Time Pressure

Adriana looked away knowing she cannot escape this. She knew it was her fault that she did not consider telling him about this whole thing. But Adriana did not expect him to come back home this early.

"Don't avoid my eyes," Astell said in a stern voice as he made his way toward Adriana.

This wasn't the first time when Adriana had hidden something from him. If not for Raven and Yashiro he won't be able to know about this matter until she tells him, and that would take a long time for her to tell him about it.

At this moment he felt grateful for Adriana for having a protective brother around her. But because of that, he felt sullen. Instead of him, it was her brother who got to know about her condition.

'Was he not reliable enough for Adriana to tell him?' It's this that Astell inquire to ask Adriana about but he didn't. He held back knowing Adriana has a hard time expressing and telling others about her own life. He kept in mind her condition and situation and she needed some time.

Adriana looked up in his eyes directly listening to his orders. Those eyes that had intrigued her, eyes like the reflection of clear sky bringing the good daily news to anyone close to him.

Her heart was beating quickly not because of seeing him but afraid of Astell was disappointed in her.

Now that she had a reception of her feeling with Astell. Adriana was afraid of losing him. She knew she was at fault this time, but the words weren't coming out of her mouth.

"I-I…" stuttered Adriana, seeing the cloudy expression on his face, and stopped when she saw Astell cupping her cheek with his hands. Astell flashed a gentle smile on seeing her flustered face making him let go of his anger. His brows furrowed worrying that he might have scared her.

"Sorry I didn't mean to get mad," Astell apologized as he retreated his hand back to pull out a nearby chair so that he can sit close to her. He sat across her and held her hand. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

Adriana pursed her lips and shook her head feeling a bit embarrassed to tell about herself. But at the same time, she felt relieved that his fierce-looking eyes from earlier turned back to gentle a gentleman, a man she is in love with.

"The back of my head might have a bruise but I'm fine other than that," Adriana honestly answered and saw his lips frown.

"Let's have it treated," suggested Astell, who called a servant for an ice bag. He looked into her eyes and asked, gently yet firmly the same time, "Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

Once Astell received the servant's ice bag, he stood up behind Adriana and iced the back of her head, without letting her tell him.

"I didn't think properly before going that Madam Jocelyn had some plans for me," Adriana looked down as she clenched her fists, "I shouldn't have lowered my guard."

Somehow Adriana felt, that for some time she had become a softhearted person toward anyone, whether a known or a stranger. It is a good thing but at the same time a bad thing for her revenge. She needed to keep up her evil acts so that her enemies will not underestimate her.

"What did you intend to do?" Astell inquired Adriana, drawing out a hiss as Astell found the right spot.

"Father is dead is what I assumed," Adriana told Astell her findings from the duke's mansion. She felt the stiffness in his hands for a second and resume pressing on the bruise.

"This makes things harder for me. Now Madam Jocelyn is not holding back anymore making it seems that she had teamed up with Issac."

If Jocelyn had teamed up with Isaac, then that is for sure he knows her true identity. And now they are using each other for their own uses.

Since Isaac wants to become the next family head and Jocelyn might want more power in society. Which makes it why the heirloom must not fall into their hands.

If those two succeed in their plans it will bring disaster to Arabella. And it's not a good thing at all. The Year Arabella will come to an end, and history will repeat itself.

Adriana decided it is time to stop them. No matter what it takes she needs to move forward with her plans fast as Isaac might also be after the heirloom to become the next duke.

"We need to find the heirloom hastily, then kill the remaining members of the Belladonna family," muttered Adriana without even flinching while saying the words.

The earlier those people are killed. The better it is for the future of the people Arabella.

"And I will support you no matter what," Astell placed his other free hand on her shoulder which made her smile.

"Thank you."

"Don't need to thank me. I'm just doing it because I agree with you."

The next two days Adriana spent her time with Astell. She even said that it was all right and he can move to do his work but was cut in between the say was denied clearly that he didn't want to leave her alone in the mansion. But as urgent work calls the great Astell was also left with no choice.

Astell didn't want to bring her out either since he was afraid that something might happen to her. But then again Adriana is not that weak. She is powerful enough to defend herself, leaving Astell no more excuse but to head back to his office.

As the next grand duke of Arabella, there is a lot more for Astell to learn. He has lots of plans on reforming some laws created by some nobles which sounded very unreasonable.

Though it may not look like it. But Arabella is a democratic empire that allows nobles and people to create and vote for laws that will be implemented. But corruption is still there, especially among the nobles.

One of the most famous, corrupted, and evil families are the Belladonnas. And the ones implementing and creating them were Vayne and Jocelyn Belladonna, the head of the Belladonna family. Those two people are utterly merciless not caring about those with the lower status and less power.

Taxes in their boundary are increased by at least ten percent which makes it thoroughly unreasonable. Furthermore, when the citizens of their area want to leave, they cannot do so as they are prohibited from that right.

Adriana was seen behind her desk invested in writing a letter. She was writing to Raven regarding the tracking of the heirloom.

Raven informed Adriana that he and his team has managed to find a secret basement under the mansion. But it was very deep and narrow, which will take more time for them to enter.

Asides from that Raven had reported about Isaac. It seemed like he had returned back home empty-handed.

Adding that Jocelyn had an outburst that led to being fainted and right now is on bed rest. The reason is that Isaac did not find anything. This is ironic as she might not faint even when facing her death, might power be something that is air for her.

It was a good thing they were ahead of them but it will not take long for Isaac to find out what the hint is about. They had no time and needed to settle things as fast as possible.

Though they had a slight problem. Now that Isaac was back it meant that they have to move quietly and fastly. Adriana cannot afford the scene when they know about the placement of the heirloom, not until Raven finds it first.

Adriana laid the pen back on the table and folded the paper into three, after writing out the plans. She placed the paper in the envelope and called Faris out.

"Send this to Raven and make sure to not get caught," instructed Adriana and Faris disappeared along with the paper.