A DEVIOUS PLAN

"So uhh, Father... Where's Helena?" Alexander asked, avoiding the topic as Felicia stared at him too much despite them eating in peace. 

"She said she'll eat in her room. Leave that child alone, she's adjusting." The Duke replied as he ate in silence, observing the two who were unlikely to bicker right in front of him. 

"I see. After all, her mother disappointed us." Alexander muttered and kept himself fed, avoiding Felicia for his own good. "I heard that you invited a friend over, Felicia. A commoner..." The Duke suddenly opened towards Felicia who blinked her eyes in surprise.

Since when was he invested in her life? Wow, is this a game-changing method?

"Ah, she's an excellent designer so I thought I could put her up with some more work regarding my dresses and asked for men's wear during my training period," Felicia answered, making the two frown at her words. 

"Men's wear? You're going to wear a men's wear?" The Duke asked, his eyebrow raised in surprise upon hearing her absurd remark. This made them question her sexuality which made them more in distress. 

"What? Do you expect me to wear a dress while fighting off with my trainer or perhaps stab someone with a dress on? That's quite something else." She commented, couldn't help but throw some shade at them, being sassy. 

"Ask your knights how it would feel like fighting an enemy wearing a dress." Rachelle even added, stopping herself from rolling her eyes. She felt like whenever she was with them, she would always end up losing some of her brain cells. 

"But... No woman has ever worn a men's wear. You're the first woman suggesting to wear a men's wear. Although I'm not against it, on the contrary, it sounded a little bit offending and very weird." Alexander commented, showing his feelings over her opinion. 

"His right, Felicia. Are you really sure about your choices? It's not that late to back off from what you wished for and you could ask for something else instead." The Duke offered, feeling tense. 

Felicia has changed all over the years but where did she get her ideas all of a sudden? She couldn't get that just by reading only. It must have been something that urged her with these brazen yet very unearthly suggestions and activities. 

"I am and I do not intend on backing off," Rachelle said firmly in order for them to understand that she was not backing down this easily. Especially that a lot of things had already happened. 

"Other than that, I might as well ask for your permission once again." She said, putting down her cutlery and looking at the Duke with her face brimming with genuine interest in their topic. 

"I'd like to go out and explore the capital as well as visit the commoner whom I tasked to create my garments." She said and didn't give them additional details. What would they need it? They don't even care. 

"Bring some knights with you. Our situation is currently dangerous therefore bring some knights for them to protect you." The Duke stated, allowing Felicia to go out since there's nothing wrong with her request. 

"What? But Father, wouldn't that be more alarming if she's with strangers? I shall take some time off my work and be with her instead." Alexander budged in, volunteering to guide Felicia to the capital while Rachelle groaned and cussed in silence, keeping a straight facade in front of them. 

"Do you not trust our men, Alexander, for you to doubt their capabilities?" Rachelle asked. Of course, she's not against Alexander joining her but that would disrupt her plan and it's even more weirder right now. 

He's trying to get close with her, which makes her feel uncomfortable knowing that throughout Felicia's time, he didn't even feel a bit sorry with his actions. Did he even apologize? 

"It's not that I do not trust them. I applaud their service however it's not good if I were to leave you alone with them. It would be good if I could be the one accompanying you." He argued, putting an emphasis on himself that made it feel a little bit disturbing.

"No, I do not wish for any accompanies, Your Grace. My Maid, Olivia can be my accompany. Other than her, I won't accept anyone else." She firmly stated, trying to rule over Alexander that she was not interested in anyone. 

"But that would put your life in danger." The Duke complained. This sudden development was making Rachelle feel cringe. Their hypocrisy, she cannot bear how shameless they are. 

"The capital is well guarded by the empire's knights scattered through every nook and cranny. So please don't worry." She pointed out the knights stationed in every part of the capital. 

"Very well then... You should." The Duke agreed and finished his food, leaving the two of them alone. Alexander was frowning, looking at Felicia in dismay while Felicia just relaxed her expression and continued to eat in silence. 

Shea trying not to get bothered by Alexander trying to curry her favour over something. It's starting to irk her and if it irks her, she'll be a ticking bomb that will explode in any minute. 

After their dinner, everyone went back to their rooms peacefully. Hah, after a month, Tyren will eventually come back and cause regular mayhem with her. But for now, she'll enjoy the peace that she could get and prepare for the worst. 

As she opened the door to her room, her eyebrows furrowed upon seeing Olivia and her bird—Noctua bickering like old fools trying to prove and insult each other. 

"I told you, Noctua is not a bird of death! You humans are!" The bird yelled and started to pull out Olivia's hair by flapping its wings and his beak filled with her hair. 

"You're hurting me!" Olivia yelled back as she grabbed the bird and tried to pull it away from her hair. They continued to fight in her presence which made her sigh. She'll take back her words, there is no room for peace. 

"Noctua... So you're back." She said that made the two flinch and look in her direction, blinking upon seeing her in front of them. They eventually let themselves go from each other's grasp, Olivia sitting straight on her bed while Noctua rested its body on her bed. 

"How's the meal, master?" Olivia asked as she bowed her head and stood up from sitting on her bed, shamelessly acting like the thing earlier never happened, so did Noctua acting like it. 

"It was weird and awkward but pretty calm," Felicia replied as she took a seat on her bed, sighing. "I thought you'd never come back but now tell me what you've learned or heard." She added, immediately opening the topic about Madame Hildegard Norwagen.

"Can't you at least feed me?" Noctua asked, showing his distaste for Felicia. "Or let me drink some water to quench my thirst? You sick woman, you're torturing me." Noctua even added, flapping his wings angrily at Felicia who just grinned. 

"Olivia, ask the chef to cook a steak for me and some water for our dear friend here. After all, he travelled far and wide just to let me know about that woman's grand scheme." Rachelle ordered Olivia, looking at Noctua while emphasizing how far-fetched he flapped his wings just for her. 

"Right away, Mistress," Olivia answered and left the room, glaring at Noctua first before closing the door, leaving the two alone in her room. 

"So it seems that what you thought about is right after all." Noctua began to speak up. He just waited for Olivia to vanish from their sight for him to speak up. He can't trust Olivia.

"About what?"

"The Baroness and the Baron are in full debt because of their son's gambling addiction. Their son is currently imprisoned for multiple cases of debt, making them shoulder their son's incapabilities." Noctua answered as he shook his body, shaking his feathers, like how birds do. 

"However, the interesting part is that the amount of money that she asked you isn't for their son but rather to run away from the authorities and live somewhere far away to avoid being imprisoned. Therefore, not only will your money be taken away, but they will also enjoy their vacation far away from their debt and possibly leave for good." He revealed. 

"So she told us the truth by claiming that she's broke and is in debt but lied to us that she'll pay her debts. Hm, what a nice plan. If I were her and I'm stuck with that kind of son, I'd escape too from my misery." Rachelle commented, calm as ever and not even affected at all. 

"Although... If things didn't work out... The Baron suggested that maybe their son will help them in convincing you by making the two of you meet together and him doing something to you so that not only will they receive a big amount of money, but the benefits will also come flashing their way." Noctua added. 

Somehow, Rachelle noticed how his aura changed into feeling disturbed, looking at her with an eerie expression which creeps her out. It's scaring her a little bit, making her heart race at how he is giving her the looks that chills. 

"What do you mean?" She managed to utter it despite the fear that lingered in the air. Noctua remains silent as if he has no plans of telling her what he heard from that woman. It's just so disturbing and he couldn't bear to tell it to her. 

By seeing anger flaring into her, Noctua sighed and braced himself. Taking a deep breath and exhaling as calmly as possible, he revealed the real intent if the Madame's plan didn't work out well. 

"He plans on letting his son assault you in order for you to get tied to him and live a blissful life."