18 RUMORS

"Just.. what are you thinking?" Nash said while mixing his tea properly before taking a sip. After answering the question from that girl at Duchess Gabriella's Tea Party.

Rumors started spreading out, that the only princess dares to become a princess. Ashleah shook her head and took a bite from her cookie.

"The rumors are spreading quiet fast, the nobles that are supporting His Majesty are delighted by the news that you want to become an Empress, as for the nobles that doesn't support His Majesty are in complete chaos." Looking around the indoor garden of the Imperial Palace, Nash moved a little closer and whispered. "They're in chaos, for now."

Chuckling lightly, Ashleah started fidgeting her fingers and sighed. "I was once a princess in my past life, I never knew that this will happen again." Her eyes looked up and saw the sun shining brightly through the clear glass seiling of the indoor garden.

"What are you planning?" Nash blurted out making Ashleah chuckle and look back at him. He surely does keep up fast with what's inside her mind.

Elbows on the table, she puts her chin of her intertwined hands and tilted her head slightly while looking directly at Nash's eyes. "Nothing really—"

"Oh, Ashleah. Stop lying to me." He frustatedly said making Ashleah chuckle again, giving up she then leaned on her chair crossing her arms against her chest.

"I wanna check out one of those auction houses." His eyes widened, clearing his throat lightly, Nash gave Ashleah a serious look.

"You do know what happens.. there right?" he said, giving Ashleah a look she have never received before. "The auction house is one of the biggest things His Majesty wants to take down, but because of the nobles that are backing it up it's very hard to continue the plan." Nash massaged the back of his neck and released a very deep sigh.

"I know, and I want to find clues about those auction houses Nash!" Whispering quietly, Ashleah was now starting a little quarrel.

"And then what? How are you going to do it? There's no phones in this kind of time Ashleah." He hissed, totally disagreeing with her idea.

"Nash, I'm going to talk to Father about this, of course I won't go there all by myself!" She also hissed, Nash was about to answer when they both heard a man chuckling.

"Oh my, this is my first time seeing the both of you not using honorifics." Ashleah's eyes widened, standing up she did a little curtsy to greet her Father.

"His Imperial Majesty, Emperor of Genry. Greetings!" Nash quickly greeted the Emperor, he raised his right hand telling him it was okay.

"I heard about your plan, Ashleah Izel. What are you thinking? The auction house is a very dangerous place for you." He said walking slowly to the both of them.

"I know Father. It is indeed very dangerous for me, for I don't know how to fight for myself. For that, after getting this auction house closed I want to learn how to hold a sword." Nash mouth was left wide open when Ashleah finished what she was saying.

A big smile crossed her father's face. Smiling because he was proud of his daughter, she wasn't like any other noble ladies who would probably cry their heart outs by just even bumping their shoulders.

Her eyes held bravery and strength. She was very sure that she can do it, and she will do it. Giving up, her father sighed and nodded.

"Okay then, if that's what you want. Bring Gab and Kian. Lord Nash, do you want to go with Ashleah?" glancing at Nash, he was still dumbfounded because of how fast everything happened.

Processing it slowly, he couldn't say NO to the both of them. Plus Ashleah was doing the puppy eyes. He smirked and nodded in response.

"Father, we will go tonight! If Gab sends a signal to Kian and Kian sends a signal to the Palace, please do quickly go there at the auction house and do the work." Ashleah exclaimed, giggling. She quickly bid her farewell, saying that she's going to prepare her clothes for tonight.

"She changed." The Emperor blurted out as he stared at the glass door where Ashleah got out. Nash nodded his head while lightly closing his eyes and a little smile plastered on his face.

"Your Majesty, I think I can agree with you." He said, The man looked back and gave Nash a serious look, his eyes were just looking at his.

"Take care of her while your inside the auction house. I am still trying my best to get those nobles that are covering up their doings." He sighed and ruffled his neat looking hair, making Nash blink his eyes a couple of times with a pursed lips he continued to listen to what the emperor has got to say.

"I bet she's going to that auction house with a lot of slaves. When I first heard about the rumors, I was seriously happy with it. The first empress, will be my daughter." He walked a little closer to Nash and held his left shoulder shaking it lightly. "And I'll do everything to make her happy." The emperor said before turning his back to Nash and walked out the glass door.

Wearing a floor length pitch black long sleeve dress with a little bit of gold glitters on the edge of the sleeves, Ashleah was ready for the auction today. She was going to wear a large cape that's going to cover her dress and her head.

Nanny Riley picked a mask for her, the mask covers almost half of her face except the lips. She smiled lightly as she looked at her reflection.

Finally, things are changing not like they were supposed to. She heard someone knocking outside her door, she removed the mask and twisted the door knob only to be welcomed by Gab and Kian.

"Her Imperial Highness, Princess of Genry. Greetings!" Both said in sync, never failing to make Ashleah giggle due to their cuteness.

"Your highness, are you really sure with your plan? Yes I can quickly send signals to Kian but how about you?! Going inside that auction house is not suitable—"

Ashleah quickly cuts Gab off by clearing her throat, her fingers slowly rose up and as for her pointing finger it slowly tapped her chin, Ashleah smiled a bit, sending shivers down Gab and Kian's spines.

"I wanted you guys to participate with this mission because the both of you can do it. I believe in you. Please stop worrying about me." She smiled brightly, Kian sighed and looked like a sad little puppy, his lips were pouting slightly, eyebrows were furrowed a bit and eyes were looking down at the white floor.

"I.. I trust you, your highness." Kian murmured, making Ashleah smile from ear to ear. She always knew that these two are always treating her like their baby sister.

"Well then, please ready the carriage. I guess Father already told you guys that you" She pointed at their uniforms. "Should change, and we're not taking the Imperial Carriage!"

Giggling, Kian and Gab closed the door and started to get ready for today's mission. It was to close one of the biggest auction houses in Genry.

Walking down the stairs, her face was covered by the mask, a small smile appeared when she saw Nash, wearing a simple black tuxedo and holding his cape, she was guessing he was going to wear it later?

"Her Imperial Highness, Princess of Genry. Greetings." He greeted the young princess. She smiled and greeted him back.

"Greetings Lord Nash." doing a small curtsy they both ended up giggling. Talking while they were on their way to the carriage, using the back gate of the Palace they finally got inside the carriage.

It look simple, black and silver colored carriage, it wasn't that spacious inside too not like the Imperial Carriage that you can even lay down.

"There's no turning back Ashleah." Nash suddenly blurted out because they were being consumed by silence.

"Nash, shut up. You know we can do this right? We even caught that killer back then." She said making Nash chuckle and shake his head slowly.

After a few more minutes, the carriage stopped. Gab opened the door, he was also wearing a mask and a cape, Nash wore his cape and got down first.

He reached out for my hand, I held it and got down the carriage. It was quiet noisy, as her eyes wandered around she saw a big mansion, it was color black.

A lot of men are here, noble men? She shook her head in disappointment. But when she was about to go inside, something made her stop.

"Have you heard? They caught a beauty! I am very sure that they're going to bid for it for gold coins!" The man with a dark blue mask exclaimed excitedly, as for those men who are around him started laughing.

"Ah. This is not your day." Ashleah whispered before going inside the mansion.