23

I gently stretch my back when I opened my eyes, I look around and I didn't found Akeldama.

I get up quickly and walk around the place, Lady Criseta is still sleeping peacefully, so I take a walk for a while.

Maybe he's hunting for the food, it's too early, the sun is about to rise and the sand is so nice.

I look around the shore, and found some sea shell.

A build of a man is beside me, it's Akeldama I think, he's not talking.

"Where have you been. I woke up and you're not beside me, you did some hunting, look what I got!" I stand up, and show my sea shells.

But I dropped what I am holding, and went pale. Because that's not Akeldama.

"Princess Delaney?" He said and I step back. I can't be wrong, he's the Duke of Winsidor. The Duke of Drivike empire.

"N-no!" I ran away back to my tent, I need to find my eye silk, but I didn't run back to my place, he already caught my arms.

I am confused, and landed to his arms now. I can't think, does the duke is affected by my curse? My father will definitely kill me if his favourite duke will be curse by me.

"Why you're avoiding me?" He asked me and I am still keep my eyes close now.

"Y-you will be cursed by me, don't look at my eyes." I said while shuttering.

He just chuckled. "How, I already saw your eyes." I automatically opened my eyes and look at him.

Is that even possible that he is one of those people that is not affected by my curse, what if he's bluffing me.

"H-how is that even possible?" I asked and look at the duke of Windsor. He just smile on me and wave his hand.

"Told you, I am not affected by your curse." I distances myself to the duke of Windsor and look around.

I am even more feel embarrassed, he's half naked and the sun is rising, sun rays is making me feel comfortable even there's a man that is half naked in front of me.

Why he's not affected by my curse?

"You don't have to worry, I am alright, can't you see?" He even look at my face, and my cheeks went red that he is near to my face now, too near.

"Ahh, too close!" I pushed the face of duke of Windsor and he just chuckled.

He laugh, why he's acting lively. Far from the description of the people of Drivike. He's serious one, no one can approach him and all of people of Drivike are afraid of him, he's also known as a wise duke and all of hia lands is rich, he really know how to handle his landa very well.

That's why my father is very fond of him, and as what I heard, my brothers feel envy about him, because my father is very fond of the duke.

"You're here, why you're wondering here on your own, I thought you're already a empress of Gribe?" He asked me and I smile half heartedly.

"Does the news doesn't reach the Drivike?" I asked him and he look around.

"Let's grab some food at my place, and talk about it, I kinda want to hear about it, is it okay to you?" He said and I nod, even I am kind of hesitant if I will accept his offer.

"Uh, is it okay to have a breakfast with you?" I said and he just patted my head.

"It's okay, I am having a vacation here and I am just a commoner here, come on." He joked around and I just nod. As a sign that I am accepting his offer.

He looks happily while helping me to walk, holding my hand while I am walking beside him.

"You're different from what they are saying, you look nice and good." He said and still holding my hand while walking on the way to his place.

"Why, can you tell me how they are describing me?" I asked and he juat chuckled.

"You're an not educated one, rude and never interacting to nobels, your reputation is not that good. But I think that the Gribe empire taught you well, while you're away from you're own nation." I laughed and can't help but to roll my eyes.

How I am not approachable if all I do is obey what my father's whimps.

Why I need to become involve at some affairs that is not is not part of my power.

From the beginning, I am not that capable to talk to his people, but my father still involving me, using me to his ambitious plans.

"Gribe empire have my deepest empathy, they teach me that my own nation didn't do. I become better when I become a fiance of emeperor Blake." I explained before we reached the gate of gate of Theron's place.

"I am alone here, I want to have alone time here at my place, when I need to have my peace of mind." He opened the gate and I saw how beautiful the whole interior of his vacation house.

"You're stressed from how my father, acting like a kid?" I joked around and he laugh hard on what I said. Maybe it's a fact, or my father really act like a kid to nobility.

"Your father's reign is over, your brothers has no potential at being an emperor." Duke of Winsidor said and I just chuckle.

"I don't know, I honestly have no idea about the status of my brother's position. I am just here, being an abandoned princess." I said and he stopped at the door, where the drawing room is located.

"I'm sorry to hear that, but to be honest. The emeperor throne is kind of in danger now." He said and opening the door.

I sat at the sofa when he said that and smile to his other servants.

All of them are bowing their heads, and no one dared to look at my eyes now.

"You have place here, how about your work at the empire?" I asked the Duke and he just chuckled, open the door for me and helped me to sit down at the chair.

"I asked for vacation, while the emeperor is away. He's on his journey to the Gribe empire, to congratulate the new emeperor and to check you out, but it seems that you're missing at the Gribe empire." He place the plate and the fork and knife.

"I ran away, because I want to break free from everything that is stressing me lately. And I realized that this life isn't for me, that I am bound to live away from the nobility, live normaly and avoid people." I get the water and drink some.

"You really can't run away from your responsibilities, even you're the abandoned princess, and as you can see, the future of Drivike empire is not stable as what I am expecting now." I looked at him, while he's slicing the steak.

"Your brother and sister, is not that capable to become the ruler of Drivike, that's why your father is giving you away to his greatest competitor, because he want to clear the path of your brother gonna walk through." I didn't respond and slice my own steak.

But Duke replaced my plate, gave the steaks that he just sliced lately.

"I heard your performance at Gribe empire, even your own father heard how you're doing great there, taking care of small affairs that is job of other nobility, that's why your father tried his best to communicate with emperor Kier, but he's not responding that well." Duke Theron stopped slicing, and eat the meat.

"It's just a rumor, that's not true. I am just nobody and I just do what they want, because I am practicing my role as an empress way back there, but now. I decided to become a commoner." I explained and took a bite at the meat that Duke Theron gave to me.

"I don't believe you, I can sense that you're great at it, but denying it. Because you hated this kind of life." He stopped slicing and I caught him looking at me, stealing glances.

"Aren't it good, to prove that you're better on what you're father is trying to imply about you? What if you're greater than your siblings, who had everything at the beginning, while you." He stopped talking and look at me.

"You who started late, but wiser than them, isn't great to see them fall on your feet?" I don't know, but when I heard that they are falling into my feet makes me feel excited, there's a fire inside mine that ignite.

It's really nice to see them fall, beg for mercy and get the position that I know isn't belong to me, but I work hard for it.

"What do you mean, aren't you the favorite one of my father, then why it sounds like you want him down, I'm so sorry for insolence accusations of mine, if ever I insult you at my words and assumptions." Duke Theron kneel in front of me, kissed my hand while looking straight to my eyes.

"Your highness, I am begging you, please listen to my suggestions," he said and I can't help but to gulp many times.

"Do you have any idea why your father didn't dispose you, even you're cursed? Do you also know why he can't get rid of you?" I shook my head.

"Stand up, let's finish the food first and we will talk about it at your office." I said and he stand up, went back to his seat and eat the delicious steak.

I finish my food and Duke Theron wait for me to finish, before going to his office. There's a tea and sweets there.

"Have a seat, please be comfortable." I answered it with my smile, and sit on the sofa.

He opened the windows and I started to make some tea.

"I have a proposal for you, because I am really concern at the state of Drivike empire now, your father is picking a lot of enemies now, which is not good for Drivike." I nod while making the tea, brewing it and applying all of my learnings at Gribe empire.

"How sure you are, that your plan with me will become good as you planned?" I asked the Duke Theron and he smirk at me, did I say something wrong?

"You're good, and fearless to ask that bold question, but I'd love to explain that to you.". He lean on the sofa and watched me prepare the tea.

"As you can see, I am also aware that the new emperor of Gribe, know the plan of your father, and it's like your father is starting an civil war to the other nation, but he's working underground. We have to prevent that." I nod and put some tea at the tea cup.

Place it in front of Duke Theron, and I put some to my tea cup, getting some sweets and fork.

All of them looks delicious and edible.

"What kind of prevention is in your mind now, you know that very well that I am just nobody, just a plain title of Princess, a powerless one." I sip on my tea and he's watching me carefully.

"Let's get married, and dethrone the emperor by exposing all of his secrets to his people." I almost spit the tea to the face of duke.

I wipe my mouth and look at the duke, with confused look.

"You're the nearest to the royal blood, and once that you dethrone your father, and his family. It's only you, who can replace him." I shook my head automatically.

"How is that even possible, the nobility, all of them are from my father's side, so it's not possible to dethrone my father. And dethroning him is like facing all of the nobility that's loyal supporter of my father." I said while wiping my arms.

"I have my ways, proofs and all. I just need someone who will become the next ruler of Drivike, it's you."

"I am not capable of what you're saying, can't you see, I am just a abandoned princess of emeperor, my role is nothing." I explained and he shook his head.

"That's not true, you're far wiser and more intelligent to your siblings, that's the reason why your father didn't give you attention, because he know that you're better than his favorite children."

"B-but how, I am still lacking."

"I will help you, just believe me."