@CosmicVirtuosoC "My little one is always drawing as well~ I am reminded of your creations each time he shows me something new~" The way she glowed with happiness the moment she spoke of her son. "Oh? I'm not opposed to receiving treats~"
-- our little secret~" Her expression turned soft and gentle, there was a deep love reflected in her eyes as she interacted with her youngest son. "I have some business to attend to with this 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐞 right here~"
She gestured to the 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 warrior with a teasing smile~
Francis could only sigh in defeat. His Duchess continues to do as she pleases anyway, and he wasn't exactly showing any real concerns for her safety. Honestly, she didn't really care who followed so long as they could head out immediately. She stood up from her seat, --
‘Ah, then we will be sure to remain indoors as soon as the sun begins to set… and as for the supplies, we—.’
“I will go, you lot can just focus on resting up… we cannot risk any stragglers in the city if the threat of the night is genuine, especially when we only have »
-- night and golden eyes gazed up at the Duchess with a pout. He was clearly upset that she was going somewhere without him. The Duchess knelt down to be on eye level and kissed her son on the cheek.
"If you're a good boy, I'll bring us home some chocolates, and it'll be --
-- victim is a swift and painless death~" Francis immediately coughed at that, and the Duchess's lips curled up into a smirk. He was definitely not amused by her remark, which was very unladylike!
Nothing escapes her eye, she had sensed it the moment he stepped past her barrier and into her domain. What a peculiar man, she had thought to herself, but his matters were not hers to decipher. All she cared about for the moment was to be hospitable towards her guests --
“My fate ended long ago, string severed and diagram sundered.” A cryptic idiom left his lips.
‘If that’s the case, we are all eternally grateful for your hospitality.’
Everyone from the convoy at the table rose and performed the very same bow towards her in gratitude. »
-- she could not agree to anything that could potentially bring harm to everyone involved, including her own people.
"They are dangerous creatures who target a human's mind and possess them for entertainment and pleasure. The only saving grace I could offer if you ever fall --
-- guests leave safe and sound. It goes without saying that some guests have never heeded her warning, which is probably where the rumours of people never seen leaving the estate started in the first place.
It is more accurate to assume that she was everywhere all at once, just like the wind itself, unpredictable and unrestrained. While her demeanour felt cold and unapproachable, there was no real malice or anger in her voice. It was almost... 𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 in nature. --
My Lady?
Immediately, his eyes shot towards the very end of the table which was usually reserved for the head of the household.
And lo’, there was that wind again, and this time along with it came the Lady Duchesss, to everyone’s shock and awe. The whole table began to »
-- journey here. Should you require anything else, please inform Francis, and he will tend to your needs. I must warn you not to leave the estate at night." The Duchess wouldn't allow any harm to come to her estate, but she has no authority outside of it, and she'd rather her --
-- regardless of how much income she could potentially make from this. Monetary gain was meaningless to her, especially considering her long-lived life.
-- appearance in the slightest. Her every move was elegant and graceful, befitting the title of Duchess.
"As my dear Head Butler has mentioned, these lands are out of bounds for trade routes. I have no interest in opening the borders for more strangers within my home." --
-- She did have a point; they were essentially asking for passage to come through her home, and while there isn't an issue now, if others hear wind of this, more travellers and merchant would find their way toward the Dukedom. It was not going to benefit her in the long run --