(Third Person's PoV)
"Milady? " the Butler knocked. Kathelina, Sir Halnois and Maxineirah's head turned their heads on the door.
Maxineirah was currently drinking her milk in the balcony, together with sweets as her afternoon snack. She put the cup down and smile at the Butler. "Heinrich!" Maxineirah called so energized.
"I greet the Duchess." the old Butler greeted and bowed that the child immediately ignored the politeness shown.
"Oh please, Mr. Butler, you are no different for me. You have been working on the state for I do not know how long." Maxine stated with formality that made the old man stir something inside of him.
He was definitely touched by the Miss' words.
"Milady~" the Butler was wiping the welled up tears of joy. Kathelina and the Knight who saw it and forced a smile.
'How childish.' the both of them thought with a blank face.
They all went together to the Duke's office. Kathelina went in, following her Miss and Sir Halnois stood outside the door to guard. The two guards in shift glanced at him, bemused by the astounding rumors they always hear about the Phantoms.
Creston smiled at the two charmingly that made the two guards stiffened, they diverted their eyes straight infront because of shame but at the same time, they felt proud of themselves because this Knight with them was not like what they heard at all.
'As intimidating as a tiger? Nah, maybe the rumors became exaggerated as it passes to one another.' They thought.
But after Sir Knight smiled at them, his eyes darkened and could not trace any emotion in his face, his lips formed a thin line and his eyes lowered.
He stood up straightly, a truly honorable Knight that brought goosebumps on the guards with him.
'He is so dignified!' they screamed in their minds out of intimidation.
"Daddy!" Maxine called in glee and was about to run to her father when she was reminded of something.
Maxine did an elegant and graceful curtsy.
"It is a wonderful afternoon, Your Grace. May Frite bless you more health." she greeted with a gentle smile on the face.
Maximus hid his smile from the more than satisfying view of his daughter doing a so perfect greeting manner. He was still wondering how could Maxineirah learn it so fast when her instructors always told him that they have yet reached half of the lessons.
Thinking about it, how could he trust those words now when he knew they were treating her with violence. Remembering what they found out, the faces of those b*tches still makes his teeth grinds.
After Maxine greeted, Maxine threw herself on the Duke. Kathelina was happy to see how the both of them improved.
Maximus arranged Maxineirah on his lap.
"You called me Dad?"
Not long ago, he was determined to ask his daughter about the letters but now that he was facing his daughter, he could not say it.
He did not know where to start.
Maximus cleared his throat.
"Ah yes, what were you doing before coming here?" Maximus talked around the bush for the first time in history.
The Butler covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.
Who would have thought that a great man like his Master could be this flushed that he could not even say the real reason for calling his daughter.
Maximus noticed Heinrich. He glanced at his Butler a little for a brief moment and glared at him menacingly before looking back to his child with his eyes smiling.
How could His Grace manages to change his expressions that fast?
"It was my tea time, Dad." Maxine replied as a matter-of-fact. Duke Zachrono almost slapped his own face. How could he forget the tea time? His question was useless. Better think more useful question.
"Is that right?" he agreed with a nod.
"Do you want to play with me?" Duke Zachrono asked and Maxine replied hesitantly. She looked over her father's desk where piles and files of papers were waiting to be look at.
If His Grace would not handle all of this now, many things would be delayed and the poor old Butler would have to work overtime. Seeing that fragile old body, Maxine's lips twitched.
She did not want to the old man who aided the family in the past for so long despite the age, struggling.
"I do not think you have a lot of time to do that, Dad." Maxineirah chuckled and Maximus' mood immediately dropped. He looked pitiful like a dog in Maxineirah's eyes and could not help but to giggle.
How would the Duke ask his daughter about the letters if he could find the right timing? Oh well, there was still a lot of time to ask and before those 'little jerks' step their foot in the house.
"Do not be down, Dad. Once you finish all the documents needed to be tend, I would come over and play with you!" Maxine coaxed. She felt guilty seeing her Dad in that expression.
She would be more at ease if his face turned into a blank one but how could she if her Dad openly showed his emotion infront of her.
"Do you really mean that?" the Duke wanted to make sure.
"Of course! If and only if you finish yoyr tasks for the day." Maxineirah's voice was certain.
Duke Maximus think for a while before agreeing to his daughter.
"Do that."
Maxine leaped from Maximus' lap.
"Then, I will not be bothering you futher more. I will be on my way." Maxine smiled charmingly to lift up her Dad's spirit that really did.
Maxine turned around and she has walked just three times when she felt a tug on her dress behind her. Maxineirah paused and turned her head to look at her father who was bended his back to reach the end of his daughter's skirt, still sitting on his chair.
Maxine blink at the sight before her eyes completely widened in shock after processing what her father did.
"Duke!" the Butler called out with his voice wavering.
"Dad! What are you doing?!" Maxine asked in surprise. How could the Duke bend (bow) infront of her?! This is absurd!
"You forgot to do something." the Duke reminded and pointed his cheek, meaning to be kissed by his daughter.
Maxineirah understood what her father wanted to say but still, what the Duke did was still wrong.
That was too ungraceful for a head like him but for Maximus, it did not matter at all since he believed that bowing to his Princess was not a bad thing.
He still has a long way to go to ask for his daughter's forgiveness. She may not know what the Duke was doing right now but someday, she would know and His grace did not want to be hated by his only daughter after knowing what he did to her right after she was born.
"Please sit properly, before that." Maxine said in a sweat. Maximus listened and immediately sat om his back peoperly.
Maxine tip-toed and Maximus just lowered his head a little for Maxine to reach.
Maxine kissed hid father without further hesitation. The embarrassment she feels whenever she was kissing her father on the cheeks was now gone. She was now used to do everything what she never did in the past.
Maxine wanted to erase all her regrets and only look forward to what she have infront of her. What the life and time offers. For living 'too' long in this world she already learned to treasure everything what was given to her preciously.
Maximus' face was satisfied, completely forgot the reason why he called his daughter over.
Just after the door shuts he remembered the reason why but he immediately dispelled it from his mind.
'There are still a lot of next time.' he convinced his self.
He had not asked but at least he saw his cute daughter. The Duke went back on his work in a mood, humming.
The Butler could not help his self but to praise the Young Lady over and over again in his mind.
He could already feel that the Duke would finish all the works before getting off his chair and no single paper would be left.
Heinrich sat on his own desk and started to get back on the work with his mood also lifted. All along, it was not just the Duke whose only pleased seeing Maxineirah but also the Butler, unconsciously.