Acceptance

Alexander laughed heartily. "When will she be here?" He asked after calming down. 

''Within a few minutes,'' replied Duchess Flora, ''I also invited the Prince over here to join us but he has been busy with some court matters.''

Duke Maverick glanced at his wife for a few seconds, ''That's even better. We would get to know her better without any interruption.''

Both his elder brother and wife nodded, agreeing to him.

''She is here,'' Duchess Flora announced as she glanced at the woman whom a guard was leading towards them. Dressed in a plain peach gown, she walked towards them, her steps slow yet graceful, her long wine-shaded hair shone under the sun rays but nothing could hide her ethereal beauty. 

Esme's rushed footsteps slowed down when she felt three pairs of glowing eyes settled on her. She quickly looked around the place where they were standing. It was the forbidden part of the royal gardens where servants were not allowed. Except for a few guards in the distance, she could not see anyone else.

Amidst the sea of flowers, under a high wooden roof which was supported by pillars with a pond around the place, sat the three people around the long table. The lady sitting over there looked familiar to her. 

''What happened, My Lady?" The guard asked, realizing that she was left behind. 

Esme shook her head before walking onto the wooden bridge atop the pond. Her keen eyes did not miss the long face of the crocodiles peeking out of the layers of lotus leaves in the pond. The Prince was nowhere to be seen. She wondered if these people will have her fed to them for they know she had seduced the Prince…according to hearsay. 

Shaking such thoughts out of her head, she bowed slightly, greeting them with their respective titles. 

''I am good with Aunt,'' Duchess Flora waved her hand as she smiled at her. 

Esme was taken aback by the kindness in the lady's eyes even though she did not show it on her face. She expected harsh words and humiliations even before she came here. Now that she looked at her up so close, she remembered this kind lady was the same person who had walked into the ballroom followed by the guards when she was interrogating that servant with her mind-controlling ability which was still out of her control. 

''I am good with Uncle too. You should address me just like my nephew does,'' Duke Maverick quickly said. 

Duchess Flora glanced at her husband.

''Don't look at me like that. There is no Aunt without Uncle.'' 

''Hmmm…'' The blonde-haired lady glanced at her husband in disapproval, ''She should address me as Aunt first.''

Esme noticed his sunken eyes, his blackened lips, and the fact that he was sitting in a wheelchair but on the contrary, his gentle voice….

She blinked.

Why was any of it not sitting well with her expectations? 

''Take a seat,'' The King motioned his hand towards his left with a frigid face. 

Esme glanced at him quietly for a few seconds before taking a seat. She was fine with this face but if the king had asked her to address him as father, it would have been a scare. 

Her fingers played with her dress under the table while she contemplated what would be the right thing to do. She could just tell them it was all made up by the Prince to avoid political marriages but he has saved her life and also helped her many times. Her conscience pricked just at the thought of doing it. 

"What's your name, daughter?" 

Esme glanced at Duchess Flora, "Esmeray,'' They should have known it already. Everyone in the Daven Castle knows her by this time. 

Amidst the countless thoughts running in her mind, a small 'clink' sound caught her attention. She glanced at the bowl in front of her and a hand holding a serving spoon, filling the bowl with soup. Her eyes widened when she recognized whose hand it was, ''Your Majesty, you don't need to do it,'' Esme spoke in disbelief apparent in her voice. 

Alexander cleared his throat as he slowly withdrew his hand, ''Esmeray is a beautiful name. You can call me father,'' He said expressionlessly.

Esme pursed her lips. ''Your Majesty, I-'' It would have been different if they had not accepted her but when they are like this, she found it wrong to keep lying to them. 

''Am I late for the breakfast already?"

The voice had Esme's eyes glow within an instant and she stood up from the chair, "My Lord,'' She greeted Aleister, thanking the heavens for sending him here. It was not every day that his presence pleased her but at this moment, he was a savior to her. 

Aleister glanced at her. The woman who stormed out of his room yesterday after declaring that they had nothing to do with each other and now here she was, still stubbornly addressing him as 'My Lord' and looking at him like some helpless rabbit who just saw its food. 

She looked beautiful. His gaze roamed on her for another few moments before he smiled, ''How is your morning going, Love?" He tucked the loose strands of her hair behind her ear. 

Esme's lips twitched as she glared at him but she quickly masked her expressions feeling their burning gazes on both of them.

The Duke and Duchess looked at their nephew like he was growing two horns above his head while the King's eyes sparkled.