Victoria stares at Kenzo's young features while he's holding her hand. It seemed to be a stolen photo. There's a note saying, "Kenzo's first girl that he rescued." Her eyes felt hot a bit and there's this warm sensation on her chest. There was also a photo of them dancing in the garden looking at each other dearly.
"The two of you are soul mates!" Stacey exclaimed. "Just like in novels… just like in your novels!"
Victoria pressed her lips and nodded.
"Ivan," Victoria said. "Kenzo's full name was Kenzo Ivan Etrama. Everyone calls her Ivan, that's why."
"You look so cute and perfect together," Stacey said as she admired their adorable photos that were captured as stolen. However, that's the first and last one that she attended the gala.
"Thank you, Stacey," Victoria said as they looked more at the photos that had been cleanly and perfectly stored. There's no scratches or stains from each photo and the quality was also good.
"Let's make a story about you and Kenzo. Or we can plan for the plot. Everyone loves a Duke and Duchess's love story. I am ready to make comics anytime!"
"I don't know." She giggled. "But it won't hurt a bit. I haven't written anytime for months now."
"And your books are still selling!" She exclaimed. "We can use different settings," Stacey suggested.
"We will try, Stace. I am currently adjusting to my position now." Victoria sighed. "It's quite a pressure but they said that I should relax further. However, I want to set up schedules on my own, like for the orphanages and women, single parents… I have a lot of good plans in my mind."
"And the Royal Family wants you to be safe." Stacey sighed. "With the killing and stuff, I understand that they want to end the Royal family but that's just absurd."
"I have to focus on giving Kenzo children," Victoria said. "His grandparents will be very much happy."
"And you are not happy?" Stacey raised her right brow.
"I want to. But I don't know if I can handle something like that. I am willing to try and take care of my body first."
"That's good." Stacey nodded. "I am taking care of my body too. So, when I approached Maverick, seduced him and let him impregnate me. Everything will be better."
"Then, let's threaten him and make him marry you," Victoria smirked.
Stacey's grin faded and she shook her head.
"He deserves to have someone else. A noble or royal maybe." Stacey sipped on her fruit tea and looked at Kenzo's perfect family. "I know that he wanted a perfect family."
The two sighed and looked at each other and laughed.
"Well, if he is to marry a royal or noble, who would you wish it was?" Victoria asked out of the blue. Stacey thought for a while.
"I wish that he'll marry someone that loves him and cares for him as he did for him. Someone like Harriet. Harriet has a good family background and we both know that she's not someone like your sister or other lady nobles. Also, she was raised in a family full of love."
<><><><>
Maverick was done with his Duke duty. Everyone wanted him to at least mingle at the Royal Cafe of Baron Kendrick. He declined the invitation three times now. But he needs fresh air and to relax a bit. He was a little nervous that Stacey was in the Capital. He didn't want her to get hurt, that's why he kept himself hidden in his castle and did his duty at the same time.
Butler Paul approached him to suggest something again.
"Alright, I'll go outside." He finally said so the old man won't nag him.
"Do you want me to come?" Butler Paul asked. Maverick hesitates for a while.
"If you want to come, you can."
Maverick only wore something very simple and casual. Like he's at home. He didn't care about what he looks but he has bodyguards around and Stacey said that he liked him wearing something like that. Somehow, he almost always wears rag tank tops that have holes but Stacey looked at him differently, like with lips biting and her eyes burning to his body. However, there's no Stacey and he's sure that women would look at him differently.
He put his cap on as his bodyguards wore something they used to wear with guns and other protective things on to be his shield. He was also surprised to see them using a bulletproof Poseidon car. He didn't complain about changing the car into something else. Everything was for his protection.
At the time that he reached the cafe, there were lots of nobles, from aristocrats to children of aristocrats. He entered with bodyguards and Butler Paul as they ordered their drinks and sweets. Lots of people eyed them and didn't recognize him that close. Once that they were on their seats waiting for their order. Maverick crossed his arms and his eyes, keeping his cap on. His head was aching so much.
"Would you like to change seats, sir?" Butler Paul asked.
"No. We can't sit near the window." He said and kept his eyes closed. He heard footsteps, clicking high heels toward their table.
"Excuse me,"
He kept his eyes closed.
"What can I do for you, Milady?" Butler Paul asked.
She curtsied and smiled.
"I would like to greet Duke Maverick."
Maverick opened his eyes and he looked up at the woman that looked familiar. She smiled at him, on her ever sweetest smile and curtsied.
"Please let me introduce myself. I'm Eloiza of Kendrick." She curtsied so gracefully.
Maverick gaped a little remembering that Kendrick was close to Belmont.
"Please let us serve you the best drinks and desserts. If you don't mind~~"
"Lady Eloiza." Maverick smiled and stood. "Thank you for your kindness. But I only came here to relax for a bit. You don't have to bother because I am here." He smiled at her.
"Oh," She looked disappointed and bowed her head. "I'm sorry if I offend you, Duke Edward."
"You did not offend me." Maverick sat down.
Butler Paul was watching Duke Maverick who was completely turning down the lady. Butler Paul kicked him under the table acting like he was stretching his leg. It caught Maverick's attention. Maverick knew that sign and so, he explained shortly.
"I apologize. My head was aching and I wasn't up for some talks."
"I understand. I apologize too." She curtsied.
"Don't worry. I'll make it up on you and treat you somewhere else if you like… but some other time?"
Her smile was brighter than any light. He knew that she was pleased and so, she bowed her head and left. Maverick's smile faded as he turned to Butler Paul.
"You look fragile but you kicked like a horse." He mumbled as Butler Paul cleared his throat to put away the grin from his lips. "I'll talk to you later about her." He mumbled while covering his mouth.
"I knew all about her, your grace."
Maverick sighed and removed his cap and put it down on the table and he closed his eyes. He massaged his brows with his fingers.
"I'll send someone to massage you."
"Yes, please." He mumbled.
"What gives you a big headache?" Butler Paul asked. "If it's a woman, then, I suggest you bring her to your castle and marry her."
Maverick groaned in pain. He can't bring her to a dangerous place. He was talking about Stacey in his head. He sighed and shook his head.
"Don't tell me that you are still a v~~" Butler Paul covered his mouth as Maverick glared at him. Then, their drinks and cake arrived. Butler Paul tasted first each of it and after a few moments, he said that he could eat it.
He only eats a little of the desert. He doesn't like it. But Stacey might like it. He finished his coffee.
"Let's go somewhere. Maybe a beach." He mumbled.
The Butler stood and gestured as Maverick left the cafe where everyone still looked at him. Few people wanted to approach him a while ago after Lady Eloiza, but Butler Paul gestured to the bodyguards to surround them like a wall. It was a thirty minutes drive to the beach and because of traffic.
The bodyguards followed him around and covered him like a wall but he wanted space. He went to the spot near the rock wall as he sighed and watched the beautiful sunset. With pink, purple, and orange rays. What a beautiful summer and yet he's working like crazy. He's a Duke anyway. There's no break unless the work is done.
He moved away from them as he inhaled the salt air coming from the sea.
"My heartbeat. If I wasn't a Duke or the last bloodline of the family, would you be safe in my arms? I wish to give you everything even if I have nothing." He mumbled, indicating Stacey as his heartbeat. "I never wish us to be apart but… I am whispering here like a fool and missing you like a moron."
He stayed like that for a while as he remembered their first kiss on the beach and their actions, near to lovemaking. But they somehow ended up doing that, touching each other like crazy and he missed touching her.
"Damn it. I can't replace you even if women approach me.." He turned back from the beach and went back to where the car was parked.