"Young Miss, his grace asked you to dine with him" I heard Allan's voice outside of my room. I remained silent while staring at the sweets on my basket. 

Gabriella made these cookies as snacks for me while we travel. I managed to eat half of it yesterday. 

But now I feel sad because these sweets won't last for tomorrow. I took a cookie and bit it while sitting on my bed. I want more... but Gabriella isn't here to bake for me.

"Young Miss..." I heard my lady-in-waiting said. I glared at her. "T-the Duke wants to..."

"I am not deaf. I heard you" When I finished eating the cookie in my hands I took another one from the basket again. "I don't want to eat, I am full"

"Young miss..." My servant uttered while glancing at the cookie in my hands. 

"Get out!" I shouted. 

Why is she looking at my cookies? Does she want to take my cookies away? She can't, this is mine. 

I gave my Lady-in-waiting a death glare.

I immediately finished the cookie on my hands and decide to hide the basket. When I was about to put it on the table, the basket fell from my hands, the cookies inside of it scattered on the floor leaving the basket empty.

My eyes went wide while I stare at the scattered cookies on the ground. 

I was about to pick all of it but my maid suddenly stopped me. "Young miss! Please don't pick it up, It's already dirty!"

My brows twitched. "It wasn't"

"Young miss! It's already dirty!"

"I said it wasn't! Pick it up!" I shouted at her again. I squatted to pick up one of the cookies, I was about to bite it but the maid immediately stopped me. "What are you doing! Give that to me!"

"Young miss? What's happening?" I heard Allan's voice outside. The door suddenly opened and my father's knight entered. His eyes fell at the cookies on the ground. "What the..."

"Sir Allan... The Lady wanted to pick up the cookies and eat it..."

"Young miss if you're hungry, you can eat with his grace"

"I SAID I WASN'T! I only want Gabriella's cookies! I want her!" My eyes suddenly watered.

What's happening to me? Why can't I stop my emotions? I suddenly feel sad when the cookies fell on the ground. Why am I acting like this?

"Young miss... If you really want a cookie we can ask the chef to make a lot for you" Allan said while trying to calm me down. "The chef's sweets are really delicious"

"I want Gabriella's" I uttered. The water in my eyes suddenly fell on my cheeks.

Why am I crying?

Pregnancy hormones?

I tried to pick one of the cookies on the floor once again, but they didn't let me. "My cookies..." I sadly uttered. 

"Young miss..."

"What's with the commotion?" I suddenly a familiar voice. I raised my face and saw my father's face looking at me. His eyes went wide when our eyes interacted but it immediately shifted back to normal. "...Why is she crying?" he asked Allan.

Allan flinched. He glanced at me.

"Your Grace..." Allan said hesitantly. "The sweets that Lady Gabriella prepared for the Young miss fell to the ground. The young miss wanted to pick it up and eat it but it's already dirty" Allan replied to father. 

I frowned when he said that. "I said it wasn't dirty!"

"Maria" Father called my name. "I will ask the chef to make a cookie for you. Stand up" Father's face remained calm when he said that but I can't feel any coldness within it.

Why can't they understand that I only want Gabriella's cookies? Don't they know the three-minute rule? Now, five minutes had already passed, It was already dirty now!

If Gabriella is here, she would've smacked their head and educate them about the three-minute rule!

"I don't want it, I want Gabriella's cookies" I stubbornly replied. "If you won't let me eat those cookies then I won't eat anything!" I angrily shouted.

"You can't do that" Father spoke firmly. His stiff face suddenly showed us a lot of authority "It's not healthy for my grandson." He continued.

When Father suddenly mentioned my baby, my mouth closed. I wanted to say something to contradict him, but what he told me was right. My baby needs nutrients.

I caressed my stomach and bit my lips.

"But Maria's Cookies..." I spoke

"The news about the Marquiss Velasquez's household arrived an hour ago" Father suddenly announced to us. "The lost heir of Antonio finally came back along with his only daughter. I am sure that they are planning to hold a banquet for the next coming days."

The news surprised me. Even though we only parted on the day before yesterday, I already missed them. I want to be with them...

My husband and Gabriella!

His statement made me went back to my senses. My eyes suddenly focused on my father. 

They succeed! All I have to do is to wait for my Husband.

"If you want to see Gabriella..." Father spoke again. Will he let me meet Gabriella? He has the power to make that happen.

"G-Gabriella?" 

"Indeed" Father replied. "I can invite her here for tomorrow"

I felt my eyes twinkled when he mentioned the word 'invite' and 'tomorrow'

"Really?"

Father remained silent. It took him another minute to nod his head. "I will arrange it. In one condition" He calmly spoke. Father also squatted in front of me which made Allan and my Lady-in-waiting surprised.

My eyes went wide when Father picked up a cookie from the ground.

He slowly bites the cookie on his hand and chewed it.

"...."

"!!!"

"Your Grace!" Allan and my maid shouted.

"Father?" I asked in a surprised tone.

"Delicious" Father only said while staring at the cookies on the ground.

Father stands up like nothing strange about him happened. The cookie in his hands disappeared in another two bites as he turns his back on us. "Do not starve my Grandchild and I shall Summon Gabriella"

And then my father left.