"It's alright, Miss Sydnee. Duke Theodore originally planned to visit the broken palace today. Bringing you along is nothing." Although she was skeptical of the idea, she did not want to let the duke down. So Sydnee nodded. And the sun shone brightly in the east while a group of people inside the horse carriage slowly made their way towards the fallen palace. She saw the broken palace at the distance and she did not expect it to be enormous when she stood right in front of the old and rusty palace gates. Although it was ruined, it did not hinder the majestic look of it. Duke Theodore and his entourage had stepped inside the gates so she followed after the group. It took them a few minutes before they entered the broken palace. "Say, Duke, the Lady Geneva will arrive the next day. Do you want me to arrange everything for Miss Sydnee?" asked the butler walking beside the duke. Sydnee caught a glimpse of the duke's back, who was walking ahead of her, before averting her eyes to the
A day passed by after the shocking revelation of Duke Theodore, but Sydnee was still skeptical and did not believe it fully. She wanted to ask Lady Geneva if it was true, or she might ask her foster mother, Dianna. But the problem with Dianna was the woman's madness, she might kill her on the spot before she could ask. Thinking about Dianna, Sydnee could help but to sigh. She had not received any news about her from the duke and after visiting the broken palace, the duke left because of some state matters that the king gave to him. So she was still thinking where Dianna had gone into. And whether her father was buried somewhere near her former house. The wall clock ticked by and Sydnee was still standing at the veranda of her room. It was daybreak. The sun rays brought warmth on the sorrounding. It was a perfect morning if not due to a lone car's arrival. She peeked from the railing and her eyes blinked when she saw a girl around seventeen to eighteen y
There was a pin drop silence in the room. Sydnee blinked for a few times before she regained her composure. Mistress? Was Lady Geneva serious? She was just a high school student. Could it be that Lady Geneva think that Duke Theodore and she had a relationship? That's absurd. Thinking about that makes Sydnee want to puke. "Mama, what are you saying? Dad has a mistress?" Catarina then glared at Sydnee. "And the mistress is she? Come on, Dad is pricky. He won't choose a child."She mentally slapped her forehead upon hearing Catarina's words. Sydnee thought that the girl would speak for her, who knew that she would just add fuel to the fire?Lady Geneva's lips twitched. She hummed and looked away. "If you don't want me anymore, then let's divorce!" the woman said on the other line of the phone. There was silence before the duke's assistant spoke, "Lady Geneva, are you talking about Sydnee Lurica?"When Sydnee heard her name, she froze once again. She was not accustomed to have someone,
Sydnee was still in daze when she found herself standing outside of the mansion. After confirming the duke's words and upon knowing that she was a biological daughter, Lady Geneva heartlessly threw her out. The woman urged the maids to pick all her things out and to clean the place she stayed inside the big house. Now, she did not know where to go. The sun was scorching and Sydnee felt beads of sweat starting to form in her forehead. She picked up the bag where her clothes were and she was thankful for the thoughtful maid who put all her things inside it. Then she started to walk to nowhere, without realizing that she was walking to the direction of the marketplace. It might be her luck that pushed her, but a few hours walking under the heat of the sun, she saw the bustling marketplace. Sydnee's cracked lips curved into a big smile and her vision blurred. At last, she might find an inn to hide from the sun. She was wearing the brand new unifo
Just as she stepped inside the old mansion, Sydnee was startled when she met face to face an old woman with stern face. The old woman was holding a small record book in her right hand, and a meter stick in her left hand. Sydnee remembered her terror teachers way back in elementary. 'Same disposition,' she thought to herself. Sheila bowed before the old woman. Sydnee also bowed even though she was not sure who was the woman standing before them. But she had a hint that maybe the woman was the mistress of the old mansion. "Madam, I got a new girl that wants to stay here. She is a student and is not from Obando."The stern woman looked at Sydnee. "Where are you from?" she asked. Sydnee secretly gulped hard upon hearing the woman's voice. It was rough, and she could not help thinking that maybe her vocal chord was damaged? "I-I'm from Consolacion, Madam..." she sighed. "Consolacion? What are you doing in Obando?" She looked at the big backpack Sydnee was holding. "Did you run away f
Loud footsteps echoed in the whole house. It only stopped when the old woman was standing in front of the painting. Madam Kris' brows were furrowed as she looked at the poor thing. Then she looked at the corner, where a young boy was standing. The boy had a blonde hair with blue eyes. Sydnee was surprised to see his features. Those features were of royal blood. She remembered some time ago, a news in the television that featured the coronation of Prince Edrick as the Crown Prince. He has a blonde hair and blue eyes, traits that were seen in western countries. It was justified because the current queen has the same traits, but some folks believe that the current crown prince was a fake one. Seeing someone with the same royal traits, Sydnee could not help but to swallow hard. She had a bad premonition of what would happen to the poor kid if the king knew of it. "Hector," Madam Kris called the boy. "You can't play saucer inside the mansion. You almost hit
"What do you want?" Sydnee asked. Charles looked at the door where the duke had left, and then sighed. "Do you need to go?"Sydnee remembered the anger in Lady Geneva's eyes and the scorn in Catarina's face. Right. If she go back, how could she face Lady Geneva's wrath? If she stay in Duke's mansion, how could she live with Catarina? Her brows met and she scratched her chin thinking what to do with her situation. It was not good if she go back because she knew that Lady Geneva would never accept her. But staying in the old mansion... Sydnee tipped her head back to look at Charles who was also staring at her. Her lips formed a thin line and she looked away. "It's the duke's arrangement. I can't go against his words anyway," she said and sighed. Her shoulders sank upon the realization that she was left with no choice at all. "Why not tell him that you'll stay here?" "Ah?" She looked at Charles who had a solemn expression. He was serious and Sydnee gulped. "No. I can't go against h
The day that she officially entered the Duke's household as an adopted daughter, there was no celebration at all. It was only a dinner and only she and the Duke were present. Lady Geneva and Catarina had gone outside to eat. Not that Sydnee mind it, but she was uncomfortable when the maids standing at the side kept on staring at her. The butler standing behind the Duke cleared his throat. "Congratulations to you, my Lady. You are a Mondragon and no one should look down on you."Sydnee raised her head and stared at the butler. He was looking at the floor and slightly bowing his head on her. Sydnee gulped. She did not expect the butler to show his respect on her, specially when he threatened her when they went to the ruins. "Uh..." she sighed quietly. Suddenly, the Duke put his utensils down and gestured to the butler. One minute and there was no one around the dining room except for her, the Duke , and the butler. The Duke looked at her and spoke, "When they look down on you, they a
Three years later...Sydnee frowned when she saw Nikolai dressed like a hooligan. The small body was covered by a thin black silk that was a gift from the Crown Prince. After Anthony went back from the convention, he brought great news that the two kingdoms had decided to end the war and signed a bilateral agreement. It was all due to Anthony's strength in persuassion. The king then asked what Anthony wanted as a reward, and being a sly man, he asked the King to grant him Sydnee as his wife. In the same day, Sydnee received an edict about her marriage with Anthony. Duke Theodore was not as surprised as she was because the duke had a bet with Anthony, that if Anthony would bring good news from the convention, then the duke would not obstruct his plan to marry Sydnee.A year after she was married off to Anthony's household, Sydnee bore him a son who had a great resemblance with Anthony. This called for a celebration. Since then, when Nikolai would celebrate his birthday, the maids wo
The group of criminals who had ran away went inside a shabby inn. They were running like a madman without stopping for the fear that the guards would catch up with them.It was also the place that the group agreed to meet with the lider of the spies in that night. The assassin looked around and only the old woman who was busy playing with the abacus was present inside the inn. "Hey, old woman!" the assassin yelled. "Give us something to drink!"The old woman paused and brought out a tray of cold drinks from the bottom of the counter. "Here. Twenty cents."The assassin brought out twenty cents and distributed the cold drinks on to his companions. He then motioned the one who was near to the door to check outside. After a few minutes, the man came back and shook his head. The assassin grinned. Those slow royal guards could not catch up with them? Hah. What lame guards!They planned to spend the night inside the shabby inn. The group just sprawled on the floor, wearied by the things th
The moon was big and round. It shone so bright that the stars could not be seen in the night sky. The night breeze caressed her skin. Sydnee closed her eyes and smiled. The translucent moonlight shone on her blue dress and the tiny crystals shone when the moonlight touched them. In the middle of the night, Sydnee was like a fairy who descended into the world. It was the scene that Anthony saw after he followed the girl. He was glad that Sydnee was granted another title, but he was unhappy to see her dancing with men. He wanted to also dance with her, but he was being watched by both the crown prince and the second prince. He did not want to implicate Sydnee. His foot stopped a meter away from the shining girl under the moonlight. He drew a breathe and called out her name. "Sydnee."When she heard Anthony's voice, Sydnee opened her eyes and looked at the man standing before her in a daze. The moonlight shone on his suit and his eyes emitted a gentle brown light. She smiled and walk
"What did you say, Mom?" Catarina faced Lady Geneva and gaped her mouth in shock. "Did you just say that Dad would make this trash the heiress of the dukedom?!"Lady Geneva hushed Catarina. They were still inside the hall and the place was full of aristocrats and officials alike. It was the day that Duke Theodore would announce his heiress. The royals were also present. "Keep your voice down!" Lady Geneva sighed. "We can't stop your father in his decision. Let's just accept it dear, okay?" Lady Geneva coaxed and placed her hands in Catarina's shoulder."No!" Catarina broke away from the Lady's grasped. "I can't accept it! Mom, I was with Dad all these years! I studied how to become a good duchess, but... but that trash take my inheritance away!""Catarina!" Lady Geneva said and dragged the girl onto the corner where no one was around. "Just let this event go in peace. We can deal with Sydnee later, okay?"Looking into the resolute gaze of Lady Geneva, Catarina finally calmed down.
The king sitting on his throne smiled at Sydnee. "Raise your head," he said. Sydnee raised her head while she maintained her gaze on the floor. She was taught not to meet the gaze of the king as a subject. "Your daughter is indeed a beauty.""Thank you, My King."Sydnee tried hard not to pursed her lips nor to look at the Duke who was standing beside her. She thought that the Duke did not let anyone know that he could talk, except for his confidante. But it turned out that the king knew that truth all this time.It was good that only the King and the eunuch by his side was present in the throne room excluding the two of them. At least the information that Duke Theodore could talk was still a secret. It was nice not to invite unneccessary trouble on the household. After some time, the king granted Sydnee a tutor for both etiquette and education. She lowered her head and thanked the king, although she was indignant with the tutor of etiquette. Did the king think that she still neede
The copy of the video spread across the capital. The eldest miss of the Baronness who were active in spreading rumors about Sydnee paled when she checked the video that circulated overnight. It was her being tangled with the guard last year. Who recorded this video? The eldest miss immediately summoned her maids and talked with her mother. She and Baroness Jenica went into the third prince's manor to ask for help. Meanwhile, in the fifth's prince manor, the maid who picked up the memory card while buying something in the market yesterday was laughing with the other maids. They were maiden commoners who had not seen a naked man and they were fascinated with the 'good' body of the man in the video, They of course, did not know who was the two people doing it in that video, but they enjoyed watching it. It spread in the whole manor and outside of the manor. The fifth prince who were stationed in the border did not know about this thing.When the third prince's lackeys investigated the
After the commotion in the terrace, although no one talked about it during the rest of the meeting ball, Sydnee knew that she was the center of gossip in the nobles' private chats. She could feel gazes from everyone thus she left the hall earlier. "You haven't enjoyed the party yet," Aleksander said while playing with the wine glass in his hand. Sydnee huffed and looked at the man. "Don't follow me. Go back and enjoy the party.""Ah, a pity. I couldn't enjoy it without you." Then he winked at her. Anthony, who was walking beside Sydnee frowned and looked at Aleksander who was on the other side of Sydnee. "Go back, Tamarin."Aleksander gaped, feigning shock while staring at Anthony. "You know me?" "Stop pestering Sydnee."Aleksander put his free hand on his chest and looked at Sydnee sadly. "My beloved Sydnee, I'll go back. The man beside you is dangerous and I couldn't win against him ---"Before Aleksander finished his words, Anthony took hold of his shoulder and threw him back
Aleksander led Sydnee in the corner where there was no one. Sydnee then pull away her hand from his hold. "What do you want?" she huffed. The man looked down on her and grinned again. What on earth did he want with her? Sydnee frowned. "It looks like the duke's favor is on you, huh?" he said. "So?""Be careful with the people around you. You never knew who is secretly watching you."Before Sydnee could utter a word, a man stood beside her. She was startled. She did not notice how the man got close to her. It was surprising because Sydnee was trained to notice every movement in her sorroundings under the duke's command, that's why there was no one who could get past her defense, and this is also the reason why Sydnee could counter attack Catarina in every petty tricks. "Sydnee," the man called. Her eyes widened when she recognized the voice. It was Anthony. Sydnee tipped her head back to look at him and her breathe hitched when their eyes met. Anthony smiled at her. "What are you
The ride towards the capital was peaceful. Catarina did not throw tantrums like she would usually do. Lady Geneva did try to pick on her. Sydnee was glad because of silence. She looked outside the window and watched as their car drove past other vehicles and establishments. It was her first time to visit the capital and she was nervous yet excited at the same time. The duke had asked her to do her best to appear humble and dignified in front of the officials. Of course she knew why. She would be the center of biggest power fractions in the capital and the duke had also warned her about the royals who would set eyes on her. When they arrived at the capital, Sydnee was left in awe while watching outside the window. The teritories like Consolacion and Obando were nothing like the capital. The place was full of buildings that were so high, one could like at the sky to spot the end of the buildings. There were also a lot of people wearing revealing shirts and there was no distinction bet