4

Ezra was intrigued, this entire time the the transmigrator was right in front of him and it was his lady in courting.

The lady amused him, if she wanted an audience so bad why didn't she turn herself in and negotiate something out of it. She chose to hide. If he didn't figure it out sooner, 3.6 million people might have died for knack.

She didn't answer him all this while, he really wanted to read her mind that instant.

"Are transmigrator usually cowards ?" He finally studied her figure, comparing her to the empress. They look nothing alike so why are transmigrators picked in the first place.

"Well answer me.." he urged as she sighed. "I don't know about the Empress but I wouldn't call not dealing with you being a coward." She paused. "I didn't want to die yet..." Ezra arched a brow.

"Who said you were going to die ?"

"What do you think a transmigrator is ?" Ezra found her sudden found boldness amusing. "Well you people are from another world but know everything about your previous world and the current world. Or am I lacking ?" Anthonette thought he was going to say something similar to a prophet, like she heard at the party.

"You're awfully updated.." she stared him down like that could get her out of her situation. "I squeezed every last bit of information before that woman escaped from my hands. You could avoid death as well if you give me the information I want." Anthonette looked over to him.

"Let's get this over with then. As a transmigrator I have information of this world but I'm afraid that no matter what I do I'm destined to die." Just a moment Anthonette thought she could survive this life just by being thrown to the side but he just had to pick her up.

"But you're a transmigrator you're supposed to find a way to avoid death.." Ezra muttered.

"I tried. But it's not that easy."

"How so ?"

"The original Anthonette was bound to die because you framed her for adultery." The Duke didn't look taken aback, he was really capable of doing something like this. "The original Anthonette has four suitors, I chose the other three but I still ended up dying."

"You mean you died in the hands of sir Keith ?" Anthonette's face flushed red. "That's not the issue at hand. I've died three times and keep regressing."

"Well you died three times, what's the big deal ?" Anthonette kept her cool, who is she to get mad at Duke Ezra. If he was just as unimportant as his squire she would have slapped him across the face.

"Have you die 18 times ?" The Duke asked. Anthonette shakes her head wondering why the sudden outburst of the question.

Then she realized. "The empress claimed to have died 18 times.." Anthonette went pale.

Was it possible to keep dying up to that count. "At first I didn't believe her but I want to believe since you're wearing the necklace." Anthonette takes off the necklace putting it back in the jewelry box.

She shoves it over to his side of the table. "You claimed as well that you squeezed her dry. The woman lived 18 times, she has more experience. You don't need me." Anthonette gets up immediately as the squire draws out his sword.

Oh please, what are you going to do ? Threaten me ?

Ezra puts a hand up dismissing the squire's action and the squire himself as well. They were now left alone.

"Sit down, let's talk."

Anthonette scoffed. "Just be brief we have nothing to talk about. The person you want is the empress not me." Anthonette muttered sternly. "Of course but I still have need for you."

"The Empress as well is a transmigrator, her current hiding place is something I cannot reveal." Anthonette figured that might be what he wanted.

"I'm aware of that, she might as well hidden the crown prince but that's not what I'm after. I'm told that I was defeated by some heroine, do tell what the means.." Did the Empress really summarize the novel for this man ?

"The heroine, aka the female lead gets tired of your bullshit and works tooth and nail to put an end to you."

"How ?" Ezra asked.

"I don't know ? Through the power of friendship. I didn't really fancy the story and barely understand your deal or why I have to die. Like I said I'm no help."

"Then let me help you."

"Our marriage was basically my social debut to be a candidate for the crown and I definitely killed you if you were getting in my way. I'm not some blood thirsty manic that you all paint me as..."

"You threatened to killed half the kingdom because I didn't want to deal with your bullshit." Anthonette glares at Ezra. He rubs the back of his head like a kid caught up in an awkward situation.

"You should have then offered yourself then instead of having me sought you out myself." Ezra mutters. "what I'm trying to say is that, I won't kill you as long as you're not a barrier to my goal." He finally hits the nail on the head.

"And that is ?"

"The head of the Empress as well as the head of the crown prince."

"But that isn't exactly the empress, you know she's a transmigrator so you should exclude her." Anthonette says likely yelling.

"Like I said I don't kill unless you get in my way. She knows all this she would have ran away the moment she got transmigrated but she's hiding the crown prince so I will not spare her." The Duke muttered gravely. "So what do you need me for exactly ?"

"A lot actually. I remember the Empress telling me about the Heroine being my downfall but that only happens after you die." Anthonette stares him down waiting for his offer.

"Anthonette Hivera..." Ezra goes down on his knees. "As long as I wield my sword, I won't wield it against you..." This line was familiar.

Today I swear my allegiance to the throne and to the kingdom.

"Today I swear my allegiance to you... "

I put my life on the line for the kingdom and only the kingdom.

"I will put my life on the line for the you and only you...."

To make sure the kingdom is safe.

"I'll make sure you don't die in this life. So please be by my side.." it then hit Anthonette, this was his knighting speech. What a rip-off.

"I want something original, I already heard something similar. This is your knighting speech..."

"It sounds original to me but if you insist..." Ezra grabs a hold of her hand delicately.

"If it's death you fear, I will give my life to make you immortal. But if it's a final death you want, I'll give that to you also. Just stay by my side and give me what I want..." Anthonette nodded.

"Just one thing, don't betray me, so I won't become your nightmare..."