**There was an error towards the end of the last chapter regarding Winter's knowledge about Azef, which has been corrected. If you want to go ahead and re-read you may do so, but it will not impact the rest of the chapters heavily~**
Chapter 33
Zachary sighed as he walked through the palace doors. Going back and forth from the main palace to his palace was tedious but he couldn't complain if he was going to get what he wanted. However, problems were starting to arise.
"Your highness," Allen called out behind Zachary. The young prince stopped allowing his aide to catch up to him.
"What's the matter?" he questioned. "Have you dealt with the task I had given you?" he questioned.
Allen's face sulked in disappointment as Zachary sighed.
I guess he didn't. he thought to himself,
"I tried your highness, but marquis Monroe seems to be persistent in this matter. Furthermore, he's garnering support from the empress. It is proving more difficult to let this matter pass with ease."
If the Empress wasn't enough, Zachary was now dealing with marquis Monroe. He promised he would marry her. But with how things were going, getting it done soon was going to prove to be a hassle. The king had already given him permission, so he couldn't understand why the empress was blocking the routes. What was she trying to gain by helping the marquis out from the shadows. Whether she intervened or not, he could marry Winter without any approval, but it seems the king had not mentioned this to the Empress, did he suspect something?
The king had gotten sick before all the insignificant procedures could be complete, and now that he was sick, it seems the marquis saw his chance with little to no information about the written promissory. But what benefit did an illegitimate daughter serve in that house? From all the information gathered, it didn't seem like the marquis cared enough for Winter, and the eldest daughter was a top priority. Furthermore, the alliance between the eldest daughter and the duke of Dominique would prove to be much better for both families so what was the reason?
Who is it that was intervening so menacingly? He couldn't pinpoint anyone to mind.
Zachary felt quite annoyed at this interference as he turned with a sharp gaze toward Allen, "Proceed with the wedding," he said without a second thought. He knows he said a week, but the sooner the better. He had to finish this so no more problems would arise.
"W-wedding? Your highness what about the engagement ceremony? Is this not going too fast? What about the lady, she needs to prepare and-" Zachary cut him off.
"There is no need for something so trivial. The faster we marry the less the problems." Zachary finalized before turning away and heading back to his office.
Allen, quite speechless, couldn't think of a way to let her highness know the sudden change of plans without her feeling at a loss. An engagement ceremony was most young girls' dreams, and it strengthened their position in high society. If society knew her highness was going to get married without one, she was going to become prey to their predatory attacks. It seemed Allen was right. There was no room for love or care within the confines of the walls of this palace as it was something not attributed to his master.
"Lady winter must have committed some kind of crime in her past life to deserve this." Allen sympathized. But what was done was done there was no changing what was set. Romance was not something that was going to be present in this relationship. His highness had a purpose and only winter could serve that purpose, that's the only reason he accepted the marriage and gave her no way out.
"If the lady finds out I wonder what she would feel…" Allen thought in a passing moment and let out a sigh, following the same pathway the prince had not so long ago taken. His work was already piled up but it seemed it was not piled enough. He grunted as he walked.
***
Night had befallen, and I only had one thing on my mind and that being Susan. once the questions had started to arise, there had been doubting placed all through my mind. I had no inkling of who I could and could not trust, Zach included.
A knock came in through the door, and as I answered a soft 'come in', one of the maidservants stepped in. I had never seen her before.
"Sorry to disturb your rest my lady, but his highness has requested you to come down for dinner," she relayed the message.
"I'll be down soon," I confirmed as she bowed ready to step out. "Hold on," I called out to her as she stepped back in,
"How may I be of help, my lady,"
"What's your name?" I questioned
"I'm Lindsay, my lady,"
"Ah I see, are you new around here? Pardon me, it's my first time seeing you around me. I'm not very well versed with the staff around me yet," I cleared and smiled at her.
"No, my lady, I'm not new around here, I'm one of his highnesses personal maids," she said
Someone close to his highness, I thought.
Personal maidservants unlike regular maidservants are often well versed in how to serve their masters and most of the time are close by no matter the occasion. I've never seen any of the maids or male servants assigned to his highness, so this kind of caught me off guard. I thought he had no need for it, but that was just my naivety talking. Of course, he'd have people tend to him. He was a prince after all.
Perhaps she could answer some of my concerns, but that would be quite risky because if she belonged to his highness, she would surely report everything to him. Trying not to raise suspicion, I dismissed her as I rang the bell to get some help to prepare myself for the dinner. The two handmaidens, Rosanne and Anel, whose names I learned not too long ago, helped me get dressed. Tying up my silver hair and dawning me in jewelry. Once done, I stepped out of the bedroom and headed toward the dining room.
The doors opened and my eyes landed on a tall and handsome dark figure that sat at the head of the table. He stood up and walked toward me, escorting me to my chair, before taking his seat yet again. Soon the doors opened, and the food was placed before us. I could my stomach rising with nervousness for some reason. I saw Lindsay stand towards the wall on the opposite end next to the butler and head maid along with a few other staff I had never seen before.
Neither Zachary nor I spoke a word to each other as we began to eat. The air was still heavy and tense from the argument we had. You could almost take a sword and cut right through it. I needed to ask him about Susan. he was the only one able to bring her to me. If I tried to do anything id simply end up against my family.
"Our wedding will take place within the next two days," he said making me freeze
What?
"T-two days?" I asked with a shaky voice.
"Yes, two days" he confirmed.
"Don't you think that's a bit of a late notice? What about the engagement ceremony? My dress? The preparations, what happened to all that?" I questioned. Did he not say a 'week' just a few days ago, why the sudden rush?
"I apologize for the late notice, but we need to go through with it as soon as possible,"
He seemed t
"Your highness, what are you hiding from me?"