Shae never kept Joe a secret to everyone. He even introduce him in the training grounds as his son. The knights, maids, everyone else in his place rejoiced. They know Shae have always wanted to have a son. And now he took the chance.
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Though, Joe was still scared of everyone that approached him. Only Sloan and Shae was the only one who can get near him without flinching.
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With that, the day before she will be sent to the palace came.
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She woke up late. The first she saw was the vintage ceiling of hers, the angels were painted. When she sat, the hem of her long nightgown was reaching the floor. Sloan rubbed her eyes and stretched.
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She bathe and change her dress, she took the fuschia one and braid her own hair.
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When she went downstairs, no one wasn't around. She shakes her head, having a clue where they were.
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Training ground.
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Joe had gone to like it there to watch Shae and the others train.
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No one took notice of Sloan when she came, the knights were too focused to train.
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There, she saw Joe standing near the tree. When she called her name, Joe's face lighted up and run toward her.
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"M'lady!"
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Sloan didn't let him call her that, she always says he have to call her 'Sloan' and not 'm'lady'. But God, this child was more stubborn than her. Whatever he call her, what's important is he's here.
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"Yeah...I'm m'lady..." Just call me Sloan, please.
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She was so done. She smiled.
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"Have you eaten breakfast?"
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Joe nodded. "Have you eaten, m'lady?"
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Sloan shakes her head.
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Joe blinked. "Father said we must always eat our breakfast, m'lady."
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Sloan chuckled. "You're calling our father 'father', why won't you call me 'Sloan'?"
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"...Because you're m'lady,"
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Sloan stopped, then she laughed. She covered his mouth using her palm. It's been a while since she laughed, the knights and the maids in the training ground stopped and looked at their direction.
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That moment, Sloan felt her laughed so genuine herself. It was the first time she felt so overwhelmed again.
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"..."
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All the other ones in the training ground were speechless.
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Joe smiled, hearing her laugh.
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When Sloan took notice of it, she stopped.
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"Oh, you smiled."
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"And you laugh, m'lady!"
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"..."
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Is this what they call having a sibling? She wondered.
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The next moment, they saw Shae walking towards them. All the knights too weren't focused in their training anymore.
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Lady Sloan just laughed!!! They only saw her smiled to them, most of the time she has this displeased face.
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"Father?" Joe.
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As Sloan turned around, she saw Shae. She raised her brows.
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"Father!" Joe called. "Are you finished...training?"
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"I'm not, I heard you two was having fun here. Your sister was laughing."
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"..."
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Sloan face-palmed. "Stop it, Father."
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Shae nod and gave both of them a little smile.
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Joe spoke. "Father, m'lady hasn't eaten yet."
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"Hmm," Shae nod.
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The three of them entered the kitchen inside the house to eat. Joe ate biscuits. The maids were so happy that there's a new one on the house. It made the house more lively. But now that Sloan will have to go to the palace to marry the prince, they just can't do anything but to be happy for her. They wanted everything to stay to were they were, but they know that can't be possible. Time exist. The people on the house sometimes don't like the change, but they could only accept it.
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Sloan asked. "Does mother know...about Joe? Did you tell her?"
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Shae stopped. Then he answered, "Gale still doesn't. But...I'll send her a letter one of these days. The procession of adoption is still on the go. I need to put her name on it,"
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But mother would be glad to know if you tell her right away.
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Sloan looked down at Joe.
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"Joe, do you want to go with me?"
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"Sloan, what are you---" Shae interrupted.
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"Come with us, Father." She raised her brows. "The day of my departure will be tomorrow. My last day here. I want mother to know Joe, and you must introduce him to her. Mother was never gone, she's still your wife, remember?"
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Sloan achieved convincing her father to go. At the carriage, Joe was amazed, and it looks like his body will be strangled because of his thinned skin that her bones were showing.
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Seeing that, both of them turned pity for him.
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Joe hide behind Sloan when they arrived at her mother's place. Shae was trembling, having to look at Gale's face after six months. Her beauty was timeless. It seemed to never fade throughout these years, in his eyes. Sloan really took after her mother.
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"Shae?" Gale felt an extremes mixed emotions looking at Shae. It's been months.
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"Gale...how...how are you?"
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"Good. It's good. D...Do you want tea?"
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It seemed that Sloan had been completely ignored by her parents. When she cleared throat, that's when only Gale took noticed of her.
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"Sloan! Shae, you're with her! You two, why didn't you send me a letter that you're coming today? Come, Sloan,"
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"Uh, mother,"
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Gale stopped. Sloan seemed to have something to say. "Yes, Sloan?" Gale's soft voice sweep through her. Sloan lifted the both corner of her lips, then he turned to Shae.
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Shae gulped. "Gale, I have something to say to you. I...I have adopted a kid, I brought him here for you to know, I just..."
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Gale stopped, again, processing the question. It was a shocked. But then it took her a moment to realize. That's right, she's still his wife. On the papers, when he adopted a kid, it will be her kid too. But she never felt disappointment or any kind of anger, rather, she's happy. She know that Shae have always wanted to have a son with her. She's happy for him, but she felt a little sad too. She's sorry that she can't give what Shae wants because she was never prepared for everything. Still now, she doesn't know. Deep inside, she still feel this fondness for him. She herself was just contradicting it. And she still doesn't know what to do.
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"Then...where is the child?" Gale asked, smiling.
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Slowly, Joe appeared, tightly holding the dress of Sloan.
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Joe's eyes widened and twinkled.
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"Ah! M'lady!"
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Joe turned his head back and forth from Gale and Sloan, the resemblance was too strong.
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Sloan chuckled. "No, Joe, that is mother. She is mother, alright?"
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Gale was amazed, but worried at the same time when he saw what Joe looked like. She turned to Shae, and with that, she understand.
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For her, he's always been a hero to everyone. He always takes consideration, and makes the best decision. But in the past, even though that wasn't the case, his kindness never did fade.
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"Joe...is it?"
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Shae nodded. "Sloan was the first to saw him, she named him." Then he smiled.
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Gale smiled too, and turned her head. "Joe, I'm mother...come here."
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Joe slowly walked towards her, trembling. This time, he wasn't scared. He's just overwhelming with happiness. He felt that this person will also accept him like m'lady and father. In his little age, he knew that this will be his new family. A new beginning for him.
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He stopped, turn to look at Sloan, his m'lady, who had come to save him from the torment of being unwanted and neglected by the people who raised him and made him a slave that time.
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It will all be gone now. It's okay. Forget about the past, child.
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Someone whispered on his mind, that someone who has always been there in his mind to comfort him.
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'Will it really be gone?' He asked, again, afraid if the voice said was the opposite of it and he hear wrong.
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Your suffering ends now, child. You're free now. And I'll be gone now, too. You don't need me anymore.
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'I know, you said it to me once...'
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I'll leave now, child.
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'T...Thank you, voice in my head.'
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Goodbye, Joe...
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Joe's tears come out staring at Sloan momentarily.
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I'm really thankful for you, m'lady. I want to be brave like you too. I will save people too like you do. I will do everything.
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And then Joe run towards Gale and hug her.
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This will be his first life.
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And he will be great for anyone who have come to care for him. From today on.
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