Klave Ledroux, the sole heir and son of the duke and duchess of Ledroux. Klave is a ten-year-old boy who took after his father. He was studying in the academy and received a letter notifying him about a little girl arriving in the mansion and what the current situation is. He heads home for the weekends to check the situation at their mansion.
The carriage that Klave was riding arrived safely at the Ledroux's estate in the capital. He entered the mansion after accepting the greeting of the servants that welcomed him home. The door opened, and he saw a small lady at the center.
"Is this my little sister?" Klave inquired as soon as he approached the little lady.
"Young master, welcome back," the head maid and the butler greeted.
"Where is father?" Klave asked.
"He went to the palace," the butler, Ruben, answered.
"I see," Klave mumbled. "Hello, little sister." Klave reached out his hand while smiling at Clairene.
Clairene's eyes sparkled and widened with excitement. "Ah, hello, brother!" she said happily and hugged on him.
Klave was surprised by her sudden action and froze. Clairene lifts her gaze while hugging him.
"Brother, you look handsome! You really look like da…." Clairene paused for a moment and just smiled faintly. She remembered what happened recently when she met the duke.
"Why did you not finish your words?" Klave asked nonchalantly.
"The duke doesn't like me calling him daddy," Clairene answered honestly and with bitterness.
"Oh?" Klave only reacts.
Clairene stepped back and put some distance between them.
"With that said, I apologize if I acted rude. If you don't want me to call you brother, then…"
Klave patted her head, which meant Clairene could not finish her speech. Klave just patted her, and it seems like he's remembering something while staring at her.
"She really looks like someone. Someone I am has been missed and longed for." Klave touched some of her hair and gently caressed it. "This color of her hair…." a memory flashed in his mind.
FLASHBACK
"Mommy!" Klave, six years old, running to a beautiful lady who has the same hair as the child in front of him.
"Klave…" The duchess called out to him with a bright smile and open arms.
FLASHBACK END
Klave let go of her hair and walked past her.
"I'll be resting," the only thing he said before leaving, heading to his room.
Clairene, who left with the servants, was perplexed and concluded that she was despised by her brother.
"I guess my brother as well doesn't like me," she murmured, yet it was enough to be heard by Ruben and Medina.
"It appears that the young master is tired, my lady," Medina informed her.
Clairene just stared at the path Klave took until he disappeared.
THE NEXT MORNING
The three of them eat together in the dining room. Ruan is sitting at the head of the table, Klave is sitting on the left, while Clairene sits on the right. Everyone's gaze landed on her when she sat on the right side.
"Umm… my lady, you should…" a servant approached and whispered to her.
"Let her be," Klave and Ruan said in unison, which also made them surprised, but they composed themselves.
The servant did not pursue any longer and stepped back. Servants arrived and arranged their utensils and food on the table. The two of them glance at the small utensils given to Clairene for her to easily use.
"Ah, the head maid told us to use it for the lady," the servant explained.
"Is that my old utensil?" Klave asked.
"Yes, young master."
"So, it is still here," Klave commented.
"The duchess ordered us to keep it since it might be useful again," the servant answered unconsciously.
The servants standing at the side felt nervous. The servant also realized what she said and felt anxious. Medina, who heard everything, grabbed the servant.
"We already prepared the breakfast. We will be leaving now," Medina excused herself together with the other servants.
The three of them left the dining area. A few servants waited outside in case any of them called if they needed something.
Clairene ate her breakfast gleefully. It can be seen in her face the enjoyment she has for the food.
"Hmm!" she expressed every time she tried a new dish that suited her taste.
"It seems you like the food," Klave spoke up while watching her.
Clairene lifted her gaze to him and nodded with a smile.
Ruan and Klave every now and then glance at Clairene while eating their breakfast. They enjoyed watching her eating happily. She became adorable in their eyes as she held the small utensils in her small hands.
Clairene wanted to grab some food at the center, but it is out of her reach. Ruan reached out and put a few on her plate.
"Thank you!" Clairene said with a wide smile.
Ruan flinches for a moment. A face overlapped on the child for a second, and then his heart skipped a beat. He pulled himself together and noticed that Clairene pushed away the sliced pineapples on the side. Klave also noticed what Clairene did to the pineapples.
"You don't like pineapples?" Ruan blurted out.
"Ah!" Clairene paused. She stopped in the middle of where she was ready to take the spoon to her mouth.
She puts down the spoon and looks hesitant. She glances at the two with a troubled face.
"It is not like I don't like pineapples. I just don't like them cooked with the dish. It's too squishy and juicy." Clairene explained with a grossed expression, imagining the pineapples in her dish.
FLASHBACK
Ruan, Klave, and the duchess were dining together. The duchess pushed away the pineapples on the side.
"Mommy, you don't like them?" Klave asked.
"Ah, it is not like that, Klave," the duchess answered with a hesitant smile.
"Your mother likes pineapples as a fruit. But when it is cooked with the dish, she could not understand it," Ruan explained.
"Oh, I see." Klave
"I'm sorry, Klave. I know I told you that you should not be picky with food. But here I am showing this side to you," the duchess apologized.
Klave smiled. "It's okay mommy! You said I didn't have to be picky, but you also said if it hurts me or I don't understand it. I should not eat it!"
"I see. You're really growing well, Klave," the duchess smiled at him.
FLASHBACK END
"Ad! Er!"
"Da! Bro!"
"Dad! Brother!" Clairene called out for the nth time.
Ruan and Klave blinked their eyes and came back to their senses.
"Are you mad at me, Dad, brother? Because I chose my food? Clairene said, looking down.
"No, continue with your food," Ruan answered.
Klave was still staring at Clairene. The more he looks at her and notices her gesture, a certain person comes to his mind. Without noticing that tears started to fall one after another in his eyes.
"Mother…." he mumbled.