Chapter 15

10 years later... 

Judith Slaying Holofernes is a painting by the Italian early Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi, the canvas shows Judith beheading Holofernes. 

The painting shows the moment when Judith, helped by her maidservant Abra, beheads the general after he has fallen asleep in a drunken stupor.

I wouldn't like to do such kind of act since I like playing the victim as if I am beheaded. It already happened in the past, on the guillotine, my head was offered.

Judith, who uses her beauty and charm to destroy an Assyrian general and save Israel from oppression. Thinking about it, seduction was her best way of taking revenge to that asshole. 

"Your Highness." 

I slightly turn my head on my back seeing Duke Richmond walking closely towards my direction. 

"I see, you've quite taken a like with that painting your Highness," he said while looking at the wall sized painting. 

I chuckled. "You know my type Duke."

"Bloodshed of course," he answered. 

He led me inside the centre hall of the museum where different statues and bones are to be seen. 

"You've got to see these statues, this is made by Rochendra Filma using a diamond and a sapphire." 

The statue of a blue Dragon, how much would it cost if I would have to ask him, selling this statue. 

"Don't give me that look your Highness, I don't plan on selling my collections." 

I rolled my eyes before walking straight to the bones, are these real? 

"That's a pity Duke," I whispered while touching the bones, it seems like its true. 

"You've got to send me this head of a Dragon." I showed him the dragon skull making his face pale. 

"You got a wrong idea your Highness, that's not a good gift for a beauty like you," he said walking closely to me but I stepped back and hugged the skull. 

"Give me this, I'll pay you double of its normal price." I showed him my two fingers but he shook his head repeatedly. 

"Your Highness, I'll give you the statue how about that?" he asked while pointing the statue of the Dragon made from diamond and sapphire. 

"You're sacrificing your statue because of this? So is this really a bone of a true dragon?" I asked curiously. 

"No your Highness, t-that's fake so don't choose it." 

I stared at him firmly before I shook my head. "No, I want this. You said you will give me anything I want right?"

His face turned pale, much more than earlier. 

"That's not what I mean your Highness," he said trying to catch me but I kept my distance from him. 

"Old man, you gotta give me this and I'll pay you. You're already old, you need to take care of yourself instead of this skull."

"No your Highness, I am still healthy and I'm living with my life freely. Now give me that skull your Highness," he says with his tone full of beg. 

I shook my head. "I want this."

We both stared with each other before he tried to catch me but I was faster than him, this old man doesn't know how to surrender. 

He slapped his forehead before he sighed. "Okay your Highness, that's yours. Just don't step on my glass because they are made from gold, please be careful." He surrendered when I was about to jump on the golden glass. 

I smirked and raised the skull. "Treasure acquired," I whispered.

"So you mean that Hades wanted to buy your museum?" I asked while sipping the tea. 

He nodded before he showed me the document of authorization. It is said that Hades Sylvestre wants to trade the museum for one hundred million gold bars.  

It's a double price from a normal cost of all the treasures inside the Museum of Duke Richmond.

"It's an obvious act Duke, he wants to double pay the Museum because he will sell all the treasures inside for triple price. Since the treasures are original, it is not illegal for him to sell all those especially when he knows how to add and lessen the advantage and disadvantage," I said and flipped the page to the third one. 

My eyebrows furrowed. Another one hundred million gold bars in exchange of the treasure. 

What is this? The museum and the treasures have different payment? 

"What's your best treasure among all you have inside the museum?" I asked. 

"The Tiara of Goddess Hera," he answered making me flinched. 

I bit my nails while looking at the documents, this is really unbelievable. Why would he need to go that far to pay just for a tiara. 

"I think it's for your engagement your Highness," he said.

I gave him a bored look before I flipped the last page. It is said that in exchange of the treasure inside the museum, Duke Richmond will still be acknowledged as the owner of the museum. 

I massaged my temple before giving him back the documents. 

"Don't sell it to him, you gotta deny the offer and see if he's really into buying the Tiara. You need to force him to show his intention hidden on that one hundred million gold bars," I said before sipping the remaining tea on the teacup. 

"What if he's into paying a large amount for the tiara?" he asked. 

I turned my head on the side where I can see the fountain and the maze garden, we are in the balcony of the Imperial Palace. Hades wasn't present because he had to attend a trip together with Phoenix, his third brother. 

"Then give it to him, triple the price as much as you want because I already have a plan with that," I answered.

"Will you really be fine?" he asked worriedly. 

"Don't worry, it's all part of my plan." I just need to lessen his wariness and get closer to him so that I can easily poison him.

The closer I get, the more my plan will succeed. 

Duke Richmond already left and told me that he needs to attend a banquet with his comrade. He was this old man who keeps bragging about me that he's interested in me as his own child, he sense that I am the calamity that will bring the hell in the Empire. 

I'm not an evil witch that would plan to do that, I like to do it neatly with bloodsheds. Killing for a better result, that's right. I need to place my humanity in a right place, a right place with no disadvantage. 

I rest my chin on my palm feeling the fresh breeze from the wind. My long platinum was whizzing when the wind started to accompany me. 

Ten years already had passed. In the past ten years, I've been focused on acting lowly while preparing all my plans. It wasn't that hard since I focused myself on etiques, studies, and training to be an Empress. 

"Fara," I called. 

She stepped forward before giving me bow. "Yes your Highness?"

"How's Trevor with Sir Ocea?" I asked. 

"They're fine your Highness,"she answered. 

I didn't visit Trevor for a month because of how busy I am, I know he might be feeling alone without me but I guess Sir Ocea already filled the empty spot of his loneliness. 

That child seems to be very careful of showing his feelings unlike in the past. It's for the better since I can now control him. 

"I'd like to have a free time tomorrow Fara, I will try to visit Trevor." I gave her the folded paper. 

"Pass this to Duchess Xerafia, I would like to have a tea with her by tomorrow morning," I ordered. 

"How about the free time your Highness?" she asked. 

"It's just a morning tea, the rest of my time would be enough for the travel to Viadel," I answered. 

I heard a loud noise from the gate, seeing an elegant carriage suddenly entered. There were knights marching before the carriage, is that a royalty from the other kingdom? 

"Is that the Emperor's guest?" I asked. 

"I haven't heard such news that the Emperor is expecting for a guest your Highness," Fara answered. 

My eyebrows furrowed while my eyes remained on the carriage. The knights opened the gate before the carriage entered and stopped in front of the fountain. 

I was about to sipped the tea on my teacup when I found that it's already empty. 

"Fara, give me another tea please." 

She took the empty cup before leaving me alone in the balcony. 

I went back on the carriage's direction and stunned when I saw the man with his heavy white coat looking straight on my direction. 

He was taller than the carriage and his masculine body were fair enough of his appearance to be called as a gorgeous man. 

He waved at my direction making me avoid my eyes with panic. Did he just wave at me? After 10 years of not seeing each other and now he's waving at me? 

I tried to look back but I he was already gone. I took a deep breath before pressing my chest, that aura was totally penetrating even when I am far away from him. 

I was massaging my temple when I saw a tray of teacup offered in front of me. 

"Thank you Fara," I said and sipped the tea.

"Your welcome, my lady."

I can already see myself stunned with my eyes widened looking at him with surprise. 

He sat down on the chair in front of me before he rest his chin on his palm, he looks comfortable while his eyes are playfully looking at me. 

"Hey, my future wife." 

It was like my body was being petrified while the electricity are travelling inside my body especially my heart. 

m-my future w-wife? 

I remained unfazed when I put the cup on the table even if I can already hear my heart shouting his name as if he is a God that I need to worship. 

"You're back your Highness," I said calmly. 

How can he be so attractive with that posture? 

He chuckled sexily before licking his lower lip. "Yes, I am back Talia." 

I burst an awkward laugh. Why am I even laughing? It's just that I don't know what sort of reaction I should give to him. 

"That's good." Stupid Talia, what kind of answer is that? 

"So do you mind telling me if I'm still your partner breaking that word called 'adultery'?" he asked.

I coughed before I shook my head. "No, I mean yes. Well, if you want to—"

"I want to do it with you Talia, I want it very bad." 

I zipper my mouth and lowered my head, I can already feel the heat puffing on my cheeks. 

Dumbass, I've waiting for too long.