Chapter 21

The carriage reaches the manor. Instead of stepping off to the carriage, she decided to got to the bookstore to buy books she needed.

The carriage stopped and she got off. She told the old man to wait for her under the shades of the tree.

She go inside and the smell of books feels like heaven. She came to the first shelf and read books of whatever she likes.

But, a novel that captivates her was inspired by their clan but with a twist of amazing fantasy. Two brave siblings fought the celestial beings and won against it. However, there is a consequence.

The younger sibling will be on another universe, suffering for life. While the older sibling has to wander universe to universe, finding something that he doesn't know what or who it is.

She bought that book, and left.

"Your grace, you received a letter from a noblewoman of Hamelia empire" her butler started as she walked in and sat down. She opened the envelope and read the context inside.

'Dear Zeianna,

How are you? It's been months since we last spoke. The Edwards family is still blooming and the empire starts to flourish once more thanks to your alliance with my brother.

However, my brother annoys me when will you come back. I told him that you have several matters to do, especially breaking your arrangement with the crown prince. But he seems not to be convinced with my words.

I bicker him once and guess what? His face reddened like a tomato. I'm laughing at his expression and he told me to back off.

Somethings really up to duke Victorino Ysis Edwards.

I'll end my letter to you about here today. May everything goes well with you.

Dearest,

Clara Gaile Edwards'

She breathed and put the letter back from its place. She start working but something tempt her to read.

The book she bought earlier makes her curious about the next chapter. So, instead of continuing doing the paperworks, she read the book and forgot about it.

Tomorrow morning and she still hadn't sleep. She continued the book until the morning and never had any energy to start the day.

She slept, and when night comes, she woke up again. She noticed that there were no people here in the night. Except the guards.

She thinks that people got their job done and decided to go to sleep. The familiar moon strikes the night with peace.

Is it seem peace? It wasn't, as she feel something but more than this uncomfortable feeling. She felt that white glimpse of power, setting her in an illusion.

"Don't you have maids or something, duchess? You didn't even take a bath. You even reek of alcohol!" Lucius yelled and closed his nose by his fingers, only breathing on his mouth.

"Yeah. Thanks for reminding me, cardinal" she said, and closed the door that leads to the bathroom. She's still inside the clandestine illusion, even if she's done taking a bath.

He toured around the manor, and she raised her eyebrows as she saw his face being amazed at the house's interior.

'Is he not used to live in luxury that he's so ignorant about my home?!'

"What is this? It's so cute—"

"That's my dog, Macy. And, you don't have rights to act like a kid. Can't act of his age"

He rubbed his nape and says that he's sorry for acting this way.

"Since the incident ended, what did the crown prince told you?" she asked while walking down until they reached the garden.

"The crown prince blamed you for the incident" she snickered. She already knew it.

Of course the crown prince had no one else to blame except her. Her, a powerful being, will be taken advantage.

Her previous life, she's taken advantage by the crown prince. And now, she's also taken advantage.

'How could I get out of this life?!' she screamed in her mind. Lucius chilled out and sat on the couch. He observed the surroundings and smiled at the area.

Zeianna felt her cheeks heating up. His features attract most of the women.

If he isn't a cardinal, he might become a womanizer and use his face as his asset.

His illusion ceases, but nothing changed, just the feeling.

She's now in a feeling of being home, not earlier that she felt like she was in prison.

Lucius smiled and gone. She sighed in relief.

She began wandering the corridors and stare at the moon. The light shines and as she got away, a voice was heard.

"Dear, aren't you sleepy?" the tone of the crown prince was like mocking her.

She saw the crown prince leaning on the wall, its blue eyes scrutinizing her. His blonde hair resonates with the moonlight.

"I'm not, and stop minding someone's business. I'm having a good time here, please"

"I'm looking for my cousin, he arrived here earlier, if I'm not mistaken?" she nodded. "I couldn't feel his presence—"

"Then you should get out, or try to go somewhere inside this house, even if you do, there's no Lucius living here" she said sternly.

The crown prince laughed. "why mad, your grace? Are you jealous that I make out with your servant before—"

"That's none of my business, and for your clarification, she's not my servant, but a sister of my true servant"

'Amelia' she told by herself. Her sister has a child with a crown prince which is still developing in her womb. The reason Amelia worked under her wing is to get revenge against the crown prince, who share the same agony with the duchess.

"Me and that women are not the same. We may share the same agony as we were both betrayed by you but our lives are way different"

"Bitch"

"That child of yours will either be thrown away or killed. If not then that wench will be boastful that her son carry the blood of a Rufino crown prince" she said, and her eyes, glowing red, stared at him directly without fear.

"But a day will arrive wherein that brat will be my triumph card"