Chapter 10: A letter from the Grand Duke
In the imperial throne room, the man who led the war for years bent down on his knee before the emperor. He slowly removed his head armor, revealing his dark hair matched with a pair of jet-black eyes that were as dark as the void. But what was left in everyone's memories who had seen his almost perfectly sculptured face was his imperfection; the large scar from his cheek down to his lips.
"Your Majesty, the emperor, I've returned," He said in a deep and manly voice.
The emperor, who was resting his jaw against his knuckles, gazed at him coldly. "I'm glad to see you again, Luis. You've won the war and surely received a lot of recognition for defending the southern borders."
Despite the obvious hints from the emperor, the man, Luis, remained humbled. "It's all thanks to Your Majesty. I merely did my duties and will continue to do so under your Majesty's command."
"Is that so?" The emperor smirked, pleased that Luis hadn't forgotten his place. "I won't beat around the bush. I supposed you read my letter?"
The letter, or rather, the royal decree he sent regarding the marriage he arranged? Of course, Luis had read it all, making his eyes glint.
"Yes," Luis replied in a low tone.
The emperor nodded. "Marquess Ross had been growing in power along with his fortune. I hope you will treat your fiance well. If I didn't do this, I don't think I will ever get to see you get married!"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I thank you for thinking of my well-being." This time, Luis' voice had a touch of sarcasm, which the emperor noticed, but ignored.
"Very well. I know you, and your troop is tired from your journey. You may rest." The emperor offered magnanimously, which Luis accepted with a bow.
As Luis walked away, his eyes glinted while his jaw tightened. The emperor was truly a sly fox. To keep Luis under surveillance, and to appease the aristocratic faction, the emperor had tied them together in marriage to watch each other's movements.
'He must be planning something.' Luis thought, as his gut feeling never lied to him.
****
A week had passed since the grand duke and his troop arrived in the Capital. But until now, he hadn't visited his lovely fiancee.
"You seem a little dispirited today, Lady Marsella." Lady Sarah snapped me out of my trace, making me set my eyes on her.
A shallow breath slipped past my lips. "I was wondering if his highness will visit me before our wedding, or will our first meeting be on our wedding day?"
"His highness is probably busy since he just returned to the Capital," she explained as she placed down her cup of tea.
"I know that." I sighed once again. "But still, he shouldn't make it so obvious how disinterested he was with our marriage."
"Lady Marsella, what will you do once you meet his highness?"
I glanced at Lady Sarah, eyebrow raised while the side of my lips curled into a smirk. "Charm him?"
"Lady Marsella." Lady Sarah let out a defeated sigh as she shook her head. "By the way, the Marchioness told me to not tell you some important details of what not to do in front of his highness."
"Oh?"
"She had been growing suspicious of me, Lady Marsella." She gazed down as her shoulder trembled.
I could understand her increasing anxiety about siding with me. After all, Lady Sarah had to tread on thin ice in the high society. Offending the Marchioness could cause House Hill's downfall and Lady Sarah to be ostracized.
"Don't worry about it, Lady Sarah." I smiled, watching her raise her head. "Don't you think, the title of being the grand duchess' instructor is something? Having such sort of connection with the grand duchess, I'm pretty sure the House Hill will greatly benefit from it."
"Yes, Lady Marsella." Lady Sarah heaved a sigh of relief as her eyes softened.
"Remember, Lady Sarah. I don't turn my back on my people. However, once they turn their back on me, I have my means of making them hope they were never born in this world." My smile remained, and her fright intensified as I even heard her gulp.
"I understand, my lady. I will keep my eyes and ears open and report everything to you." Lady Sarah was quick to swear her loyalty, which made me smile.
"You'll keep this as a secret between us, yes?"
She gazed at me and nodded, closed-lipped. "I may be a lower noble, but I also have my dignity. I will keep this secret to my grave."
"Good." I intoned with a nod. "I don't want anyone hindering my life plans."
"Lady Marsella, if I may ask." Lady Sarah hesitated when our gaze met.
"Go on."
She cleared her throat and took a deep breath before facing me squarely. "What is it that you desire in this life? I don't know Lady Marsella well, but after spending time with you, I don't think the rumors about you are true."
"You think they're not true?" I rolled my eyes as I cocked my head to the side.
"There might be some truth in it, but I think you are only cruel to those who crossed you." She explained almost immediately as if she was afraid I would misunderstand.
I remained silent while staring at her before I gazed at the window. "Only cruel to those who crossed me, huh?"
In my previous life, a lot of people told me I was cruel since I slew both innocent and corrupts. It didn't matter to me nor I felt remorse while doing so, since I was blinded to make Joseph the emperor.
"Lady Marsella?"
"I don't know about that, Lady Sarah," I murmured as I thought about my previous life. "But, what I do know is, all I want in this life is a life I can enjoy. That is impossible in this estate, but it might be in the grand duchy."
Suddenly, a knock on the door reached our ear, making me turn my head towards it. Tani immediately intruded inside with a letter in her hand.
"My lady! There's a letter for you!" Tani excitedly rushed to me, almost panting for air as if she ran a mile.
"A letter?" I raised a brow and accepted the letter Tani was holding out. My eyes narrowed as I studied the crest. Oh? Wasn't this the seal of the Grand Duke?
"Is this from his highness, Lady Marsella?" asked Lady Sarah as I gazed up at her and nodded. "Great! I think he is telling you he will soon pay you a visit!"
"Tani, hand me some paper-knife. Let's see what my fiance had to say."
Tani immediately did as ordered. Both Lady Sarah and my personal maid knew my interest in my husband to be, so they were getting excited in my stead. When Tani handed me the paper knife, I carefully opened the letter and skim through it.
The corner of my lips curled up, causing Lady Sarah to gaze at me with intense excitement. My dearest Tani couldn't hide her excitement as well as they looked at me with hope.
"He said…" I glanced up at them, smiling, seeing them hold their breaths out of suspense. "… he won't be able to visit me for now as he was busy."
I fought the urge from laughing out loud seeing how their expression changed. Tani always amused me with her expressions, but Lady Sarah had some adorable side as well.
"You two are entertaining to watch." I shook my head, chuckling.
"My lady, why do you look so happy when his highness said he won't be visiting you?" Lady Sarah asked in disappointment as if she was the recipient of this letter.
A shallow breath slipped past my lips. "He told me he is quite busy as he just returned. However, he wants to invite me to the victory banquet he will throw in his estate."
"What?" This time, Lady Sarah's eyes dilated as her mouth fell open. "Lady Marsella, how could his highness invite you into such an occasion?"
"Oh? Is it that bad?"
Lady Sarah let out a sigh and looked at me apologetically. "The only banquet the Grand Duke throws is a banquet for his knights!"
"Oh?"
"Lady Marsella, I know you're getting wed with his highness. But…"
"Lady Sarah, why are you so worried?" I chuckled as I lifted the letter once again to read it. "Even if the banquet is full of barbaric knights who just returned from the long, crazy war, I'd take it any day than attending a lady's tea party."
"Lady Marsella…"
"Of course, your tea party is an exception. I might reconsider." My eyes shifted on her and winked.
*****
"Your Grace, will you really invite that delicate lady to the banquet?"
Luis picked up the decanter and poured himself a glass of wine. "I don't have time to meet her at her estate. Don't you think it's better for her to know what kind of house she is marrying to, Eros?"
"But -- "
"Hah..." Luis scoffed as he picked up his glass and faced his righthand man. "... the emperor told me to treat her well. So that's what I will do." The corner of his lips curled into a smirk. "I'm looking forward to how delicate my bride is."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone