[1]A week had passed since that night, the night Duke Caelum carried his daughter to bed and promised her and his wife that he would change for the better. Since then, the estate had grown peaceful, the enviroment felt more lively even, but not within Ayana's troubled heart.
The maids assigned to her were gentle unlike the ones who served Ayana before that only mistreated her, but Ayana didn't know if she could their kindness anymore. The last maid who showed her kindness was gone and what if this maids were only pretending to get the duke's favor? So she still woke up before dawn, mopped the floors, polished the vases and statues. The maids often found her cleaning places that didn't even need cleaning, but what concerned them more was how she trembled wwhile she worked.
"Miss Ayana, please," one of the maids said softly to her, "you don't have to do this.... We'll handle it, cleaning is our job"
Ayana froze. Her eyes drop toward the floor, as if looking at them was a sin. "I-it's fine, im sorry...." she said quickly. "I'll do better next time… please don't be angry...i really am sorry.."
The maids exchanged worried glances. They'd been told by the Duke himself to care for her gently so Ayana could finally be comfortable but no matter what they do, even how kind they treated her, she remained uneasy. She ate quietly, distanced herself from others but they were times she would agree to eat with the dujke.she still slept on the cold floor when no one was watching even though they try to place her back in bed.
Each time someone someone would walk by, Ayana would flinch whil clutching the hem of her dress, eyes filled with terror and fear.
The head of the new maids, a woman named Clara, had watched this for days until her heart could no longer bear it, she felt pity, concern, and anger at the people who had done this to a child. "This isn't right," she muttered to her fellow maids. "A child shouldn't live like this, in fear..."
"Do you think His Grace knows?" one of them whispered.
Clara hesitated. "Maybe… but perhaps he doesn't understand how bad it is."
Clara made up her mind. Even if it cost her her position, she would speak. She couldn't stand by and watch the little girl destroy her childhood just because of fear.
The next morning, Clara approached the Duke's study. She sighed, trying to compose herself as she knocked on the door. "Enter," a cold voice said from inside.
The Duke looked up from his papers, his gaze sharp and cold as always. making him look both noble and terrifying. Clara's knees felt weak, but she swallowed her fear and bowed her head.
"Your Grace," she began, she trembled slightly, still trying to remain composed. "Forgive my intrusion, but I must speak something about young miss Ayana"
At the mention of Ayana, the Duke's expression changed instantly his eyes softened and the intimidating aura was almost gone, though his tone remained stern. "What about my daughterr?"
Clara hesitated. "She… she still refuses to let us do the work, Your Grace. She cleans the halls before dawn. She won't eat unless she's certain nobody's watching her. She sleeps on the floor, even though her bed—"
"Enough," he said, his tone low, commanding silence. Clara froze,her heart beating fast. The Duke leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping on his desk. "You're telling me," he said slowly, "that my daughter refuses to act as a child in her own home?"
The maid lowered her head. "Yes, Your Grace. She's terrified- not of you, perhaps… maybe of us, of everything. As if she expects to be punished for every movement she makes." Clara's voice cracked. "Please, forgive me for saying this, but… the child is... well she flinches from every act of kindness. It's as if she believezs she doesn't deserve it."
The duke's pen fell from his hand and rolled across the desk,making it falling slowly to the floor.
He said nothing for a long time. His jaw tightened as he remembered the way Ayana's eyes would look away whenever he would go to her and the way she trembled whenever he spoke. He thought of the bruises he'd once noticed before he took her in but never questioned it because he was afraid that she might think he's interogating her and the way she'd cried alone in the garden, he didn't know how to approach her.
All those signs. All those time he thought it was fine because Ayana is in a much better enviroment now but he was wrong....
"I see," he finally said. His voice slightly, but he quickly hid it. "You may leave."
"Your Grace, I only-"
"I said leave." He cut he off but not because of anger towards her, but towards himself. Clara bowed quickly and left the office. When the door closed, the Duke sighed deeply and pressed his hand against his forehead.
He'd thought removing the old maids and protecting her would be enough. But he hadn't realized how deep her fear ran, how the mistreatment of the past had created scars that couldn't be removed.
He stood abruptly, the chair scraping back, and walked toward the window. From his point of view, he could see Ayana again, kneeling by the fountain, crying, her body trembling.
The Duke clenched his fists. For a long moment, he simply stood there, watching the small child. He remembered the promise he made to himself, to let go of the past. To be better. And yet, even now, he was failing.
He called for Jacob, his assistant, who appeared quickly at the door. "Buy the finest sweets in the city," he ordered. "And call the physician. I want him to examine the Ayana today."
Jacob blinked. "Your Grace?"
The Duke's gaze didnt move, he just stared blankly at the garden as he comanded. "Do it."
When Jacob left, the Duke remained by the window, watching his daughter as the light began to fade. He could no longer bear to see her like that, he should have protected her.
He thought back to his wife's final words, words that only bought him pain but now seemed to guide him: "Promise me you'll take care of her and spoil her with love, for me... no.. for both of us."
He hadn't. Not until now. But it wasn't too late.
Later that night, Ayana was startled awake by a soft knock. The door opened, revealing the Duke standing in the hallway, a tray in his hands. Ayana was surprised what was the duke doing here late at night?
"P- Papa?" she mumbled.
He stepped inside, setting the tray on the small table. "Eat," he comanded he wasnt sure how this works but he tried his best, his voice was gentle. "You haven't eaten properly in days."
Ayana stared at the tray delicate pastries and a small cup of milk. She wanted to refuse, to run, but something about the Duke's presence felt… different this time. Not cold. Not distant. This time it felt..warm like how she felt with Liana.
When she didn't move, he sighed softly. "You don't have to be afraid, Ayana. Not anymore... Because im here now"
She hesitated, then finally whispered, "I… I'll try... Thank you..papa"
For the first time, the Duke smiled And for the first time in her life, Ayana finally felt at ease.
[1] the duke did'nt punish anyone harshly after that promise.