After listening to the information that Andrea just revealed to her, Dalena could not help but think about it for a long time before sleeping.

'So that kind of thing really happened? The rich also doesn't have it easy, huh?'

Dalena had thought that since wealthy people don't really have to worry about anything, such as their stability in life and all the advantages in life, they won't have things that really bothers them.

But in the end, everyone is the same, hmm? Everyone is hurting. No one is exempt from having worries in their life.

If what Andrea said is really the truth, then Dalena pitied His Grace and Little George. To have a past like that and to have all kinds of people to judge you, it must really be hurtful.

Dalena's heart couldn't help but ache more for Little George, who is so young but have to face such a cruel environment set for him...

Now that she thinks about it, she remembered that when she first met the little boy, he was locked in the storage room. Hamish also mentioned to her that the little boy was running away from a 'dangerous person' that time.

'Could the reason be related to Little George's background?' Dalena couldn't help but wonder.

Since it was so much information for her, Dalena pondered on it for a while. But then, she remembered that it was none of her business and she has her own issues to think of.

That night, even if Andrea had revealed a lot of insider information, Dalena shrugged off most of it. So what, right? She is only an employee. She doesn't have to take her employer's matters to her heart.

***

The following week, instead of going to a usual restaurant around London, Dalena was surprised when they took a different route and stopped by at what seemed to be an amusement park.

"You said to me that you always went to an amusement park when you were younger, right?" Little George spoke up.

Dalena nodded, remembering the brief memories she had when she was younger in the provincial town she was born and raised in. Every time there was a festival, there was a little amusement park set-up. It had a little bit of rides and other games, but it really cannot be compared to the amusement park they are in right now. The one from her hometown probably occupied the size of one the rides here.

"I've never been to one before so I asked my Papa last night and he agreed. I'm so excited!"

With the mention of the Duke, Dalena barely noticed that he was with them until she looked at him, who was actually holding Little George's hand.

"Thank you so much, Papa!" Little George said sweetly.

Luke smiled at his son and patted his head softly.

"Anytime, for you."

And so, the trio tried different rides, with Dalena staying mostly at the back while Luke and Little George sat together.

Dalena never expected that she would experience riding at amusement parks again at this age. It was merely a brief mention to Little George, but who knew that the little boy would be so curious and actually ask to go to an actual amusement park.

'I think it's good, though. It's a shame if George wouldn't even experience going on amusement park all his life. Every kid has to experience it.' Dalena mused.

Suddenly, even though they have tried a lot of rides already, Little George was still very enthusiastic and won't stop picking the rides he would like to try.

"This time... I want to go the the Haunted House Mansion!" George bravely said.

With the mention of that, Dalena flinched a bit.

"Are you sure about your choice, George? You're not scared?" Dalena asked him.

Dalena noticed that it was only Hamish who reprimanded her for using 'George' or 'Little George' to address the little boy whereas the Duke does not mind at all so she kept calling him that, especially since the little boy gets upset when she addresses him as 'Young Master'.

Immediately, George nodded and stared at Dalena.

"Yeah, why not! Ghosts are so ugly and I want to scare them away instead. Besides, my Papa is here anyway." he said with a smile.

Dalena nodded at Little George and tried to smile a little. She really cannot say anymore after seeing the excitement and enthusiasm that Little George had on his face.

Truthfully, she is actually the one was scared. Dalena never really liked horror movies or anything related to it. She also hated listening to horror stories, since she easily becomes absorbed in it. In fact, Dalena cannot even sleep at night without having a nightlight or a candle beside her.

At the mention of that, her fear for ghosts and other paranormal beings are that extreme. She heard of the 'Haunted House Mansion' as a part of large amusement parks before and isn't a large tunnel they would have to walk in and then there would be a lot of ghosts going around?

For Dalena, to walk in such a place would be like walking in hell. But in this situation, it doesn't seem like she has the choice anyway. She doesn't want to ruin Little George's excitement.

Although Dalena made her resolve, the distress cannot be hidden from her face. As usual, she is really easy to read.

Luke was actually staring at her for a long time already and he was quite amused at the rapid change of expressions in her face.

"It seems like it is Miss who is scared instead of Little George." Luke said in a slightly teasing tone.

When the Duke spoke, Dalena flustered a little, thinking that she was exposed. She shook her head and looked at the Duke.

"You are wrong, Your Grace. I am more than happy to go with this Haunted House Mansion." Dalena said bravely, trying to maintain a straight face.

Luke only observed her, not breaking his eye contact with her. He noticed how her eyes quivered a little and immediately saw through her facade.

Nevertheless, Luke was amused again and unconsciously licked his lips as he stared at her lazily.

"If you say so." he said simply.

The tickets were easily obtained and the line for the 'Haunted House Mansion' was magically cleared, all thanks to the presence of the Duke. Although the ducal title no longer held a significant value in politics and other fields, one of the advantages was the special treatment he still got anywhere in London.

With everything arranged, the trio entered inside the amusement park booth with no hassle at all.

***

When Dalena entered, it was very, very dark and there was already a spooky music playing on the background. Inaudible whispers were everywhere, along with screams that Dalena couldn't take.

With that, the moment she came in, Dalena's heart just wouldn't stop racing. She really did not know what to do and she was very tense, only quietly following behind the Duke and Little George.

The next thing she knew, the whispers were getting closer and closer to her, which made her quiver so she bit her lips so she would not make too much sound.

Then, suddenly, she felt that someone have tapped her back from behind so on instinct, she looked behind but there was nothing there. But when she turned around and looked in front of her, there was suddenly a disfigured bloody face staring closely to her face. In fact, the face did not only stare, but also randomly screamed at her.

"Ahhh!!!!" Dalena screamed back, not knowing what to do so she just ran, ran and ran.

She only stopped when her head bumped into someone's back. Immediately, she clutched into that someone's back, figuring out that this one might be an actual person instead of the scary figure that she just encountered.

Well for now, Dalena really had no sense of rationality. This was probably her most vulnerable state because every nerve in her body was shaking.

With her thoughts mixed up, Dalena could not even react properly when someone touched her arms. But unlike the scare jump she encountered before, this touch was very gentle.

"You can hold my hand so you won't be scared." a deep voice murmured softly.

Dalena was stunned and she was in a desperate situation so she did not hesitate to hold that person's hand.

Throughout the whole walk at the 'Haunted House Mansion', she never let go of that hand and she even held it tighter whenever there was a scare jump. Not only that, her plump chest would also accidentally bump into that person's shoulder because she was rattled at the whole experience.

It was only a few minutes, but it felt like an eternity so when Dalena finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel, her rationality was also coming back slowly.

"Oh that was fun! The ugly monsters did not scare me at all!" Little George said loudly, boasting about himself.

Dalena have thought that Little George was a smart and sensible kid, probably because of the education and experiences he had despite his young age. But after all, he was still a kid and liked to enjoy things that kids would enjoy.

After hearing Little George's voice, Dalena found her whole rationality come back to her.

She looked at her hand and the outfit of the person whose hands is entangled with her.

Immediately, Dalena realised who that person is...

'If not the Duke, who else could it be!' Dalena thought to herself, feeling ashamed.

With full of embarrassment, Dalena immediately let go of her hand that the Duke was still holding. If she could, she wanted to bury herself right now six feet under and run away to a place where the Duke would not see her again.

Dalena bowed slightly. "I apologise, Your Grace."

Her heart was still beating fast as she said her apologies, probably because of the whole 'Haunted House Mansion' experience.

But before the Duke could even respond to her, Little George finally turned around to see his Papa and Dalena. He immediately noticed Dalena's tensed expression.

"Are you okay?" Little George asked worryingly.

"Yes." Dalena answered swiftly, although her whole body was still tense and awkward.

Little George raised his eyebrows a little but then went to Dalena and hastily grabbed her hand so they can walk together.

"It's okay, Dalena! Those monsters are just fake. They're ugly so you don't even have to think of them, alright!" the little boy comforted.

Embarrassed that even the little boy knew that she was scared to death, Dalena only nodded at him.

"Papa, let's eat some refreshers so Dalena can calm down a little as well." Little George said thoughtfully.

"Alright."

***

After some refreshers, Dalena truly did calm down. On the other hand, the excitement that Little George had still did not fade off so after refreshers, he immediately tried on a bumper car ride. It was only for little kids so the two adults, Dalena and Luke, could only watch Little George play at the ride.

The two of them were left alone so Dalena wished that Little George chose something else instead. The incident from earlier was still fresh on Dalena's mind and she actually does not know what to say to Luke.

Surprisingly though, it was Luke who spoke first instead.

"Who would have thought that you would get so scared just because of actors dressed in ugly costumes? Even Little George was braver than you." Luke murmured to Dalena, saying everything in a teasing tone.

Dalena hadn't thought of it before but now, the Duke was really teasing her, wasn't he? With the thought of that, Dalena's face boiled due to both feeling aggrieved and embarrassed.

If she knew that the Duke would mock her like this, she would have never held into him! Heck, if she knew that it was the Duke who spoke to her, she wouldn't even do it in the first place!

Seeing Dalena's reaction and the way her brows and lips twitched, Luke let out a little laugh. He thought that such a sight was actually quite endearing.

"Sorry. But you know, every time you get scared of measly ghosts, you can hold onto me anytime. I don't mind." Luke said gently with his deep voice.

Dalena only stared at him for a bit but when he returned the eye contact, she immediately looked away and pouted a little.

'No way!' she whispered in her heart.

Dalena thought that next time, she just wouldn't pretend to be brave and avoid everything related to horror altogether!