10 Did She Not Want To Refuse For Marriage?

"My lady, he is the son of your fiance and archduke, lord Sopeherine. Perhaps you are mistaking him with someone else?" asked Martha but she did not remember her mistress being so attached with any child.

Ana blinked. She finally came back to her senses and noticed the confused and worried gaze of the child and laughed awkwardly but her eyes were still longing for him.

"It might be." she stood up and adjusted her dress as she smiled at him, "are you here to meet me, my lord?" the boy nodded instantly as he picked up a small packet from the table.

"I wanted to see my new mother and give him this." He passed the packet to her with a shy look when she bit his lips. She already knew what was in the packet. It was a wooden flower made by himself as he was learning how to use a dagger. He had used it in carving for her.

In the past, she had felt it was a waste since she was expecting jewels or rare gifts from the family of the duke that she failed to notice the heart of the child.

Biut…. She wanted to refuse the marriage. If she would be too kind of Rowan… she would not be able to get rid of the marriage.

"Would you like to open it now, my lady?" he asked when she smilted with hesitation and opened the packet.

There was a velvet box in which wooden flowers were arranged neatly.

"I brought them because they will not fade or wither." he explained when she felt that he was fidgeting with his clothes until she smiled.

"Yes, they are beautiful. The person who made them must have been very talented." his eyes beamed with joy when he heard her and flushed.

"I have made them for you, my lady since my father told me to bring a gift for you." she gasped as she covered her mouth with her hands in surprise.

"Oh my! Really. Such small and soft hands did so much labor." She moved forward and held his hands when she noticed the small cuts and scratched on his hands and paused.

She was only acting to please him but she never knew that he injured himself while doing it.

"Martha! Go and bring the first aid box. The child is hurt." she panicked as she checked his hands closely when he fidgeted again and tried to take them back.

"That is alright, it is not a deep wound and would heal automatically." he assured but she frowned.

"How could that be! You are hurt and need immediate treatment. Let me take you to the physician." he was taken aback by her worry. It was only minor cuts since he had not carved wood before but she was taking it as if he was going to die.

He could even see tears surfacing in her eyes again while he was sure that his father would have only brushed those marks saying they were normal and so as all the staff of their palace.

Could it be because she was a woman? But his nanny was a woman too. Baffled with her reactions, he let her drag him to the room and look closely how efficiently she applied the ointment and then bandaged his hands.

"You can tell me if it is too painful, alright?" her voice was so soft, so soothing that his heart fluttered and he nodded.

Her touch was so soft too. Like the soft feathers of his bird. It made him feel special. A sense of loss was felt when she let his hands go.

He stared at his hands and then at her when he winced.

"What phanened?" her voice filled with panic instantly as he held his hands again. She did not notice the spark in his eyes and the smile of satisfaction on his face as she was too worried to scan his hands.

"The ointment stings now that it is bandaged." he lied with a straight face as he stared at the woman closely. No matter how much a person was acting, they could not continue for long if the other person was unreasonable but no matter how he looked at her. He only felt worry, care and guilt in her eyes.

"Is that so? Let me take the bandage and do it again then." she ruffled his hair as if trying to comfort him while she was panicking like hell.

"Martha! Tell me what did I do wrong there?" she asked with a glare to the old woman who was standing like a rock. Shouldn't she be guiding her on it>?

"You did everything perfectly, my lady. It might be that the child is very soft hearted and could not bear a slight irritation but the burning sensation only meant that the wound is healing." she assured Ana who looked closely as if she could see the process of healiting and then nodded slowly.

"Then we should let it be. Let me caress your hands so that it did not sting. Meanwhile, would you like to eat scones and muffins?" she asked in a sweet voice when he nodded.

"Great!" She held his hands and walked towards the nearest room as she did not want to tire him. The tea and snacks were arranged soon.

"Here, which flavor do you like? Is it chocolate or vanilla?" she picked up muffins in her hands to pass him when he looked at the food with a strange look.

"I do not think that I will be able to eat. My hands are injured." her heart melted at his cuteness.

"I will help you in eating, my lord." Martha came forward instantly receiving a glare from both of them when she paused.

Was it her illusion or reality that they both look alike and even made identical expressions?

"You must have other work to look after too. I will help the child."