“I will be seeing you Monday morning, Miss Allie. You did very well this entire week and we shall continue from where we stopped,” said Eve, picking up the books and walking to the rack. She pushed the book back into its previous place and turned to look at the young girl who sat in front of the piano, softly playing the keys. “Okay?”

Little Allie gave a short nod even though she didn’t lift her head, and Eve smiled.

“That’s good,” Eve was glad that Allie was responding to her, even if it meant just by little actions. It was much better than the girl ignoring her like when they had first met each other. “Have you decided on how you will be spending your time tomorrow? I hope not with the books,” she softly laughed.

As much as Eve was Allie’s governess, she barely saw the girl do anything apart from trying to study. She wondered if Allie had girls of her age to play with because one’s childhood was important, and once a child’s innocence was lost, it was hard to get it back…

Allie nodded and pointed at her dress.

“Are you going to meet the seamstress?” Asked Eve while she continued to pack her things. Allie shook her head, “Of course, the seamstress is coming here with the dresses and other materials. It must be for the ball. I heard about it from your sister Lady Marceline.”

Allie’s eyes quickly brightened as if she enjoyed balls, and nodded. The little girl then silently pointed her hand at Eve, “What am I going to do tomorrow?” The little girl nodded once again. “I have plans to have lunch at a popular inn. Lily’s inn. Yes, that’s the one. I heard they have delicious food there. Especially the cake, they are the fluffiest. If you like, I will tell you all about the food when I come back on Monday.”

Though she knew the new Duke would take them to a much expensive place, Eve didn’t want to burden and take advantage of the situation. After all, it wasn’t just her but even Aunt Aubrey and Eugene had been invited.

The small girl nodded, watching Eve offer her a kind smile before stepping out of the room with her things in her hand. Once the door closed, it left Allie all alone by herself, and she sat there for a few minutes before dashing out of the room.

Allie’s little feet quickly moved on the clean marble floor, and just around the corner, she ran into her sister Marceline.

“My, what’s gotten you to be in such a hurry?” Questioned Marceline, looking at her little step-sister bowing at her. “If your mother were to find you running in the corridor, she wouldn’t be pleased about it.”

A sudden worry and fear appeared in Allie’s eyes.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell her,” Marceline offered a sweet smile to Allie, but the little girl felt the trickle of fear crawl down her spine. “Did you finish your class with the governess?”

Allie held the sides of her dress and nodded in response.

“Don’t be too fond of her. You know what happens when you get close to them,” Marceline softly chuckled under her breath and then said, “Go on.”

Allie watched her sister and then the corridor passage before quickly walking through, this time avoiding running and possibly being harshly scolded by her mother. She looked all around the mansion and walked to the quieter side of the mansion. After fifteen minutes, the girl finally found the person she had been looking for, but she didn’t dare to disturb him.

“What are you doing standing near the wall?” Questioned Vincent, who had been standing in front of a portrait.

He turned and saw Allie move away from the wall. She bowed and whispered, “Sorry.”

“What do you want?” Vincent watched Allie as she carefully took a couple of steps towards him, filled with wariness. He pulled out his pocket watch, taking a look before flipping it back in his pocket.

“Brother Vince…” came the little girl’s words, which sounded like a soft wind chime. She paused before continuing with her eyebrows slightly knitted, “Can you get me something?”

Vincent stared at his little sister. He said, “Tell Alfie. He will have a servant to get it.”

He started to walk away from there and felt something tug on the back of his shirt. It was Allie who had quickly followed to stop him, holding him with just the pinch of her fingers. Vincent turned with his eyes narrowed at her, and Allie gulped before letting go of his shirt.

“Lily’s Inn. Cake,” Allie looked up at Vincent with her big eyes, a hopeful expression on her face. “Please.”

“Did the cook here stop preparing cakes? I don’t think I have heard of any place like that before,” Vincent’s lips twisted.

“Mother will know… Will you get me the cake from there, brother Vince?”

If Allie wasn’t polite and had turned out to be like Marceline, he would have thrown the little girl out of the window to get the cake herself.

“Right now I am busy. If I pass by the place, I will get one for you,” replied Vincent, and Allie quickly raised her hand with four fingers up. “What a greedy little thing.”

Vincent’s words alone turned the little girl happy, and she wrapped her small thin hands around his legs. She whispered, “Thank you, brother Vince!”

“Now, what did we speak about no touchy feely?” Allie quickly let go of his legs and stepped back before craning her neck to look up at him. “Are you doing okay with your new governess?”

“Mm.”

“Good.”

Allie bowed one more time and ran away from there. Vincent turned to look in the direction where he had been standing earlier until his little sister had arrived. Sparing two more seconds, he slipped his hands into his pocket and walked away from the place.

— — —

Author Note: Thank you very much to the ones who sends gifts to the novel and support with Golden Tickets, comments and power stones 3