"I hope you know I don’t think less of you," she said softly, "Status doesn’t matter. Behaviour does. What’s the point of having the title of a ’Duke’ when he behaves like that? My point is... Titles are just names."
How did she always know exactly what he needed to hear? Somehow, she saw through him, past his layers of doubt and defence. He gave her a small, almost shy smile.
He felt lucky to have found her. Sometimes he felt like he was nothing but a burden, a source of trouble for everyone around him...
But with her, he felt like he could be himself. He was incredibly grateful for all that had happened. Maybe it was a good thing he was a refugee, otherwise who knows... He wouldn’t have met her.
After Dimitri saw her off to her room, he went back to his. He didn’t want to practice in that garden anymore. Every time he goes there, that annoying Everett seems to wait for him.
He just stares at him while he trains. Dimitri knew that he was doing this on purpose. Everett hated that this ’strange boy’ was getting comfortable in an estate that was supposed to be his.
To avoid all that drama, Dimitri decided to practice in his room for a while. It wasn’t as spacious as the garden of course and he had to be very mindful... Still, he could perfect the smaller things.
The moves that need utmost control, given the confined amount of space he had, he would be forced to exercise utmost control.
Adeline went back to her room and spread the letters across her desk, meticulously examining each one.
There were no hints about where exactly the Duchess was staying, it only reported her condition, not her whereabouts.
At least now she knew that the Duchess was staying in the estate. The search radius has become far smaller, making it easier for Adeline to locate her.
She sighed, tapping her fingers thoughtfully. She’d have to send out her butterflies again.
Although they would drain her of her energy, it was only because she overdid it last time. She just had to stay careful and not overexert herself.
A small swarm should be enough to find what she needed without wearing her out.
With a deep breath, Adeline raised her hand, feeling a familiar warmth in her chest as the butterflies took shape. No matter how many times she saw them, she would always remain amazed.
The wings and body were made of beautiful white light, and as they fluttered in the wind, they would lead a small trail of sparkles.
Adeline quickly gave them her orders. They dispersed quickly, fluttering out of her window and disappearing into the estate grounds, each one carrying a fragment of her awareness.
Through them, she scanned the buildings, weaving through corridors and rooms, until finally, they reached the secluded chamber where the Duchess rested.
Adeline was shocked at the sight before her.
The Duchess looked pale and frail, her breathing shallow as she lay propped up against a mountain of pillows. She seemed more like a ghost than the proud woman Adeline had been hearing about.
How bad was this plague? Heart raced. She needed to move things along faster if she wanted to help everyone.
In order to lighten her mood, she muttered, "If I had a nickel for every time I saved the Duchess, I would have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird it happened twice."
Returning her focus to the butterflies, she kept them hovering near the Duchess, taking in every detail. It was clear that no ordinary illness had weakened her.
Adeline frowned. She bit her lip thinking about her next move. Should she go there herself to heal her and tell her everything? Or should she heal her with her butterflies and let her discover Everett’s existence herself?
As much as Adeline would love the easy way out, the second plan had more chances to go the wrong way.
If she implemented the second plan... What if she gets healed and clarifies to the Duke that she never intended to adopt Dimitri? She would look like a liar. And any chance of exposing the Duke further would be ruined because of the label she earned.
’Well, I didn’t lie per se, I simply didn’t reveal the truth.’
"That’s what liars would say." The Goddess asked.
"I didn’t ask you, go away."
"Humph!"
If she went with the first plan, the Duchess might think she was lying... Again. Why would she believe a random child saying that her husband cheated over her own husband? Especially since Adeline didn’t have any evidence yet... She couldn’t do anything.
She did send a butterfly to Everett’s room in the orphanage and there was no trace of the letter. If she guessed right, he would’ve burnt it by now.
Would the orphanage owner know? From the looks of it he thinks that Everett was the favourite kid the Duke sponsored.
What to do...
After much deliberation, Adeline came up with a plan. She took a deep breath and wished it would work. Knowing how powerless the Goddess above was, she knew that even if she prayed, nothing would come of it.
If she earned the Duchess’s gratitude first, there was a chance the Duchess would be open to her request.
Adeline walked toward the Duchess’s quarters with her heart pounding in her chest. She was determined, yet a part of her worried about how the Duchess might react.
This wasn’t the time to worry, she told herself. What she need to do was save the world! Such a big burden on such small shoulders.
She walked a lot to get there. She got lost at first but because of her butterflies giving her the view from the sky, she was able to find her way pretty quickly.
She was wheezing and trying to catch her breath by the time she reached there. She really needed to exercise more.
Since the building was so remote, there were barely any servants around. She got in pretty quickly.
Finally, she reached the door to the Duchess’s private chambers. She had forgotten to tell Dimitri that she was coming here. Everything should be fine, she shrugged.
Adeline raised a hand and knocked gently on the door. Moments later, a servant opened it, her eyes widening slightly at the unexpected visitors. Just who was this random kid? She thought.
There was one servant who tended to the Duchess and one who provided them with food, other than them, no one knew of her situation.
"I need to meet the Duchess." Adeline got straight to the point.
The servant thought that this request was extremely rude and unsafe! She was prepared to give her life to the Duchess. She didn’t care if the Duchess had the plague. She was willing to die.
She couldn’t let some random child in and disturb the Duchess. She couldn’t let her in and risk getting some innocent child get the illness!
The servant was aware that Adeline was her guest, but this was a request she couldn’t allow with everyone’s best interests at heart.
"I’m sorry, but you must leave right away."
The servant tried to close the door, but Adeline wouldn’t have any of this. She bent down and slipped from under the servant’s legs.
!!!