[Cassandra]
Maisy came back and brought the strawberry shortcake I requested. She sits in front of me after she placed the cake and tea on the table.
"Milady, here's the strawberry shortcake and tea you have requested." She spoke.
"Thank you, Maisy." I glance at her and continue reading.
"Milady, Duke Ramon and Lady Liana has arrived. They call for your presence later at the dinner hall." Nicolas told me.
"Father and Mother returned home? Is it late already? I did not notice the time. I'll meet them later. Thank you for informing me Nicolas, good work." I told him.
"Maisy, Let's wrap up for now. I need to wash up before having dinner later." I told her.
I already washed up and we are now walking on the hallway inside the mansion.
Out of curiosity, I suddenly ask Maisy.
"Do you think they will have good news?" I ask her.
"Have faith milady, it will be good news." She reassures me.
"I hope so, I really don't like to go back there. It makes me feel like I'm being isolated and treated coldly. I did not have any good memories there to begin with." I shared with Maisy
Memories of Luciana was flooding in my head, sad memories that...
"Milady, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Are you hurt somewhere? Tell me?!" She was in panicked.
"Ehh? Me crying? No, I'm no-...." Then tears started flooding and keeps flowing out of my eyes.
Maids started to gather around me to help me calm down, but I can't help it. Is it Luciana's emotions? I can't stop crying.
The sadness and loneliness and emptiness were hard to forget. This feeling, being hurt multiple times, ignored and gave cold shoulder.
Father and mother came rushing to me and asked in panicked what happen to me.
"What happen to my daughter?! – What happen to my Lulu?!" Father and mother both said.
"I-... W-we were heading to the dining hall when she suddenly burst into crying. Please have mercy, please forgive for not taking care well of milady." Maisy said and bowing her head in front of us.
After crying for a few minutes, before I calmed myself and was able to talk.
"I-I'm s-so-sorry, I made you all worried about trivial things." I said while keeping to speak clearly.
"That's alright darling, please calm down and drink water." Mother told me and hand over a glass of water.
"I... I just remembered what I experience in the palace that I can't calm myself and keep crying. Maisy did not do anything wrong." I said to them, giving me sad and sympathetic look.
"Let's head inside the dining room so you can sit properly and we can have a meal together." Father said and help me walk to dining.
Upon sitting, they serve the food immediately and pour my favorite drink to calm me a little bit more.
"It looks like you have a rough day on the palace. I can't allow that to happen again." Father must be really angry now.
"I will not let my Lulu to cry like that. I will not let someone hurt her. Even if it will cost all our fortune to protect you, I will not let anyone do something bad to you." Mother said.
"We already talked to the emperor about your engagement with the crown prince." Father said and sigh. "But in one condition, we need to meet them to settle thing down." He said and look at me with a worried face.
"Are they really going to cancel if we go and meet them? If so, let's do that father." I told him.
"I will be there as well my Lulu, they will send a letter when we will be having an audience with the emperor." Mother said.
"For now, do not think about crown prince and about the palace matters." They said to me and give me a reassuring smile.
"Thank you so much." I sincerely told them.
[Maximillian]
The palace seems quiet for a while now. I can focus on working related with the palace matters. For the past years, ever since I got engaged to the Duke Ramon Vassenton's daughter, there was no peaceful day in this place.
I often go out at day light and work on night since that's the only time I can focus without disturbance.
After the incident happen a few days ago. I haven't seen the usual person who comes often on my office without prior notice.
I heard a knock on the door...
"Your highness, this is Percival." He notified before coming in. "I am here to report about the upcoming ball on the palace. The ingredients for the food are already purchased and will be waiting to arrive in a few days..." He said and I just nod while looking on the papers in front of me.
"The supplies for the decorations are being prepared by the pertinent department in the palace." He also added.
"Percival, did you notice that the palace was quite peaceful recently?" I ask him.
"Yes, your highness since the day of the incident happen a few days ago, there are no other disturbances and problems happen in the palace." Percy spoke
"Does Luciana was still in her room? It seems that she thinks properly now and not loitering herself in the palace ground." out of nowhere, not minding what words I have said.
"Ahhh, regarding that matter your highness. I heard the maids who supposed to tend the young lady was doing other matters for now." Hesitant to what he was saying. "And no one is coming in and out of the room of the young lady for a few days now." He added.
"Why is that? Does she think that what she's done will make me worried about her and I will give her my attention? Is she that desperate for my attention?" I spoke.
"Please call the butler that handle the young lady of the Vassenton." I commended.
Someone calls for the butler and a few minutes the butler came in my office.
"You called for me your highness?" Sebas is the butler I assigned to watch and tend to the ladies need. All the people surround the lady was assigned by me so I can't watch every move she does.
"What is the Lady Vassenton doing? Why does no one come to check to her room? Explain what is happening." I ask him.
"Regarding that matter, since the day of the incident. The lady insists to go back to their manor, so the Vassenton's prepare the carriage for the Lady. Until now the lady has not yet come back to the palace." He explained.
"So that's why it's so peaceful here in the palace? What a great news." I said and smile.
"When will she return to the palace?" I asked more.
"We do not know when will she be back but I hear that the Vassenton's Family was request for an audience with the emperor and it seems like an urgent matter as they look furious." He also said.
"What? Why do they want to have an audience with father?" I also ask.
"That's the matter I could not disclose as I do not know the main reason." He said to me and bow his head.
"Alright, thank you Sebas. You may go back to your work now." I said to him and look at Percival. "Gather information on what the lady was planning now." Then he nods before answering.
"Yes, your highness, I will inform you once I gathered information." He said and move out of my office.
What does that woman are now planning? Is she that desperate to have my attention?
Ever since we have met, she's like a lich who keeps on clinging and evading my personal space. It's so suffocating and irritating.
I did not pay so much attention to her, I know giving her cold treatment is right since I do not like her from the start.
...A few days later...
"Your highness, the emperor was looking for your presence on the Audience Chamber immediately." Lewis told me.
"Is this an urgent matter that father was calling for my presence at the chamber." I ask him.
"Yes, they need your presence as the Ducal Vassenton's Family are there as well." He spoke.
"Okay, lead the way, Lewis. Come with us Percival." I told him. Percival follows us.
We arrived at the Audience Chamber and the guards on duty mentioned our arrival.
"The sun of the empire crown prince Maximillian Castellane, Baron Percival Findlay and Grand Knight Lewis Forrest arrived." Then they open the door.
We walk in front and passed the two person who's kneeling in front of my father. I walked and stand next to my father. He looks at me with disappointment. What is going on? Why does father look like that?
"Father you called for my presence." I ask him.
"Ahh, right I called you since the Duke Ramon Vassenton and his wife are here." He spoke. "So, Duke Vassenton, what is the matter that you would like to discuss with us?" He asks Duke Vassenton.
I look at Lewis and Percival who are confused as well. What do they want to talk about? Is it about the incident that happen to their daughter a few days ago? Is it severe that they need to have an audience with father?
"We would like to cancel the engagement of our daughter with the crown prince Maximillian." They said and bow their heads.
"What?!" I said aloud. Confused on what's happening.
"Why so sudden decision? Is there any problem?" Father ask with authority and gave me a sharp look.
"As much as we a loyal to the empire. We would not like to bring harm on our daughter's health be it mental, emotional or physical. She regained her consciousness yesterday and still recuperating from the incident happened last time." Duke Ramon.
"My daughter cherishes and loves the crown prince we cannot deny that as to what extent already did to his highness. But yesterday our daughter wishes to stay at our manor and cancelled the engagement." The Duchess Liana.
"She... she wishes to cut ties with the crown prince. She does not want to even go here in the palace." The duke added. "Hearing that coming from my daughters' mouth, it pains my heart that she experiences such horrible here to say such things."
"Please grant us to cancel the engagement your majesty." They plead father.
I look at my father, what is this feeling... I should be happy that the engagement will be called off. But why does it seem I'm not happy.
"Are you okay with that? The lady wishes to called off your engagement." Father ask me.
"If...." I look at them, the people whose present right now. "If she wants to cancel the engagement, then it's fine with me." I spoke.
This is not right...
"Then I will grant your request. The engagement between the duke's daughter and my son was cancelled. On contrary, grant as the opportunity to meet your daughter." The emperor said.
"Yes, we will follow your order your Majesty." They both said.