t it be unfair that he changes nothing while she has to take such a step?

Do fathers go around calling their child, son or daughter?

Do they call them by name?

Felix’s father always called him by his name.

So he doesn’t have anything to change?

But it still felt wrong.

In the end, Felix decided he would think about it later since he didn’t think Anne would call him father any time soon. He didn’t expect much either because, obviously, it’s all rushed.

And that day...

When Anne first called him father...

Safe to say, it was quite chaotic.

Asher was in the duke’s office at that time because the duke called for him to talk again. The duke was curious if had given an explanation as to why she was avoiding him. Yesterday, Asher didn’t want to see the duke or explain the problem because he wanted the upcoming moment to be a happy event.

So, even if he were now inquired, he just kept it inside, explaining she was just excited and was shy to face him. He told the duke to wait a little more till she got out of her shy phase which the duke accepted and agreed.

Felix didn’t want to pressure Anne to see him.

As long as things are fine between them, Felix was okay with it.

As they finished talking about issue, Asher was about to leave and go to see miss Anne. It was in the morning and he didn’t even get to meet Miss Anne yet because he was called to the duke’s office as he just arrived at work. Well, just when he stepped inside the mansion.

The duke must have been very impatient.

Before Asher could leave the room, someone knocked on the door and that someone happened to be Miss Anne.

What a morning...

But, Asher was surprised as it was still her sleeping time.

Usually, Asher was the one to always wake her up in the morning. She was supposed to be still asleep by that time.

So what was she doing, early in the morning?

Curious and interested, he watched as the duke permitted her to come in.

As soon as she came in through the door and the sound of the door closing was heard, Asher then was left surprised hearing Anne’s nervous voice.

"F-Father!"

The room was all silent.

Okay...

So...this was why she was there in the morning.

Greet her father...

Asher hoped his little miss didn’t really think Felix was alone in the room.

Well, unfortunately, she surely didn’t even see the duke since she came inside with her head down, then her eyes closed as she raised her head and called out to her ’father.’

Asher felt like he shouldn’t be there at that moment at all.

But it would be awkward to leave there now.

Damn...why didn’t she get the courage past breakfast time? If so, she should have got her father all to herself to talk.

Sigh...

Turned out, Asher was right after all.

Seemed like she didn’t expect Asher to be there.

Asher could see his little miss Anne’s expression changing as she realised Asher was also there. Her face immediately got red but she still stood there, actually being the only person, managing to keep her composure despite feeling embarrassed, caught off guard and very shy.

She eventually calmed down and looked at the duke.

Asher also turned to the duke at the same time and was taken aback as he saw the duke. His cheeks all flushed, the duke had his eyes on a blank paper on the table.

Is he flustered?

’How cute.’

Asher thought randomly and secretly glanced at the duke while all three had each other’s minds wandering everywhere, but staring at each other.

It was really awkward because all three were silent and no one had anything to say.

Even the duke who should be the one to ease the situation, since he is the respected nobleman there, couldn’t find anything to say either.

What was he supposed to say?

He didn’t know!

Asher also didn’t know. Since it was not his place at all.

So the only one left was Anne who had already calmed down and was satisfied with her progress.

Seemingly excited and relieved, she took advantage of the stiff situation to ’help her br-father.’

"Father Ash!"

Cough! Cough!!!

Asher started coughing violently as he suddenly lost his breath.

W-why?!

No, what did she mean by father Ash?!

Asher looked at Anne and saw her proud look.

Then Asher turned to the duke to explain it’s some kind of a misunderstanding and saw the duke who had his eyes on the table all this time staring at him.

Asher immediately noticed the duke’s change of expressions.

That guy was definitely laughing at him now that it’s his turn to feel flustered and get surprised.

’You are making fun of me, aren’t you? bast- sir.’

Asher felt the duke was laughing at him even though he really wasn’t.

So, well, he may take care of this himself.

"Miss Anne! W-what are you doing?"

Asher finally asked Anne as he broke eye contact with the duke whose eyes were still on him. Asher could feel his gaze. It’s making him...itchy.

’Weirdo...’

Obviously, Asher was blaming himself.

"Now I call him father. So brother Ash also becomes a father, am I wrong?"

Anne turned to look at Felix, with ’very innocent’ basically labelled on her forehead.

She pouted her lips as if she was curious as to why she was wrong. When obviously, she knew.

"Duke, that’s not how it works, right? Tell Miss Anne."

Asher immediately complained to the duke.

"I am never wrong. F-father know that. So you should be father Ash too. Tell him, F-father."

Anne also mumbled out as soon as Asher finished his complaint to the duke.

"Duke, tell her father should not be used on everyone like she use brother."

Asher went on again.

"Who uses it on everyone? I am only calling father you two."

Anne argued.

Asher was at a loss seeing how confident she was. Did he say something wrong to convince her she was right? He was sure he didn’t say anything weird to her though.

While Asher stood there thinking, Anne ran to the duke and jumped onto his lap as usual.

"He is your lover, right? So it’s only fair that I change what I call him too."

Anne said and shrugged her shoulders, looking at Asher who was ready to start the next argument with her statement.

"Am I duke? Since when am I your lover?"

Asher asked the duke who raised his head to look at him.

"Right, since when?"

Felix also asked back from Asher. For whatever the reason the question sounded somewhat...how should he put it? Strange? Serious?

Asher found himself dazed in some thoughts he couldn’t even remember again.

’Damn...I got lost in thoughts.’

Asher, who suddenly got flustered by this somewhat really blunt question, rubbed his cheeks feeling there was a sensation.

Only when the duke turned back to Anne did Asher felt light again.

He knew that question really meant nothing.

But it was intense.

He better avoid getting in the middle of this kind of talk again.

He gets dumbstruck as if he had done something wrong.

"Anne...It’s a rumour, you know that, right?"

The duke asked Anne after a sigh. Anne, seemingly determined, quickly expressed her thoughts.

"Not every rumour is false."

She argued back.

"Yeah, not every rumour is true either. This one too."

The duke said and Anne wasn’t really ready to give up.

"How do you know?"

"Because it’s about me. I know it’s false."

"...Don’t lie."

"I am not lying. If you keep believing this rumour, brother Ash will be sad with you. You saw him upset, right? He also knows it’s a lie."

"...You both are bad. Hmph! Idiot."

Anne jumped out of Felix’s lap, looking really disappointed and making it very clear to the both men there. But, extra displeased toward the duke.

Asher was quite surprised because she had never sounded that upset before. If he put aside the sad times, this was more like anger.

Has she been hopeful for the duke to have a lover all this time?

It’s indeed sad the duke was still single.

"I am your father now. Give me some respect. Calling me an idiot..."

Felix mumbled with a weak voice in a teasing manner... It just came out as he had always been used to teasing Anne all the time. Guess it’s hard to get rid of habits.

But he was suddenly nervous if he had sounded weird putting himself as her father.

Anne, who heard it, mumbled out a response, her voice sounding mad.

But for Asher’s ears, her voice sounded cute.

She didn’t sound serious when she was angry. Or...she sounded serious but Asher heard it in a different tone.

Maybe because she had a cute and unmatured child voice.

"Idiot father."

However, it was then rather funny than cute to hear her response.

’Pfft! That does sound respectful.’

Asher was impressed.