"Where is my lovely Elizebeth? Where is she?" Callisto practically fled to the palace to the duke mansion. The normal 45 minutes carriage now was beaten by the king himself while riding the horse. It took him only 15 minutes at the highest speed ignoring the traffic rule. Any complaint would be direct to his office and for sure Marquis Lyes was the one who needed to deal with it on his behalf.
Emily and Ojas had to pick their usual leisure pace following closely behind the king of the kingdom. The king acted like he owed Elizebeth something rather than visiting the friend as he claimed before. As result, they were in the duke ground faster than usual.
"Follow this humble servant, Your Majesty." Emily let other servants handle the horses and sir Ojas to handle the royal knights.
"Oh my, Your Majesty." The Duchess ran to the entrance as soon as she heard the arrival of the uninvited special guest. She canceled all her schedule for the whole day to entertain the ruler of the kingdom.
"Duchess, nice meeting you." He greeted the Duchess stoically.
"Greeting to the King of the Shariz Kingdom, Your Majesty King Callisto. The Duchess of this shabby mansion welcomes the presence of the sun of the kingdom." She picked her dress and bowed in courtesy. Identically as Elizebeth but much graceful and beautiful completely has a different vibe than her.
"Rise." Callisto masked his real agitation with his haughty smile. "Where is my daughter?"
The Duchess blanched yet smiling prettily. "The beloved princess of the mansion is inside the duke's office. Playing with him."
"She is the beloved princess of the kingdom." Corrected Callisto. "Lead me to her."
The Duchess covered her shocked expression once again with a smile and bowed. "Certainly, Your Majesty." Dismissing Emily, she personally led the king to the office on the third floor of the mansion.
"It's a nice house." Callisto looked around after sometimes. It's indeed his first time visiting the duke mansion as he never needed to travel just to meet the duke. It's always the other way around. Not today.
"Thank you for the nice compliment, Your Majesty." The Duchess put her palms on her stomach and walked courtly.
"What is he doing together with Elizebeth in the same space? I'd thought he has a lot of work to do."
"Elizebeth is his happy pill. The presence of her lifts everyone's mood and to smooth the work inside." Told the Duchess truthfully.
It sounds weirdly identical to his office. Elizebeth's presence was to put the Duke under control. He didn't know the existence of Elizebeth was so essential wherever she went. No wonder she was the princess of the kingdom.
"Haris." Called the Duchess when they arrived on the third floor.
"Yes, Duchess?" Haris came from somewhere no one knows where. "Greeting to the king of the Shariz Kingdom." Haris bowed in his business smile towards the king as they approached him.
"Rise." Callisto waved him away.
"Called the duke for me." The Duchess immediately ordered him.
"Yes, My Duchess." Haris complied and turned around.
They continued the walk until the open office entrance. The door has been opened for both of them to step inside.
"What I owe the pleasure to the sun of the kingdom of Shariz?" Duke rested his pelvis at his desk while Elizebeth bowed towards the king like she always did.
"Greeting to the king of the Shariz Kingdom. The lowly daughter of the duke greeting the ultimate ruler of the kingdom. Welcome to our humble abode." She said in politeness with the cute face of hers. The vibe was cute and sophisticated, different from the Duchess just now.
"Stop with the useless greeting, my daughter. It's time we talk to his daughter and her father." Callisto extended his hand to pick Elizebeth without wasting his gaze to Brice nor sparing any heed at the shocked Marliene. He had a mission. Very important mission.
"King!" Duke roared. Effectively triggered by the sudden title that his beloved daughter received without his knowledge. "I'm unaware Elizebeth was from your substance." His stoic face was menacing. His voice's alarmingly higher than before.
"Duke." Warned the Duchess as the duke began to disrespect the ruler.
"He is committing blasphemy."
"I'm not aware," Callisto smirked. He was the ruler. He has the right to call anyone's daughter his own. Including the duke's daughter.
Duke's eyes frantically were searching for the sword that he kept somewhere inside the office while Duchess just stared at Callisto with her calm eyes with frantic heart pounding. Gulping her saliva in terror.
Elizebeth that didn't rise from her bowed, smile. Callisto seemed pissed. Who doesn't anyway? The secret that he thought was secure within himself suddenly was revealed by no family members. He might view her action as treason but Callisto seems just merely curious in how she obtained such information.
"Elizebeth? What are you going to do?" Callisto glanced at her.
Elizebeth rose from her bow and stood proudly with her tiny body. "Let's go to my room."
The answer from Elizebeth froze both of her parents. Callisto noted everything inside his brain. He knew Elizebeth had a significant impact on the duke but he didn't recall the duchess was like this as well.
"Elizebeth sweetie. To bring another man…" The Duchess struggled to finish the words as she peeked at the calm face of Callisto.
"You will have a talk inside the office with your legal guardians' side by side. The king has to keep his distance from MY Elizebeth too." It was a command for both Elizebeth and the king. He didn't care about their status. As long as the king is in his territory, he has the right to order him around.
"No." Elizabeth bit back. Didn't agree with the arrangement.
"Darling." The Duchess almost fainted. To bring another man to her room, to bring another man to her room…
"Elizebeth Diana Chandler!" The Duke was filled with jealousy. His competitive side has been awakened because of the king.
"I'll play with Dada inside my room tonight." She winked cutely to her father. Grasped her father's weakness. "With Mama too."
Callisto scoffed. Surely, Duke was mad for a different reason. It wasn't that simple.
"Darling… it's wrong to let another man enter a single woman room." The Duchess pointedly ignored the king. Her daughter's safety was much more important than the important figure in front of her.
"I will sleep with Dada and Mama tonight too." She gave her the ultimate weapon to her father.
"Fine." Duke agreed instantly. "No more retaking the statement."
"Okay," Elizebeth knew her father would yield if she played her card right. As for her mother, she would yield if her father yielded. As easy as that.
"But Elizebeth-"
"Duchess, have faith in our daughter. She wishes to talk with the king alone. We must give permission." Duke coughed.
His heart was full of colorful flowers remembering their night together tonight. He planned to read her 'War Hero' volume 2 tonight and he would read it very slowly so she would sleep with them together tomorrow too and the next day and possibly another next day until the thick 400 pages, 12 font, A4 paper size, book finished.
Callisto couldn't believe his ears and eyes. The Duke was this easy and he never knew. The bait was only 'sleep together' and he was sold completely. He was so cheap and easy to buy.
"Let's go, Your Majesty." She smiled. "Thank you, father, mother." She became formal to them both and bowed before turning her heel to face the king.
"Enjoy your stay, Your Majesty. I'll be busy preparing our reading material. You can go once your meeting has finalized." The Duke said while waving his hand rudely before dashed out from the room without looking back with his straight face. Preparing any necessary reading material and appropriate clothes for the reading party tonight.
"My Lord." The Duchess followed behind him after bowing to the king and pecked her daughter's soft cheek. Giving up after saw how happy her husband was.
"Bye bye." She waved cutely to her mother.
"So, to your room?" Callisto folded his arms. Witnessing everything without interrupting. Her influence inside this mansion was no kidding. The Duke and the Duchess were inside her tiny palm. And now, he's too.
Elizebeth smiled and bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Let's go." He offered his hand but Elizebeth just shook her head.
"Sir Derrick, sir Ojas." Called Elizebeth.
"My Lord." The two knights came running in a split second.
Callisto pressed his lips. The 'My Lord' again. She had loyal knights too. They no doubt have completed the oath to Elizebeth. She's indeed a big deal child. A hidden genius. He doubted the Duke and the Duchess knew her real intelligence.
"Clear out the room area except for my family members and Emily. Guard the area as well." Demanded in her stern voice. The demeanor changed into sharp as her cute face looked so complex.
"Yes, My Lord." Sir Ojas bowed to both Elizebeth and the king.
"Let's go." She smiled at the king.
Callisto nodded but soon was shocked to see the knight named Derrick picked Elizebeth at ease inside his arms. He bit his lips in jealousy. Elizebeth never let him hug her like that. She was even reluctant to let him put her on his lap.
"Only my people have the right to hold me like that." Told her as she hugged Derrick's neck in a giggle.
'My people'. The knight was truly her people. The oath, they did it.