Taking the lead part 3

Both Robert Deltan and Nell Deltan came back after resolving the problem with their family regarding Dereck's sexuality. By the looks of it, Nell doesn't really mind his younger brother being with brother Roman but it was shocking for him because what he knew is that he was in love with me.

"Lady Emond, what do you mean by owning the baron's territory?"

"Simple, the baron is under the Emonds, he did something vile and unacceptable. Therefore, it is only right to take this town for myself. I doubt my brothers would want another pain in their neck so I will be taking this one"

This is the one town that connects to the water reservoir, the place that can go to viscount Kruger which will lead to the Mavron peninsula where the vampires live and the amount of money you get from maintaining this place is simply big so only an idiot would pass the opportunity to take this chance.

"I do not have any problem with that"

"Neither do I"

"Do as you wish"

After hearing the the king and the two dukes of the two other ducal family agree to my statement, it put me to ease that there won't be any other troublesome things that will appear regarding the management rights.

"I have a question lady Emond"

"Yes, what is it Sir Nell?"

"Do you not have any feelings for my brother? Like, seriously?"

"I do not have any feelings for him. I did it so that I can make their bond stronger, my brother and Dereck's that is"

I also did it for the gold, of course I have to get as many as I can in a deal.

After the abrupt, fast-paced deal the king and prince Kainston left after they took an oath to Andrin that Kainston will be the king as I said and will become a loyal vassal state to the Vanifi empire, leaving the queen behind.

As for the Veulad family, the also left after I told the duke of Veulad on where to pluck out some nobles that are eyeing the royal family with ill intents that are within the neutral faction.

Both Dereck and Robert Deltan decided to stay here in the mansion for a night while Nell went back to take care of minor things in their duchy.

"In the end, you showed it to them huh"

"There is nothing wrong with this though. What's more your influence will also skyrocket since the nobles in the empire will think you were the one who led the negotiations here"

"That is true. And all I have to do was to sit down and watch quietly"

"I am surprised you can tolerate seeing someone to be sent to their death"

"I used to work for the government as an agent, you think something like this would be enough to scare me?"

Its my first time hearing about this though.

"I will go first then, my lady"

Andrin left to take care of the imperial knights. They deserve a good rest after their hard work.

Knock. Knock.

"It is me"

John opened the door. The room was in totally ruined by the rampaging Nicholas.

"Leave us alone for a while and bring her majesty here as well"

I whispered to him.

He bowed and left the room quietly.

Brother Nicholas was looking at me with murderous eyes. His anger for knowing who was responsible for our parents' death was in front of him and yet he was unable to take revenge due to his own sister.

The frustration and loneliness inside of him that is accumulating over the time must be reaching its limits already.

Without any fear, I walk through the room and arrived at the corner where brother Nicholas was crouching down with a murderous gaze.

I knelt down and hugged him.

"I'm sorry"

"...."

"You won't talk to me?"

"Why are you apologizing?"

"I... just know that you must be mad at me for stopping you earlier"

"There was no reason for you do to that. Now, you let her go!"

Brother Nicholas pushed me back.

Thump.

He flinched when he notice that a glass shard had graze me but kept on glaring at me.

Using my handkerchief, I covered the cut to stop the blood flow.

"If I didn't stop you, you could have been arrested or worse killed for treason. My parents... our parents died, I can't bear to see any of my remaining family die"

I began to cry.

Remembering about 'my' parents' death made me feel weak and empty for some reason. My feelings for them were genuine as I have treated them as if they were actually my parents as well.

Father, the previous duke didn't stop me from getting engaged to Dereck since he knew very well that Dereck won't do anything bad happen to me. Rather, he only saw it as Dereck becoming my personal bodyguard.

But when I was sent to Vanifi, I am sure he tried his best on stopping it from happening. But its not like it was possible since the entire kingdom, along with our family's lives are on the line.

I wish I could have said "Thank you" or "Sorry" to them before they died.

"I negotiated with the king, now, the queen is here in the mansion and is sentenced to death"

"...?"

"Though I want to skin her alive myself, I will let you decide what to do with her because I know that you must be the one who was hurt the most"

The doors opened.

John toss the shackled queen inside. His secretary, Sean pushed a cart and removed the cloth that was covering it.

It were tools used for torture. The first layer were the basic tools. The second layer were poisons and other chemicals. The third layer was a single metal rod.

"Bea"

"...Yes?"

"I'm sorry"

His scary murderous eyes was changed into tearful and concerned eyes. He began to gently massage my hand that was grazed by the glass shard from earlier.

"It's okay. You can cry as much as you want later on my shoulder... for now, I will leave that demon in your hands"

"Thank you for staying by my side"

"I will wait for you then"

Unlike brother Roman who can lean on Dereck's shoulder and me who only have a few memories with them, brother Nicholas loved our parents more than anyone else.

His anger at me on our first meeting can be justified as he is overprotective to those he loved as it was described in the novel.

The door closed and a woman's scream filled with agony echoed through the entire mansion that night.