Chapter 4

Porcelain teacup from the east of the empire shattered into fragments as a soft, sweet voice that was peculiarly shrill at the moment echoed in the garden.

"What did you say?"

"M-Miss...Lady Layla has been asked to get engaged to Duke Valentine by the orders of the Duke." After that, the tea party that was going on with ladies from several noble houses did not truly matter as the woman got up from her seat with graceful movements, gentle eyes expressing her apologies as she excused herself. Lady Marianna despite being a sickly person controlled the aristocracy through iron reins of her will and had the high society within the palm of her hands. 

The way to the Everdale castle was somewhat blurry and as soon as Marianna arrived at the mansion she first expressed her desire to be taken to Layla who was preparing to leave for the rendezvous with Duke Valentine that was arranged without her wishes.

The woman with dark blusish irises had a fiery temper but a weak constitution thus she huffed and panted as it took her quite some effort to cross the hallways and knock on the door that nowadays did not open just like the heart of its owner that was closed and sealed. Previously Layla visited Marianna every single day without any delay and they talked for long hours but for some days now there were no movements at all and Marianna was kept waiting everyday.

"Sister" When no one answered Marianna slipped inside on her own, coming face to face with the partially dressed female whose entire being was as pale as snow as if there was no blood in her veins, some said that Layla looked sickly but in reality her temperament truly resembled a flower, thus fairly said Layla Everdale was one of the most beautiful women of the Avesta Empire just like her deceased mother whose beauty knew no bounds.

"Is it Duke Valentine?" The question was so abrupt that even the seamestress who was measuring the dress and the maids froze for a moment as if to confirm that whether it was okay to continue or should they leave the two sisters alone.

"It is whom Duke Everdale says." Layla answered without giving her a single look and continued, yet the cold attitude might have produced some wrath thus Marianna walked forward and smiled.

"So it is as such." After contemplating for quiet some time she smiled gently and bowed.

"Then I will excuse myself Layla, you must be getting late." When Layla watched Marianna leaving as such without making much effort to talk she could not help but think...what had happened after her death in previous life, did Marianna married Jeremiah and lived a happy life? What happened to her father and brothers?_______________________________________________

The tapping of feminine fingers on the table was somewhat inconsistent, Jeremiah had not shown up to the cafe that they were supposed to meet at, was it his way of expressing his dissatisfaction? It would not be anything new either ways. 

In her previous life he had done worse things so this was almost a child's play. He knew that she was being bullied by his castle's maids when they gave her stale food but never interfered and he himself became a part of that lot and locking her inside her room most of the days when they stayed together.

She would not let him have the last laugh in this life.

"Miss Layla!" The butler of Duke Valentine's castle that she had known to be quite gentle in previous life arrived instead of his master and bowed down infront of her.

"Is he not coming?What an idiot." The man was stunned into silence for some moments before he tried to explain.

"Lady.....my master's carriage overturned in a river while he was on his way to meet you."

It was quiet a surprise but why would it matter to her? There was not an ounce of pity that was displayed on her face as the woman took a deep breath and out of curtsey expressed her condolences. 

"It is alright, kindly give my blessings to the duke for getting well, we can meet later."

"NO!" The personal maid of Layla glared at the butler as if conveing her master's emotions, how dare he talk to her in that tone.

"Lady, I am really sorry but my master has sent a carriage for you to come to his house so both of you can have a meeting there." Feeling a headache forming in her head Layla wanted this all to get over soon, thus she nodded in affirmation. Going back would attract the attention of those brother eitherways so she had planned to stay outside for a long time.

Unexpectedly when she arrived at the Valentine duchy, all the maids and servants were outisde the mansion in the garden to greet her, those were all familiar faces, some of which she liked while others whom she abhorred.

She was soon taken to Jeremiah's personal chambers where the male was being diagnosed by a physician thus Layla took a seat at a lone chair while looking outside the window. It reeked of medicine.

Soon after the doctor bid his farewell Jeremiah Valentine looked at the exquisite woman sitting alone and he realised that the Layla he knew was never so ....broken? There was no happiness or melancholy in those fuchasia irises, neither was there any desire. 

The Layla he knew was full of vitality, sweet and innocent beyond anything and he remembered that at one time there was a need in him maybe tainted with lust and greed to possess her but she was a child away from such shameless thoughts. After that when his father and mother passed away and his position was shaken in the duchy she did not contacted him anymore thus their relationship turned sour.

Later after winning the emperor's favor back and getting a hold on his power when he established himself she again appeared and even expressed her liking towards him, it was more of less an insult to him, it made her look like a selfish and heartless person who cared about only riches but maybe some part of him did wished to hear an answer from her now.

"Why did you not visit after my parents death." The question came out without thinking and soon the room was engulfed in an atmosphere that was cold by his side, Layla who was astonished first widened her eyes and then threw her head back and laughed merrily.

So this was why their empire lost the battle with Ardos in their previous life, an incompetent man who cannot even know about his surroundings, how can he fight with the great generals of enemy nation.

"Let me ask a very similar question to the Duke, why did you not visit me when I almost drowned and was was in a coma for half an year? Duke Valentine's parents died while I was already a month in a comatose state and even imperial majesty sent some physicians. Pray don't tell me you had never known."

The atmosphere had frosted over with her words and even Jeremiah did not know what to say for he had truly never known, at this moment he was dumbfounded and could not even utter a word out of shame and guilt.

"Furthermore, when I was still rendered unable to walk I did sent Duke several letters to ask for your wellbeing and even came to meet you at the ball where you finally acquired the duchy.

I do remember your audacious and insolent expressions though when I expressed my desire to lend out a helping hand by telling you that I liked you, for pray tell me why do I need to come to a duke who is not even established well and has internal clan fights and tell him that he is being an object of my admiration when I could very well become the crown princess of this empire. 

It was not an act done by Layla Everdale but simply Layla who was friends with duke Valentine since my childhood, how could I see my best friend suffer thus I even staking my reputation tried helping you out Duke Valentine so kindly stop pretending to be noble and just when I very well know what kind of heartless person your are."

After enduring so much in her previous life, Layla thought just one thing- even if they kill her now she would not sit down and endure, what she wished to say in her previous life she will say all of it now and will not cross paths with the people who made her life a living hell.

If Jeremiah was a culprit then her family was the one that never cared about the hell they threw her in. So this time she will not hold back.

No matter how cruel the words were spoken and how the entire chamber fell into silence with the servants trembling in fear the female blew onto the tea and took a sip liesurly. If this woman was to be their duchess in future they must behave well under any circumstances, she was not a person to be trifled with.

"M-My apologies.......I am sorry Lady." When Jeremiah Valentine smiled there was not a single female in the empire that could withstand his charm but at this moment when he had broken his hand and was sitting on the bed with a face that was too sad this woman did not moved, hell she even refused to respond.

Jeremiah opened his mouth again as if to say something but so much contemplation was to be done that at the end he was rendered with so much shame that he could not meet Layla's eyes. The three maids stood without breathing when the butler told them to move out along with him.

"What can I do to make your ladyship happy now, can you please reconsider this engagement?" Ofcourse she will, Jeremiah will be off to war for one year and for that one year she can escape from both him and her family by living in his residence, just that it has to be done differently this time.

"First of all my condolences to your highness. I hope you are well soon enough." She really did not wished any of those things but the next things she said were the essence of all her hopes.

"My father Duke Everdale wants your highness duke to derive political advantages from this relationship but what I want is different. If your highness can agree then we will have a deal of ourselves.

First, your highness and I will get engaged only at name and will not exchange birth amulets, we are not a couple but two individuals so I do not wish to exchange my personal belongings or rather hold yours."

Duke Valentine smiled, so this was the person he thought was after his power and love when in reality his significance in her life was not even of a friend.

"Alright."

"Second, I wish to live in the adjoined residence of the duchy that has a separated garden and house and not in the main residence for it is not my home. 

In return I will manage the matters of the main residence according to your wishes, for second residence which is small and insignificant you need not pay any visits or worry about it, just give me a dozen servants and it will be enough."

"But the conjoined house is so small and insignificant, how can lady who has been pampered since childhood live in such a rough place?.....I cannot agree."

"I will live well there duke, much better than this mansion." When she said as such Jeremiah felt that Layla particularly disliked visiting Valentine residence thus she refused to be a part of it.

"As your ladyship wishes." 

"Third, you can have any amount of mistresses outside the Ducal house for the time being I am your fiancee and do anything you wish for but within this house it is only I that will weild the power of managing the maids and appointing people. I will not let people trample upon my power.

And fourth, I will not meet any men from Everdale for the time I remain here so you need not interfere in these matters."

Any amount of mistresses? So that is how she viewed him.

"I accept."