Plan evil

Freya jumped in fright when someone knocked on the door to the room she was kept in. She instinctively moved back into the bed, while she held the sheets tight as if it will protect her.

The knock came again, before the door slowly opened, and a woman came in.

"Good morning. The duke asked me to check on you."

"I am fine." She whispered.

"I should prepare a warm bath for you."

Freya nodded, as she was cold. She had been left naked for days and exposed to the cold.

The lady walked into the room and to Freya's bed. She touched her body.

"You are so cold."

She then went into the bathroom to prepare the bath.

Freya walked into the bathroom with the robe she was given to wear the previous night. She wanted to undress, but she noticed that the lady was not going away.

"Uhm... I need to..." She awkwardly cleared her throat, not knowing how to send her away. "Will you stay here while I... bath?"

"I was sent to serve you. I should help you bath."

Freya knew that it was normal for royal and noble ladies to have servants help them bath, but the thought made her shiver.

She remembered how Lord Kruger's servants would forcefully strip her and bath her, disrespecting her body. She had also lost count of how many times the Lord had seen her naked.

"I can do that myself." She politely told the lady.

The lady noticed that she was uncomfortable, so she decided to leave.

"I will be waiting for you in your room miss. Freya right?"

Freya nodded. "Thank you."

Freya took her time to wash up, letting the warm water sooth her as much as it could. She spent a lot of time there, as it had been long she experienced such. Most times she was bathed by the servants who would just pour cold water on her. Other times she wouldn't be allowed to bath at all.

When she came out of the bathroom, she met the lady stirring something in a mug on the table.

"This is for you. It will help relax your body and reduce the pains."

Freya didn't need to wonder how the lady knew she was in pains. It would be obvious to anyone that saw her the previous day.

"Thank you."

"I am Alice my lady." The lady introduced herself.

"I am no lady. Just call me Freya." Freya said.

"I serve you. It is only proper that I address you as such." Alice said, and Freya decided not to argue. "You should take the tea while I go prepare your breakfast."

"Thank you Alice."

"You can find some clothes over there." Alice said, pointing to the closet at the corner of the room. "Hopefully you will find something that fits you."

The situation she found herself at that moment seemed too unreal to her. She felt like everything would disappear once she blinked, and she would be back in Lord Kruger's mansion.

Freya quickly got dressed once Alice had left. Then she took the tea that was made for her.

Alice soon came back with her breakfast.

"The duke would like to see you when you are done eating. He wants to have a word with you."

Freya nodded. She also wanted to see him and thank him for rescuing her. She had thought he was going to leave her, and that would have totally broken her. She had hoped to see someone she knew, but no one came.

Freya tried to finish the food she was given, but she could not. Even the previous night, she barely ate anything from the food she was given. She had stayed days without eating, so any food ingested into her stomach made her feel sick, and she gets full easily. But she still tried to eat as much as she could.

When she was done, Alice led her to see Elric in the living room.

"I will be outside waiting for you." Alice said, and Freya nervously nodded. She knew she shouldn't be, but she felt a bit scared. She was usually presented to Lord Kruger in that manner, where the servants would let her go alone, and the Lord would do things to her she didn't want to remember.

"Freya." Elric called. One look at her, he could tell that she was afraid. "It's just me."

"I know Duke. It's just... I am sorry." Her eyes moistened and tears threatened to fall.

Elric wondered what they might have put her through. He also wondered if Luciana also went through such. Or did she go through worse? He felt his blood boil.

Standing up, he went to her. He gently took her hand, silently telling her that there is nothing to be afraid of, but he noticed how she flinched and tensed the moment he touched her. He then left her hand, before leading her to sit down on one of the sofas.

"Thank you for saving me." She uttered. Her voice sounded so hoarse, and her eyes dull.

"You are welcome Freya."

He had wanted to ask her if she knew the whereabout of her sister, but he decided to keep that for later. She was in no condition to be questioned.

But Freya beat him to it. "My sister. Have you seen her?" She looked a bit hopeful as she asked. Well, that answered the question he was going to ask her.

"Not yet."

Freya tried to hide how broken she was that he hadn't found Luciana, but she did a bad job at it.

"Don't worry. We will find her."

"Do you think she will still be alive?" Freya asked.

That was Elric's greatest fear. But he didn't let the fear show on his face.

"I believe she is alive. The same way you are. If Lord Kruger wanted her dead, he would have killed her the day he killed..." He trailed off, not wanting to mention her family being murdered. "I will do everything I can to find her alright."

"Thank you Duke Elric."

****

King Mikael was annoyed at the sudden invitation, while Queen Evelyn was happy. They were told that it was just an emergency preparation, and only very important allies were invited. Evelyn was just glad to be among the very important people.

The king wanted to decline, but she begged him to go. He finally agreed.

After they had left, Raziel went to his father's chamber. He dismissed every servant there, before going in to search for the document.

He searched through the stacks of books in the bookshelf inside the room. He also searched the piles of documents on the table. He searched everywhere he could find papers, but he didn't find the documents.

He thought of asking his father's servants, but decided against it. They might report to him.

After searching everywhere he thought it could be and didn't find it, he decided it would be somewhere else. Perhaps the reserved section of the library? He wasn't sure.

Just when he wanted to leave, a thought came to him. He had searched all the likely places. What about the unlikely places?

He then started another round of search. And after searching for a while, he finally found it under his father's pillow. He stole it and went away.

Dahlia was waiting for him in his study, and she smiled when she saw that he had successfully stolen the document.

"Your father would be so mad when he finds out that it was a fake invitation." Dahlia laughed to herself. "But it's all going to be worth it."

Raziel sat down to review the documents. It was mostly about him agreeing to marry Dahlia. Then at the end, he would perform a blood ritual that would bind his life to the agreement. His father would really go such lengths just to acquire more power.

"What will you do when he finds out that it is missing?"

"He won't."

"How?"

"Because I am going to return it."

"You are going to do what? You can't go ahead with the plan. You can't be bind on a blood oath with me."

Raziel looked at her for a moment. He found it funny how she was not eager to marry him like the others.

"Wait. You have a plan. Spill it."

"It will be a surprise."

"Not fair. I did my part. Do you know the stress it would take my handmaiden to be able to deliver the letter? She even had to steal the official stamp to make everything believable..." Dahlia ranted.

"You being here is already through my help. We are even Lady Dahlia."

"Fine." She then stood up. "I would be waiting patiently for the drama." Now she seemed excited. "It has been really long I caused mayhem in my suitors house."

Raziel shook his head at her.

"And that's how I remained unmarried, as they would always have to return me."

She then stepped out of the study, only to come face to face with a red haired female.

"Hi red." Dahlia said to her before passing by her, and going her way.

Luciana stared at the future Duchess who had the facial expression of a child that had done something naughty.

She then entered and saw the prince.

"What are you up to your highness?"

"I am about to ruin my father's kingdom, and I will be needing your help. Your role will not be known to you for now though."

She frowned. "Why?"

He walked to her and patted her head, annoying her.

"You will know in due time red." He teased her with the name Dahlia had called her.