34 THE PROPOSAL: PART 2

"She never ceases to amaze me how greedy she has become for power." King Matthias said as he continued to sip his whiskey.

Then suddenly, Hugh speaks. "Then why not just make a child again? But this time a prince…"

"Pwah!"

King Matthias IV suddenly spit out the whiskey when he heard the ridiculous comment that flustered him.

"What?!" King Matthias IV asked, eyes wide open, and with a look in his face that said 'are you seriously suggesting that?!'

Hugh smirked when he saw how shocked the King was. But really, thinking about it, it's not a ridiculous suggestion but not also one to be favored.

Furthermore, the Queen was so fixated on having the throne with her blood flowing through the veins of the successor so all of this would be over if she could just make an heir.

But alas, the Queen is already at the age where it would be difficult to carry a child.

"You're saying something ridiculous, Hugh!" said by the King as he wiped the dripping whiskey on his chin.

"Your Highness," Chancellor Norhas called as he passed a handkerchief to King Matthias IV and glanced at Hugh who was smirking. "Your Grace, someone might hear and think that you're plotting something."

"Plotting?" Hugh looked at Chancellor Norhas as he said that and then glanced at his older brother, the King. "... now, that's a ridiculous statement." he continued as his right brow arched.

"I know you're not like that Your Grace but people who don't know you well will definitely color your statement the way they want it to be colored. It's better to be vigilant, Your Grace."

"Haa… that's enough nagging Norhas." Said by King Matthias, butting in their conversation as he waved his hand making Chancellor Norhas sit.

"Let's stop talking about this and we have a more pressing matter to discuss." The King leaned closer to the edge of his chair and turned his head to Hugh.

And with seriousness, the King started to speak. "We learned that the Queen will propose a candidate to become your bride. I know you don't want something like that, so I can definitely put a stop to it. But I'm worried that she might do something ridiculous at the banquet."

As Hugh listened he understood the King's concern. He can put a stop to what the Queen is planning if she will do it in a normal way where she will try to get permission from the King.

As the King is someone who permits the betrothal of the noble family to other noble families to balance the power in the Kingdom.

But that was something that the Queen would never do.

"She would definitely do something like announcing an engagement out of nowhere." Chancellor Norhas murmured.

"The Queen is capable of doing that and with the goons supporting her at the banquet, she would definitely have the guts to bypass the procedure and come up with an excuse that she was just concerned about you." the King added.

"-Ha! Concerned? I doubt it!" Hugh said with a sneer.

Silence crept in the room. Chancellor Norhas and King Matthias IV didn't say anything but in unison agreed to what Duke Hugh uttered.

"The banquet will happen in two weeks from now, right?" Hugh asked while his mind was thinking about someone.

And the King who knew that look on Hugh's face replied, "That's right, the celebration of the Lalatua."

Then, Chancellor Norhas was stuck in his deep thoughts while his hand stroked his chin thinking about the chances of the Queen's acts that could play out at the banquet. Then, he shook his head. There's nothing like chances with the Queen but only certainty.

She would definitely do something at the Lalatua banquet!

Chancellor Norhas then said his sentiment, "It's the perfect time as Lalatua festival is where the noble families with daughter and son would come to attend as for their coming-of-age debutante. It would be the perfect place to announce a sudden engagement."

"That's right. Because It's a battlefield for the young ladies seeking relationships with other families." The King added to what Norhas said.

However, the one who should be concerned about the situation was smirking and leisurely leaning his back at the chair in such comfort.

King Matthias IV and Chancellor Norhas focus their eyes on him and watch him carefully. Hugh's eyes were telling them that he already had planned everything and as expected they were right.

"I just need to be one step ahead, right?"

***

It's past three in the afternoon but the market at the Capital was still buzzing with stalls and people hoarding the discounted prices that they offered for their product.

And Leticia was having the fun of her life looking at them.

"Miss Leticia, do you want to try that?" Hazel says as she saw a barbeque stand that Leticia had been glancing over for a while.

As if on cue, her stomach started to make sounds and grumbles. Leticia looked down in embarrassment.

"Yes... I'm kind of hungry"

"Then, do you want to take a break, Miss Leticia?"

Leticia looks at Hazel like she was an angel sent from the sky. Because ever since she arrived at the mansion of the Duke, Hazel had been nice to her and now she understands how to respond to what Leticia means.

So, Leticia nods. "Yeah, we've been looking for quite awhile now. We should take a break before we go back."

"Alright, Let's do that!" And with a glee, Hazel answered!

Then suddenly, Leticia remembered Austin that had been quietly following them since early in the morning.

"Umm... What do you think, Sir Austin? Are you fine with it?"

Austin was flustered at Leticia's sudden question as until now he was walking like a ghost following the two.

'Now, she's asking my opinion?' he thought as the corner of his lips arched up.

Then, he quickly erased the smirk on his face and made a gentlemanly smile.

"If that's what Miss Leticia thinks then I'll comply. I mean what could I do~ I'm just following you…"

Leticia then remembered why she was not looking at her back since she left the carriage.

'... that's right! This guy will take any opportunity to be sarcastic with me.'

"Tsk!" Leticia unconsciously clicked her tongue which Austin didn't miss to hear.

He gave a triumphant smile as he could hear her grumble under her breath.

'She's really interesting! She's not like the other ladies where all they do is smile and hide their contempt in their eyes. She always wears her heart on her sleeves.'

Austin can't help but smile unconsciously as he was having fun on his own way too, when suddenly he met eyes with her.

'Oops~ she's glaring. Wow…!'

Austin turns her head and focuses on Hazel and changes the subject.

"Then, I'll go buy-"

"No!"

However, Hazel stops Austin from talking with her right palm right under his nose.

"Are you forgetting something, Sir Austin?"

"Huh?" Austin blink. "Forget what?"

He was seriously thinking about what Hazel was saying.

As Hazel saw the look of confusion in his eyes, she sighed as if she had given up.

"Haa…"

"What? Why?"

Hazel stepped aside and made a gesture with her hands pointing to Leticia.

"It's her! You need to protect Miss Leticia!"

Austin mouthed an "Ahh" then quickly closed his mouth. He finally understood what Hazel meant.

"Haa… seriously. Please focus, Sir Austin."

"Yes, I apologize."

When Hazel saw how quickly Austin changed his attitude like that of a knight and was handed an apology, she sighed.

"Don't apologize to me but to Miss Leticia."

Austin glanced at Leticia and shut his mouth in response.

"I'll go and buy the food. Miss Leticia and Sir Austin should find a spot where we can comfortably sit. And please, Sir Austin should say it to Miss Leticia, okay?"

In a moment, Hazel was gone and blended in the crowd leaving Leticia and Austin behind.

***

Leticia was sitting under the tree in front of the square while Austin was three steps away from her and standing.

She watches the people talk, laugh, eat, smile, as well as the children run. She decided to keep quiet and ignore Austin, who's been getting on her nerves with his sarcasm from him.

But then. Austin awkwardly coughs, "Ahem…!"

She slowly looked up and saw Austin with a blush on his face.

"I apologize for what happened earlier."

"For what?" she answered curtly.

"Ahem! For forgetting what I came here for…"

Leticia raised her brow. "That's what you're sorry for?"