Heir Apparent

After the discussion Lyle and I went into my room, and I am now sitting and staring at my notebook. I already crossed out my Grandparents name as I already reached them and gain their trust. 

The next step is to be the Archduchess of this house. I need to gain power and this House names is too much power that no matter what I do no one will question even the emperor. 

I closed the notebook when I heard a knock "My Lady, it is me" I heard the boring voice of Lyle. "Come in" I said. 

He is not wearing his uniform, instead he is wearing a half knee black coat or a suit, a white blouse, a black boot while his hair is a mess, usually his hair was brushed up neatly. I like this look of him, he looks more a man than in his knight uniform, he looks like a bored nutcracker, his uniform colored was red, and his pants were white with a black boot. 

"I like how you look" I complemented him, and he stopped walking and stared at me for a second before walking again "Why are you here? Do you have something to report?" I asked I gesture my hand to let him seat. 

"His Grace already sent a letter to the Imperial Palace stating that they will take care of you." As expected, "Then, is there other thing you want to say?" I asked and he had this profoundly serious look "About your dream..." he reluctantly said "What did I do? I mean, did I do something for you to be alive?" 

After hearing that I understand where he is coming, he may be wondering if he protected Madeleine like how it should be a knight do, I just make a smile to him so that he will be comfortable "Of course, you did everything you can just to saved me, but it is me who wanted to die and you leave no other choice" it isn't like a lie I just sound it like he isn't in fault. 

Of course, things will turn the other way since I do not want to end up like that, to hell with the story, why would I die like that? No matter what the cause, I will gladly do it just for me to be alive and survive this world. 

If I secure my life here, then I will think if there is any way for me to be back into my world, since there is still nothing for me about that, the thing I need to do first is to make sure that this body will not die or even be hurt. 

He did not say anything and left the room after forbidding his goodbye, I also got up and lay in my bed. I will think about it and start working tomorrow. 

***** 

I was overwhelmed when a dozen housekeepers woke me up and all of them were lining up and greeted me. I was really shocked to see a twelve-person line up and greeting me like what is this? 

As soon as I opened my eyes all of them started doing whatever they came here for. Five people were bathing me, someone brushing and massaging my hair, the other one was scrubbing my left hand and massaging, same as the right one, the other person was massaging and scrubbing my feet and the last person was busy massaging my face. 

After that other people were busy choosing my clothes and helping me to wear my clothes, some were busy picking my accessories and shoes and some were applying make-up and tidying my hair. 

I did not have the time to react or even say anything to what they were doing, all I did was to choose from whatever they placed in front of me. 

After that I saw myself in the body mirror and I gasped to see how I looked, I was wearing a medium brown colored lace dress, the jewel accessories were matched to the dress and to my hair color. I have never been dressed up like this in the Palace. 

My clothes in that place were too dull and old, I barely had any accessories or even someone to put some effort into my closet. Aneria is the only person who always chooses my clothes and tidies me. 

They all left, and Lyle went inside of the room, he was no longer wearing his knight uniform and instead he was wearing very casual clothes of a noble. 

He escorted me as usual, and he sat next to me when we got inside of the dining hall. "It seems that you have a pleasant night here," The Archduke said, and I plastered a small smile to answer him. 

"Your Father, sent a word early in the morning after he received my letter last night, and his answer bothered me" I stopped from slicing my steak and glance at him "He said, he is glad that you finally decided to leave his place, he even said that I shouldn't let you be back from the Palace and he also wants you to be remove in the royal family registry." 

I scoffed when I heard what he said. That damn old man! He is really going as it this far, and what? He is glad that I left the Palace? What a very worrisome letter from a father for her runaway daughter. 

"My father seemed excited that the perfect happy family that he is dreaming would finally be formed." I sarcastically said and continued slicing the steak. He is really going like this. He does not really see Madeleine as his own daughter. For him to do that kind of idea, it is like announcing to the world that Madeleine does not have the slightest chance to inherit the throne and saying that Laura is the only rightful ruler of the crown. 

If he is going to be like this then I should really take this chance to have the power that can be higher than Laura, since she is not being crowned. 

"Then, how about inheriting the House title?" The Archduke said, "I stopped cutting the steak and I looked at him with a shocked face." 

"I can't, I don't even have any idea on how to manage the duchy, also people won't be happy as to hear that, because I am not worthy to become one." a muffled voice I said and staring at nowhere. This is easy, I thought I would need to harm them to get the title, but they really thought Madeleine was their Grandchild. 

"You don't need to worry about that, how dare them to go against my decision." Strictly he said, "Your Grace, I am not worthy of this..." Lowly I said, and I looked down and clenched my fist into my dress. 

I want to smile and grab it as fast as I can but if I do that, they will be suspicious and will think that I had an ulterior motive for the first place. 

Well, they are not wrong but still, I need to fully get their trust and drop their guard, I want them to think that I am harmless and weak. 

I heard the chair being pulled and I felt an arm encircling into my neck "Oh, Madeleine of course there is no other person who is more suitable than you, please stop saying that" she softly said. 

"Lady, you are the only Grand Daughter of His and Her Graces, whatever they say you shouldn't be affected because you are the rightful owner of the throne." For what Lyle stated we all get silent. 

The Archduke cleared his throat "The Marquis is only telling the truth, it seems that Dashiel, he is overdoing it and of course we can't let them defile the Imperial Family." He stated. 

"Do you think... that I will do it right?" Hesitating I said and looked the Archduke straight into his eyes. 

"Of course, You will do a better or even greater job than what I have done, you are the sole heir." I simply smiled at him 

After breakfast, Lyle and I went to the study office that the Archduke provided. Lyle will teach me all the basics and what will be needed to be the successor of the Archduke. Well, he is the youngest successor on the empire, he become the Head of Zyair House when he is just a nine-year-old, after his father died, he immediately become the Head of the House. 

 On top of that he is a Sword master, the youngest captain of the Imperial Knightage. His background was exaggerated by the author, well he is the second male lead of this story, even when I am reading the story, I do not understand on how he become the second male lead since he never romantically involved to Laura and Anywyl's love story. He is more busy protecting and being with Madeleine and their story ended up with no romance. 

I was getting back to my senses when I heard his voice "My Lady, are you spacing out?" he asked and I awkwardly smiled at him, and he started blabbering again. I have already known about the history of the Empire. Still, I just listen to him because he may know something that a book cannot tell. 

I am listening to what he is saying, and I cannot help but look uninterested in him, well I am bored and sleepy, I like studying by myself and I do not like being tutored like this. When the history class ended, he called a housekeeper and served tea and sweets. 

"It seems that you aren't fond of studying" he said but Madeleine in the story always locks herself into the library "It is not like that, it just that I already know the things you are saying" he nodded at me like somehow agreeing to what I am saying. Of course, the first thing I did was to investigate this Empire's history and into the noble houses. 

I even remember the Power Houses; those houses have the strongest reputation and power that can help me, and they are even brought up into the book, that is why I easily manage the information. There are still more Houses that I can use. 

Of course, there are some things here that were not brought up in the book, that is why I wrote it down because I will need it. 

To be able to use these Houses, I will need a card against them and to have that I will need an exceptionally reliable source that I can use and will be favor into me, and good thing my memory is still working very well. 

"How about instead of teaching me Empire history, how about training me? I'll listen to everything you will teach if you train me every morning." He does not need to say no, of course even though he does not want he will oblige, he does not have the chance to choice and to say no. 

"Are you really sure about this?" I plastered a wide smile at him to answer his question" You will need to wake early" I am used to it. 

"Then we shall continue our lesson" he said. 

Tomorrow will be the first time that I will work hard. I will not give up on learning how to wield a sword because it will be a very essential since I will cause a war to get what is rightfully mine. 

So, my dear sister Laura, just enjoy this and watch how everything falls apart as you bathe in your own blood. 

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