NoGift

ARGENT parted the scattered hair on her sister's forehead. She stared at Aurum's angelic face, a rare look of tenderness on her usual indifferent face. They were in her old bedroom. Aurum asked if they could sleep together, of course she agreed.

Aurum glanced at Black who was sitting near the window. He appeared to be sleeping but he wasn't. Her brother had to shut his system down before it overloaded. All because he overate. Again. "Will he be fine tomorrow?"

"Yes. The extra-energy he accumulated would be diffused by then," Argent answered then smiled teasingly at her sister. "I thought you didn't like Black."

"I think he's an annoying brat. But I already got used to him. It's weird not having him chattering around."

"Then you'll be glad to know that he'd be chattering again by morning. Now, sleep. We will have a busy day tomorrow."

Because she was sure once the news spread that the Duke of Hanover was back, some greedy sharks would definitely come flocking to their door.

Aurum burrowed herself into Argent's arm. "I'm not sleepy yet."

"Then I'll get you a glass of warm milk to help you sleep."

Argent gently stroke Aurum's hair before getting up. She walked out of the room and went downstairs straight to the kitchen. It was quiet and no servants could be seen walking around the hallway. Not really surprising since it's already close to midnight. Argent arrived at the door of the kitchen and was about to enter when she heard the soft humming of a woman inside.

It seemed the owner of the voice was humming a children's song based on the bubbly and jumpy rhythm. Just listening, one could easily tell that the one singing has a very nice singing voice. She has a very soft and melodious tone. Argent slightly furrowed her brows. Who was still awake during this late hour?

She went inside the kitchen and saw the maid with the burn scars on her face, happily making some kind of pastry. There was a smile on her lips, so unlike the frightened expression she had earlier. If you ignore the scars, it was easy to see that she was a very beautiful woman.

Argent cleared her throat. The maid - Merissa - was obviously startled because she almost dropped the whisk she was holding. When Merissa saw her, the maid's expression immediately turned horrified. She bowed her head and gripped the airpron she was wearing quite tightly.

"Y-Your Grace, I-I'm sorry for being here so l-late. I-I just couldn't sleep and I ended up here in the kitchen, then--" she said, quite flustered.

"Relax. I'm not going to eat you," Argent said, cutting whatever else it was she has to say. "I won't send you to prison just because I found you baking during the middle of the night."

Merissa stared at the young duke's beautiful face. She experienced a lot of maltreatment for the past 12 years. So she's sensitive to people's ill-will, especially if it was directed at her. But looking at the duke's purple eyes filled with indifference, she could tell that he has no maliciousness towards her. In fact, he probably doesn't care why she's here at all. Indifference she could take. That's infinitely better than malice. Due to that, her fear slowly subsided.

Argent picked a small pan and took a bottle of milk from the pantry.

The maid probably already guessed what she was trying to do because she said, "Your Grace, I could warm that milk for you."

"No need," Argent said, putting the pan on the stove, lighting it and pouring the milk inside. She wouldn't let a person she didn't trust to warm the milk she's going to give to her sister. Once she's done with that, she turned back to the maid who was now continuing her whisking. Staring at her, Argent couldn't stop the curiousity running in her mind. "What happened, to your face, if you don't mind me asking?"

There was a slight surprise on Merissa's face because of the duke's sudden question. She lowered her gaze, she resisted the urge to touch the burn scars on her face. "Someone wanted me dead but I survived and this was the result."

The sad smile that crossed the maid's face didn't get past Argent's notice. There was no anger, an emotion that should have been there considering that she probably experienced an awful lot. Instead, there was only infinite sadness. "You don't want revenge, to the people who did this to you?"

Merissa shook her head. "No. Nothing good will come out from vengeance. It would only generate more hate."

Argent stared at the maid's face, checking if she was sincere with what she said. And surprisingly, she was. Argent no longer talked and turned back to turn off the stove. She picked a mug and poured the warm milk in it. "I'll leave you to your baking."

"Yes. Good night, Your Grace."

Argent nodded to the maid and went out of the kitchen. After that conversation, she could now safely say that the maid was not some cold-hearted b*tch posing as a servant here in the manor. But that doesn't mean Argent's suspicion of her completely cleared up, it only decreased a tiny bit.

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Just as Argent predicted, early the next morning, a ton of minor aristocrats and wealthy businessmen came knocking on the manor's door - those aristocrats who were trying to make connections and the merchants who wanted to make business transactions. It was already past noon and yet there's still no stopping them.

She was just glad no high ranking aristocrats came. Then she would be forced to meet them. Aristocratic rules and stuff. But because those who visited were only minor aristocrats and merchants, it was enough to let Aurum entertain them. While her sister was working hard dealing with those people, Argent was in the study with Gregory. Reviewing the report of the state of the Blackbourne's different properties for the past seven years.

"You did a good job on managing all the family's estates, Gregory," Argent commented after finishing reading the last report.

"It's my job, Your Grace. I wouldn't want to disappoint you and the Duchess," Gregory humbly said.

She put down the report and thought of something. "That new maid - Merissa - what do you think of her?"

"She's dilligent, Your Grace. Naturally kind and selfless. I've observed her carefully for the past month and she hasn't done anything suspicious."

"Yet."

Looked like Gregory was also suspicious of Merissa, especially since his wife was the one who brought her here. If the maid turned out to be nothing good, then Nelly would surely blame herself.

"Don't worry, Your Grace. If she does something, I will handle it myself," Gregory promised.

"Good."

The door of the study suddenly opened and Aurum walked in - or rather marched in. She sat down on the seat in front of Argent's desk, all unladylike. "Brother, I can't do this anymore! If one more matron comes here wanting to marry off her daughter to you, I swear I would commit murder!"

Aurum couldn't even be rude to them because that would ruin the angelic, perfect lady she was projecting to outsiders. But seriously, her patience was already at its end.

"And I'm proud of you for not committing murder," Argent teased.

"How come you can stay here while I deal with those people? It's unfair," Aurum complained, pouting.

"Because I'm the duke," Argent said with a grin on her face.

Aurum stared at her brother. She was glad Argent mostly only smiled at her. If her brother always smiled like this, then the line of people wanting to marry her would be endless. "I'm hungry," she just said instead.

Argent turned to the butler. "Gregory, could you ask that new maid to bring snacks and tea here for Lady Aurum?"

"As you wish, Your Grace," Gregory bowed and walked outside the study.

"Why do you ask for that maid?" Aurum asked, confused.

"She's a mystery. I like observing her. Don't you?"

"Not really." But Aurum could understand her brother's point. After all, Argent loved puzzles. The more complicated, the better.

A few minutes later, Merissa knocked and came in with a trolley of teas and pastries. "Your Grace, milady," she greeted politely. She pushed the trolley towards them and put two teacups on the desk. She carefully poured tea in each teacups.

Before any of them could drink the tea, someone knocked on the study's door. Argent told them to come in and Gregory entered.

"What is it?" Argent asked.

"There are new visitors, Your Grace," he told them.

"Tell them to wait. I haven't even eaten my snacks yet," Aurum complained.

"Your Grace, it's the Earl of Brightmore and the second prince."

When Gregory mentioned the two, Argent noticed that Merissa's face paled quite dramatically. She raised one of her brows. And so, the mystery just expanded.