27

"I have no plan to meddle between your problem with your father, but I can assure that I am willing to help you, I am actually thankful that I didn't get affected by your curse, what a terrifying power you have." Sage Azriel said while eating some dinner with me.

I offered the villa and he gladly accept the offer of mine.

"You're nice, Princess Delaney. Because there's a lot of rumor that is circulating at the Gribe empire. Saying that you're messing with the nobles, and all of them are afraid of you, but it's different from what I heard." He look around the servants, all of them are happy and comfortable with me.

"I know that a lot of nobles at Gribe hated me. Because they want their own daughters to become the empress holder. But Kier didn't want to marry any of them, because—" I didn't continue to talk, and he looked curious about it.

"Because it's simply he didn't like that idea, and they will use the empress position to take advantage the throne." I explained well, and he agreed on me.

"I actually believe you, even at the Drivike empire, haven't you heard, your father is still looking for concubine, while the crown princess is now open." I took a bite at the steak and nod.

So, they are looking for a new one? Why?

"Sir William, he is missing at the moment. But I heard that your father, want Sir William to become the husband of your sister, Princess Hannah." I nod again and he wipe his lips, done at eating the dinner.

"The candidate for Princess Hannah's husband are Sir William or Duke Theron." I almost dropped the fork, what?

"I know, once you announce your engagement with the Duke, expect that your father is the first person who will do everything to stop you, for marrying the Duke. Because Duke Theron has the biggest land, the wealthiest among all nobels. His wealth is the same as the wealth of the royal family now, because your father is using the money for gambling, buying slaves." My eyes went bigger.

He just spill something that I need to find an info.

"Buying slaves are illegal, gambling the money of the government is also illegal, I'll take note of that." The servant suddenly appeared and gave me the note pad and pen.

"You didn't miss any information, you're good huh." I didn't pay attention to his words and continue to write down what I needed to find.

"Give this to John, and tell him that find anything about this," I said and gave the note to the servant.

"I think I know what you're planning, but I won't talk about it, I'll give you the info that you need to hear, once that I came back to the capital." I wipe my lips and drink some water.

"Thank you so much for your support, lord Azriel. You helped me today, is there anything that I can give?" He show his beaming smile to me.

"Hmm, maybe just let me look at your face." He placed his hand at his cheeks, and look at me now.

"W-what?"

"Nothing, just kidding." He joked and stand up.

"Just be careful, the more you know about it, your life is getting shorter, a lot of people will come to you, so you gotta strengthen your mana, study more about your powers, and if it is okay to you, do you want me to find more info about that ability, because that is not a curse, my father made a mistake." I look away and his offer is really great.

But I cannot agree if I don't know the compensation of his offer.

"Just tell me what do you want." He went closer and looking straight to my eyes. Those blue eyes is hypnotizing one.

"You," Azriel casually said and pinched my nose.

"Just you, when the right time will come." He left the dining room and I close my eyes for a while.

What does he mean me. My whole self? My body or what?

"These guys are giving me head ache." I said and walk around the villa. Holding my wine glass and wine bottle.

When I reached the door, I sneaked and walk around the garden. The breeze is cold, and the moonlight is shining bright tonight.

I hope I can survive all of this problems, I can drink tonight since I will have a rest tomorrow, before taking care the another affairs of Duke Theron.

Once that I become dutchess, it will take a lot of time, and I am sure that I will become more busier.

But for the mean time, I will enjoy all of it and take it slow, while I am still hidden to my family.

I sit down under the tree, and lean on the tree. Just one bottle, and I will sleep.

When I poured the wine, I heard a voice behind me.

"I looked at your room, you're not there." I look who is behind me, and it's the Duke.

"I went home hurriedly, because of the bandit incident, but when I am here. I didn't expect that you will take home some person that is more dangerous to the bandits." He said and sat beside me.

I offered the wine bottle, and he drink there.

"I take care of it, Azriel won't talk." I said before sipping at the wine glass.

"He won't, but what he want back is not that easy to fullfil." I looked at the Duke and just take a deep breath.

"He didn't demand anything."

"That is more concerning, not demanding anything mean want something else in the future." I just look away and nod.

"Maybe that's true, but he saved me from the bandit, when I am running out of mana, he also managed to save the knight that is dying. Because I sent back your knight for backup." I explained and Duke Theron looked convinced now.

"So, what's your plan now?" Duke Theron asked me, and I watched the stars, so beautiful.

"I just want to take a rest tomorrow, it's kind of exhausting lately. I fought and make a deal with the Sage. I want to lay at my bed for the whole day, that's all." I looked at Duke Theron and he smile at me.

"I'm proud of you, you're doing your best and putting all of your heart at every missions and works that you're dealing with, you're great. Princess Delaney." I smirked and rolled my eyes.

"Of course I am, I will bring down my father, and make sure that I will left a big impact to the history of royal family of Drivike." I said and hold tight at the glass wine.

That's true. My plan is to leave a impact to the family of greedy.

Because even I am just a daughter of concubine, I will prove them wrong. I can be the best when I want it.

"You did great actually, I didn't expect that you're capable of doing all of this." I smirk again and Duke Theron was laughing hard now.

I don't know, but I put my head on his shoulder and took a deep breath.

This time, I will win, I have to win because that is part of the plan, losing is not part of it.

"Thank you for the offer, you saved me." I close my eyes after saying that, I feel tired. Taking a nap is not that bad, I guess.

Theron POV

Princess Delaney's breath went deeper, and when I look at her, she's sleeping peacefully now at my shoulder.

She's really tired, I see and feel it. I Iift her and went to her room.

I hurriedly went back to the Villa because of the news from my knights. But it's a good thing that she can handle the situation and used her curse to the opponent.

"Good night, my queen." I placed Delaney at her bed, before kissing her forehead and close the door.

"You're attracted to the Princess, do you know the situation that she will be with, once that you announce your engagement with Princess Delaney?" I looked at Sage Azriel, standing next to the room of Delaney.

I didn't feel his presence.

"Princess Hannah will do anything to get rid of Princess Delaney, you know how crazy that woman is, just to win you." I chuckled and walk, gonna get some wine.

"I don't care about that girl, she is just a small portion, unlike Princess Delaney, she's the worth it to become a real Princess of this empire." I pour some wine for Azriel and gave it to him.

"Stay away from my woman, she's mine." I take a sip after saying that, and Azriel laugh sarcastically.

"Oh, you're showing your real colors. You know why I am here, and the reason why I am involving myself to the future empress of Drivike empire, because I have a vision already." I harshly looked at Azriel, and he smile widely.

"You can't stop us to come into the path of Delaney, because that is her faith, and I assure you, it's not just me," Azriel continue and I just sit down and close my eyes.

"Thank you, for helping Delaney lately." I open my eyes and look at Azriel.

"The Princess had a terrifying power, it's not a curse and I will prove that my father has a mistake, and I will do everything to prove that I am greater than him."

Azriel really hate his father, but I don't really care.

"What did she do lately, to labeled her powers as terrifying." I pour some wine at the glass of Azriel.

"Watch this." Azriel show some image that is coming from his hand, and Delaney stare at the bandit, I saw how the eyes of bandit glow for a second, and stab himself until he died.

"And I just replenish a few mana, yet. She manage and pull something like that, but I have a speculation that Delaney's origin is from the north, because of her eyes." Azriel pointed his eyes.

"Her mother's eyes was violet, I heard it from my father, before he died due to wrong information that he spread." I look at the glass wine of mine.

Now, even I are curious of the real identity and origin of Princess Delaney.

"I will also find way to gather some information about the mother of Delaney, but for now. Please help me to protect Delaney, can you put some barrier at my villa. I have a bad feeling, because I hurriedly went back here," I explained and Azriel stand up, and spread his arms.

His hands glow and he make me look at the window.

"Your Villa is hidden now, tell Delaney that only people here at the Villa, can see it outside."

He started to walk but stoped and look at me.

"I want some hair of Princess Delaney, and a few blood." He said and left.

What was that for?