The door swung open and a shocked Fredrich stormed into the room. She took a sip from the tea she was served, setting it down delicately. Late into her past life, she learned etiquettes to reinforce herself in society and push herself to the position left vacant by the now married Natalia.
She rarely got the opportunity to see Fredrich rattled. She had seen other things, including the expiry of his heavenly beauty but the Grand Duke still didn’t lose his cool. Still, he wasn’t her hope for survival.“Your highness, you didn’t tell me you were……….”“I had a sudden invitation from the Young Lord Sebastian who offered to take me on a tour of the kingdom. Since he was heading here, he brought me here. The Duchess…….didn’t seem to mind”Does she remember her past life? She didn’t look like it. She hasn’t changed. The total disregard she had for me and the elegance she has, how did I think I could beat that? Why did I……even hate her in the first place?“You met NataliNatalia tried very hard to convince Sebastian to stay calm. Even when he was ignored by the duke and treated like he wasn’t a high noble, he accepted it all because of her. However, the dreaded dinner time came and Natalia wasn’t sure how she would smoothen the conflict.Make no mistake, her father couldn’t care less about her and wouldn’t stat a conflict with the duke over her welfare. But if it was Sebastian, then it could seriously be trouble. If Sebastian was treated the same way she was, Natalia could kiss her peaceful days goodbye.“Bastian, please, be calm. I beg of you, just this once. We only have to do dinner together today and after today, it’ll just be two of us”“What are you talking about, my precious? What could possibly go wrong?”
“Sebastian…….”“I don’t want to hear it, Natalia. Not now”Natalia zipped her mouth shut, looking at the passing scenery. Rather than the noisy, bustling view of Traisen she had the first few times, it was a more quiet, sophisticated view she was greeted with. That was how the more advanced and luxurious part of Traisen looked like.The place where the nobility lived was the safest and most luxurious part of Traisen. In case of an invasion, the nobles could easily escape or stay safely guarded in their homes until they were rescued by royal knights. Just a few weeks ago, she had secretly bought a house there while she was ‘investigating’ the cases she was handed.The carriage stopped in front of a moderately sized b
Since she came back to the past, Natalia was not sure she slept as well as she did in the mansion with her brother. Gerald and Sebastian constantly doted on her and watched over her before she went to bed and when she woke up, there were servants around her bed waiting to take care of her. In the Duke's Mansion, she had to do everything herself. The change was so drastic, it almost drove her to tears, especially since she knew she would go back soon. Once she was done dressing, the servants went out and she sat in front of her mirror, calling out to the fairy mother. {Your energy is brighter today}"Yes, it is. Would it pose a problem to our contract?"{Of course not. The human life is always filled with suffering and sorrow. It's always beneficial to make a contract with a human for a Fae. However, the rest of my kin are just to greedy sometimes}"I understand"{Yesterday, I sensed a dark sinister energy that temporarily disrupted the order of the world. T
While she was riding to the Duke's Mansion with Sebastian, Alana thought it was uncomfortable but she had been on more awkward rides and thus appreciated the fact that he didn't start any overly curious nor intrusive conversations. He didn't start one, period. But riding in a carriage with Fredrich, Alana definitely thought she would be stricken with lightning. She occupied the space meant for another person without a single argument whatsoever! What's worse, she didn't even want to be there!"Is there anything, in particular, you'd like to see in Traisen?"“I would like to visit the Beldania memorial”The smile that occupied his face dropped. There were a few things that could trigger the Duke, one of them being the Beldania memorial. A few years back, the forces of the empire invaded the Kingdom’s southeast, almost breaking through. The former Duke Kristen risked his life to fend off the invasion, dying at the hands of one of the genera
The Duke’s carriage stopped in front of a giant arch. Fredrich helped the princess descend the carriage and they both stared at the Beldania Memorial. It was a mass grave with a single mausoleum that housed the deceased former duke and the other nobles who died during the invasion. It was properly maintained since it was a historical site but it didn’t take away the fact that it was a graveyard. “Welcome to the Beldania Memorial grounds, your highness, your grace. I am Urn, the keeper of the memorial” the young man who came to greet them bowed. He had short jet black hair and dull brown eyes, his entire countenance gloomy. Still, he seemed competent so the Duke talked to him. “I want to pay my respects to my father with her highness” “.......of course, your grace. Follow me”
The edge of town bordering the forest of damnation was a rough remote area. It was no place for a lady like her or a young lord like him. Yet, here they were, looking for properties for sale amongst the shabby inns and stores that traded items from the relatively poorer explorers who went into the forest. There was a tangible stench in the air, the reason for the permanent handkerchief on Sebastian’s nose. It did bother Natalia but her nose soon got used to the stench as it was something she had experienced many times in both lives.“I want to apologize again for bringing you both here…..”“No, this isn’t your fault. Natalia, what the hell?!”“If it wasn’t necessary, we wouldn’t have come here. Let’s see if we can search for people desperate en
"A public criminal execution? Those are outlawed in the kingdom!" Sebastian exclaimed."Ever since the current Grand Duke came into power, he has allowed public execution""That's violating the king's order! This is insubordination. Natalia….""There's no reason to be so riled up, Bastian. This is an issue betweenHis Majesty and His Grace. We cannot intervene in this. We have a mission here so let's focus on that""I…. understand" he balled his fists, turning his head."So, sir, what do you say about leasing your property? If you agree to this, we can send a leasing agreement through our realtor that came earlier"
“Natalia, are you okay? Did she do anything to you…..” Natalia rested her head on his chest, sighing. Anger flared in Sebastian’s chest as he thought back on what happened. “She didn’t do anything. I’m just…..tired” “She’s nothing but an abandoned princess. I can make sure she doesn’t cause any more trouble for you. I can take her back…..” “No, it’s fine. The duke is too troublesome an enemy for us” “Natalia, I hate when you talk like that, like you’re already defeated. He doesn’t deserve you, she doesn’t deserve your kindness and yet…..” “Bastian, do you really think……I’m not angry?”