Chapter 11 — The Duke’s Sorrow.
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The day started early to Duke Sylfinnier. An hour before the sun had started to rise, the Duke had already started to sort work-related matters and, since preparations for The Royal Ball must be done in a hurry, more paperwork has piled up.
’Everything must be perfect.’
The Duke began working hard as soon as he came back from the Royal Palace the day before yesterday.
"You have another daughter who should have debuted already... don’t delay it anymore. I know about her condition, so I’ll treat her carefully since I understand your worry. If you’re still reluctant... take it as a Royal order."
The Emperor’s order echoes in his head as strongly as a storm.
’My baby... I must protect her. I have to take all the necessary measures, so she won’t get any worse... If something else happens to Marianne...’
The Duke was anxious. His beloved daughter knew nothing of the world. He has believed for a long time Marianne might come back, to the world he was in.
Once he saw the change in his daughter’s behaviour, he concluded that what was left was just a shell. She was not completely there anymore.
The physicians could not find a cause, and as much as he investigated, he never figured out what had happened to his little sun.
As the years kept going and her eyes became duller and duller, the same thought was always there... always roaming around in his mind... hunting him... like a curse.
’...She’s dying... my baby’s soul...my sun...is... slowly dying...’