DUCHESS 19 Nikos bowed his head as he uttered his presence and greeted me good morning before walking in, “Good Morning, Milady. Did you have a good night's rest?” he asked as he pushed the trolley into the room and closed the doors behind him. Showing him a small smile, I walked back to the table that was beside the big window of my room and waited for Nikos to serve my breakfast for the day. “Yes, it was a nice rest. Although a dreamless slumber, but still a nice one.” I responded. This made the butler smile a bit wider than his usual one and then he removed the cover of the food and my tea. “That is good to hear, Milady.” He then served my breakfast: a light omelette with some green peas on the side and a slice of peaches as the dessert. For the tea, it was a Blue Butterfly Pea tea infused with honey. But there is one thing unusual about the tea. It is not piping hot at all. “Why is there an ice in the tea? Did the chef experiment again?” look
DUCHESS 20 Why are there so many unusual things that are happening today? Did I do something? Did I offend some kind of deity or a god to deserve all of these things that are not in my schedule or on the usual things that are happening to me? But no matter, I will handle it and internalize it all after I settle the business with the Duke of Leviathan--- Duke Ruther. As I was doing a little narrative here, inside my head, he was busy telling stories while his stomach bellowed with laughter--- his shoulders shaking at the same time. “Oh I still remember that time when you would always hide behind your mother whenever I visit. Apparently, my stature was too intimidating to you back then that you would cower in fear whenever I visited your grandfather for a drink or maybe a business.” Duke Ruther said to me and Drew, his eyes reflecting that happiness and nostalgia before settling in the feeling of ‘missing someone’ and it is very evident in his eyes. As a response, I let out a little g
DUCHESS 21 At the mini garden, there Octavia let us stay, saying that it is better if we are there away from the chaos that the commoners always bring whenever they are. After a while, she left on the excuse of getting us some food to have and maybe have a cup of tea before leaving. The silence engulfed me and Marcus once again as we continued to stare at the plants thriving at the mini garden, with the fireflies floating around and about giving the whole scenery a nice glow. The silence continued on as neither the two of us wanted to break the fragile silence, or maybe we just do not have the topic to talk about. I turned to him, to Marcus. Seeing his unusual white hair and captivating crimson red eyes— if one were to know the existence of vampires, they would brand him as one. His pale skin is an added characteristic and if his canine teeth were more prominent then he would be immediately executed with garlic bread and a stake. But it is a good thing that this world, this kingdom
DUCHESS 22The next day, I woke up a bit groggy, albeit I was able to wake up early this time, still, my body was aching and longing for more time with my soft bed. It felt like the bed was still calling my name in a sing- song voice and persuading me to come back and lay down a bit longer. But we all know that it cannot be at the moment. There is a lot to do. Well, technically no. all my paper works were all done and completed and right now, I only need to read and send replies from all the letters that I have received in this month alone. And it would take a hell lot of time. ‘Now I really miss my phone and my other gadgets when I was Reine and living on Earth. I miss the convenience of it all.’ I thought to myself, almost crying because of the inconvenience that I am experiencing right now. Maybe I can invent or maybe produce something that would make my life easier as the Duchess? Well, maybe. I can list that to my itinerary of things I want to do in this world. But I believe th
DUCHESS 23 Uriel and I stared at each other for a moment longer before the shock subsided. We then asked each other what we were doing in the kitchen in the middle of the night. Well, the most concerning is why is he here in my estate’s kitchen in the middle of the night. “Seriously, what are you doing here? In my estate? In my kitchen? In the middle of the night?” I am sure that the look of surprise and disbelief were clearly plastered on my face as I asked those questions. “How did you even get here? Did you ride a horse to here? In the middle of the night? Uriel, that is so much dangerous!” I added and began to worry about his safety. Being a Crown Prince is already a lot of threat. He has a lot of competitors in the throne as he has many siblings. But being related to the Duchess of Fortess dukedom is also an added risk--- he could be kidnapped (if anyone was brave or just plain stupid to do so) and used against me to do what else they deemed ‘right’. Even if he is older than me
DUCHESS 24 After that unofficial and sudden visit of the Crown Prince, and Drew waking me up early in the morning, I started my day just like how I do it with my routine. A week passed without any contact from either Uriel or Marcus. They might have been busy in that week and never had the time to reply to my letters at all. I could have visited Uriel in the palace but that would take so long just to travel there and possibly cause a commotion during and after--- maybe even before. And with the fact that he was not responding at all, even with just a simple ‘hi’, then he must really be busy. ‘I guess the fight for the throne has subsided, but the casualties left must have been so drastic that it needed Uriel’s attention to be cleaned silently.’ The fight for the throne was never a pleasant one. There are always casualties involved and it is always unpredictable. Still, it is amazing how the royal family was able to cover it all up, and to keep it silent and unassuming to the public
DUCHESS 25 Getting fed up because Marcus did not respond at all and that I know at this point that he was only pretending to be sick, by the end of the week, I decided to visit his lodging place. In disguise of course and o rode with a horse rather than with a carriage. Carriages travel a bit slower than a horse, and speed and time is of the essence at this point. His lodging was near the border of the Dukedom of Fortess and of the Royal Capital so visiting there would not be an issue of identification. I can just strode in the lodging inn and ask for his name, presenting myself as a companion of his. It is a benefit that I have yet to have an official and formal debut to the citizens of the Kingdom of Sagareste, or else a huge commotion would occur inside the inn of this couple once they knew that they were casually talking to the Fortess Duchess herself. “Oh, you are a friend of Mr. Zoldago? Mhm, you are the tenth one to ask about him this week, and as we have told all of them be
DUCHESS 26 It seemed that the smell of the delicious porridge wafting through the air was able to attract the very tired businessman from the mattress and closer to the table. Since I have already been eating, I also took the time to get him his utensils with mine and when he sat with me at the table, his bowl and spoon were already there, filled with the portion of the porridge. He stared at the bowl for a moment, then he looked at me and stared for a long time. His gazes were something along the lines of ‘are you real?’ or ‘is this real?’ and he continued to do so with a raised brow. I sighed at this and looked at him dead in the eye then said, “Stop staring at me and just eat your fill. You are just hungry, that is why you are so grumpy right now.” With that said, I stopped caring if he is still staring or not, I just ate more of the porridge as it was so good. I even hummed in satisfaction as I ate the last spoonful of it in my bowl. When I looked back at Marcus, he was also e
DUCHESS 50Her Majesty the Queen then proceeded to tell me how the too much intake of steroids made my grandfather turn into a tyrannical maniac. How my grandfather would always request to have a cup of tea with her because he would experience immense straight after their tea. And then, after a few months of having constant tea with Her Majesty the Queen, Queen Elise finally gave my grandfather the blend of tea that she would always serve with him. It was mixed with all the herbs, chemicals and plants that would make up the steroids. It was a foolproof ploy and soon enough, my grandfather turned for the worst. Her Majesty the Queen erupted in a laugh as she saw the devastation and fear smeared all over my face: eyes wide from shock, tears still streaming down my cheeks as she told the whole story. She said she purposely made the writers omit that part since it would trace it all to her, “so I had to erase some footsteps so whoever tries to investigate what happened at that point of t
DUCHESS 49 The breeze of the cold wind at night made the balcony all the more relaxing, but all that relaxation was slowly being replaced by anxiety as I held the envelope in my hands. The contents were still unknown, but I hope that it would solve the final piece of the puzzle. The theory of His Majesty the King was highly plausible, given the fact that a person cannot simply overlook the emotional pain that they are holding, and it is true that the said pain will catch up to them soon. But the theory alone cannot simply explain it all. No, there must be something else, the mere grief is not enough to make a person of such good nature and good heart turn into the most tyrannical person that a person can be, and at such a fast pace. Holding the envelope in my hand, I took the both ends and proceeded to tore it apart, creating an opening for me to take the paper inside. The paper smelled like flowers and fruits--- whoever used this paper must be of noble blood and took great effort i
DUCHESS 48 Into the backrooms of the Grand Hall of the Royal Palace, the people inside were only me, Viscount Ludwig and His Majesty the King. Her Majesty the Queen and the Crown Prince were not explicitly invited thus they cannot enter here in the back rooms. The back rooms are a private room that only His Majesty the King can use and have access in to. not even the servants can just enter this room and when serving us food and drinks, the trolley was left outside and we are the ones to take it from there. Being invited in the backrooms means that His Majesty the King has something important to discuss, or it is something of a top secret kind of way. Once inside the backrooms and already had our fill of the meal: steak, fried potatoes partnered with hollandaise sauce and some wine wiiiittt h dessert included some mixed fresh fruit and honey, perfect for a refreshing end of the meal. We sat in silence as we savoured the greatness of the meal and none among the three of us dared t
DUCHESS 47 A week after the dinner at the Royal Palace, invitations are already being distributed to every noble of the Sagareste Kingdom for the upcoming awarding and banquet celebration at the end of the month. word had circled around the nobles of whom the award banquet celebration might be, but a lot of them had already suspected that the award and banquet is dedicated to the current Duchess of the Fortess uchy: Friele Marcia Madrigal Fortess— me. Upon knowing that, many of the nobles had already sent me letters of congratulations and further invitations on their houses so as to establish a connection. Still, most of the nobles are busy for the preparation of the event that is going to happen at the Royal Palace. a lot of them have been going to the modiste or summoning the best designer in the kingdom to commision a dress or a set of them. Meanwhile, the Harvesting Season had also started and the farmers were busy harvesting their produce and organising the selling price
DUCHESS 46A few minutes after my meal, I glanced over at Yuri to see how she was faring as she read through that part of the book— the one detailing the reign of tyrant grandfather when he was still alive. “Care to tell me what is said in there?'' I said while finishing up the dessert. Yuri did not budge nor acted to ever hear my voice, she was so focused on the book that she might as well place her face inside of it. her brows were scrunched, her brows almost meeting each other and forming a unibrow. I cleared my throat, in hopes to get her attention this time, and good thing it was successful.“Your Grace. Sorry, I was too immersed in the book. do– do you need anything?” the Head Maid asked as she walked closer to me, closing the book and putting it on the desk. her face was the usual blank one, a poker face if you will. but her eyes tells something else. “None at the moment. I am one with my meal. you can take them away.” I said while i wiped my mouth with the cloth. Yuri bowe
DUCHESS 45“Oh, there you are.” A voice said and soon was followed by footsteps coming closer to me. I whipped my head to the direction of the voice and the footsteps, only to see the Crown Prince, in his pajamas? That is so weird. “Uriel, why are you in your pajamas? how can you walk in the halls in your pajamas?” Seriously, we all have such weird things inside our minds. Uriel only smiled at me with his slightly sleepy eyes and replied, “I walked and traveled through the secret pathways inside the Palace walls. it's fun really, i can show them to you if you want. By the way, what are you looking for?” Uriel then grabbed a book, offering his help.“Don't you have a duty to get to?” I asked with a raised brow. nobles start their day at the break of dawn, what more for a royal. but Uriel only laughed at my question and continued, “Well, you are here. aren't you technically taking a break?” a few moments of silence passed between us with only the end of pages being flipped echoing t
DUCHESS 44“Back then your mother and I made sure that we would have time to hang out with each other, whether it be for a tea or even doing anything as long as we have each other’s presence, as long as we are on each other’s side. we are fine with that.” Her Majesty the Queen said as she took a sip from her cup. Meanwhile, I cannot help but to continue to read the letter that my mother sent to her. It was fun to read them as they would talk about just about anything. But what interested me more was when they talked about my father and the King, how they judged the two men and pointed out both the good and bad qualities of the King and my father. I could not help but laugh."Wait, my mom and you, met my father and His Majesty at the same time?" I asked, turning my head to face Her Majesty the Queen. The Queen nodded her head as a confirmation. "Yes, they used to spar with each other when learning swordsmanship. That is how we also met them, as we watched a match and we looked into e
DUCHESS 43 Violetta Suzette Perues was her name before she became queen. And even then, she was the fairest of them all. Her hair as black as ebony, her lips are red as blood and her skin as white as snow, many people swooned over her, both male and female wanted to be with her, wanted to own her. Many people would flock around her and would surround her whenever she is in the proximity, they would always try to talk to her and would always try to be close to her as proximity may allow--- they would do their best to be at skin to skin contact to her--- they would do their best to hold her. Violetta Suzette Perues then adapted an intimidating persona--- sha created a meticulously curated persona that intimidating, that is cruel and that is unapproachable--- she made it so that people would go away, so that people would flock away from her and leave her alone. But all that was in vain--- as people still flocked around her, still surround her and as if that is not enoug
DUCHESS 42 The chambers of the Queen was breath- taking. It embodies the symbols of the Royal Family: roses, gold vines and twinkling lights. The doors of the Queen’s chamber was painted pearl white and decorated with gold linings. A symbol of moon embossed on the top of the door, symbolising that it is the chamber of the Moon of the kingdom. The inside was even more so breath- taking. With red velvet curtains hanging from the huge windows, to the starlight painting at the ceiling being complimented by the chandelier inside. The receiving area of the Queen’s chamber was giving a calm atmosphere with the furnitures in the color of pastel blue. The sofas with the framing painted in gold, the tables with gold lining. The vases were filled with roses in full bloom and giving the sweet smell of flowers, it is addicting at this point. The floors were also tiled in pearl white and lined with gold. Everything was white and lined with gold: the bookshelves, the desk, the wind