Duke Hugh stands in front of the door of the greenhouse garden of the Queen at the Rose Palace.
He had armored his face with blankness as he waited for the Lady-in-waiting for him to be announced to the Queen. As he waited, the crystal view of the greenhouse could make him see the figure inside which he knew who it belonged to.
"Your Majesty, the Queen, Duke Hugh Naville of the North is here as per your request."
The Lady-in-waiting, Carla, informed Queen Matilda.
"Oh my… is that so. Let him in."
Queen Matilda's usual venomous voice became that of a sweet bird.
"I greet the symbol of stability, Your Majesty, the Queen."
Duke Hugh, who walked and stopped in front of her, bowed and gently held the hand of Queen Matilda, who already stretched her hand to him for Duke Hugh to kiss the back of her hand as a sign of respect.
'Heh…'
She smirked when the lips of the Duke grazed her gloves. She really enjoys the sight of the distinguished man bowing his head in front of her.
It was pleasing to her eyes as well as her ego was being boosted.
"I know that the Duke is tired and busy because of the aftermath of the war in the North. His Majesty, the King, was pleased when he heard that you succeeded in winning and taking the land that was once invaded by the Lucman."
Duke Hugh sat opposite Queen Matilda as he listened to her shower of praises.
"You flatter me, Your Majesty. I just did what I had to do."
While Duke Hugh was looking at Queen Matilda who sipped the lavender tea that Carla, her most trusted lady-in-waiting brewed, he was trying to gauge what the Queen wants from her.
And as if reading him, Queen Matilda opened her mouth after she gently placed the teacup in the saucer.
"I called you here because I'm concerned for your future, Duke Hugh."
As if a sweet mother to him, Queen Matilda gently spoke to him like she was really worried.
"You're already passed the marriageable age. I'm worried that you're working too hard for the Kingdom that you forgot yourself. So, as your sister-in-law, I thought that the best gift for the Duke is to have a marriage partner… right?"
Queen Matilda was smiling like she meant everything that she just said. However, she was the only one smiling in that vast room where the smell of roses is pungent.
The left hand of Duke Hugh whose under the table clenched when he got what the Queen wanted from him.
"Your Majesty needn't be worried about that I can-"
"Oh… don't dismiss me immediately, Duke Hugh. As your sister-in-law and the wife of the King, I think that I neglected you too much. I should have done this a long time ago. Now that you have time, don't you think it's perfect?"
Duke Hugh could only blankly stare at the Queen, he needed to stop himself to sneer at the old hag.
The red hair of the Queen that was neatly tied in a bun taken after the thorny roses in the greenhouse that seems to resemble her personality, with a grand appearance comes hiding the poison she was concealing underneath and the way that her golden eyes lovingly blink in the presence of Duke Hugh made him think that she really is something.
'She will pretend like I was the son she never had but she will stab me in the back when the opportunity comes.
"So, what do you say? Duke Hugh Naville?"
The Queen raised her brow as she peered at the reaction of the Duke, present in front of her and is known to be the most desirable bachelor man in the kingdom as of today.
Duke Hugh didn't say anything and only looked at the tea served to him as if he was thinking and deeply considering Queen Matilda's suggestion.
However, internally, Duke Hugh already knew what the Queen wanted from this.
Duke Hugh observed the Queen who must now be at her golden age. The wrinkles that should be visible now to Queen Matilda's face are not traceable because of her meticulous take on her beauty regime and the expensive jewels that decorate her body makes Duke Hugh think that the Queen really has it all. Status, power, beauty, wealth, and followers.
What he could not understand is the greediness and jealousy she has for him.
But alas! The Old hag can't rest until she makes sure that the rope she was holding is made of gold.
"I see…"
For now, Hugh thought that it would be wise to answer in vague. That way he still has an option to do things his own way.
He knew too well that responding to her would just push the thing she was planning to him to happen much sooner.
***
Meanwhile, at the outskirts of the South. The Oakland town is still peaceful and cheerful as ever.
Leticia was getting ready for the upcoming annual event in the Orphanage that will be held next month.
She was busy getting all the invitations ready as well as the tasks she has as one of the teachers that teaches simple mathematics to the children.
"Sister Leti! Sister Leti!"
A familiar voice came up to her as she was walking in the hallways of the Orphanage that is opposite of the garden where most of the children spend their free time playing.
"Anton, what is it?" Leticia saw the paper that Anton was giving to her.
"What's this?" She asked again.
"I don't understand this! Can you teach me again?"
Anton, a ten year old child with a lovely smile who always loves to study, asked.
His sweat trickling down on his face that came from his light blue hair makes Anton's chrysanthemum eyes twinkle in the basks of the warm sunlight. It made Leticia giggle when she saw Anton's eyes sparkle whenever he was about to ask her a question..
"You don't need to run like that… look at you all sweaty."
Leticia used her sleeve to wipe down the water in Anton's face.
"Don't worry about that! But look at this! Will you help me understand this?"
And Leticia's guess is correct. Anton was running to her because he was about to ask a question about the class Leticia held earlier.
"Hmmm… Let's see."
Leticia received a piece of paper where a math problem was written on it.
It was a simple multiplication table that she just taught to the children today.
Leticia smiled.
"This is the assignment that I asked for the whole class…"
Anton, still smiling, looked at Leticia with puppy eyes. As if telling her 'so what?'
"This kid…"
She flicked his forehead gently.
"Wha- what was that for, Sister Leti?"
"If I help you with this, it will not be considered as homework anymore."
"But I still don't understand and the numbers needed to be multiplied are too big."
Anton pouted his lips where Leticia found it pitiful and cute.
'This kid knew how to use his charm…' Leticia thought.
"Alright… I'll teach you after I'm done with these…"
Leticia was talking about the basket that she was holding that was full of envelopes and blank papers.
"Oh… you're going to write invitations?"
"Yes… so, for now, you need to memorize the multiplication table that I handed out earlier. Okay?"
Understanding that Leticia is busy as of the moment, Anton didn't push to interfere with her work but instead suggested something.
"Then… Sister Leti, promise me that you will teach me tomorrow!"
"Of course…"
Anton smiled widely after he heard Leticia's answer without missing a single beat which in return, Leticia smiled at him too.
"Then… I'll leave now. Bye Sister Leti! See you tomorrow!'"'
Leticia watched Anton get back to the rest of the kids playing in the garden.
"Alright…! Let's finish this."
With a smile on her face, Leticia yet again thought that her life in this town was so peaceful and wonderful.
***
"I heard the Queen call for you in the afternoon..."
Count Norhas asked as he gave the champagne glass in his hand to Duke Hugh who was standing alone, leaning at one of the walls.
The Duke's swept back black hair showed his handsomeness as his jawline accentuates the perfect ratio of his face.
In this great hall, the Duke's handsomeness makes the eyes of the Ladies swoon with adoration. He was wearing a black tight waistcoat and white long sleeve with frills for the neck. The overcoat has a gold pattern in each opening partnered with closely fitted black breeches.
The nobles could clearly see how Duke Hugh looks so noble and domineering as well as handsome in that position.
"I greet the noble Duke of the North…" Count Norhas greeted him as a noble and not as the Chancellor of the King.
He extended his hand holding the champagne glass.
Right now, the banquet celebration for Duke Hugh and his entourage has already started early in the evening and the King and Queen already gave their speech so the rest of the evening was for the nobles to interact with each other.
"You're not going to answer me, your Grace?"
Count Norhas asked as he saw the bored look on the Duke's black eyes.
Duke Hugh only received the champagne glass in Chancellor Norhas hand and ignored the rest of what he said.
"You're still a rude kid…" Chancellor Norhas chuckled at the still usual self of the younger brother of the King that is now called a Duke of the North.
Duke Hugh could only sigh. As the man beside him whose golden hair sticks out like a sore thumb.
Seeing the wrinkles formed in Chancellor Norhas under eyes made Duke Hugh realize the passage of time since he left the Capital to manage the North.
"What did you come here for?" Duke Hugh asked frankly.
Seeing that Duke Hugh doesn't have the time or concern to humor him. Chancellor Norhas decided to tell him what his purpose was for seeking him.
"His Majesty, the King, wanted to talk to you."
"What for?"
"What for? What do you think it is?" Chancellor Norhas chuckled.
Duke Hugh didn't need to know the rest and could guess what it was for. About tea time with the Queen.