Her brother glanced at Duke Raziel, then turned to look at her as she stood frozen by the door. “You two know each other?” He asked.
She raised her eyebrows at the question. “What?” Why is this man here? What is he planning to do?
Duke Raziel stared at her, his eyes were telling her something. “It has been a long time, Lady Vienna.”
She snorted, realizing what he was doing. He came here, as her brother’s guest, claiming that they are friends. How impudent.
The nerve of this guy! After threatening her last night and sending her a letter asking for her hand in marriage, he appears here as nothing happened!
Still standing at the door, she dared to meet his gaze. “Oh, yes it has really been a long time, your grace.” She emphasized the word really.
The tension around the room was so heavy that her brother spoke up and broke the silence. “So you two really are friends, come and sit here with us, my dear sister.” He offered, patting on the space beside him.
“No,” Duke Raziel interjected, ushering her on the empty space beside him, “Sit here beside me, my friend.”
Looking at both of their expectant faces, it was obvious where Lady Vienna would sit. She approached her brother and sat beside him, giving a sarcastic smile in the duke’s direction. “I think I’ll have to sit beside my brother, your grace.”
The Duke huffed at that and just nodded.
“You were just in time, we were just talking about you, Vienna. I didn’t know that you were really friends with the Duke.” Her brother commented, chuckling.
She threw her brother a look, nudged him in the arm and he yelped in pain. What kind of nonsense is his brother talking about? Sometimes, she just wants to hit him in the head like the times when we were kids. He can’t seem to read the mood. He’s completely oblivious to the fact that he hates the villain.
She looked at Duke Raziel across from him. “Not to be rude, your grace, but may I ask what are you doing here? Seeing that you were too busy...”
“I’m glad you asked.” He answered. “I saw your brother on the way and thought of you. Have you received my letter?” He asked, his eyebrows raiser. “I was planning on talking about it yesterday at the coffee shop, but you didn’t appear.”
So he was serious with that letter? She faked a smile, “Oh, I apologize for that, your grace. I didn’t forget about it.” She lied, she forgot it and thought that the duke was just messing with him, but he doesn’t have to know that. “My father also forbid me from going out.”
The duke just stared at her for a minute, examining her face if she’s lying, and just shrugged it off.
“Haha, as I was saying,” Her brother butted in, “Do you have plans on getting married soon, your grace? If it’s alright to ask.”
She chuckled nervously at that, feeling sweat forming on her forehead. She discreetly wiped it and her brother noticed it. “You seem to be sweating, sister.”
She chuckled again, hitting her brother playfully. “Haha. It’s just hot in here.”
“Here.” She saw a handkerchief in front of her as the Duke offered it to her.
Her brother ushered her to accept it and hesitating, she sighed, grabbing it and lightly dabbing it on her sweat. She could linger the smell from the duke’s perfume. It smells fragrant, strong, and masculine. She cleared her throat. “Forgive me, your grace. I’ll return it to you once I ask the maids to wash it.”
The duke shook his head, “No, keep it...for remembrance, we’re friends after all.”
Turning to his brother, the duke then responded to his previous question, “About my marriage...everything is settled, except my future wife’s reply to my proposal. She seems to be thinking about it very carefully.” As he said that, she could feel his gaze trailing her, sending chills down her spine.
Her brother laughed at that, although nothing he said was funny. “That’s great, I am hoping she’ll agree soon. Send me an invitation when you two marries. I’ll be cheering for you, your grace.”
Then her brother stopped, looking at both of them. She gulped, nervous for some reason. What nonsense is he going to say next? “Excuse me for saying this your grace but, now that I see it, you two look good together.”
She coughed, almost choking on her own spit. The Duke diverted his eyes and looked to the ground, feeling shy.
Lady Vienna swears that right then and there, nothing is more satisfying than hitting her brother. He’s an expert at obliviously putting her in an awkward position! She fought the urge not to do that, taking a mental note to get her revenge after this situation.
“Did you hear that Lady Vienna? Your own brother said it himself...” Duke Raziel said to her, raising his eyebrows at her. If not for his mask, she could swear that he’s smirking.
Just then, the door opened and Titus appeared. He bowed at them, clearing his throat to catch their attention. “Forgive me for interrupting your conversation, but dinner is prepared, my lady, my lord, your grace.” Said her personal knight Titus.
She almost grinned in victory but stopped when the next words of her brother came out.
“Oh, I meant to ask for your grace. Do you want to stay for dinner and eat with us?” Her brother asked.
The Duke glanced at her, then shook his head no. “I’m sorry, as much as I want to, I need to take care of an urgent business.”
Her brother nodded. “Then I’ll see you next time when we have time then. Vienna, see him outside.” He ordered her.
Lady Vienna looked at his brother with furrowed eyebrows. “Why me?”
“You’re his friend.”
Sighing, she guided him outside their mansion.
After this, I won’t have to deal with him. She thought to herself.
“Thank you for today, I had a wonderful time. You and your brother were a great company.” The duke said.
“Yeah yeah, you’re welcome, your grace.” She said, rolling her eyes.
Instantly, she felt the duke leaning and whispering to her. “Don’t think that I had forgotten that you stood me up. You may have managed to get away from me at that time, but I’ll continue chasing after you until you let us talk about my proposal.” He said in a low voice.
She would have said that she was intimidated, but this is Lady Vienna that we are talking about. She’s an aggressive and strong lady who never backs down. “Then I’ll keep on rejecting you, your grace. Stop chasing me and find another lady. I promise I won’t spread your secret.”
“No, it has to be you. Or do you want me to tell your father that you visited the Rouge library, and asked to kill me?”
She stopped. Well well, looks like this will be a long ride.
"Have you heard what is the talk of the town these days?" Lady Vienna heard one of the waitresses say, as she spoke with her friends far away from their table. After the duke’s visit a few days ago, the duke invited her again to the coffee shop, threatening her about her visit to the Rouge guild if she didn’t go. Having no choice, she decided to finally attend.The waitress glanced at Lady Vienna carefully, noticing that the lady was there. Turning her lips upwards, the lady raised her eyebrows at her and smirked at her. One of her colleagues did not see her as she was facing the lady with her back so she was not careful with the next words she uttered, "Ohhh, I've heard it! Apparently, the tyrant duke, that Villain Duke Raziel Valen Donovan, had asked for the villainess' hand, Lady Xaviera!"
The next day, Lady Vienna prepared herself to go with her father to the palace, which she finally managed to convince. She decided not to bring her knight Titus, which Titus strongly opposed but did not have the choice but to listen to her request.In the book, there is another reason why the empire would fall soon, and she has to get a chance to talk to the emperor. But first, she’ll have to gain his favor."Can I ask why you want to go with me to the palace, Vinnia?" Asked her father as they got on the carriage. "Are you going to stalk the crown prince again?"She shook her head no. She has completely lost feelings for the crown prince the moment she knew her fate. "I want to meet Prince Avelin
She wanted to refuse him, but then she just agreed, they already encountered each other, and might as well talk to him. Plus, it would be too strange if she just fell on the grass and instantly healed already. The princess must not have told the crown prince about it...Good thing that the halls were empty and no one saw them. If not, she would not be surprised that tomorrow's news would be all about her and the crown prince. When they reached his study, he let her sit on the sofa, and let her face him with his sparkling golden eyes. His blonde hair was smooth and silky and she fought the urge not to run her fingers through it.The lady sent him a smile, "Oh, you can just leave me at the infirmary or ask for a maid to send me home, your highness. I came with my father."
The day had passed and Lady Vienna was found lazily lying in her room for the whole day. She felt tired from all these events from these past few days.Her maid, Roxy, couldn't help the smile spreading to her face. "The crown prince had sent you some tea leaves, my lady."The crown prince? Oh right, he promised to give her some tea leaves that time when she visited the palace...So he was serious?"Here's also a note attached to it." With a note on hand, Roxy handed it to her lady. Lady Vienna reading the letters written on it. It was wrapped in an elegant envelope, with golden colored ribbon and sealed with the beautiful golden seal, with the sun and lion symbol of the royal family, indicating it was truly from the palace.
As the Royal ball approached day by day, the whole town was preparing for it and the busiest was the palace. And before long, the Royal ball finally arrived. Sitting at her vanity, Lady Vienna had finally chosen the perfect dress she'll wear for the event tonight. "Everyone will stop and stare at you, my lady," Said Roxy as she put make-up on her lady. Of course, Lady Vienna had fully prepared herself. Smirking, she stared at her reflection, fully aware of her beauty. Her red lips and pale skin complements her red hair and green eyes, her rosy cheeks showing. The dress she picked for tonight is one of the dresses Duke Raziel had given to her. It was an off-shoulder ball gown that shines with its glitters. Her hair was up in a low bun as it framed her small face. Lady Vienna really went all out. She dressed to impress. The Royal ball would be starting in an hour soon, and Duke Raziel i
And before she could respond, she felt him guiding her towards the terrace. She was on the second ground and seeing a tall man with a hood standing still by the grasses, she managed to catch sight of his silver hair and black eyes through the dark. There's no mistaking it, he was the handsome man that gave the book! The man she was looking for! "Hey, Mister!" She said, wanting him to see her. The man looked up to the terrace and when he saw her, he sent her a gentle smile, before turning around and walking towards the woods. No, she has been waiting for this moment, she has to talk to him! She has a lot of things to ask about the book! Grabbing her dress, she pulled it up and stood by the railings. "Wait, Lady Vienna! What are you planning to do?" Asked Raziel from beside her, now panicking. "This is dangerous!" She glanced at the mysterious hooded man's figure who was slowly getting farther from her. "I think I saw the
"My lady," Called her handsome knight Titus by the door the next day. His silver hair and tanned skin stood out, and the gentle look on his face calmed her. "Princess Avelina sent you a letter.” Handing her an envelope with the sun and lion seal, indicating that it came from the palace. Inside it was an envelope with beautiful handwriting. “How are you, Lady Vienna? I enjoyed the ball last night, I hope you did too. I am hosting a tea party today and would like to invite you to it. If you have time, I would be very pleased if you attend. I’d like to be friends with you.” Sincerely yours,
To think that Lady Vienna forced herself to behave just for today. She opened her fan now, containing her anger. She held the glass in her hand, but her grip was so strong that the glass broke into pieces. Fighting the urge not to throw it at Countess Tumaini, she smiled at her. “Oh, yeah. I really enjoyed that dance last night. How about you, Countess Tumaini? Weren’t you jealous because your husband loves his work more than you? Or the fact that your husband is satisfied with you?” The countess gasped at that. Glaring at her, the countess laughed hysterically. “How outrageous! At least my husband is human, not like your beast fiance.” Beast fiance? She stood up at that. “What did you just stay?” She felt angry now hearing someone call Raziel a beast. She couldn’t stay still. She knew fighting idiot people would get her nowhere but here she is. Countess Tumaini grinned smugly. “Why?