"I will be blunt to you, Your Grace" I spoke. I am sure that my face is serious.

"What's your f*cking problem? Why did you ruin my brother's wedding? I thought you didn't care about your daughter? Why did you suddenly show your handsome face here? "

Well, Of course, I didn't said that. I still have some dignity as a former noble.

"Are you aware that you just ruin a wedding?" I asked in a calm tone. "Why did you do that, Duke?"

"Maria is my daughter" He only replied.

I tried my best not to roll my eyes.

I am aware of that old man.

"I am taking Maria Eleonor back into my residence" He continued.

I frowned when I heard him said that. Like dude! Why now? Why only now? Maria didn't change her name at all. It is so easy to find her in just a short time. So why didn't you did that earlier?

"You can't take her. She's marrying my brother" I fiercely replied. Ugh! I want to smack his handsome face right now. "Are you even aware of that? You should not interfere with their marriage"

"Maria cannot marry a commoner" The duke suddenly stands up. "If you will keep spouting nonsense, I'm afraid I have to go"

I scratched my hair in frustration. I immediately pulled his hand to stop him from going. Since the duke permitted my request to talk to him alone, Allan wasn't here to stop my insolence. "Your Grace, Are you even aware that your daughter is pregnant?!" I asked in anger. "You cannot just decide for her now"

His eyes went wide. "What did you say?"

"She's pregnant that's why you cannot take her away!" I repeated. "Listen carefully. I do not care if you are noble but you cannot just ruin someone else's happiness! Your daughter's happiness, for peter's sake"

"Then what do you want me to do?" He suddenly asked.

I stopped.

What do you mean snowy?

I glanced at his face. His face isn't showing any negative reactions. He rather looked... amused? "What do you mean?" I asked.

"What should I do now?" He asked with a steady face. I don't know why, but despite his wintered face, I could see the innocence in him when he asked me that question. "Aren't people will become happy when they have money? What should I do now if she marries a commoner? I'm kind of confused now. How did she become happy if she's married to a commoner?"

My face became dumbfounded. I slapped my forehead. "Your Grace..." I said. "First of all, we do have money to support your daughter. Second money is not the only thing that could make A people happy. Do you understand?"

I wonder where did he get that logic?

His face remained steady but I could see that he is confused. I could somehow remember Maria's expression when I brought her here to the countryside. Like daughter, like father. "Is that so?" he asked.

"Yes, so let her marry my brother"

"No"

How stubborn, but at least he's still not taking his sword out to point it on my neck.

"Why is that? Because we are a commoner?" I frowned.

"Yes"

"Why don't you want her to marry a commoner?" I asked.

He didn't reply when I asked him that. He seemed to fell into deep thought.

Well, It looks like he wasn't willing to tell me the reason at all. Should I resort to my last card?

I sighed "Okay. What if we are not a commoner at all? Are you willing to accept my brother as your son-in-law?" I asked in a friendly tone. Geez, why do I feel like I'm coaxing a child? He acts like a naive and clueless child tho!

Just imagine a hot daddy acting like this!

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"Well... We are illegitimate children of a noble"

•••••

"Sister, how's your talk with the duke?" My brother asked me as soon as the white-haired duke left. "Is he going to take my wife away?" He asked me again in a serious tone.

"He will take his daughter away tomorrow" I replied. I noticed that my brother fell into silence, his fist was clenching and his face darkened. "I'm sorry brother, but we cannot stop the duke. You know it right?"

"I will take her away," He said. He was about to go into his room but I stopped him. "Sister! don't stop me! I don't care if he is the father of my beloved. He cannot take the mother of my child away!" He said furiously.

"Do not make an irrational decision! Did I raised you like that!?" I raised the tone of my voice. I took a deep breath before I continued to talk. "Listen, my brother. The duke wants to take Maria back into his household, but that doesn't mean that he will really take her away from you" I said.

"W-what?"

"He will let you ask his daughter's hand, formally" I announced. "But under in one condition. We need to become a noble" I said.

"But we aren't a noble!" My brother said.

"Hey do not underestimate our connections brat! What do you take me for? I could make you a baron!" I shouted at him. "But unfortunately, becoming a baron is not enough" I sighed. "But don't worry. I have another solution for that"

I noticed that my brother calmed down. "What is your solution, sister?" he asked.

"Brother, do you still remember why we ran away from our real home? or what does our real home looks like? Can you still remember how our parents look like?" I asked him. My eyes are looking directly into his eyes when I asked him that.

He stilled but in the end, he shook his head.

"Of course, you won't remember it completely. You're only six when we ran away"

That's right. My brother doesn't really know about our family's background. He was just a child back then, His memories aren't that tough yet. I always thought that he doesn't have to know it since I don't have any intentions to go back.

Actually, if we didn't run away, my brother could've become the heir of the Velasquez household. He is the eldest male and my brother shows intellectual ability at such a young age at that time. There is no doubt, he is the potential heir of our father despite being deemed as an illegitimate child.

That's why my father spent years to find us when we run away, but because of my knowledge, we managed to hide for many years until the marquess gave up on finding us.

And until today, I know that my father is having some trouble finding a suitable heir of the household.

It means If Gabriel and I would come back...

There is a big possibility that he will accept us.

After all, despite growing in the countryside, I taught my brother everything about the nobles and taught him etiquette and manners. All we have to do is to polish it. He is also very knowledgeable in everything and he is good at adapting to things.

One might doubt me if I say that I am the one who taught him those things, I may be barbaric sometimes but do not forget that I was a prim and proper noble lady back then, plus I am a reincarnation of a woman who came from the modern days.

Okay... I am not bragging alright?

"Little brother, answer me. Do you really want to marry Maria and be with her?" I asked him.

He replied in determination. "Yes, I want to be with her. I love her" His eyes became gentle "I don't want her to be taken away!"

'Then brother. Are you willing to come back to our real home and regain our real status" I asked seriously.

"What do you mean?"

"We are the lost children of Marquiss Mikhail Antonio Velasquez" I spoke. "If you want to be with Maria Eleonor then you shall become the heir of the Marquiss Velasquez's household"

That's the only way to have that white-haired daddy's favor!