THE STARTING POINT

"Why should I shut my mouth? Are you implying that the Holy Church lied about the process of becoming a saint? Wasn't it too long ago that it was announced that Helena is a Saintess? Even I, who did not receive any kind of education know this. Who knew if the pope will hear this argument—"

"Stop!" The grand Duke immediately shut Felicia's mouth. There really was something new to her right now. She was rigid and awkward, but this lady in front of them was showing no remorse, emotion, or even fear. She could stare at them without cowering and she could talk back without stuttering anymore.

"Grand Duke, you must know that I am not dumb and stupid. Oh, and shall we discuss also how weird it is for me to live in the annexe, with a dull appearance, and a room that you could even tell a mouse lives inside it? I wonder, am I, not the legitimate daughter here?" She said.

Those words that came out of her mouth were definitely making them look at her in surprise. She wasn't like this at all, but now she looks like an untamed dog ready to bite them with her ferocious mouth.

"Annex? I didn't instruct you to live there." The Duke said, confused at what she said. A sudden smirk grew on Felicia's face as she stared at the Grand Duchess who was now like in a cold seat. Even Helena's eyes went wide as if she didn't expect Felicia to voice out her concerns.

"Grand Duke, I am very fully aware how much you hate my presence that you forced me to move out from my room and let the maids bully me personally. How dreadful it is to know that as a legitimate daughter of the official wife," she said and stopped, making the last two words obvious while looking at the pair.

Her eyes held scorn but that soon vanish as tears started to flow in her eyes. With her look right now, she looks like a maid's daughter that has no significance in life. "I was treated like garbage in this family." She added.

"How can that be?! Helena told me that you, yourself didn't want to initiate with everyone that's why you moved over the annexe." Alexander screamed towards her as Helena looks scared for the first time, as if she was being threatened.

"Oh brother, you're accusing me of lying when the evidence is right in front of you. Look how tattered my dresses are, my face? My body? Am I, not skin and bones now?" Felicia answered Alexander, still eyes held tears.

"I know that the Grand Duchess hated me also, fearing that I might steal her beloved daughter's place, she removed me out of sight and out of her mind. Please, if you truly cherish your family value or whatsoever, Your Grace,  then I suggest you discipline your concubine first." Felicia added,

emphasizing the word concubine.

All of them went speechless. No one dares to call the Grand Duchess the concubine, she is the reigning regent of the Grand Duchess but that can't mean that you should belittle her position boldly.

In a fit of rage, the Duchess lost consciousness which made everyone panic. Even Helena who was right beside her mother was bewildered at her situation and immediately called for help.

"Oh my," Felicia let out a gasp as the Duchess fainted right in front of them. Displaying such an embarrassing act that is not quite right for the situation right now. "Alexander, call a male servant and lead her back to her room. As for you Helena, please heal your mother." The Grand Duke said as he began to massage his temple.

"It's all your fault!" Alexander said as he bumped into Felicia's shoulder, which then she staged as she fell on the ground as he bumped into her. Even Alexander knew that it wasn't that strong of a bump but she still fell on the floor.

"Alexander!" The grand Duke yelled towards him that he was perplexed. Helena's eyes held insignificant as she immediately went to Felicia's situation and clasp both of her hands, performing healing directly into her.

"Sister! Please, let me help you." Helena said as she immediately performed putting her ability as a Saint to her. Alexander was consumed by guilt but still didn't show any remorse in his face. But what Felicia felt at that moment was a weak input of her ability towards her.

Felicia smiled despite the feeling of disgust wanting to appear on her face. Helena definitely held resentment towards her.

"Sister... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." She apologized which made Felicia look at her straight into her eyes. Felicia could tell that she was planning to do something. And true to her words, Helena closed her eyes as she fell on the ground, breathing heavily as if she did something very heavy.

"What did you do?!" Alexander shouted and immediately scoop Helena in his arms, glaring at her for no reason and left the room fastly, looking for a medic. Now that those thorns are left, it is just her and the Duke left inside the room.

"What else do you need?" The Grand Duke asked, looking tired after all the things that happened. Felicia then stood up from sitting on the floor and displayed a face of sadness in her eyes. Although it won't affect the grand Duke who was bewitched by Helena's innocence but he couldn't deny how lacking he was.

"Please let me reside in the room that my mother had stayed in." She asked him, looking at him with despair in her eyes. The Grand Duke felt like his blood was about to boil hearing her request.

"Are you joking with me?!" He shouted that it made Felicia flinch. 'Geez, you didn't have to shout man. I'm not deaf.' she thought, wanting to punch the man straight in his face.

"Your Grace, It's the only space that she left. You're very cruel for not giving it to me. I held her dearly in my heart as I atone for my sins of her dying in my stead." She said, crying under her single breath. Rachelle who was on Felicia's body was never an actress, but in times like this, she knew how to cry. 'If it's not for my shitty landlady, I wouldn't know how to act pitiful.' She thought.

Seeing how Felicia cried a ton today, it somehow felt like the Duke was moved but still kept his stoic emotion displayed on his face. He sighed, he was already tired because of the drama that Felicia started and to ease this whatever he felt at this moment, he knew he had to do it.

"Alright. As for your budget, I will increase it by this month only for you to buy the dress yourself. However, don't think that just because of this you're forgiven. I will never forgive you. Now scram!" He yelled and Felicia obliged. There's no point in fighting him right now, as long as he gave her then she has to oblige.

Before she left, she curtsied, just like what female leads do to every book that she had read. It left the Duke speechless. Her etiquette was much better compared to Helena who acts all cutesy but still cute despite her mistakes.

Leaving the Duke's room, she wiped her tears as the smile that she had been holding since earlier, now appeared on her lips as she couldn't help herself by smiling this big. Now she knows how to handle Helena and her whole disgusting family.

"You over there, call the butler and tell him that I need him at the Emerald Room." She said, about the room where every duchess resides. There are two rooms for every couple in the Dukedom. The Ruby Red Room for the Duke and the Emerald Green Room for the Duchess.

The fact that Helena's mother, Tyren wasn't able to occupy the room is because she is the concubine. The official marriage declares her as the wife but the Duke who remained like a fool who can't move on with his dead wife didn't allow his new wife to taint the room.

And now that Felicia will be the one occupying the room, it will make the Duchess even more furious towards her and her everyday life will be more like her fighting everyone here. The sacred room of the old duchess is her room now, this might even trigger a change of power between her and the Duchess.

As she arrived at the room, as expected it was clean. But it was much more massive than what she's been imagining how it looks like. The Ruby Room might be the biggest but the Emerald is just so extravagant that it befits every duchess residing here and of course, her.

A bed with curtains to hide her, a personal library, a study corner, a piano, a room with tables and couches for tea time, and a lavish balcony. The room was very much highly made of sturdy equipment, lavish with thousands of jewels and gold, even marble.

Her eyes landed on a portrait that made her skip a beat. It was a family picture of all of them. The past duchess sitting on a chair with Felicia on her legs, hugging her with a warm smile on her face. Her blonde and green eyes are calm but despite all of that she was breathtakingly beautiful in the portrait.

Then there's Roelle, the Duke who was beside her, smiling at the portrait as his hands were on Moniqua the Duchess and Alexander who was standing next to the Duchess. The portrait displayed how they were very happy. who knew the Duke can smile like that?

Her heart clenched as her eyes were staring at the deceased Duchess. Felicia knew that she had loved her ever since she was born and must be disappointed right now with the way that her child gets abused for apparently killing her and looking for a duchess to replace her.

"I heard that you looked for me." A voice startled Felicia, causing her to look at the man who rudely came in without even knocking on the door. The disrespect that he showed was making her feel very mocked.

"'Come here." She said as she sat on the single chair, didn't even bother to look at him. The butler who felt disgusted complied with her wishes and went to her with an expression of feeling detestable front of her.

A loud smack could be heard in the whole room. It was so loud that the Butler's face looked sideways, with his cheek turned red. Felicia had just slapped him across his face. Bad dogs need to be tamed, and that's what Felicia is doing right now.