The Duke Of Sealen Speaks

"So, Mr. Sol? How do you know our Abidemi?" Freya asked once everyone had taken a seat.

The Duke Of Sealen had ordered a butler to get a pot of tea as Abidemi sat between Sol and Eden. Logan was sitting on an armchair glaring at the floor while Mila sat next to her mother. Watching Abidemi and Sol closely as Sol played with Abidemi's hands.

The Duke was sitting on another armchair as he blankly looked at Sol. His eyes were dark and cold but Sol remained unfazed.

"I met her at her Uncle's house. I know her cousin Naaji. We played together a lot." The Duke bit his lips as he looked the other way. " She was so pretty that I just had to talk to her."

"Really. Because you seem like a rascal back then." Abidemi said with a deep frown. Sol laughed as she glared at him. "You won't stop following me around and being all whiny."

Sol smiled at her with a warm smile. "But you still kept me around."

Abidemi smiled at him. "What can I say? You grew on me?"

The Duke cleared his throat, breaking Abidemi and Sol from their own little world. The Duke glared at Sol who just smiled at him. " Have my daughter ever seen your face?"

"No. Not completely." Sol said. He smirked at The Duke of Sealen. "In fact, she doesn't even know my real name."

"He says in a happy tune." Eden said with a sigh. Abidemi only shook her head.

The Duke frowned at Sol. "Don't you think she should know your real name?"

"Well, I want to tell her but she'll be in trouble if I show her my identity," Sol said. He smiled at the Duke of Sealen. "But I assure you. It will be really really soon."

The Duke groaned as he rubbed his face.

"So you really are an old friend of Abidemi." Mila asked as she looked at Sol with a pout. Sol only nodded his head. Mila bit her lips as she clenched her dress. "How come we're meeting you now?"

"Well, I know Eden and her friend Daisy." Sol said. Mila flinched and looked at Eden. Eden just shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't care about Mila's shocked expression. "And when I do visit her from Elov I just head to the Sunflower building. I met Daisy and Eden during one of my visits."

"Does Daisy know you're here now?" Mila asked him.

"Yes." Abidemi said. Mila looked at Abidemi as the other girl shrugged her shoulders. " I told her through a letter. She'll be coming over tomorrow to spend some time with me before I go."

"Before you go?" Mila asked.

Abidemi arched an eyebrow at Mila."Didn't Mother tell you? I'm leaving for Elov by the end of the week. I'm not coming back."

Mila blinked as her eyes widened. "What?"

Abidemi nodded her head. The butler came in with tea and cookies. He placed them on the table as Abidemi poured herself some tea and took a snickerdoodle. "I'm just spending the last few days getting ready for my long trip."

Mila looked at Abidemi with almost hopeful eyes. 'Huh. At least someone's reaction is making sense.' Abidemi thought as she sipped her tea. "Eden is staying at the Sunflower Building until all servants have left to find jobs."

Mila blinked at Abidemi. "Why can't they work here?"

"Because they were mostly there to serve Abidemi and Eden as an extension. They probably won't feel comfortable serving anyone else. " The Duke said as the butler handed him a cup of tea. Mila looked at The Duke with a frown. " Most of them will be moving to Elov and I heard the Duke of Wheat Fire is also taking the rest of the servants."

"But I'm sure they could get used to working here. I know that the Sunflower Building wasn't so grand but it shouldn't be too hard for them."Mila said.

Abidemi and Eden arched an eyebrow before looking at their father. The Duke sighed. "The Sunflower Building was a guest house that was mostly for visiting Royalty and esteemed guests to stay. In fact, it is one of the best properties we owned."

Mila stiffen. "Wait? It is?" Freya choked on her tea. "Abidemi and Eden have been living there…."

" I sent them there because both of you had the main house." The Duke said as he looked at Mila and Freya. Freya cleared her throat as Mila bit her lips. "It's going to continue to be empty since I don't think anyone else should live there."

"Why did Eden and Abidemi get to live there and I couldn't?" Mila asked. The Duke blinked.

"Because they're my children."The Duke said. Mila flinched as The Duke continued. " I had pushed them aside for you and your mother. The main estate wasn't a good place for them."

Mila looked as if she was going to cry which caught Logan's attention. "The Duke of Sealen, you are being too cruel."

"Cruel? I'm only stating the truth." The Duke said with a raised eyebrow. He closed his eyes. "That girl is not my child."

"But you did house her, your grace." Sol said. He was looking at the man with a lazy smile.

The Duke shrugged his shoulders. "And I'll continue to house her until she gets married." Logan bit his lips as Abidemi, Eden, and Sol looked at the two. "While we're on the subject of marriage. Don't you think you and Mila are being a bit too close?"

Logan blinked at the Duke's words. "What are you talking about?"

"She's engaged to marry the crown prince. She shouldn't be hugging you and having her head on your shoulder. There should be a proper distance between a man and a woman. Especially a single man and engaged woman." The Duke said while looking at Logan.

"But father. We're just really close." Mila said. Tears were coming out of her eyes. Eden rolled his eyes. Abidemi nibbled on her cookie and Sol just watched with his head in his hands.

"And? So. Many young ladies and young men are close but they don't hug each other like you and Logan." The Duke said to Mila. " Do you know what it will look like to an outsider?" He looked at Logan. "Do you have any idea what your parents would say? Hell, even the King and Queen themselves."

"You just said that I'm not your child."Mila cried as The Duke sighed."Why are you telling me this now?"

"You're not but someone had to say it because apparently someone else isn't." The Duke said while leering at Freya who flinched from The Duke's icy gaze.

Freya swallowed heavily.

The Duke sighed as he looked at Mila with a deep frown. "You may not be my child but you live under my house. As long as you live here you are directly connected to the House of Sealen. Anything you do in public will affect this house. Learn proper etiquette between a man and woman."

Mila nodded her head. The Duke then looked at Logan. Logan was glaring at him now. The Duke looked at the young man's hand to see small drops of black water dripping on the floor. "Logan of Blacklake, sit down and calm your temper." The Duke said. Logan frowned deeply before sitting down. "You of all people should know better than that. You had the best teachers, you know proper behavior between a man and a woman."

"We're just friends." Logan said.

"It's still inappropriate. I don't know what's your excuse for not helping to correct her behavior but if she's really your friend. You will not lead her to ruin." The Duke said to him. Logan nodded his head before the Duke looked at Sol, Eden, and Abidemi. He looked to Eden. "If Mr.Sol and Abidemi ever go out again. Go with them. Make sure that someone keeps their hands to themselves."

"Okay." Eden said, feeling confused. Abidemi cocked her head while Sol covered his mouth.

The Duke only glared at Sol before looking at Freya who was looking pale. "Freya. I really hope you send that letter."

"I …did." Freya whispered. The Duke narrowed his eyes at her. "She'll see me tomorrow."

"Good." The Duke said.

The Duke returned to drinking his tea as the room became quiet.

Sol cleared his throat and looked at Abidemi. "So you're really going to spend the whole day with Daisy?" he asked her. Abidemi looked at Sol like he was crazy before shaking her head.

'Oh. I forget he's like this.' Abidemi thought as she sighed. She gives him an odd look. ' Sol strives for uncomfortable silences and chaos.'

"Demi?" he asked her. Abidemi sighed as she opened her mouth to speak.

"Learn to read the room you psychopath." Logan said darkly. Sol blankly looked at Logan. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Funny. I could ask you the very same question." Sol said which made Logan glare at him harder. "Bursting into a lady's house like that and demanding her to see you. Shouldn't you have more tact than that?"

Eden and Abidemi gave their friend an exhausted look. 'Shouldn't you?!' they thought.

Mila blinked as she looked at Logan. " Logan. What is he talking about?"

" It's nothing, Mila." Logan said.

"But Logan…"Mila started out.

"It's nothing." Logan yelled loudly. Mila flinched as Freya looked at Logan disapprovingly.

"Logan." Freya said, sounding outraged. Mila touched her mother's shoulder.

"It's alright, Mother. He didn't mean to. Really." Mila said while she looked at her lap. "He probably doesn't want to talk about it."

Freya frowned deeply as she looked down at her daughter. She looked to Sol who was now back to looking at Abidemi like a lost little puppy dog. "Demi, why can't we spend more time together."

"Sol, you live in Elov. We could see each other all the time. I won't be able to see Daisy or Eden for a very long time." Abidemi said to him.

"I'm coming with you?" Eden asked. Abidemi gave him a big smile. "Would Daisy mind?"

Abidemi rolled her eyes. "Of course, Daisy won't mind. In fact, she wanted you to come with us." Eden smiled and nodded his head.

"Sure. Why not." Eden said with a smile. Sol whined. Eden sighed and looked at Sol. "Mr.Sol, you'll be able to see my sister all the time when she moves to Elov. There is no need to be greedy."

"Fine. I'll let it go." Sol said with a sigh. He looked at Abidemi lovingly. "But once we're in Elov. I get to have you all to myself." The Duke of Sealen cleared his throat which only made Sol look at him. "Yes, your grace."

" I know both of you are very close but keep the physical contact at a minimum." The Duke said to Sol. Sol only smirked at him.

"Mmmm. Fine. Fine." Sol said while Eden and Abidemi let out a sigh.

"Excuse me. Dinner is served." the butler said.

"Finally." Eden and Abidemi thought to themselves as everyone got up. Everyone quietly headed to the dining room Sol smiled widely. Both looked at each other with equally exhausted expressions.

"Well, I think you don't need to worry about anyone saying anything to you." Eden said quietly. Abidemi only groaned as they entered the dining room.