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Chapter 37 - 37: Maxwell’s Ducal Mansion

"Is something wrong with your brain?" Leonard couldn\'t help asking. He has been very much bewildered by Charlton\'s behavior at lunch.

"Hehe… I just wanted them to like me. It would be nice if they were to think fondly of me."

"You have been acting strangely these past few weeks, you have been… too nice to me? did you do something behind my back?"

"of course not!" Charlton denied quickly, "It\'s just that I\'ve suddenly been enlightened… haha…"

--

When they arrived at the Maxwell\'s mansion, all the servants were already standing at the entrance to welcome them. At the forefront was their Butler.

"Welcome, your grace, Milady, milord. Please, we have everything prepared for your arrival." Their butler, Fin, greeted them as he bowed along with all the servants.

"Please rise." Simoun said.

After, Fin walked with him as they discussed some miscellaneous matters. Celine and Serena were behind them, arms laced. And at the rear were Leonard and Charlton.

"Please Charlton, feel at home." Celine began as they walked towards the music room.

"Yes, Aunt Celine, thank you for your concern."

"Your grace, shall we prepare for tea?" Fin asked.

"No need, we just had lunch. However, you and the servants may stay and see my daughter and Charlton here perform a song."

Inside the music room, Serena who saw the piano went to sit in front of it and excitedly started testing the keys. \'Oh my.. this piano sounds even better than the one in school\' she thought.

Charlton on the other hand was guided by Leonard towards the section where the other instruments were. When he picked up the cello, the chair was already prepared beside the piano for him to sit on.

His and her eyes met as they smiled at each other and started to play. First, they played with both the cello and the piano.

Simoun and Celine looked at each other their eyes twinkling. The song rekindling their feelings of love.

Leonard who was watching looked proud. Well, he was involved in improving the song.

The servants who were lucky enough to be allowed to stay were enchanted.

Then, after a while Charlton stopped playing the cello. Serena continued playing the piano and started singing the first stanza "wise men say…". Charlton on the other hand moved to sit beside her so that they were now playing a duet on the piano as he sang the second "shall I stay?...". then they sang together at the bridge "Like a river flows….", they continued playing and when the third stanza came, Charlton sang "Take my hand…" and then he removed his left hand from the piano and looked at Serena beside him, his right hand still playing, Serena in response also looked at him and placed her right hand on his, her left hand still also on the piano. Then they sang together "Take my whole life too…" after that stanza they let go of each other\'s hand and continued to sing and play until the song ended.

Leonard who was always present in their rehearsals, well at least he liked to believe, felt his eye twitch. That part where they held hands was not part of the script.

Celine was the first to come to her senses as she clapped ardently, "Wow! I\'m at a lost for words to describe how beautiful that was! Serena, I\'m so proud of you!" As she approached the two, she first hugged Serena and kissed both her cheeks and then also did the same to Charlton.

Serena wanted to laugh, her father was right, that was indeed out of this world. It was not like she really was the one to compose the song. But then again, if ever anyone were to have any doubts of her capability, she can easily dish another one out. What can she say? Plagiarism at its best and she has more than a hundred memorized

"Where did that holding hands, part come from?" Leonard who was a little annoyed asked.

"Well, we improvised. It is a wedding we\'re attending, so something like that would make the couple and the audience happier." Serena answered first, she can feel Leonard trying to connect the dots and she could not let that happen. \'besides, the choreography was perfect if I say so myself.\'

--

After their performance, the ducal couple invited Charlton for dinner. While waiting for dinner, Leonard, Serena and Charlton were left in the music room, saying that they will need to see if there are still things in the song they can improve on.

When dinner ended, the time was already late, and so, the duchess invited Charlton to stay the night. Charlton first tried to decline, even when in truth he wanted nothing more than to stay. Simoun insisted telling him that he will talk to their principal about it the next day, and while here, if he doesn\'t mind, he can use clothes that were prepared for the guests or borrow some of Leonard\'s clothes.

With this, Charlton shyly agreed to stay the night, but deep inside he was already screaming YES!

--

"Moun, what do you think of Charles\' son? Is it only me, but did you notice how, he AND Serena, looked at each other?" Celine asked while they were lying in bed.

"… I did notice. However, it might be nothing more than admiration. I believe that they both know their position. He is the crown prince\'s cousin."

"But… don\'t you think that he is a better fit to our daughter? They looked wonderful together."

"I won\'t deny that the boy is indeed charming, however, boys like him are too easily approachable, especially by women. Our daughter will only have to face a lot of headache and jealousy in the future. I may be wrong, but it\'s better to be sure. Besides, she is already engaged."

"Hey, how can you say that? You were also like that in the past but look at us now. Just because a man is being friendly doesn\'t mean that he will easily be tempted by the butterflies which keep on approaching."

"You do have a point, but I also don\'t see a lot of maturity in him yet. He doesn\'t even know what his father is doing. In comparison, even though you haven\'t met the prince yet, I have seen him at the house of the lords a couple of times. He is a very responsible young lad, and I haven\'t heard any negative news about him. Charlton though, I can\'t say much for this is the first time I met him."

"I hope that you are right about the prince… but I feel a little sad, I think our daughter likes Charlton."

"I think that it is YOU who like the boy too much. Is this some kind of projection for your unfulfilled romance with Charles?" Simoun jokingly said as he laughed.

Celine scowled as she hit him, "I\'m being serious. Stop with the teasing, you might be the one who\'ll end up annoyed later. Anyway, as I was saying, our daughter likes him, and I have no doubt that he likes her too. You know children at that age, they think that they can do everything for love. So, I\'m worried."

"Oh, come on, what\'s the worst that can happen? I do think that it will come to pass. They are still young. Also, the engagement has already been set on stone. It has been ordained by the king himself. What can we do?"

"My worries, exactly." Celine said as she sighed. "I just hope that things will turn out for the best."

"It is too early to assume anything so don\'t worry too much Celine. No matter what, Serena will understand that we only wanted what is best for her."

--

TBC