The grand duke watched Elen as she held the necklace delicately in her hand, her fingers brushing against the silver chain. He could tell she was treasuring it, as if it meant a lot to her. Elen seemed uneasy, and the grand duke could sense there was more to it. He wanted to ask, but he didn't want to pressure her. "Don't worry, no one can hurt you," the grand duke reassured her. "Your brothers will come, too." Elen looked relieved. "Yes, grand duke," she said softly. After switching the subject, she left the grand duke's office feeling much better. In her bedroom, she finally felt at ease. "Hey, Lady!" Rami called out to Elen, who was seated on her bed, her gaze fixed on her hand as if lost deep in thought."Huh?" Elen responded, a look of confusion on her face."You've been staring at your hand for a while now since you got in here," Rora remarked, busy sorting through her wardrobe."Really?" Elen said absentmindedly. "Rami, the duke and I are visiting the temple tomorrow. What d

In a beautiful room filled with fancy decorations and twinkling candles, the important people were having a serious discussion. The grand duke of Adelstein, the duke of Windsor, and a high priest were all there, and you could feel the tension in the air, especially coming from the grand duke."Grand duke of Adelstein, do you know that the duke of Windsor wants to adopt the lady first?" The high priest looked directly at the grand duke as he asked the question.The grand duke looked back at the high priest and said slowly, "No, but the lady chose me.""You made her choose you!" the duke of Windsor interrupted, trying to get the high priest to agree with him.The grand duke looked defiant as he replied, "Did you see me making her choose?" His voice sounded challengingly, as if he was daring anyone to prove him wrong."Okay, okay," the high priest said, watching the annoyed look on the duke of Windsor's face and the relaxed attitude of the grand duke of Adelstein. "The lady seemed to have

Elen felt a surge of relief as she realized she could now face Chiara without fear, knowing she had her family by her side to support her. It was a temporary comfort, but it meant she could stand and fight alongside them. As Elen made her way to the grand duke's carriage, she spotted her brothers waiting for her. The tension of the impending confrontation with Chiara was palpable, but the sight of her brothers waiting for her bolstered her spirits."Ellie!" Elliot's voice rang out as he waved her over.Elen felt a smile tug at the corners of her mouth as she responded, "Why are you still here, brother?""We're waiting for you," Elliot said, offering her a reassuring smile as he guided her inside the luxurious carriage."Thank you," Elen said, her voice filled with gratitude as she settled onto the plush seat, her eyes meeting her brothers' kind gazes.Elliot swiftly mounted his horse and took his place alongside the grand duke's knights as the carriage began its journey. Elen instinct

The following day, Lucas found himself nursing the residual soreness from his intensive training session the day before. However, he resolved to endure the discomfort and managed to push himself through. Expectant and determined, he anticipated the impending history lesson with the arrival of a new teacher. He took his place in the library, eagerly awaiting the chance to further his studies and possibly uncover his family's history.A sharp knock at the door signaled the arrival of his new teacher. A stern-looking woman with glasses entered, her demeanor serious and focused. She introduced herself as Martha, the history teacher, and promptly laid down her expectations."I'm Martha, your history teacher," she announced. "Here are a few simple rules for my class. First, I expect you to listen attentively. Second, please save unrelated questions for after we've concluded a discussion. Lastly, your position within the empire holds no sway in this classroom; I will treat you like any other

In the imperial palace, the air was filled with a sense of anticipation and buzzed with activity as the servants hurried to prepare for the visit of the grand duke of Brosethorn. The grand duke's impending arrival had set the palace into a flurry of activity, with everyone making sure that every detail was perfect for his short visit. The grand duke was no ordinary guest; he was also the father of the empress, and this visit was an important opportunity for the family to come together.Inside the grand hall, the emperor himself was preparing for the momentous occasion. It had been years since he had last seen the grand duke, and as he readied himself, he couldn't help but reflect on how much everything had changed. Leonel Brosethorn, as the grand duke was known, was once an ally. But as time passed and circumstances shifted, their relationship had become strained."Is everything okay, Your Majesty?" a concerned aide asked as he entered the room."Yes, everything is going smoothly," th