The Softest And Cutest Of The Dukes - Chapter 49

CHAPTER 49

Recently, Duke Panteur was so engrossed in work that he seemed to lose his mind. During this period, he always pushed his body to the limit. Those who knew the reason couldn’t utter a word to Duke Panteur, telling him to take a break.

“What should we do this time?”

“It seems best to follow whatever the Duke desires, as usual.”

During this time, even the employees had reduced their conversations. This year, for the fourth year in a row, the same situation had repeated, but no one could even let out a small sigh.

Though she wasn’t involved in anything special, Elena, feeling sorry and anxious, asked Oscar for his opinion. Each time, the answer was the same, but she couldn’t just stay still.

“Since Miss Rafi is here this time, maybe we could have a special event?”

“There will be no such thing. If he had thought of such a thing, he would have said so long ago.”

Due to Duke Panteur’s silence, his advisors and employees each honored Duke Panteur’s wife in their ways.

“Should we contact Duke Aquila and Duke Tigris, or is that unnecessary?”

“That too is a matter for the Duke to decide.”

Thanks to the sudden appearance of Rafi, the dukes who had cut off contact completely started to interact. While it might be understandable for Duke Aquila, one would wonder if it’s necessary to reach out to Duke Tigris.

After all, she was the youngest daughter of Duke Tigris. However, even that required the permission of Duke Panteur.

“Elena, don’t bring up that topic anymore. The one who’s hurting the most right now is the Duke. Just follow his wishes.”

No one in the household was unaware of Seraphina, who warmly embraced them. As they gazed in the direction of young Rafi’s room, resembling her, they wiped away their tears. Seeing her playing with the cat through the open window, they offered faint smiles and lowered their heads.

On that day, the memorial of Seraphina arrived, and Duke Panteur glanced at Rafi once before slowly changing his steps. Amidst this, his current position was regrettable due to the work he still had to do.

After dealing with urgent matters, Duke Panteur stood up from his seat. Under normal circumstances, he would have followed after Vance, but today he kept his lips sealed quietly.

“If there’s any issue… handle it on your own.” 

“Yes, understood.”

Today, of all days, he didn’t want to be disturbed by others. Seeing Duke Panteur move forward, suppressing his pain, those around him stepped aside and quietly lowered their heads.

“What about Rafi?”

“Jenny took her and they’re playing with Ciel.”

Duke Panteur nodded as Oscar informed him of Rafi’s whereabouts after he had left his wife’s chambers.

“If possible, do not let her in until I come out.” 

“Yes, I’ll wait for you then.”

Oscar retrieved a key and opened the door leading to the underground. As they descended, there were cat’s eyes spaced intermittently, providing enough light to prevent complete darkness.

Duke Panteur descended into the deserted underground and stood before what seemed to be a recently constructed stone monument. It was the family tomb where those who could be considered the history of the Panteur family were laid to rest.

“Seraphina…”

His voice was soft, but it resonated heavily in the enclosed underground. Yet, there was no response to the called name.

“I’m here. I’m here now… But you won’t even appear before me anymore?”

Duke Panteur’s face twisted in pain as he remembered his young wife, who used to greet him no matter what happened when he returned from outings. She would stand there to welcome him back.

“I’m so sorry for not coming all this time. I always made excuses and I’m truly sorry, but I’ve been so busy.” 

Duke Panteur’s hand trembled slightly as he wiped the slightly dusty stone monument with his bare hands. The warmth that used to radiate from her when he held her hand was now gone, vanished.

Gazing at the stone monument that felt unbearably cold and hard, a tear finally welled up in Duke Panteur’s eyes. His resolve to never shed a tear here was mercilessly shattered.

Thud—

As a teardrop of longing and pain fell onto the stone monument, there was no longer anyone to steal glances at his tears. Taking out a handkerchief, Duke Panteur wiped the stone, and he smiled, becoming a fourteen-year-old Joshua who had met a five-year-old child.

“Back then, you were so cute and lovely. I’m sorry for not being able to tell you, sorry for not being able to say I love you…”

There are so many things he’d done wrong compared to the things he’d done right. Apologizing, Duke Panteur pressed his trembling lips together.

It felt as though the sound of sobbing might escape through his lips. Because she had loved strong men, even if tears were impossible, he didn’t want to make a crying sound.

“Well, Seraphina… Did you send us well-cooked glutinous rice cake to sustain us in a world without you? A few months ago, a child fell from the sky. She resembles you…”

From the time he had come here last year and left until now, Duke Panteur explained everything that had happened. He spoke about Rafi.

“When the child fell from the sky, it was like seeing you from our childhood, and I was so surprised. And the child said something you would say, which surprised me twice, and Erica as well.”

As if Seraphina was sitting right next to him, listening intently, Duke Panteur continued to speak without pause.

“Would it be alright if I gave the child your name? I’m sorry, I should have asked earlier… But you know, even Duke Tigris and Duke Aquila were charmed by Rafi.”

With a gentle smile resembling the tranquil flow of a stream, Duke Panteur carefully embraced the stone monument. Holding the stone gently in his arms, he tried to provide warmth to his wife who might feel cold in the underground. Duke Panteur closed his eyes softly.

“Would it be alright if we put the child under our household registry without your permission? I’m sorry for not doing this first and just informing you… But really, could she be our child? No matter how you look at it, it seems like our child.”

If a third child were to come into the world, he hoped it would be a daughter who resembled Seraphina. Regretful that he couldn’t witness Seraphina growing up, Duke Panteur wanted to raise their young daughter with love, watching her grow right by his side.

“Silver hair with golden irises only appears in the direct lineage of Duke Tigris… But our daughter seems like she pushed aside her father’s traits because her mother worked so diligently.”

No part of her resembled him. Duke Panteur, who was more pleased by that fact, thought of Rafi the moment he embraced the stone. Rafi used to snuggle into his arms and burrow into his chest whenever she slept. He wanted to sleep with such a child between him and his wife in the same bed, but that wish would never be fulfilled.

Only able to imagine a world that would never shatter because it was a dream, a sharp pang of pain throbbed in his heart.

“Seraphina, I miss you so much. Now I could hold you tight and forever whisper that I love you.”

Duke Panteur had been taught not to express his emotions through his lineage. He had been indoctrinated with the belief that revealing emotions would make him vulnerable, and he had lived his life with regrets, adhering to that philosophy.

“I’m pouring out to Rafi everything I couldn’t give you. You’re not jealous, are you?”

He knew there wouldn’t be an answer, but Duke Panteur continued to question Seraphina.

“My dear, I miss you so much. So, couldn’t you come back just for a little while in my dreams?” 

He mixed pleading with his tone. He knew she had departed to a place where she couldn’t respond, yet he continued to speak to her.

“My dear, just once, please… Huh?”

The tender, moist voice mingled with the heavy stillness in the air, resonating with bittersweet longing. He had realized that the saying “Regret comes the fastest” was right after she had left, but there was nothing he could change.

“My dear, Seraphina…”

The cold air around the stone monument became damp, just as clothes get wet in a drizzling rain. How long had it been like this? When he managed to pull himself away from the stone, Duke Panteur was startled by the gaze that met him.

“Father…”

“Rafi? What brought you here?”

He had made sure nobody could come here, yet Rafi was standing there. Worried that the child might have been shocked, Duke Panteur softened his expression and spoke.

“Father, a guest has come, Oscar said so.”

It’s like they had guests and they sent Rafi down there because they were afraid they might die if they went down there. 

“I’m sorry, Father’s feeling emotional today… Please wait just a moment.”

After a brief kiss on the stone monument, Duke Panteur embraced Rafi.

“My dear, this child is Rafi. She looks so much like you, don’t you think? Since this isn’t a suitable place for a child, I’ll take her out for now. We’ll see you again later.”

When the short farewell concluded, Rafi also waved her hand.

“Bye, see you next time.”

With Rafi in his arms, Duke Panteur quickly ascended to the surface.

“Do you even have any sense? No matter how urgent things are, sending Rafi down to the underground where she might get shocked…”

Hearing Duke Panteur’s somber voice, those who had been waiting outside lowered their heads collectively. Rafi was a child who should only see pretty and good things. To bring such a child into the underground family tomb was an unforgivable act, no matter the reason.

Though she was smarter and more exceptional than most children, she was the type to sneeze even if she got a little pollen on her. He’s worried that the precious child might have suffered an emotional shock. The roasted glutinous rice cake stuck to his chest only made her face stickier.

“I knew we shouldn’t have, but we did, and we won’t shirk responsibility, so please listen to what the man who traveled all this way has to say.”

Behind Vance, who spoke in a straightforward voice devoid of the usual atmosphere, stood a slightly agitated man. A big-framed figure, upon seeing Duke Panteur, immediately dropped to his knees.

“Justin Hamel greets Duke Panteur.” 

“Justin Hamel?”

Hearing the name, Duke Panteur froze in place while holding Rafi. He had been searching for him all this time, unable to find him. Justin Hamel, who had even been categorized as a missing person since his body hadn’t been found, prostrated himself flat on the ground.

“I’ve been looking for you all this time. How did you appear now?”

Justin Hamel had been the knight who had guarded Lady Seraphina Panteur from her side to her very end. Now, after a whole four years since the passing of Lady Panteur, Justin Hamel revealed himself, and Duke Panteur regarded him with a mixture of skepticism.

Was he afraid of the war and deserted? Duke Panteur’s gaze was met by Justin Hamel clenching his fist as if scraping the ground.

“I-I did not desert. I can swear on my household’s honor.”

“If that’s the case, then what’s the reason for you being here?”

“To carry out the will of Duchess Panteur… Lady Seraphina’s wishes without shame, I’ve come here.”

“And what is that?”

In response to the probing question from the bewildered Duke Panteur, Justin Hamel produced something with trembling hands. The hand holding the paper shook violently. Offering the paper that seemed to hold some sort of story, Justin Hamel bowed his head and spoke in a voice filled with anguish.

“It’s the final letter that Lady Seraphina left for her family. I’ve come after four years to deliver this message.”