FAIR WARNING

"MY SON has already stopped investigating your background."

"You should seriously stop going here," Sonata said, then she turned to the man sitting elegantly on the chair while having tea in the most majestic way possible. "Father."

Yes, her guest for that day was none other than Grand Duke Daniel Hexford.

Sonata had a small cabin house in the backyard of Madam Margo's mansion.

That cabin was hidden in the secret garden that only the Madam and the girls closest to Sonata had access to.

[But even this small space of mine has already been invaded by my father-in-law.]

The Grand Duke's elegance looked so out of place in her cozy small house, and yet Sonata found it a fascinating sight.

[That's how Diether would look like in his later years.]

Not bad, huh?

"Father, this is still the Red-light District," Sonata scolded her father-in-law. "I know the Grand Duchess already knows I work here. But what will you do if other people find out you keep coming here and misunderstand? Think about Mother's reputation, please."

"I don't think Eleanor would care," the Grand Duke said. "But I think I'd like it if she gets mad if she finds out I'm frequenting the Red-light District. Even if it's only because she wants to protect her reputation, I still wouldn't mind it as long as she looks at me again."

[The Grand Duke only talks a lot if the topic is his wife.]

"Father, are you that desperate for Mother's attention?"

The Grand Duke just smiled bitterly before sipping his tea again.

[Ah, Father is hopeless.]

She decided to just change the topic for the sake of her father-in-law.

"Father, did you only come here to tell me Diether already stopped investigating my background?" Sonata asked suspiciously. "That doesn't affect me at all because even if Diether spends his entire fortune digging through my background, he wouldn't find out who I really am."

The Grand Duke put down the teacup on the saucer. "You're on a first-name basis now. When did you get close to my son?"

"We got close because we both think you're obnoxious, Father."

"I'm glad to be a bridge that brought you close together," her father-in-law said indifferently, then he stood up and turned to her with soulless eyes. "Be careful of Princess Mikaela."

"Is the royal princess out to get me?"

"The royal princess is aiming to marry my son."

"But isn't the royal princess and Diether cousins?"

Grand Duke Daniel Hexford looked at her in disbelief, then he smirked. "It's legal for royals in this kingdom to marry their cousins for a political marriage," he explained. "But, Sonata, I don't think you have the right to make that disgusted face."

Sonata didn't fix her expression despite getting called out. "It's disgusting, and I know what I'm talking about, Father."

***

DIETHER knew that Princess Mikaela only wanted to marry him for power.

[Mikaela isn't in love with me. She doesn't even like me as a person. But if she wants to steal the crown from her brother, she needs me.]

"You don't love Sonata Florin, do you?"

Diether raised an eyebrow at Princess Mikaela's question. "I'm not obligated to answer that question, Your Highness."

"You don't love that woman since I know you still have Celeste in your heart," Princess Mikaela said, smirking as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Hence, I don't think you'd be overprotective of Sonata Florin the way you protected Celeste in the past."

Princess Mikaela used to bully Celeste in the past because the royal princess wanted Celeste to divorce him.

The royal princess only stopped bullying his wife when the king stepped in.

[And His Majesty only stepped in after I threatened to lead the Avari Holy Knights to revolt against the royal family.]

Thinking back, it was a miracle that the king didn't charge him with treason.

[I was only carried away by my feelings back then, but I still threatened the throne. Maybe it's true that the king treasures me?]

"Diether, I have to apologize in advance."

"And what do you mean by that, Princess Mikaela?"

"I don't think you're going to get married this time," Princess Mikaela said, smirking. Then she turned her back on him as she headed towards the door. "There won't be a wedding if the bride goes missing, right?"

Ah, it was a threat.

[So, Mikaela plans to bully Sonata this time.]

Pfft.

"I apologize for Princess Mikaela's discourtesy, Commander Hexford," Sir Yoel, Princess Mikaela's guard and "nanny," said while bowing towards him. "I'll talk to Her Highness."

"Sir Yoel, I also apologize in advance."

The knight looked up at him with a confused look on his face.

"I have no intention of stopping Sonata from going berserk if Princess Mikaela does something to earn my fiancée's wrath," Diether said, smirking. "If you don't want your precious princess to be destroyed by Sonata Hexford, then you better do something to stop Princess Mikaela from making a very bad mistake."

Sir Yoel looked offended in Princess Mikaela's place, but he still bowed his head politely. "I'll keep that in mind, Commander Hexford."

And, just like that, the knight followed his bratty princess.

"Will Sonata be alright?" his mother asked curiously. "Princess Mikaela could be pretty cruel when she wanted to be. Are you not worried about your fiancée?"

"I don't think I should worry about the person whom I committed mass murder with," Diether said confidently. "But I should remind Sonata that killing a direct member of the royal family will get her in trouble even if she becomes a Hexford."

***

"PRINCESS MIKAELA bribed Lady Vivian's assistant to get a copy of the wedding dress that you chose, Nata."

Really?

Sonata, who was busy tying her hair into a half-ponytail in front of a full-length mirror, laughed after hearing Aubrey's report.

So, this was why her father-in-law personally warned her about the royal princess.

[I'm glad I asked Aubrey to keep an eye on Princess Mikaela after Father's warning.]

"Princess Mikaela sounds like a crazy bitch," Sonata said, still laughing. It was rare for her to curse, but the situation was too "funny." "Aubrey, how would I be punished if I humiliated the royal princess?"