32 Chapter 31: Fate?

Anthony looked at Anita who sat across him sipping on tea. he was taken aback earlier by her sudden burst into his office. He had never experienced this kind of tactless behavior before with her but seeing her distressed face made him quite curious as to what had made the "strong and confident" Anita like that.

Caleb kept glancing between his master and the Lady discreetly. Was this simply going to pass as such? he couldn't remember the last time he had seen his master merciful to such atrocious actions. had it been the young lady of Monroe, this wouldn't have been looked over. so what was it that this serpent-like being had over his master to make him so weak?

"So, what seems to bring you here, my lady?" Anthony asked breaking the silence that had enveloped them.

Anita opened her mouth but closed it before glancing towards Caleb. Anthony sensing her request dismissed his aide and when the door had shut, he turned to Anita again. Anita couldn't help but feel her blood boil.

All until now, she had never had a mishap in her plans, but ever since Winter had started changing things have been falling apart slowly. the little runt was doing things as she pleased, and it seemed the strong influence that Anita had over her had diminished. for the first time, Anita felt insecure, and this feeling was not something she was going to sit around waiting for to disappear. she needed to act and she needed to act now.

"Your highness, I think it is time you start thinking of how you're going to be securing your position to become the one sitting on the throne," she said as she sipped on her tea.

Anthony surprised by her outright statement cleared his throat as the air around him became slightly darker. "What do you mean? you want us to ...commit treason?"

" No, no, don't get me wrong, it's not treason if you are the candidate," she persuaded.

"And how do you suggest we do that if we don't decide on the deaths of his majesty and the crown prince?" Anthony tried to reason. the idea was absurd. he knew Anita wasn't always pure, but to think she would suggest something as absurd as treason? he couldn't fathom what her true intentions were but at the same time he couldn't help but get tempted.

"His majesty is sick," Anthony's ears prickled at the sudden information. " We can only try our chances, without us ever being affected if it fails, this way.

Anthony seemed dumbfounded by all of this. Why was she suddenly aiming for all of this, was being the Duchess of Dominique not enough? it couldn't be...

"Are you suddenly acting like this because of your sister?" Anthony questioned.

Anita stopped with the teacup slightly away from her parted pink lips. the word "sister" did not sit well with her, but she couldn't react in a way that would ruin her plans.

"Your highness, do you not see what Winter and his highness the crown prince have been plotting?" she stated. " Otherwise, why would she get engaged to his highness the crown prince, when she was already engaged to you. Does it not seem weird?" Anita chose her words carefully.

Anyone would leave a man who would so openly show favor towards their sibling more than them. however, Anthony would never see or try to understand that because Winter's lowly blood is what he only ever thought of. the bastard child of Monroe was not worthy of a purebred duke, and though he never said it, he always showed. It was definitely true what they said, actions speak louder than words.

Watching Anthony in a predicament, doubting Winter completely made Anita unconsciously smile behind her cup as she sipped on the remaining tea. he placed her hand on Anthony's showcasing an understanding look.

"it's not that hard, your highness, I will support you through and through," and those were the words that had him in her trap.

*

It had been about four days since I had last seen Zachary. during that time had been able to walk and get back on my two feet. The days had passed by quite slowly and gloomily and all that had occupied my mind were questions of doubt. there was a reason Zachary had accepted my proposal, but the reason is so unclear. I hadn't noticed it but after overthinking continuously, as it was the only thing that I could do during this time, it started getting noticeably clear.

I felt at a disadvantage slightly seeing as the dream I had felt slightly hazy. the only thing that seemed so clear was the feeling of death that was donned on me. the sound of the sharp blade of the guillotine above me, and the looks on Anthony and Anita's faces. My hand unconsciously moved up to my neck as my fingers slightly brushed it, my eyes tearing up slightly. It felt way too real to be a dream.

if it was true and all of it was a foreshadowing of what was to happen in the near future, I had to do whatever it took to survive, and furthermore, re-enact my revenge. but for some reason the seed of doubt that continued to grow kept on prickling me. I couldn't help but wonder if I had walked into a more gruesome future than what was already planned for me. seeing as I almost saw my life flash before my eyes made me wake up slightly. I wasn't safe. I wasn't guaranteed to live. but being so unsure and not knowing exactly what steps to take in order to survive was scary. all I had to rely on was the little fragments of my dream.

I couldn't continue to pretend to be naive and oblivious to everything happening around me. I had to prepare myself. and I had to start with whatever it was that day that had attacked me. I had to start with Shadows.

END OF BOOK 1 (S1)