His mind then fled to the lady he met at the duke's personal space and thought that she should have her ample rest now that it had been a while.
When the music ended, signaling that the dance between the duke and the lady named Frencia ended, Stefan saw the duke walking in his direction and grabbed some drinks from the passing butler.
"I'd rather be in the battlefield than be here in the next hour." The duke muttered after he sipped his drink.
"Please refrain from saying that in here, your grace. Walls might have ears around." Stefan said and saw there were still a few noble ladies looking in the duke's direction with expectation. "There are still young women-"
"I'm tired and all these formalities are annoying." The duke snapped in low voice.
"I guess the discussion between you and the emperor is still yet on your mind?" Stefan guessed. "We can't possibly walk straight to him and asked for the diamond mine to hand over to us easily."
"It belongs to our people and no one should handle it but the southern kingdom. If the marquess didn't arrive on time, I might end up threatening that greedy emperor." the duke growled and looked in the direction of the throne where the emperor and his son were sitting together.
"Thankfully that happened. What's the business of the marquess to the emperor that he's willing to have recess on you?"
"That marquess' daughter mess up with the emperor's daughter and niece. I don't know. Someone will end up beheaded the emperor said. I don't care much so I left." the duke said.
"Pity. Who would dare to mess with the emperor like that?" Stefan asked just for the heck of it.
"Someone insane with obsession to the prince."
"The things that women do. Oh look at that. You might want to put down your drink and go back to dancing, your grace." Stefan said, seeing that parents intended to approach them.
"I need to rest." The duke said and left the ball with Stefan following closely behind him.
"Do not be surprise if you found a lady occupying your space in the moment." Stefan said remembering the lady once again.
"What?" The duke stopped on his track and glowered at the chief knight. "I am burned out from seeing anyone with a dress for tonight."
"It's fine. She's pretty decent and wont even want to do anything with you anyway." Stefan said in defense.
Adelard frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Well, she don't want to dance with you...or anyone in this case." Stefan supplemented. "she might not be even there by now."
"How did you allow an outsider inside my space?"
"It was purely an accident on her part. She got confused with the room assignment. She's a lady-in-waiting of lady Frencia Antonette." Stefan said.
"There will be no next time." The duke warned.
"Understood." Stefan said resolutely and followed the duke again.
Just before they reached their destination, two noble were in deep discussion along the hallway. Neither the two of them noticed their presence. Though both the duke and Stefan didn't intend to, they heard few things from the men.
"He's determined to hang your sister. That bastard."
"We've followed their bidding! We made her serve the lowly Baron for months! What else do they want from us?? From her?!"
"Lower your voice." the marquess admonished.
"I can't stand this any longer. Do you hear how those people called her in low names? Just because of a worthless prince who play around with anyone with skirts!" Cxenon cried out in anger.
"I said lower your voice." the marques said again.
"I will say what I will say. They can't touch my sister without going through me first, father. I wont stand still anymore."
"Are you willing to go into war with the emperor? Is that what you're going to do?"the marques raised hi brows to his son.
"If I must. I will." Cxenon said without hesitation.
"We don't stand a chance. Though we have thousands of elite knights, they looked an ants to the emperor's army."
"So do you wish to see her executed in the plaza, father?"
When the marquess and Cxenon noticed that they weren't alone in there anymore, they hastily turned to one direction.
An imposing aura stood there with an impatient facade he wore on his face. His brows were slightly drawn into a frown.
"We didn't mean to listen but both of you are on the way. If I happened to be the emperor's dog, you two shall be charged with treason." spoke the duke.
The marquess immediately composed himself then bowed to the duke. "Your grace. My apologies for not greeting you first tonight. I was...busy."
"I can see that. Go on with your discussion and I shall pass from here with deaf ears." Adelard said and walked passed by them.
"Have you chosen your duchess yet, your grace?" Cxenon then asked which stopped the duke on his steps and turned to the one asking.
Stefan had no idea why the duke seemed to be thunderstruck at the very moment that he didn't say anything in response.
"Because if you haven't, may I present you, my beautiful sister? Cataleya Briston?" Cxenon presented with obvious pride in his voice.
"What are you doing?" the marquess asked his son.
"Doing the only thing to save my sister" Cxenon said in a low voice to his father. They shared meaning on their gazes as if calculating the effect of offering Cataleya to the duke was the right thing to do knowing of the duke's reputation.
Stefan had his eyes pitching between the son of the marquess and the duke, confused over the sudden attitude of the duke. "I apologize but the duke is tired. So if you could excuse us-"
"Where-"
Stefan's words were cut off when the duke finally voice out.
"Let's not inconvenience the duke, Cxenon. You may leave, your grace." the marquess said and looked at his son with a question lingering in his eyes.
"Your sister. Where is she?" the duke approached both of the Bristons.
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