24

At the carriage, Lady Criseta is even more surprised, but still keep the silence between us.

I am on my way to the villa of Duke Theron, I will stay there, for my education and all. As what planned, I need to polish everything before we announce our engagement to the empire.

We have to be careful, that I am here at the protection of Duke Theron, but I will tell the Duke that I have trusted person at the Drivike, which is the greatest knight of Drivike empire, sir William.

"I know that I asked for peaceful life, but now I am being engaged with the duke of my empire," I started and she's looking at me.

"He make me realize that this is the best opportunity for me, to redeem myself and my title at my own empire." I look at the big gate and it's open.

The villa is really big, has a lot of knights as a guard and a plenty of people at the entrance door.

I wear my eye silk, before lady Critesa helped me to get out of the carriage. All of them bowed their heads and Duke Theron is behind them, standing and watching me. I guess he's checking me out, my outfit is kind of reaveling.

"How's your travel, are you okay?" He went closer to me. Kissing the back of my hand and smile sweetly.

The presence of other people around us makes me uncomfortable, and I know that Duke Theron's servants are confused. How on earth he become engaged to me.

"It's totally fine, I'm glad that you provided me a safe travel here." I said and he smile around.

"This are my people, they will help you and your lady in waiting to find your room and organize all of your things, for a while. Have some rest, I know that you're tired." Duke Theron helped me to walk, and he's beside me. Maybe he will show my room here at his villa.

"You own each part of this Villa. And also, you're protected here, and all of the happenings here are confidential, I bring my most trusted people here to take care of you, while we are preparing to our plan." He open the door for me, and it's just the two of us at my room.

"If you need anything, my people will help you willingly, then you can test them the curse. To see if it will work on them." I shook my head automatically and he chuckle.

"I don't know how to undo it, once that the people is affected by it." I said and removed my eye silk. What a tiring day.

"I don't want to become a treat for them, and can you help me to discover how to undo my curse? Or any possible solution." I sit down and drink some water, I'm thirsty because of my long journey.

"Sure, and I won't be here for two weeks, but your lessons are still continues, and you're required to learn sword fight. Just in case that I cannot protect you while I am away." I nod politely and smile to Duke Theron.

"I'm excited to see you as my wife, I have hope now that the future of Drivike will become better because it's you, who's ruling the empire." Duke Theron smile widely and I smile back to him.

"I find it impossible, that I can outsmart my father, who is really wicked and he tricked a lot of people, that's why I know he's very careful to every move that he will do." I explained and continue to drink my water.

"I know that it's only you who can figure out what is the best and better for our plan, I am just here to support you and give anything that you need, and I hope that when you finally took over the throne, people will always remember you." I shrug my shoulder look around the room.

"I just think, why me?" He's still looking at me and the Duke Theron chuckled, again.

"Why not? Aren't you capable of being a good wife and ruler of Drivike empire?" He asked and I look away.

"You should stop thinking negatively about yourself, Princess Delaney. You're great, learning that fast and you're adjusting yourself on your environment that fast, that's why I told you, you're great in your own already," he explained it more detailed and I raised both of my hands.

"Fine, I'll stop asking some questions, it's just I can't stop thinking about it lately, but thank you that you see my hardship and how I work hard for any of it." I said and smile to Duke Theron.

"You're nice, thank you for helping me." Duke Theron stand up and I stand up too.

"I'm going back to my room, if you need anything, just call the servants, let's eat together later, I won't disturb your rest for a while." Duke Theron kneel in front of me and kissed the back of my hand.

"It's really nice to see you, my queen." Duke Theron stand up and leave the room.

I'm holding my hand and removed my dress, change into something that is comfortable to wear.

I sit down to my bed, and start reading some political books that is originally from Drivike empire. I need to read all of the laws and learn the affairs.

Duke Theron said that he already investigated the affairs of my father of the last five years, and my father is really a hideous man.

He's using the money of nobility for his own desires, the funds that is supposed to be for the people of Drivike is just a jewelry of his empress.

I remember the days where it's just me at my shabby mansion way back before. I barely eat at my place, and no one see me, no one ask if I am alright there, then now. I am fighting back to my father.

"Your highness, we have news about the Gribe empire, your father and the news at Drivike." My forehead creased and I nod.

How is it possible that even I am still learning, Duke Theron still provide information and want me to adapt the life and the decisions.

"The emperor Divino start a havoc at thw Gribe empire when he discovered that are missing, and putting the blame to Emperor Kier, but the emperor Kier didn't di anything to your father's whimps," he continue and I am still listening very well.

"The emperor Divino is trying to find where are you now, but now. The main suspect is the mercenary king, and Lady Criseta's father is really worried for his daughter." I nod and look at the balcony.

I also wonder, where is Akeldama now. I waited for him, and Ithe letter that he left. I haven't read that, because I know that it's a farewell letter.

I feel kind of sad that he left without even saying a proper goodbye. He's supposed to be with me, have peaceful life, but now. I am going back to the place that I used to hate because of the people around me.

I wonder, what is his reason why he left me behind, it's a good thing that the Duke Theron find me and offer something that is hard to decline.

"You may go now." I waved my hand and he left my room. I get the letter that Akeldama left, well. If Akeldama is the main suspect why I am missing, I hope he's safe now.

Because my father will dispose people when it's trying to stop him.

I opened the letter, but I took a deep breath first.

My heart, it's getting heavy even I didn't even start reading the letter.

"Stupid." I roll my eyes and read the whole letter.

He has a mission, and he'll be away. But once that the mission is over, he can locate where I am and will be there all at once.

I feel my heart is getting heavy. He's such a nice man, even he used to kill people. His treatment to me, is so nice. He take care of me when I needed it the most.

And I am forever thankful that Akeldama helped me when I needed it, even I am not asking him to help me, he's still there.

I hope he's safe, and find his way back to me, once that my plans suceed. But that time, I will become the dutchess, and wife of Duke Theron.

"Just trust the process." I stand up and wash my face and body. Before dressing up, I am planning to have a walk at the villa.

I wear some comfort dress, fix my hair and open the door when I am done.

The servant was there, and I am completely out of my mind, I forgot to wear my eye silk. I panicked when the maid saw my eyes, but she look surprised.

Her face went red and it's like she's stucked where she is standing.

"So pretty." She said out of her mind and bowed her head when realized that she's not bowing her head.

Two guards and three maids was there, saw mg eyes and nothing happened to them

So my observation is right. If people has a bad intention to me, they become under my spell.

I took a deep sigh, it's a good news that the people here at Villa is nice to me.

"I want to look around, this place looks big." I said and Lady Critesa went closer to me and look concerned to the maid.

But when she realizes that nothing happened to them, she looked relief now.

"Your highness, the library is customized as what you requested to me, and the whole library has your things for your study." I nod and walk around the kitchen.

I miss the times when I can cook freely, maybe next time I'm going to bake some and feed it to Duke Theron.

"Thank you, Critesa. For fixing and organizing the library for me," I said, thanking my lady in waiting and all of the people are not affected by my curse, I'm happy.

"You're going to enjoy the view here, the air is so fresh, also. There's some lake behind the house. It's pretty cool." Critesa said, excited on showing the place around.

I am also excited. I can look around without an eye silk.

I can see the whole place without those things that is not that really comfortable to wear.

"What are these?" I asked the maid, when I saw a field of flowers, I am not familiar to the flower that I saw.

"It's a rare flower from deserted nation at the west, the Duke find the flower rare, it says that this flower is hard to relocate. If the mana of the person is weak, the flower will be dead." It's unique.

I get look at them, and I feel there's q presence behind me, so I look behind.

It's Duke Theron, holding q bouquet of flowers, and box of jewelry.

"You deserve all of the beautiful things here in this world, so let me give you all of the most beautiful things in my eyes." Duke Theron said, he's too formal.

This relationship is just for political purposes. Nothing special with this.

"You're cheesey one huh. Thank you for this gorgeous flowers that you gave to me." I smell it, it's so nice.

"Let's have some dinner later, and tomorrow. I'll introduce you the peiple who will teach you before I will go back to the empire, I will send a letter everyday, as a report so you're still aware of 5he happenings." I smile for a while and hold his hands.

"Thank you for giving me another decision that I never thought that I will chose it." Lady Critesa is wondering while she's away from me and Duke Theron.

"Most of the people like you, thank you for being nice to them."

"I'm practicing it, because once I become your wife, I need to act accordingly."