"Is she dead?"
"Yes, we came too late, but they... also came late..."
The silence represents their sadness for their loss.
In the gardens outside the Imperial Palace, besides a water fountain made of white stone, lay down a body.
The body belonged to a lady dressed in a white evening dress, but it tainted the dress in blood, it scattered her curly messy long hair on the ground, and a diamond-encrusted diadem was a couple of meters beside her.
Her eyes dimmed, leaving no sign of life at all. Her lips were wide open and bloodless.
A man in green clothes and a silver crown was trying to control his emotions. He did not know if he feels grief or relief.
A man in black clothes came behind the man in green clothes.
"My Prince, did my sister tell you something before going to sleep?"
"No, she said nothing. She just said goodbye and left with a smile. But her smile was weird, and I felt uneasy. I send my knight to follow her, and he said she returned to her room. Her maids were guarding her chambers. After that, I calmed down and fell asleep."
"I see, let's go, we need to give her an appropriate burial and then ask the Cullen King to explain our Borges Kingdom's Royal Family."
Prince Julian frowned.
Why does the Cullen King give his royal family an explanation? She was just a candidate to become his fiancée, but not his officially appointed fiancée.
Prince Julian hides the dissatisfaction in his heart.
Elmira, the Second Duke of Borges Kingdom, Duke Hazard's fourth daughter. She always calls herself Prince Julian's fiancée.
The man in black clothes is John, the second son of Duke Hazard. His proud ad arrogant self enabled him to make friends. He had many enemies, and because of his fourth sister, he had stuck like glue to Prince Julian.
He just looked at his sister's corpse and did not show any emotion, sadness, rage, or anything. Just indifference.
Prince Julian found it weird, but before he could pry, from the corner of his eyes, he saw the lady who had haunted his days and nights. The one who made him long for.
"Princess Rosella, I hope you had a good rest." Prince Julian gave her the warmest smile he could give to anyone.
Rosella felt some discomfort. How can a man tell her that when his fiancée's corpse is laying down next to him?
When she was about to greet him. Another man in black clothes came running.
He bent to his knees in front of Elmira's corpse.
The man took Elmira's corpse in his embrace, and tears flow like a river from his eyes.
His actions surprised everyone. But what it shocked them more, is the identity of the man. It's the John, the second son of Duke Hazard's servant.
Many onlookers were on the scene. The ladies were pale, and the men were indifferent. Many of the people present had seen a dead body, so they feel little.
But seeing the scene in front of them, they felt like another show is coming up.
Prince Julian saw the servant and frowned; he had seen the servant being so attentive toward Elmira. And this is one reason he did not like her at all.
"Miss Elmira… Don't leave this servant behind, please."
The heartbroken cries of the man startled everyone. How can a grown-up man cry so loudly and so disgusting?
He did not want to be in front of so many people. The servant knew his actions will expose his feelings.
He had made many disgusting things just to make her give him a smile. Furthermore, he dishonored many promising candidates for Prince Julian's fiancée. Just to make her happy.
He disguised himself as Prince Julian to share the bed with her many times.
He knew she looked at him like a substitute, but he could not help it. Not only that, but he fell in love with her and his heart is bleeding now.
He did not blame anyone. He, himself, could not protect her.
He took her in his arms with care and love, and raised her body in the air to carry her towards her destined chambers. Leaving the gossip behind.
"Oh, my! Did I see it wrong? The man is Duke Hazard's second son's servant…"
"A forbidden love? But she always presumes she is Prince Julian's fiancée. How can she be so brazen?"
"I heard that a servant from her quarters was dismissed as he developed feelings for Lady Elmira, and Duke Hazard discovered him and sent him to his second son's quarters. Because the servant was capable, and his upbringing was not worse than any other young master."
"Really? Could it be him?"
"When I was in their Residence, I heard one of her maids going to her chambers and then rushing out with a blush in her cheeks. After that, a male servant left Lady Elmira's room. But I don't know if it was him at that time."
"Tsk tsk, how disgusting."
"Yes, how can a lady lower her status with a servant?"
"He is not even a knight."
"Alas…"
Many voices were whispering and speaking badly about a dead person.
A solemn voice resounded, and Prince Julian's dark face and frown made everyone feel that they went to far with their words.
"I'm sorry, Prince Julian, our condolences for your fiancée."
"Yes, we apologize to you."
Before any other words come out of their mouths, Prince Julian told them something that made them close their mouth.
"She was just a candidate, not my real fiancée. I've never acknowledged that title to her."
With that, he turned around and left the scene.
At this time, Rosella sighed.
"Be mindful of your status to speak about another person. Remember to be careful of your words towards a dead person. We live in a magical world. There is light magic and dark magic. Maybe she can come to hunt you at night if you keep talking bad about her."
Looking at the palace maids and servants, she gave orders.
"Take notes about the surroundings. Go look for Lady Elmira's body of that servant. He might be suspicious. Her body is the best evidence we had. After taking notes on this place, clean it carefully. Don't leave any odor."
"Yes, Third Princess."
Rosella nodded and left with Lilith and another maid.
Walking towards the palace grounds, Rosella gave orders.
"Nana, go and investigate the servant and the Duke Hazard's second son. Why does he need to seek an explanation from my Royal Father towards the Borges Kingdom's Royal Family? I want to know his purpose."
"Yes, Princess." Nana, a sweet and lovely petite girl, bowed her head and left.
"Lilith, go and investigate Lady Elmira's maids. She never left her maids' line of sight."
"Yes, Princess."
The servants and maids of the Imperial Palace washed up the pool of blood left behind by the lady Elmira's corpse.