Chapter 89: Chapter 89

"Did you, by any chance, has a toothache? Should I call the doctor?" Hugo asked after he notices that his employer was holding his cheek all day with closed eyes.

But it still surprised him since Max never get sick before.

That young man keep silent, so Hugo shrugged and continue to read some books.

Seven minutes later, Max opened his green eyes. With a serious look, he said, "Being young is the best."

"You are barely twenty, Boss."  Hugo answered and try to not rolled his eyes.

"But, lately, I feel so much younger around Cecilia. Not to mention, everything look so beautiful today. Look at the bright sky and radiant sun. A perfect weather to do a picnic!"

Hugo threw his gaze to the window and wondering if they were watching the same scenery.

The sky was dark, and it can get rain in anytime. He can see a lightning hiding through the cloud. "I prefer to stay inside."

Max smirking, "Ah, too bad. You should try dating at least once in a while, Hugo. Spending too much time to working isn't good."

The brown-eyed man still fixed his gaze to the book, "I have no choice since I got busier because of someone neglecting his task."

"Good luck, then." Max smiling and keep holding his left cheek as if his hand glued on it.

"Please hire another man, so I can take a holiday." Hugo said after he closed the book.

"Do you have any recommendation? You know that I'm a picky person."

"Just hire someone who passed the test, Boss."

Max rose from his chair, "Aaah, do what you like. But, still, the final result is in my hand. I have to go, now."

"Wait, Boss!"

"Please, don't disturb me. I want to go on a picnic! Bye!"

Hugo froze in his place and found nothing to say, even his boss already left. "Oh my, I got ten years older when around him."

***

Cecilia was in Lancia's private library when Armano come in.

"You should take some rest, little girl."

"Ah, good afternoon, Du… I mean Father. How did your lunch go?" She asked after giving him a light bow.

Armano take a seat which located in front of her.

He was invited to a secret meeting with the Emperor and the crown prince to discuss the nobles faction's rebellion. "Boring as usual. Why did you here? Doctor Herald asked you to get some rest."

"I am resting, Father." She said after take a seat and give a hand signal to the maid for preparing another cup for him.

The maid nodded and left to the kitchen. Now, only both of them who stay on the library.

"So, reading many books was a part of your rest?" He asked after notice a pile of business book beside her.

Cecilia smiled gently, "I want to learn as much as I can to prepare everything before I go to the frozen island."

"Just enjoy your time, Cecilia. The frozen land isn't going anywhere."

"Well, but, after I read the island's condition from the books. Hmm, the faster I go, the better. Father, why do Emperor didn't try to do something before? The poverty rate was high. The bandits were raiding and take over the place. Turn the citizen into their hostage. We should do something to them!"

"It was a conflicted area and located between the border of this Empire and Malcraft kingdom. It was so dangerous to take a careless step since the bandit didn't hesitate to hurt the citizen and make the conflict became complicated. As long as the emperor give them some fund, they didn't do anything dangerous."

The maid entered the room and prepare a cup of black tea for the Duke. She put three plates of cookies, too.

"Were they strong or something? I mean our knights are the best among--,"

"They are black magic user. Very rare one, and we have no chance against them. That's why all we can do, for this past four years, was pay them for the citizen's safety."

Cecilia gulped, "Then, what make His Majesty change his mind, now?"

"The Cadia's pandemic and South Island's barren land." He sipped the black tea before continued. "He must be thinking that I can do something to Icicle, too. Never crossed in his mind that the one who can perform those miracles was you, Cecilia."

"You are overestimated me. I'm not working by myself. So many people help me." She shook her head.

"It doesn't change a fact that you and your knowledge never fail to amaze me."

"However, I don't know if I can help this. I'm not a magic user. Why don't you ask Uncle Grant? Perhaps he knew something."

"I already asked him, and he can't help us."

When Cecilia was thinking, Albert gently knocked the opened door. "Excuse me, I apologize for disturbing your time. I'd like to inform you that Young Miss has a guest."

Cecilia's brows raised, "A guest? Is it Max?"

Armano's face become sour when the Head Butler nodded, "Yes, Young Miss. His Highness was waiting on the drawing room."

"Okay, thank you, Albert. Please tell him to wait for a moment."

Albert nodded again and left the room after said, "I understand, Young Miss. Please excuse me."

"Ah, that rascal. I wonder what make you like him." Armano shook his head in disbelief when noticed a sheer blush on her cheek.

"We-well, he is a good man, Father."

Armano let out a heavy sigh, "Just good?"

"He is kind and always try to cheer me up with his weird sense of humor. Even though he has a very sharp tongue, but he is so dependable. Meeting him is a bliss to me."

"And you like his face, right?"

Cecilia look at her shoes, hiding her shyness and nodded slowly as an answer.

"Well, he looks better without that scar."

"Scar?"

Instead of explaining, he asked another question. "You still remembered the crown prince's face, aren't you? So, who do you think more handsome, his brother or him?"

"Of course, Max!"

Seeing her panicked reaction, make him want to tease her more, "Don't lie to me. Even I consider the crown prince as a good-looking man. You confessed your feeling at your birth---."

He stopped his sentence when remembered something. He cleared his throat before apologize, "Ah, I'm sorry. It was her, not you. Sorry."

"Father…"

"What's with your long face? You should go before that man, make some ruckus."

She bit her lip and the guilt envelop her again, "I'm really so--,"

"No matter what happen, you are Cecilia Margaret Lancia and all you need to do is being happy, my daughter."

"Father…"

He rose from his chair and give her a serious look. "Tell me if he's doing something inappropriate to you. I'll break his leg, undoubtedly."