Chapter 16

"Your Highness, you never fail to disappoint me with your beauty. Day by day you're becoming a goddess, do you mind giving me a tip?" Duchess Xerafia rolled her eyes when her sister, Xamara Gregor said it. 

I chuckled. "You don't have to compliment me that much Duchess, we all have our own beauty and yours is quite a beauty of a tulips." 

"Look at her sister, such a humble lady. I didn't expect you to visit my sister," she said before she called the servant to prepare the eggpies.

"And here you are, entertaining my guest instead of taking care of your daughter." Duchess Xiafara opened her hand fan while glaring at her sister. 

Both of them are really opposite with each other. I first met Duchess Xiafara in Viadel, she was lost that time and I helped her. That was the time when I realized that she is from the manor of Estrella and the sister of Duchess Xamara Gregor, the wife of Duke Frederic Gregor. 

The Gregor owned the gold mines in Katarta while the Estrella owned the land of farmers in Freista. 

It was such a luck for me to meet them and I know that the feeling is mutual to them. 

Duchess Xamara is a friendly one that's why she died in the past, she was poisoned by Madolina and the blame was put on her own sister, Duchess Xiafara. With Duchess Xiafara's reputation as a cold-hearted lady, the blame was easily put on her. 

It was such a tragic relationship between the three of them since I remember that they do likely have a good relationship. 

But the table was changed now since I am already sitting on the spot where Madolina should be and I know, I deserve it. 

"So what business do you have with me your Highness?" Duchess Xiafara asked. 

"Actually, the reason why I'm here because I wanted to ask a favor from Duchess Xamara," I said honestly. 

"Me? What is it your Highness?" she asked and gave me the plate of sliced eggpie. 

I opened the envelope I brought before giving them the two copies of the picture. 

"A tiara?" 

"Duchess Xamara, I am willing to pay a triple price if you can make a real copy of that tiara. It's the treasure of Duke Richmond inside his museum, the tiara of goddess Hera." 

Both of them looked with each other. "Why don't you just buy the tiara your Highness?" Duchess Xamara asked. 

I shook my head before crossing my legs, forming a letter V between my skirt and thighs. 

"You will know in the future why I'm asking this favor, you can give me any price as long as I can have this tiara. I want it to be a real copy that people will not find out that it is fake," I said.

It was a minute before Duchess Xamara grinned. "You know your Highness, I don't particularly need money because I am rich."

My eyebrows furrowed. "What do you want then?" I asked. 

She giggled and I saw how Duchess Xiafara avoided her eyes. What are they planning? 

Wow, just wow. I didn't know that I had to attend such event again. A Tea Party with the noble ladies, great! 

"What is this Duchess?" I whispered. 

"I'm sorry your Highness but I am a victim too," she whispered back. 

"Oh my God, is that the Crown Princess?" 

All of their heads turn on my direction before they started to gossip. I am indeed the Crown Princess who doesn't like to attend such tea parties, this is making me vomit. 

A lady suddenly appeared beside me and smiled. "Greetings your Highness, I am Ella Winston. Would you like me to accompany you to your table?" she asked and without my notice, I just found myself being dragged on the center where the elegant table is located. 

"I think this is not for me," I said but Ella shook her head. 

"You're the highest among us so it's only right for you to sit on that table, okay let's get started!" she shouted. 

"Lady Winston, Lady Seleste is still not here." 

I can feel my ears moved when I heard what the lady said. I guess, this table is for Madolina since all of the tables are complete. 

I tapped my fingers on the table waiting for that woman to enter, such a very important person she is. 

"Lady Seleste, you arrived."

I can already see myself grinning from ear to ear when I saw her wearing a pink Lolita gown with her pink hand fan. 

Such a a childish outfit. I shook my head with disbelief when I saw how confident she was as if everyone likes what she was wearing. 

The theme of the Tea Party was green and white so why is this bitch wearing a pink gown? 

"Hello everyone, I'm sorry I was late. I met the Crown Prince on my way here and he complimented me about what I am wearing today," she said cheerfully. 

I didn't know that Hades like a woman with a childish appearance. Pink? Disgusting. 

"Ah, haha, that's a good news Lady Seleste. You can sit beside Lady Amelia," Lady Winston said.

"Oh, I thought I was going to sit—"

When her eyes found me, sitting on her expected table, I grinned before I waved my hand. 

"Hi," I greeted. 

Her smile faded before she hysterically opened her hand fan. "I'll sit beside Lady Amelia since her Highness is already occupying my seat," she said making my eyebrows furrowed. 

"Are you telling me that I stole your seat Lady Seleste?" I asked with worry.

She shook her head before she smiled, how can she smile so disgustingly? 

"I am just considering your position your Highness since you are the Crown Princess," she answered. 

"Thank you for your consideration Lady Seleste but it's fine with me sitting on the same table with you," I said.

"I wouldn't do that your Highness, your position is only yours."

"Then why are you seducing my fiancee Lady Seleste?" I asked. 

Her eyes blinked repeatedly before she shook her head. "You've got a wrong idea, don't misunderstand my intention with his Highness. I only want to befriend with him," she answered.

"Are you kidding me? If I shoot you using an arrow, will you tell them that the Crown Princess Talia D'aureville only wants to befriend with Lady Madolina that's why she used a crossbow to shoot the poor lady?" 

"P-Pardon?" she asked with stutter. I can't believe she didn't get what I said, is she that stupid? I'm quite offended with my effort and it was only thrown in vain. 

I burst a laugh with the idea before I stood up and step my right feet on the table elegantly, showing them that I have been carrying a crossbow on my thigh and the arrows are on my high heel. 

With this elegant white fitted long dress. I can say that my hidden crossbow really did fit on my thigh. 

"Your Highness?" 

I don't know why Duchess Xamara want me to bring this crossbow, but I am quite thankful with her because I can easily play with Madolina. 

"You need to put that down your Highness," Madolina calmly said. Is she thinking that I'm mad that's why the favor will be on her side? 

I picked one arrow and load it on the crossbow before pointing it on Madolina. 

They gasped and stepped backwards far from my direction. 

Duchess Xiafara was just sipping her tea while sitting calmly on the seat beside me. 

"Why are you doing this your Highness? Did I offend you or something?" she asked. 

I shook my head before I shoot the arrow making her scream with horror, she thought that I wouldn't shoot her. 

The calm on her expression already disappeared. I stretched my legs before picking the arrow and load it again on the crossbow. 

"Y-Your H-Highness." She gulped and shuddered with horror. 

I grinned. "Bang!" 

She screamed endlessly, I covered my ears while grinning. 

"Come on Lady Madolina, I didn't even shoot yet," I said before I shoot the cake on her back.

She turned pale before she collapsed. Oh my God, that's too bad.

The ladies carried the unconscious Madolina inside the house of Lady Winston. 

I stretched my arms before sitting beside Duchess Xiafara. "Mission complete, I need the Tiara in one week," I said. 

Duchess Xiafara nodded before she stood up and gave me a peck of kiss on my forehead. 

"You never failed to disappoint us with your charm your Highness," she said and winked. 

I chuckled. I can't believe I was fooled by those siblings, they wanted me to make a ruckus in Winston's Tea Party because Ella Winston seems to be creating a rumor about Duchess Xamara being pregnant from another man. 

Well, it was easy for me to do it since this Tea Party is a secret one. They are going to conduct an illegal product such as perfumes and bath soaps. 

They wouldn't want to start a rumor about the scene I made because I am the Crown Princess, I am powerful after all. 

"How's the meeting your Highness?" Fara asked while preparing the basket of sandwiches.

"It was fine, I had a good negotiation with the siblings," I answered. 

When she finished preparing the sandwiches, we exit the Emerald Palace and walked towards the prepared carriage. 

"Report everything that will happen inside the palace while I'm away, I'll be back tomorrow." I opened the carriage door and froze when I saw the man who was sitting on the carriage while crossing his arms. 

I turn my head on Fara and I giggled inside my mind when she was already gone, what the hell? 

I coughed before I sat on the seat in front of him. "What are doing here your Highness?" I asked. 

He remained unfazed while staring at me. I don't know why Pursues is here inside my carriage but I can't just tell him to go out and leave. 

"I heard you're going to Viadel so I'm here, I'm going to come with you."

I tilt my head and awkwardly smiled. "You don't have to go that far your Highness," I said. 

"I missed you." 

The carriage started to move while our eyes are glued with each other. What am I going to respond? I missed him too? But I'm not sure if that's really what I feel. 

"Talia," he called and locked my hands into his. 

"Will you still choose me? Am I still useful to you?" he asked. 

"Yes, your Highness. Just like what I said, I am going to make you the Emperor. I will stand beside you and rule over the Empire," I answered. 

"Why? Why are so obsessed with that thought of making me the Emperor?" he asked with worry on his eyes. 

I closed my eyes firmly before I gave him a serious look. "You deserve it," I answered. 

"Don't push yourself too much Talia, you might get in danger."

I know, but I know myself very well. I won't make such bad decisions because I know what I am doing. 

I nodded to stop his worries. "I am careful of my actions your Highness," I said. 

We stayed silent for an hour with our hands holding with each other. When the carriage stopped, he was the first one to exit and offered his hand for me to carefully stepped outside the carriage. 

"I'll carry that," he said before he took the basket from my hand. 

I frowned, he's being bossy after ten years of not seeing each other. Is this what he learned in the war? Does he have some woman he met there? Did they kissed? 

"Why are you sulking? Are you feeling unwell?" he asked. 

Who would be happy when your future husband is having a flirty time with other woman? Does he think of me as his comrade? 

"What? Why are you glaring at me?" 

I blinked my eyes before I shook my head. "It's nothing your Highness," I answered. 

I am just thinking such ridiculous thoughts, why am I even like this?