"Isn't it... a bit too early?" I squint. "We were literally talking in his garden yesterday."
Felix cries onto the table and I pat him lightly. "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!! HE JUST ACCEPTED THE GIRL AS HIS PERSONAL MAID WITHOUT ANY TRAINING!! IT'S BASICALLY HIM TAKING IN A MISTRESS!!!"
Felix had bursted into my room in the unholy hours of the morning after Albert had returned from work to tell me what happened. Fred was asleep and Daisy was resting so there was no one to stop him. Now we were having tea in my room at 5am in the morning. How nice.
"Wait he just like picked her up out of training? Or like from the town?"
"TOWN!" Felix whines. It still catches me off guard on how emotional Felix is when it comes to my life. "HE TALKED WITH HER FOR AN HOUR AND THEN TOOK HIM IN-"
This is giving me remarried empress vibes damn. "And?"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN AND?! HE'S TAKING A MISTRESS!!!"
"It's a personal maid," I note.
"BUT YOU DO ALL THE ACCEPTING AND NOT ACCEPTING!!!"
"I know," I sigh. "But it's normal for noblemen to take in mistresses. It's not like I can stop him."
"Are your not at least the bit curious about the girl?"
"Alright alright give me the information-"
"MISTRESS LILY!!"
"LILY HOW DARE HE!!"
"MISTRESS LILY DO YOU WANT US TO KILL THAT GUY FOR YOU?"
"Please children," I sigh. "It's 5am, barely anyone is awake. Come over. I'm guessing Felix sent you all to gather information on the girl,"
"Ok ok!" Solaire claps his hands. "Her name's Violet, she's 18, she worked at a flower shop-"
"18?!" Felix and I gawk.
"She says she's 18 but I checked her record with Caladium and it said she's actually 24." Diana pipes up.
"And she's known to be really kind and loving towards all of her friends," Solaire notes. "Has no bad records."
"Although..." Zach slips himself through the window. "I've seen her more than enough times hanging out with Magellan. Magellan asked for Albert's information a couple months back and I handed it to her."
"What's with you all breaking in?" I peer at him. "You just threw your brother under the truck?"
"I only gave her the information that she wouldn't be able to access unless she asked around. Like how Albert likes gardening, and how there was a rumor that he was infertile... you know?"
"Oh like basic rumors," I mumble.
"Violet herself isn't a bad person though. I've never caught her doing anything wrong yet." Zach grabs a cookie. "Yet."
"Yet," The children repeat solemly.
I hear a knock on the door from Daisy and Zach keeps a hand on his sword.
"Come in,"
Daisy walks in with a girl behind her. Felix's eyes narrow and the children hide behind Zach.
"Is this Albert's new maid?"
"Yes," Daisy hums. "She said she had something to say to the duchess."
"Well? What was it?" I stare at the girl.
"Could... you have everyone leave the room?"
"Cal go hang out on the window and everyone else is dismissed," I sigh.
They follow the words, and Felix and Daisy wait outside the door.
"So?"
"I'm... not too comfortable with everyone being here." She mumbles.
"Cal won't hear you don't worry," I smile.
"Then..." The girl's eyes darken and a twisted smile grows on her face. "Be careful of your position as Duchess... It won't be yours for much longer."
I blink at the woman before bursting into laughter. The girl looks at me as if I was insane, and I wipe a tear from my eye.
"Cal did you hear that? What number would that be?" I laugh.
"Number seven Duchess," Zach smiles.
"And what happened to all of the previous ones?"
Zach doesn't speak, but he drags his thumb across his neck. The girl's eyes widen and she falls to the ground.
"I applaud you for your naive thinking," I smile. "But unfortunately, you aren't the first to try this on me. How about speaking with your actions?"
I recognize the footsteps behind the door and when the door opens, I see a wretched smile appear on the girl's face.
"Albie!" I grin and squeeze the girl's face with a hand. "Look at how her smile looks! Isn't it gorgeous?"
Right. Because all the criminals that went missing were thanks to us.
Albert smiles at me. "I still think your smile is prettier than hers."
"But Albie," I pout. "Wouldn't she look better with a wider smile?"
"Hm," Albert sighs. "Shall I fix her for you?"
"I want to do it myself," I mumble.
Tears build up in the girl's eyes as I stretch her face more.
"Nevermind," I mumble. "I'm tired."
"Shall I do it for you darling?" Albert takes my hand in his.
I'm tired. My body is suddenly overcome with such fatigue, and I feel like going to sleep forever. Maybe that was my sign that I needed a rest. I needed to leave society and recharge. I guess everyone has it hard... but damn I was going to enjoy carving someone's face today too...
"No," I shake my head and lower my voice. "You will need a duchess soon anyway."
"Sorry for the scare Violet," I hum. "Please speak with your actions from now on."
Fred hands me his coat, and I head to my office. "I shall see you in a bit Duke."
Albert glares at me. Anger? Fury? Contempt? Expectation of a reaction? Perhaps a mix of it. It wasn't like I was lying, he was going to forget everything we did together anyways why not just help him cut ties... huh? I stare at the scene behind me, Albert had just beheaded the girl. Her blood paints the carpet red, and I look away.
"Please move me to another room for the night," I mumble and Daisy nods.
"You alright Crysta?"
"Alive," I smile at Felix. "Do we have anything today?"
"No," He shakes his head. "It's just paperwork."
"Are you sure you're alright?" Fred and Daisy look at me, their eyes drooped.
"I'm alright," I smile. "If not now, I will be."
Daisy rubs circles on my back and I shake slightly.
I hear another pair of footsteps behind me, and I feel a hand on my head. "What do you want Zach?"
It's silent. He doesn't say anything, and I stop walking. But we both know the inevitable, this divorce isn't going to be as clean as I had hoped.
I'm so tired...