Chapter 2

'how did it come to this?'

Lycia slowly peeked through her book to look at the young man sitting across her with his arms crossed. She gritted her teeth in annoyance.

The man sitting across from Lycia is none other than Zachary Elliot Scretia himself.

Why are these two in the same room you ask? It dates back about one week ago.

Lycia is laying on her bed when her personal maid, Layla came in.

"Young miss, the duke told me that you should prepare to go out. I will help you now young miss" Lalya said. Lycia dropped her book, although curious she let Layla help her get dressed.

She went out and saw her father waiting for her by the carriage. She and her father went inside. Although she is extremely curious she didn't dare ask. It was when they stopped at their destination she noticed where they are.

'House Scretia?'

In front of the house is Duke Scretia and his third son. Duke Scretia smiled when he saw Duke Estrella and his daughter.

"Old friend you're finally here!" Duke Scretia welcomed the two Estrella.

"I see that you have grown since the last time I saw you Lycia"

"Greetings Duke Scretia, I am Lycia Monique Estrella. The only daughter of the Estrella household" Lycia gracefully lifted her dress then bowed.

"No need to be so formal little girl, ah and here's my son. Zachary, greet our guests" The boy who's behind his father came forward with an annoyed face.

"Yo duke and-- YOU?!" Zachary pointed at Lycia where the girl only returned with a frown.

"Zachary I take it that you two already knew each other" Duke Scretia looked at his son but the young boy only scoffed.

"Then things will be much easier" Duke Estrella added. The curios Lycia looked at his father.

"We have a very important thing to discuss. It may take a while for us to finish and it will be hard for me to come home for a while. Duke Scretia offered for me to stay here until our discussion is finished. He also suggested that you come along so you wouldn't be lonely since he already has three sons for you to get along"

and that is why this two are in the same room together.

'Unbelievable father, am I someone that desires friends? And even if I do, I don't need someone like this man to be my friend'

Lycia continued to glare at Zachary.

Zachary who finally noticed Lycia's glare flinched.

"Can you stop looking at me like that?! I hate this as. much as you do! I should be practicing to be a knight now! Why do I have to accompany you?!"

"I never said that you need to accompany me. Also if it's you that'll be the one accompanying me then I rather be alone."

"Hey you're rude! That's not the way to talk to someone being nice to you!"

"I see no part of this as being nice"

Lycia returned on reading her book while Zachary glared at her. Then suddenly someone knocked at the door. Then a woman who looked like Zachary came in.

'His mother?' Lycia thought as she glanced at the woman.

Duchess Scretia came in holding a plate of cookies in her hand. Zachary immediately come running towards her then took the plate out of her hand.

"Mom I told you that you should just tell the maid to do the work. There's no need for you to exhaust yourself!"

"I just brought these in. It's not exhausting"

"Still!"

The duchess smiled then patted Zachary's head.

"My, my dear child is worrying about me how cute"

"Stop treating me like a child!"

"Zach you are ten"

"That kid is more of a child than I am!" the. Zachary pointed towards Lycia.

'Your brain is much more childish than mine' Lycia scoffed.

"Then I will be not disturbing you two anymore." with that the duchess left the room leaving the two behind. Zachary put the plate of cookies down on the table.

"Hey you want some?" Zachary offered. Lycia looked at the cookies then took one and ate it.

"So even you eat cookies huh?"

"I am a human. Just what am I in that stupid head of yours?" Lycia continued to eat another cookie.

"Who's head is stupid?!" Zachary frowned then took a cookie.

"Anyway, with that icy attitude of yours it's surprisingly that you like things that are childish"

"Nothing is childish when it comes to food. And I'm not icy, I just do not like to fool around."

Lycia put her book down then looked at Zachary.

"That woman, is she your mother?"

"Huh?" Zachary with his mouth stuffed with cookies looked at Lycia. He was surprised. This was the first time she asked something.

"Of course she is. She's Duchess Katherine Scretia. The mother of us brothers" Zachary's eyes seemed to sparkle when he talks about his mother. However there is still curiosity in Lycia face, Zachary immediately knew what she's curious about.

"Her behaviour isn't very noble like huh?" at his words Lycia looked away.

"I never said anything"

"You don't need to hind it. It's already known by people anyway"

Lycia slowly looked at him again.

"Then may I ask the reason?" Zachary grew silent for a while then started telling his mother's story.

Katherine was just a slave. The former duke of house scretia bought her to be a maid. There she met the only son of the household, Nathan Elias Scretia. Back then Nathan was just a talentless man that people began to doubt whether he's capable of being the heir. Then he met Katherine. Katherine never stopped believing Nathan and was the most loyal person towards him.

When Nathan became the duke, even with many oppositions, He still married Katherine and made her the Duchess. The two soon had three sons. The first son, Ashur Navin Scretia. The second son, Theodore Hendrix Scretia. And finally the third born, Zachary Elliot Scretia.

Zachary was never ashamed of his mother. In fact he was very proud of her. As Zachary continued his story, Lycia watched her with envy on her eyes.

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