Chapter 13 - Making a deal with Duchess Maria (1)

Zeph's POV

Inside the opulent confines of the Ronen Duchy's mansion, I found myself seated across from Duchess Maria, my mind reeling with disbelief.

How could this woman be so conniving?

And how had my mother consistently outwitted her in the past? as I saw Elsa sitting beside Maria.

As I struggled to process the situation, Maria, sensing my interest in Elsa, took it upon herself to position the girl in her lap. She began gently stroking Elsa's hair, as if they were mother and daughter.

The astonishment on my face mirrored the bewildered expressions of both Elsa and her mother, who were equally taken aback by this unexpected turn of events.

Isabella, Elsa's mother, made a subtle yet significant movement. She bit her lip, a sign that she was coming to terms with the realization that her daughter was about to be used as a bargaining chip.

Isabella was no fool; she had managed to capture the attention of Maria's brother amidst a sea of palace maids.

However, her life had taken a dark turn when her child's father had callously abandoned them.

Nevertheless, Isabella had demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of adversity.

She had taken a daring gamble by ensuring her daughter's escape on the day the borders were sealed. It was a desperate move, one that had led to her own betrayal by a former comrade who was nothing more than a stepping stone for Her.

Amidst this unspoken tension, a voice finally broke the silence.

It was Maria, her tone dripping with an unsettling sweetness. "My dear Zephyr, isn't this a lovely reunion? I've heard so much about you and finally meeting like this. " She continued to stroke Elsa's hair, her eyes locked onto mine.

Isabella, unable to hold back any longer, interjected with a voice heavy with skepticism. "Duchess Maria, I fail to understand the sudden change in your attitude towards us."

Maria chuckled softly, a chilling sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Oh, my dear Isabella, circumstances change, and so must we. You see, Zephyr and I have some matters to discuss, matters that concern both your future and mine."

I couldn't help but interject, my frustration and confusion bubbling over. "Get to the point,Duchess Maria. What do you want?"

She turned her attention fully to me, her smile widening. "Oh, Zephyr, always so direct. Very well, let's talk about the girl, shall we?"

"Why do you want this girl so much, to the extent of asking me to hand her over? Don't tell me it's out of pity. I can infer two reasons: firstly, you're interested in this girl's mother."

Maria's tone remained soft yet chilling. Elsa shot me a venomous glare, and Isabella's frown deepened. The situation was growing more absurd by the second.

"Second, you want something that only this girl has, or is it some kind of ki..."

Before she could complete her sentence, I interjected. Who would not? Isabella was looking at me as if I were some kind of demon.

"Duchess Maria, control your thoughts. You're discussing things you shouldn't in front of children. As for my interest, just drop it. I don't want them. You can simply cast her aside like she's of no use to anyone, an illegitimate child of your brother."

I said as things were becoming burdensome. I would leave them be and find another way to achieve my goals. I had no intention of continuing this discussion, which could easily tarnish my reputation.

"Oh, so you're saying you don't want them?" Maria's hands stopped caressing Elsa's hair, making Elsa clutch her skirt tightly, feeling humiliated by being treated as a bargaining chip.

"Hehehe... What can I expect from a Duchess?" I said with a smirk, looking at her. I reached into my pocket and took out a letter enclosed in an envelope. "I'll exchange this for those two people."

Her lost smile returned to her face as she smiled and began to caress Elsa's hair again. "Oh my, Young Master Zephyr, it's not fitting as I'm around your mother's age. Fufu."

My face stayed as emotionless as ever, refusing to fall for her flattering advances.

After all, I knew my standards quite well; I wasn't about to propose to a heavenly beauty when I couldn't even recognize my own face in the mirror.

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"Don't joke, Duchess," I responded, suppressing a chuckle, "It's impossible for me to propose to you. As for this letter, it carries the secret of your father's demise with solid proof."

My lips curled into a faint smile as I watched her momentarily set aside Elsa, her noble demeanor slipping away in her desperation.

It was clear that her father had adored her, sheltering her from any harm. But after his passing and witnessing her own brother's transformation, she had taken it upon herself to safeguard what her father had cherished the most: his Duchy.

I couldn't help but wonder if she had misunderstood my first words about proposing, but I decided to let that notion linger in the air, adding a touch of humor to our conversation.

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