The Atrocious Duke'S Wife
{Season 2} Happy Birthday

Previousley....

As he wanted to open his voice, the man quickly cut him off and did not let him out as badly as he said.

"New year festival" said the man.

Suddenly the girl was more confused, because there was no lightning or storm man in front of her discussing about the festival.

"Come to the festival with me."

...~ The Atrocious Duke's Wife...

...Chapters...

...(23)...

Cassandra Pov's

When I was surprised, he just invited me? There was a wind did she suddenly want to go to a festival that she didn't like with me?

"I've invited my sister many times, but she always refused. He said 'I don't want to go to such a troublesome event'."

Daisy's words are ringing in my brain, it's really weird. But I can't deny that I want to go with him.

He was still in his place, staring at me waiting for the answer he wanted.

If other men were to stare at me intensely like this, I would definitely feel uneasy. But if with him, even my heart is pounding.

Unconsciously my finger was raised slipping a few strands of my hair behind the earlobe, then I said.

"All right" I replied.

"You agree?" tanyanya back.

"Y-yeah," I said a little.

"really?"

I don't know why now I'm a little upset, she's deaf what a fool, anyway?

"Of course."

"You're not lying?"

Okay, this is annoying and annoying. I want to explode now.

"Yes." Yeah."

"You sure?"

"Ughh! Yeah, yep! I'll come with you, and I'm not lying at all!" yells annoyed.

Before long, a small voice rang out from his lips. He seems to like playing me.

"Looks like you're so happy to judge me, Lord Arlen," my cynic.

But he is still loyal to his annoying face. And most annoyingly, the annoying look is still handsome.

"You're so cute, Lady la Devoline," he said.

"Don't call me cute!" as quickly as possible. Or my cheeks will heat up again.

"alright. Then I'll see you, Orange," he said then turned his body away from me.

He waved his right hand casually and finally disappeared from my sight.

At that moment my body froze, my eyes like a big snowball, and my lips could not be clenched due to the mistrust that struck.

No, I'm not blushing or dumbfounded because of her sweet nature. Or dumbfounded because of the smile that he had given me a moment.

But I'm just confused by one thing.

What did he just call me?

...~•~...

After a few days we were very busy, finally the day where the frstival was held had arrived. Actually we don't know for sure if we're going or not, because from a few days ago, we've been working incessantly.

Thanks to the limiting idea proposed by Arlen, the process turned out to run faster. No, it's even very fast.

We made five dividers, so the river water is divided into five squares. The water we cleared had reached the fourth box, which was a little more to be finished.

Fortunately, the population that helps the purification process is getting more and more days. Until this process is classified as very fast than the process of water purification in general in this era.

The women help in finding the ingredients for the purification process. While the men are tasked to lift a tub filled with water, drums, sacks full of materials, and many items that have other heavy masses.

However, if you want to clear the water up to the fifth box, it is certain that we will not be able to go to the festival because the time is not enough.

Therefore, I don't expect much. Because I can't ignore my duties either.

Even the day has begun to be very dark, the sign of the night will return to greet. The festival will start soon.

Huft.

"Miss Cassandra?"

Suddenly I woke up from my daydream when a call came to me.

"Yes?" ask me to find a woman who lately is quite close and often helps me.

Margaret, name.

"Tonight's gonna be a new year's festival, you know?"

Of course I know, even I really want to go there.

"Yes, I know" I replied.

"Do you want to go there? He said the festival was very lively, there would be a lot of fireworks that adorn the sky. It must have been a lot of fun" Margaret said enthusiastically.

"I want to go, but I still have a lot of work to do. And I won't be able to get there because I'm so tired after I get home from work" I said, then put material after material into the drum.

"Then you go, why not? You can go take Mr. Theo, hohoho~"

Theo is a nickname made by Arlen for himself. He said he didn't want his name known to the residents, because it was certain the residents would know Arlen's name.

Yeah, who else is Arlen besides him? And indeed basically, that man was indeed a mysterious pretentious person.

"Margaret, what does your 'hohoho' mean?" my many. Because her tone sounded like teasing in my hearing.

"Hey, don't pretend you don't know, Miss Cassandra. You have something special to do with Mr. Theo, don't you?" guess it.

I suddenly exhaled. "What relationship is more precise? If it's a friendship, then yes."

"It can't be just a friendship!" sergeant. "Everyone can definitely see, there's a 'chemistry' between you."

"What is 'chemistry'? We are just ordinary friends" I said. "At least for now."

"Yes, I don't think it turns out you are a stiff person," said Margaret sighing resignedly.

I just smiled at her attitude. Quickly, I went back to my activities and dropped the pebbles into this rather tall drum.

"Cassandra."

Again, someone called my name. But this time it was not the same person, not Margaret, but the voice of the man I knew so well.

I turned around to face him. "What's wrong?" calm down.

Even Margaret seemed to be excited about herself with her eyes twinkling and her palms closing both her mouths when she saw us, perhaps she had a fangirl spirit.

"Let's go" he said.

"Where?" my many.

"Festival."

I folded both my lips. What do I have to answer? I feel bad about suddenly leaving my job.

"There's still work to be done" I replied, turning my eyes away.

He looked at me intensely, making me bow down.

"That's it, Miss Cassandra. You don't have to worry about work. After all, you and Mr. Theo have helped us a lot. Have fun at the festival. Everyone agrees with me, right?!" margaret shouted at the other residents.

Sound after sound filled the ears. My hearing was filled with happiness that was now flowing through my nerves.

"That's right, you guys just go!"

"Happy!"

"Don't forget to bring us plenty of food!"

"Thank you so much for helping us this whole time!"

The gratitude we get from helping people, is the most calming feeling. It's as if our hearts are so light as sweet cotton candy.

Honestly, I folded my lips because of the feeling of haru that now surrounds me. And of course I tried to cover it up, even if it was very difficult.

"So, is my offer still valid?" ask this man in front of me.

His wide palm was now stretched out and fixed only at me. Carving a thin smile is now re-stamped on his peach lips.

The arch of this wide smile I could not resist to appear in return for his smile. "Of course."

...~•~...

Well, I can't believe it's very crowded. Even we were hanging out and jostling with other visitors.

Many food stands and accessories are neatly decorated, and street lights illuminate. Even many torches stood firm, enlivening the atmosphere.

The fireworks will be launched at midnight, when the year has changed. As a greeter and a sweeper at the beginning of the new year that will accompany life.

We just walked side by side down the streets filled with people. Because I felt awkward, I also tried to find the topic of conversation as a weapon to kill awkwardness.

"Is there something you want to buy?" I leaned a little and looked at him from the side.

"Somehow, I haven't thought about it yet" he replied as he turned his eyes away.

Whatisthis? Why did he take his eyes off like that? Huh! Is my shirt low-chested again?!

I looked down, and my clothes were very covered. I let out a sigh of relief, then what was the reason he shifted his gaze like that?

And back as the beginning, silence accompanied us. Although the atmosphere was crowded, somehow I even felt very quiet here.

When I was busy thinking, suddenly someone hit me until I almost staggered back and was drowned by the flow of people who were very crowded.

At that moment, my hand was pulled back so firmly that I stood up like the beginning.

My eyes were wide open when I thought I was about to be separated from him. But he quickly pulled and grabbed my hand.

"Hold with me. Or you'll get lost," he said.

A nod I made an answer, then I looked at the link of our hands.

It turned out that from the beginning his palm was indeed wide and strong. As if I won't let go again.

Somehow I could feel my heart beating again faster, I felt like I was back in my teens now.

"Cassandra."

"Ah, y-yeah?" I stared at him.

"Want to play that?" point it at a booth that provides archery tools such as bows, arrows, and shooting boards.

It was fun, and then I smiled. "Sure," I answered.

We walked to the booth, and the tenant who rented the archery equipment said.

"If you can hit a circle of ten in a row, then you will get the reward that is here!" he explained while showing various kinds of gifts.

The circle of ten is the smallest circle on the shooting board.

After I looked around, somehow the gift was like for a child, there were a lot of dolls.

Without further ado, Arlen immediately measured and aimed at the circle of ten with one eyelid closed. His face looked calm and solemn, as well as probing.

Why does her face have to be that handsome?! Sometimes it always bothered my mind.

It didn't take long, the man raised his five arrows and the whole arrow was perfectly stuck in the circle of ten.

The tenant gaped at me making me laugh. Even Arlen was smiling triumphantly even though it was not very visible.

Many women began to admire the man. I'm getting a little upset. Everywhere, he was always the center of attention.

Arlen also seemed to think while looking at the gifts listed. It didn't take long, he finally took something. I couldn't really see exactly, because it was hindered by these women crowding around.

Suddenly, a bouquet of Camellias was imprinted right in front of my face. As I rounded my eyes, I was a little surprised at the perpetrator who thrust this flower at me.

"For you," he said briefly. A little clumsy, I began to stretch out my hand and take the beautiful bouquet.

A pink color that calmed the gaze welcomed, and a fragrant that burst open my smell.

I could hear the other woman screaming, but I tried to ignore her and focus on one thing.

"Thank you" I said.

He took my hand and pulled me back, following every step.

We walked through the festival, and the fruit booth became the place of my interest.

"Let's go over there," asked me to point at the place I wanted to be. He only complied when I pulled him and dragged him.

Oh my God, so much fruit, this is my paradise!

My eyes ran to and fro looking for my favorite fruit, but suddenly there was a palm with an orange on it thrust in front of me.

"Searching this?" the tossing left me a little flabbergasted.

Not long after that I smiled. "Yes, thank you" I said.

There was even a stalk of sugar orange candy sold. Without a doubt I took it and bought it.

I can't believe this candy is already in existence today. Yes, it is a way to make it easy. Just need water and sugar, then cooked until thickened. And coat it on the orange.

After taking the fruit I wanted, we walked back. And again, I do a lot of shopping. Arlen followed me without protest.

"You want one?" I offered one orange candy.

She was silent and motionless looking at the candy I offered, she didn't seem to want to.

"If you don't want-"

I haven't finished my words yet, he's taken them first.

After a while he chewed, suddenly this man stopped while grimacing and holding his left cheek.

Of course I was surprised by him, suddenly he was like that. "What's wrong? You sick?" I try to calm down.

But he was silent, and then he covered his mouth with his palm. Instantly the blood patch on his palm made me no longer able to act calm.

"Good God you're bleeding!" The curay of his palm then looked at him worriedly.

"You sick? Why didn't you say anything?"

"It's just-"

"We need to get you to the doctor right away!" I then tried to pull it.

"Cassan-"

"Come fast, or your pain will increase par-"

"Cassandra!" calling him a little strong finally made me wake up and fall silent at him.

"There's no need for a healer, I'm fine" he said.

"But you're bleeding!"

"Isn't it weird not to bleed when you break a tooth?"

"Of course it's weird! When the tooth-break"

Suddenly, I was silent when he said that. He said a broken tooth?

"Your teeth... broken?" my bean. This man just nodded.

"It's even worse! Quickly spit out your teeth or you'll choke and die silly like me!"

"Yes, yeah. You calm down first" he said then stood up.

He walked quite a distance then threw something out of his mouth that I believed to be his broken tooth.

"Do you need water?" bargain while approaching him. My hand held a bottle of water on him.

"Thank you" he said, then gargled with the water I had given him.

It didn't take long, he was done with his activities.

"Is it still sick?" ask me with furrowed eyebrows.

"You think I'm a kid?" the answer is that I know what it means.

I exhaled. "Why did your teeth suddenly break?"

"Actually my teeth have hurt since. Because of that hard candy of yours, all of a sudden my teeth broke," he explained.

Now I understand why he didn't talk much. Yes, although he does often.

"So that's why you've been quiet since?" gelakku laughs.

"Now you're laughing, but you're worried half dead," he said, not to lose.

I just laughed at hearing it, until unknowingly now time has passed that much.

A firework shot upwards and exploded scattering many beautiful fire petals and scattered with stars.

Ah. beautiful.

I couldn't take my eyes off, but I had to do one thing. Because now it's time.

I saw that he also looked stunned by the beautiful scenery in the sky. His dark sky blue eyes seemed to sparkle as the light of fire bounced in between.

His handsome face seemed to wash away and dispel my senses, my whole nerves rustling and crazily made.

Why is he so perfect?

I did not want to call out to him and scattered all the sights I was observing right now.

Just a little bit more.I want to look at her a little longer.

At last he looked over and set his eyes on me. Her net looked deeply at me, drowning all my consciousness.

After I gathered all my courage, I was finally able to speak the words I wanted to tell her.

"May you be a better person. May happiness always be with you, may all your wishes come true" I then took something from my pocket.

He looked puzzled, I could see his eyebrows swooping one side with slightly enlarged eyes.

I thrust out an object that was on top of my palm, and his gaze turned to the palm of my hand.

"Arlen de Floniouse."

I looked at him with my best smile, and I tried to channel all my feelings right now.

"Happy birthday."

The sound of fireworks, I can't hear. My entire attention has been taken away by him.

She's surprised. Very surprised, the ball was perfectly patterned. With both of his eyebrows swooping upwards.

Slowly, his gaze returned to a sun pendant above the surface of my palm. His finger then took the thing and looked at it gently.

What I didn't expect was a big smile that I had a hard time getting from him. Now he gave it to me for free.

My heart seemed to stop beating right then and there, and both of my palms involuntarily shut my mouth.

For so many seconds, my body was in its confinement that melted the heart. Her chest was so airy and warm.

It was as if I was spared from all the dangers that the world had in its arms. Our heart rhythm collides with the warmth that surrounds and spreads throughout the nerves.

I want time to stop right now, I want time to understand myself right now.

Without a gap, he kept holding me tighter. But before long, a sentence he uttered seemed to take my whole breath away.

"What if now I say, that I love you?"

...12.02.2021...

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{Author Note's}

Whoa, the longest chapter ever wkwkwk. Keep in mind yes men-temen, this is just a fictional story :)

All right, since I don't want to be too long, I'm going to leave now. Do not forget to give his appreciation to this work, so that I feel very appreciated and more excited again in writing the story of Cassandra and Arlen.

Have a nice day.

^^^Sincerely,^^^

^^^Ms. Violin^^^^