Since she spent the better half of her first married year looking up and down for the elusive man, she could recognize him and his route even in her sleep. No one was assigned to help her so she bent her back to find and persecute Cage. Even the lowly guards of Traisen mocked her, the duchess who chased after another man. There were rumors that he was her secret lover. The descent of her reputation started from there.
“I wish I were his lover. He is a better man than Fredrich would ever be”When she finally met Cage, he eluded her grasp more than one. He said his hobby was messing up noble ladies, seeing them descend into depravity, giving them the pleasure their uptight husbands couldn’t give. Because she was so intent on finding him, it made her his next target.Natalia fell for his sweet words and started to look forward to seeing him more. She had her dignity as a noble so she didn’t fall for him but the pleasure that Fredrich couldn’t give her tempted her. It wasThe stuffy air of the carriage was hard to endure when the breeze was fresh outside in the city. Everything the man in front of her harped entered one ear and came out of the next. It was okay to ignore him, especially as she searched the crowd for familiar faces. Even after 10 years, her memories were still fresh, making her mission easier.“Milady, we would alight here. Please hold on to this”“Thank you” she smiled, taking the tablet. It had traces of fae magic which in the past, burnt her fingers when she took it. It was one of Wilbur’s many pranks. In the past, she flinched whenever she touched it but when she took it, even after a burn appeared on her hand, she didn’t flinch. The carriage door opened and she got down, leaving the stunned butler inside.It was the
“Who are you and what do you want from me?”“KNEEL”He fell to his knees, the dagger dropping from his grasp. Her heels rested on his head, pushing it into the ground. He felt her cold eyes rake over his body and the chill that accompanied it. “This is the last time I would tolerate such behavior from you. I am your master and you serve me. I don’t need to answer your questions”“I do NOT have a master,” he grunted, struggling under the hold. “If you defy me one more time, you will be granted the chance to lose an arm. I’m sure that would be quite unfortunate going through the forest of damnation” she quipped. He was immediately calm, clenching his teeth. “Good. Let's try this again. I am Natalia Adamantine. Just a few days ago, I was married to the Duke of Kristen. I have enslaved you for one purpose only, to get out of this hell hole. You have two options, get me out and I free you from your hold or die right now and I take over your little squad. I can
{Do you need me to heal that for you?}“No, that’s not the reason I called you, Madaline. You live in the forest of damnation, right?”{Do not call our home with that terrible human name}“......I apologize”{Yes, I do live in the forest of Telra. Do you need anything in particular?}
"Congratulations on solving the case, your grace. Thanks to you, the illegal trading ring had been uncovered and the town's peace had been restored""There is no need for thanks. I was just doing my job. Make sure to handle this well so his grace is not disturbed with such petty matters again""Yes, your grace"Natalia finished the pleasantries and returned to the Duke's mansion. She looked up to the skies and thought even if they were a bit gloomy, it was still a nice day. Why? The Duke's beloved was arriving that day!"You seem pleased, my lady. I'm sure his grace would reward you for a job well done""I don't really need a reward. I'm just relieved that I made the lives of the citizens a little better" she smiled brightly. Wilbur could almost see a halo over her head, inspiring a feeling of guilt and disgust in him."I'm sure the citizens are glad that you're the duchess""Please, I'm not deserving of the title yet. U
It was impossible to not have heard of the Castle on the Edge. Even for a forgotten princess, hearing gossip of the Duke’s life in the Southeast was easy. All she had to do was listen in on the chatty maids doing laundry behind her palace. It was also how she heard he was getting married. Lady Natalia Adamantine. She was well known and loved in the capital by the common people. The nobles showed her courtesy in front of everyone but behind her backs, there were many malicious words being said. Alana thought they were just alike. Everyone spited her for being the bastard born into the royal family even though she didn’t ask for it. Her days in the palace nowadays were quiet and long. In the past, she would be maltreated by mere servants but now, she was left to rot like a spiderweb in the corner. The reason for this was none other than Fredrich. It happened suddenly. One day, the abandoned palace got a visitor. The place buzzed to life, the servants hurriedly cleaning
The door swung open and a shocked Fredrich stormed into the room. She took a sip from the tea she was served, setting it down delicately. Late into her past life, she learned etiquettes to reinforce herself in society and push herself to the position left vacant by the now married Natalia. She rarely got the opportunity to see Fredrich rattled. She had seen other things, including the expiry of his heavenly beauty but the Grand Duke still didn’t lose his cool. Still, he wasn’t her hope for survival.“Your highness, you didn’t tell me you were……….”“I had a sudden invitation from the Young Lord Sebastian who offered to take me on a tour of the kingdom. Since he was heading here, he brought me here. The Duchess…….didn’t seem to mind”Does she remember her past life? She didn’t look like it. She hasn’t changed. The total disregard she had for me and the elegance she has, how did I think I could beat that? Why did I……even hate her in the first place?“You met Natali
Natalia tried very hard to convince Sebastian to stay calm. Even when he was ignored by the duke and treated like he wasn’t a high noble, he accepted it all because of her. However, the dreaded dinner time came and Natalia wasn’t sure how she would smoothen the conflict.Make no mistake, her father couldn’t care less about her and wouldn’t stat a conflict with the duke over her welfare. But if it was Sebastian, then it could seriously be trouble. If Sebastian was treated the same way she was, Natalia could kiss her peaceful days goodbye.“Bastian, please, be calm. I beg of you, just this once. We only have to do dinner together today and after today, it’ll just be two of us”“What are you talking about, my precious? What could possibly go wrong?”
“Sebastian…….”“I don’t want to hear it, Natalia. Not now”Natalia zipped her mouth shut, looking at the passing scenery. Rather than the noisy, bustling view of Traisen she had the first few times, it was a more quiet, sophisticated view she was greeted with. That was how the more advanced and luxurious part of Traisen looked like.The place where the nobility lived was the safest and most luxurious part of Traisen. In case of an invasion, the nobles could easily escape or stay safely guarded in their homes until they were rescued by royal knights. Just a few weeks ago, she had secretly bought a house there while she was ‘investigating’ the cases she was handed.The carriage stopped in front of a moderately sized b