Chapter: 4

Katara is looking at the Duke with a serious face, he really blames her for her daughter's disappearance. She doesn't know his intention for kidnapping her, but she knows it's not good. She's starting to regret saying to the mistress to follow her heart because she really did, really sometimes we don't really need to follow our hearts but because the mistress's heart is with her lover she flees with him. Grrr!

"What do you want from me, Duke Salazar?" She asks with a dangerous tone of voice, she just wakes up earlier in the bed after she faints. Her head is spinning for a little bit, and can still feel dizzy. She also feels sore in her neck because of the hit, damn! She let her guard down.

"I have an offer to you…" She knotted her forehead, she had a bad feeling about it.

"What is it? And do you really need to drag me here Duke?" She still managed to be nice to him, even though she was considering killing him.

"My daughter vanished, and the selection is about just two weeks. The Knights said it will take a month to find her, and I wanted you to pretend to be her while she's gone."

"Pardon?"

"You want me to be in her position?" She added.

"Yes, that's what I am saying. Since of all the maids you're close to my daughter, you know her already. You can pull the act perfectly." Close? What is he saying? They didn't even close for an inch, yes the mistress is kind to her but she never treated her as a friend.

"I'm sorry Duke but I can't accept your offer." She declined. If she's someone she will be really glad about entering the place but she's not, she just wants to live peacefully, and being involved with high status is a mess. She knows because she experienced it already.

"No, I'm not done yet. I'll pay your mother's expenses for her treatment, I'll find the best healers and doctors to treat her illnesses, I heard her health is pretty bad, if you will agree to my conditions I'll help you save her." Katara looks at him for a second while trying to think and process what the Duke says. This wicked man really knows how to lure her, he knows that she needs a big amount right now to admit her mother to such a hospital and he's taking advantage of that. She hates it but she doesn't have any choice, she wants to help her mother.

"What are your terms and conditions?" She coldly asked.

"Just simple, just keep being chosen by the Prince until my daughter returns. And also I wanted him to be in love with my daughter in your position. I wanted you to secure the throne for her, I wanted her to be the next queen for sure."

So it means he wanted the Prince to fall in love with her? Thinking she's the duke's daughter? And made her a Queen? It doesn't concern her at all, because one of her experts is seducing her target for assassination.

"Is that what I just needed to do?" She asks, she'll admit compared to her previous work this is much better. She doesn't have to take anyone's life, she just needs to pretend.

"Are you really willing to pay for my mother's expenses?" She asks again, the Duke nods his head.

"Yes, you have my words."

"Then why do you need to capture me for this?"

"Because if you'll decline you need to die, I'll kill you…" The Duke looked at her with a fierce look, she wasn't surprised at all. Greedy men like him are willing to kill anyone just to fulfill their goals, he will do anything. Katara just looks at him too without any fear visible in her eyes, she doesn't actually fear death because she's been there before so many times. She was already tortured, broke some bones, and shot with bullets. She already feels different pain that's why she doesn't fear death.

"If you are willing to pay for my mother's treatment then let's have a deal, Duke Salazar, I also want you to give my father a good job with good pay and promise you'll sponsor my siblings for their education." The Duke just stared at her, and he smiled.

"If that's what you want, then let's have a deal."

Before the sun rises, Katara has already come back to her room. She can't help but think about what she just did. She doesn't feel any regrets but at the same time, she feels hesitation. But she doesn't have any choice right now, her mother needs treatment. It's her family now, and it's her first time feeling the love. This is her first time feeling that she wanted to protect someone, and she'll cherish this for her whole life.

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