Hansel looked at Lucien in disbelief. Did they get into an argument or something?
His eyes. Hansel could have sworn that they were vibrant green before. Now, his eyes seemed to be dull with almost no trace of green. It was like peering at a foggy window.
"Your Grace, why do want do dissolve your engagement with Lady Euphemia?" Hansel asked.
"I do not deserve her," Lucien responded.
Hansel frowned. There was something niggling at the back of his mind but he still could not understand it.
"Where were you, Your Grace?" Hansel asked.
Silence.
"Where is Lady Euphemia?"
"I have nothing to do with her anymore."
Hansel scratched his head in frustration.
"Would you like to have dinner first?"
"Just prepare the documents so I can sign them."
"Your Grace, please tell me what's wrong. I do not understand," Hansel pleaded. "I know you care deeply for Lady Euphemia. Why are you doing this?!"
"I do not deserve her," Lucien repeated.
"Your Grace, I beg your pardon but that's hogwash! I have seen how you have supported her. I have seen the way she smiles and enjoys your company!"
Lucien remained silent.
"Your Grace, is there something you cannot tell me?"
Lucien began to walk and Hansel followed him. He was going to his study. He didn't have dinner yet and where was Lady Euphemia anyway?!
Hansel tried a different tactic. He blocked Lucien's way.
"Your Grace, is there someone forcing you to do this?"
"No. I am not doing this unwillingly."
What a strange choice of words.
"Are you protecting Lady Euphemia?"
"No."
"Do you wish to protect her?"
"I have nothing to do with her anymore."
There. Those words again. Lucien was repeating his words!
"Why are you doing this, Your Grace?"
"I do not deserve her."
Lucien had no emotions written on his face. He was like stone. Hansel had a sinking feeling on what was wrong with him. Normally, one would not question a Duke's actions and if someone did try, the question would only be asked once. But Hansel was different. Their relationship was more of friendship than master and servant. To their advantage, that was not public knowledge. Only a handful of people like Euphemia, Rubiella, and the loyal handpicked servants in the Ashburn household knew of Lucien and Hansel's friendship. To the Imperial Family, Hansel was only a personal servant assigned by the King as a gift to Lucien. No one would think that the two would become friends over time.
"Your Grace, are you under a slave contract?" Hansel finally asked.
"No."
No explanation. Just a simple no. Perhaps it was a simple command to deny the truth. He needed to be more clever than whoever gave the commands to Lucien.
"Your Grace, is Lady Euphemia in the Imperial Palace?"
"I have nothing to do with her anymore."
Hansel frowned. This was not going to be easy.
"Say that again if you mean she's in the Imperial Palace."
"I have nothing to do with her anymore," Lucien repeated.
The person who gave the command must have told him to say that if he's asked about Euphemia. Hansel had a feeling that Lucien was trying to fight the commands. Perhaps Lucien was deliberately repeating the words he was only allowed to say.
"Say that again if you wish for me to rescue her."
"I have nothing to do with her anymore."
"Understood. Your engagement papers would you like me to hide them? If I understand correctly, you do not truly wish to dissolve your engagement with Lady Euphemia."
"Prepare the papers," Lucien simply said.
Hansel nodded. Someone must have commanded Lucien to dissolve the engagement. He had an inkling that it was either the Queen or the Prince. Hansel would do his best to hide the papers from Lucien.
"I will prepare the papers. Please do not enter the study yet, Your Grace."
Hansel quickly entered the study and grabbed the engagement papers from under the desk. He folded them and hid them inside the secret pocket of his suit. Hansel opened the door.
"Your Grace, I have prepared the papers but you must eat your dinner first. You need to eat your dinner first so you have the strength to sign the papers to dissolve your engagement," Hansel said, trying to manipulate the command given to Lucien.
Lucien remained silent. Then he moved and walked away from the study. It worked!
Lucien was not forcing Hansel to hand over the papers to him but Hansel was not sure if it was because he managed to fool the commands or Lucien was fighting against the commands. But Hansel had to make sure that Lucien would not get his hands on the papers. He had to give the papers to someone else and ask for help too from . . . her.
*
*
*
Two maids entered Euphemia's room. Euphemia got up and rushed to them.
"Please help me get out of here," Euphemia said hurriedly.
The maids looked uncomfortable.
"We can't, Holy Saintess. If you disappear, we'll be punished and we might not even live."
"We're really sorry, Holy Saintess. We wish we can but we really can't help you."
Euphemia expected that but there was no harm in trying. At least, the servants knew she was being held in the palace unwillingly.
"What if you just let me talk to Prince Vincent? I'd like to persuade him myself then," Euphemia said.
"You are going to meet him in a while, Holy Saintess. We have been ordered to dress you up because you're going to have dinner with him."
"I see," Euphemia said, her expression grave.
Dinner with the enemy.
"Do you think you can find me a black dress?"
The maids looked astonished but they nodded. They wouldn't be able to help the Saintess leave but they can help her rebel even for a bit.
Half an hour later, Euphemia was clad in black. Her dress was made of velvet. It had no gemstones or any other kind of embellishments but the way the fabric hugged her figure and draped down from her waist made her look very elegant. The dress had a slight glimmer under the light. Her raven black hair and jet black dress made her look like a Princess of Darkness instead of a Saintess.
It reminded her the first time she had worn a black dress in Aderlan when she was summoned to meet the Queen. It reminded her of Lucien when he told her she looked stunning.
She missed him.
She needed to get out of the Palace first so they can talk.
"You look beautiful, Holy Saintess!"
"You look perfect in it, Holy Saintess!"
Euphemia smiled at them gratefully.
"Thank you."
Euphemia exited her room and proceeded to go to the dining hall. She passed by several servants in the hallways. Their heads turned to look at her in awe.
She carried such a strong presence that the servants all stopped what they were doing. No one was sure if it was her perfect posture that made them all stare. Or the way she walked with such confidence as if she had been living in the palace for years already. Or her serene expression that betrayed no emotions.
She was like steel.
She was like the night.
She was like a queen.