Plans. Plans. Oh Serect Plans!

"I'm just going to the main estate to tell my father I'm leaving. I don't need to get all dressed up." Abidemi said to her maids. Meanwhile, her black cat, Pearls, rubbed against her leg as Abidemi was dragged to the vanity table.

Many maids and servants were walking around the huge light blue room as they cleaned. Some of them were changing the sheets while others dusted the room and cleaned any huge messes. Some of them opened up the curtains to let the light in. The balcony door was opened as fresh air circulates the room.

"You're kidding me, right? You are not going to the main estate in your pajamas. That woman and her daughter are there, you have to look decent.." Shyla said as Abidemi was forced to take a seat in front of the vanity table. Abidemi yawned as reached for lipstick but Shyla slapped her hand away. "Stop it."

"Awww but Shyla." Abidemi said with a pout.

Shyla had long straight hair that ran down her back. Green eyes and fawn skin that glowed in the sunlight. She wore a dark blue maid uniform with comfortable black shoes.

"My lady." Shyla said back. Abidemi sighed. Kanene, Abidemi's other servant, came over with a pastel blue dress with a flowy skirt.

Kanane wore a maid outfit just like Shyla. Her hair was in a puffy black ponytail, her eyes were light brown and her dark brown skin had white patches. Ones noticeably around her lips, neck and left eye.

"So, how did Lady Daisy take the news?" Kanene asked as she hung up the dress and started to pull out hair accessories, jewelry, and earrings. "I imagined that she was quite sad about the whole thing."

"Very much so. I wish I could've told her in a much more private matter but the both of us were so busy. Daisy is focusing on her courses, matchmaking dates, managing her stores, and traveling. I'm getting ready to leave, saying goodbye to everyone, packing everything I need, making sure everyone finds decent employment, and food for the long trip." Abidemi sighed. "I just wanna take a boat to Elov and just leave."

"No need to be so rash, my lady." Shyla said while washing Abidemi's face which only made the other girl grumble. "It is always best to do things the right way."

"Which reminds me? Shall we send a letter to Lord Logan about your departure in a week." Kanene asked Abidemi.

Abidemi only sighed and spoke. "Just tell him something along the lines of I'm leaving and not coming back. Then mention something about being sorry that it couldn't work out." Abidemi said while waving her hand away.

"Wow. So heartwarming." Kanene said flatly as Shyla just laughed.

"What else can I say to him?" Abidemi asked her servants. "He thinks of me as a spoiled, vicious, rotten person. Might as well keep it short. Maybe take out the "I'm sorry it didn't work out" part.

" We should be so lucky that you're good at social etiquette or else you be called a brash person instead of a vicious one." Shyla said while Abidemi only shrugged her shoulders.

"What's so brash about what I just said?"Abidemi said while looking at Shyla then at Kanene.

"Well, for one. Women of Valtis aren't so honest like you." Shyla said to her. Abidemi licked her lips as she crossed her arms. "They mostly keep their thoughts to themselves."

"I only do this in private. It's not like anyone in Valtis knows what I'm thinking." Abidemi said while she frowned at Shyla. Abidemi looked away from her. "Why should I pretend to be nice to Lord Logan, mmm? I bet the moment he found out the letter was from me, he'll throw it out."

"Common courtesy, my lady. Common courtesy." Shyla said with a deep frown. "He was your childhood friend before he stopped talking to you. He should at least know that you're leaving and never coming back."

"Okay fine. I'll write a letter with all of Valtis's common etiquette tied into it." Abidemi said with a sigh. Pearl jumped on Abidemi's lap, Abidemi petted the cat as Shyla started with Abidemi's hair. " When am I having breakfast?"

"After you see the Duke." Shyla said while she fixed Abidemi's hair. "The cooks are preparing Valtis food for the whole week since this may be the last time you have it."

" Ah. Valtis food. I'm going to miss that very much. Especially the strawberry cakes and doughnuts." Abidemi said with a sad smile. Shyla smiled at her charge as Abidemi petted her cat.

"We could always pack Valtis treats and snacks for the long journey." Kanene said while heading to Abidemi's closet. She took out a pair of flat blue shoes with small beads sewn into it. Abidemi's eyes glittered at the pair of shoes in her hand.

"Oh! Are those the new shoes that Mr.Marie and his wife made." Abidemi asked as Kanene placed them down and nodded her head. "So pretty. I'm kind of sad that I'll probably not be able to wear them much."

"I heard that Valtis fashion is becoming quite popular in Elov. So there may be a chance you wear them more often." Kanene said with a smile.

"If that's true then I could probably take some of my clothes. Most of them are a bit too stuffy and heavy for a hot climate." Abidemi said with a thought. She let out a sigh. "You know. I'll see what happens when I get there."

Shyla and Kanene smiled at her before shaking their heads. Abidemi smiled at the two as they worked. She closed her eyes. ' I really hope whoever they serve isn't as much of a handful as I am.'

---------

"Last night was a good chance for you to go talk to her. Why did you back out at the last minute?" a man asked. He was dressed in a dress shirt and slacks. He had light beige skin, shining off-white  blue eyes, and long curly brown hair.

He looked over to a young man with tan brown skin, golden color eyes, and long reddish brown hair that was held in a low ponytail. He wore a high-collared black jacket with red trimmings and black pants.

The young man sat on a chair with his head in his hand. He looked bored as he looked at the older man in front of him. " I saw her." he smiled a bit. " I just didn't wanna see her in a Valtis environment."

"You said you know her in Elov." the older man said sternly. The young man laughed.

"I do. She just doesn't know it's me. Or at least she never saw my face or knew my real name." the young man said with a big grin. The older man groaned which only made the young man chuckle. "Relax, Duke Of Sealen. I had other reasons why I didn't show up to the ball last night."

"And what are those reasons, Prince Akeem." The Duke of Sealen asked him. Akeem only smiled at him. The Duke sighed and glared at the prince. "Prince Akeem. I am trusting you with my daughter, your highness. I don't want anything happening to her."

"Nothing is going to happen to her. Promise."Akeem said while holding his hands up. "She does have two of the best warriors next to her whether she knows it or not. There are also people shadowing her as well. No one can come near her even if they try."

"Is that meant to be comforting, your highness." The Duke Of Sealen asked darkly.

"I have people coming for my head. I need to keep my princess safe whether she knows it or not." Akeem said while he stood up. He walked over to the window and looked out. "I don't know how things work in Valtis but there are many people after my title."

"Then why not marry a noblewoman from Elov? I'm pretty sure there are plenty of young women that are more than qualified." The Duke of Sealen said with a frown. Akeem hummed.

"Well, I love her for one." Akeem said with a warm smile. The Duke of Sealen rolled his eyes as Akeem looked over the Duke Of Sealen. "She was also promised to me as well. Your first wife and my mother made a sacred promise that I and Abidemi will fall in love and get married."

"No one makes sacred promises nowadays, even so, promises are meant to be broken."The Duke of Sealen said while looking out the window. Akeem rolled his eyes.

"Not a sacred promise, Duke of Sealen. One way or another they will be fulfilled." Akeem said with a smirk.

" What is the actual reason why you want my daughter?" The Duke of Sealen asked Akeem. The prince sighed and shook his head.

"Why are you so curious about why I want to have Abidemi as my princess? Or." Akeem looked at The Duke of Sealen with a blank expression. "Why do you care now? I hope it has nothing to do with the heir to the Duke of Blacklake."The Duke of Sealen looked at Akeem as the prince smirked. "Your current wife is trying to marry Abidemi into that family." The Duke Of Sealen's eyebrow furrowed as the prince laughed. "You didn't know."

"First time I'm hearing about this. He was just a last resort just in case Abidemi had no desire to leave for Elov permanently." The Duke of Sealen said. Akeem hummed. He sighed. "I should talk to Freya about this. She is not supposed to handle matters involving Abidemi."

"That's good. You should talk to her."Akeem said while he smiled. There he saw Abidemi walking through the garden with her two maids behind her. She was dressed in a light blue dress with many ribbons in her hair. He laughed when noticed a black cat was also beside her. "Abidemi is on her way."

The Duke of Sealen looked out the window and sighed. "That's right. She needed to tell me something this morning." he whispered while Akeem hummed. The Duke of Sealen looked over to Akeem and glared at him. " She shouldn't see you here, your highness."

Akeem laughed before nodding his head. "I know. I know. Family matters. I'll leave." Akeem said as he turned to leave the room. Akeem looked at The Duke of Sealen one last time before smirking. "We'll talk later. Be sure to talk to that wife of yours."

The Duke of Sealen nodded his head as Prince Akeem left the room.

Akeem sighed as he closed the door and walked down the hall. He walked for a long while before he heard voices coming his way. "I keep forgetting how big the main estate is. To think, this may be my last time walking down these halls." a woman's voice said quietly.

Akeem blinked as he ducked into a hall and hid behind a pillar.

"My lady, be careful what you say. The main estate has many ears." one of her maids said. The young woman sighed which made Akeem smirk a bit.

"I know. I know." Abidemi muttered. She sounded a bit annoyed which almost made him laugh. He covered his mouth to hold in his laughter. He heard them walk past his way. Then he took a chance. He peeked out to see Abidemi from behind as her cat followed her closely. He couldn't help but smile as one of the maids reacted to fix up Abidemi's hair. Then one of them quickly picked up the cat as they walked.

He bit his lips as he moved away from the sight and looked up at the ceiling. 'Lovely. Like always.' he thought with a goofy smile. He heard the door to the study open up and then closed. He dared to look again to see Abidemi was gone but her two servants were still outside.

Looking in his direction.

He laughed as he walked out of his hiding place and smiled at the two women. The two maids' eyes widened as he walked over to them. "Shyla. Kanene. Long time no see."