"Your majesty, may I see my sister?" Marianna came to see Layla in her chambers only to find that her sister had fled to sleep in her husband's study the previous night."No" Icarus didn't had the heart to wake up Layla after she had been so sound asleep thus he did not listen to Marianna and flipped through the scrolls. "Okay I am going to meet her then." One was obsessed with her sister and the other did not have any idea why he liked the enemy princess so much.It was so bizarre that he just did and it was even more foolish to think that Marianna did not follow his command and he did not have the heart to be cold and ruthless to call the guards to make her leave."You don't have the authority to, try entering if you can.""There is nobody who knows Layla better than me, I will help you win her over if you let me meet her." There was a long stretching silence as Marianna tapped her fingers on the table and Icarus kept scribbling something."She is still sleeping." Marianna's face f
"Look at that, she is here again." The soldiers training fiercely looked up and saw the petite visage of a female glancing at them from above. She was quiet and cold so much so that there were very few that could directly gaze into those clear blue eyes.When General Isaiah raised his head the only thing he could see were eyes searching for someone amongst the crowd, black pools met azure and a gentle nod of acknowledgement was offered by the female. Everyday she would come here and do such things and then disappear without a word.She was really strange but then she was so enchanting that no one had the courage to question her. Isaiah's father was the second duke of Ardos and since Marianna had appeared they had wished to extend marriage talks with the Empress regarding her sister and their son.It was just that Empress Layla did not entertain any such thoughts and the Duke, Isaiah's father assumed that Empress was looking for a marriage with another country's monarch for her sister
Imperial entourage consisting of the Emperor and Empress along with young Duke Everdale, Princess Marianna, and General Helios embarked on the journey to Avesta.Layla and Icarus were going to share a carriage and the emperor of Ardos was extremely pleased with the arrangements, he had asked maids to wrap up cheese sandwiches and different kinds of pastries along with some tea so that throughout the journey he could enjoy watching Layla as she stuffed her face like a chipmunk.It was just that, maybe the chef was so touched when his majesty made a personal request that the edibles delivered were so much that it could not be carried by a single servant thus a train of people followed the emperor.When they saw Icarus smile they smiled too for this eccentric person for once was pleased.The carriage doors opened and the smile on Icarus's face soon turned to a scowl when he saw a wide-eyed Helios looking at him."You, get out!""N-No! I am asking sir Helios questions, you can take Marian
Warning" MatureVenus, the goddess of love and beauty shone as an evening star over the mortal realm, and the entire arena was stained with darkness, tents were set and Layla was escorted by her husband to one of the carven. It was a place like this previously when she had an argument with her father over marrying Icarus, it was here he raised his hand at her."Are you cold?" Layla seemed to have not heard Icarus and stared blankly at the ground, only when her thick fur cloak was taken off her bare shoulders did she raise up her head and stare at the golden irises that were gazing at her lovingly."I don't want to forgive them.""Then don't." Warm liquid was poured down her bare shoulders and massaged with rough palms as they left burning touches, Layla did not even realize that she was freezing cold and her muscles so stiff as she thought about hateful things until the gentle fingers dug into her flesh and slow circles were rubbed.A dark euphonic voice thrummed behind her back as a
"Duke Everdale" Bloodshot irises looked up from the desk where papers were jumbled and arranged haphazardly. The Duke was in his late forties and had handsome features thus when the butler saw him as such he could not help but sigh and feel sorrow. Their mansion was once an impenetrable castle where not even a bird could enter without the permission of the Duke and two young masters but now it was all a shell made up of nothing but empty hallways."Master Princess-""Is Laylah back?! I-I must go out at once and receive her!""No! No master.....Princess Marianna has called you out to eat." The childish excitement was gone and was soon covered under the dust of frosty blue irises as something that was not even alive was awarded death again and the duke refused to acknowledge his agony."I will be downstairs in a moment." The scene of a small little child with beautiful pink hair, stuttering shyly before presenting her cake to him came in front of his eyes.The duke along with his two so
"What is the date today?""Mylady is seventeenth of lunar year, third month in spring."There was utter silence on the other side of the room for some minutes before the female sprang up suddenly and ran to the dresser."Oh!" Irises like opulent gems just like her mother and a healthy body that she possessed before. It was maybe a dream, a dream in which she was twenty and have returned five years before her death. But what was the use of all that, it was a farce altogether. So supposing it was a beautiful dream the said princess again went to sleep yet even after waking up after an hour or so nothing changed.She could feel the refreshment of cool water in which she bathe, taste the warm soup she drank and the feeling of lace on her body was also too real. Even her personal maid hummed the exact same song that she used to sing all those years ago.She had returned.The smell of inked papers filled the room, it was a familiar aroma that filled her lungs but also one of the most hated
Everdale was one of the three ducal houses in the empire of Avesta along with Valentine and Felian and had a long, prestigious history of producing extraordinary heirs of both sexes. Young master Karl and Leon were the brothers of Princess Layla and Marianna being older than them. One of them was a military general while another the scholar that looked after the internal affairs of the empire.But what use did Layla had? She did not possessed any qualities of an heir.It was a misfortunate incident that the duchess caught a disease and died an year after giving birth to the twin sisters thus both Layla and Marianna were precious for Everdale but since Marianna was always kept at home, the males showered her with special care while they believed Layla capable enough to carry the weight of an heir herself.It was just that she was too fragile and kind that it was almost foolish...she was a daughter that could not be shown in public. Duke Everdale hated such weak willed women. It remind
Porcelain teacup from the east of the empire shattered into fragments as a soft, sweet voice that was peculiarly shrill at the moment echoed in the garden."What did you say?""M-Miss...Lady Layla has been asked to get engaged to Duke Valentine by the orders of the Duke." After that, the tea party that was going on with ladies from several noble houses did not truly matter as the woman got up from her seat with graceful movements, gentle eyes expressing her apologies as she excused herself. Lady Marianna despite being a sickly person controlled the aristocracy through iron reins of her will and had the high society within the palm of her hands. The way to the Everdale castle was somewhat blurry and as soon as Marianna arrived at the mansion she first expressed her desire to be taken to Layla who was preparing to leave for the rendezvous with Duke Valentine that was arranged without her wishes.The woman with dark blusish irises had a fiery temper but a weak constitution thus she huff