After almost a month of trial and error, I came to understand the workings of this place. The pacts for the duke, the works of the jointed grounds between Derby and I, additionally to the ways in which father evaded the taxes and overly disturbed tax collectors. In regard to Derby, I saw her train every day when I was waking to end into my office. She was the early worm type. Early in the morning, before the crows, I would see her throwing punches, some back flips, some kicks—all that I saw her do. If anyone saw me watching her, they would think of other obscene ideas, but I sure admired her efforts. I had not even once gotten a chance to tell her to teach me or practice together. All I could afford was to sit and have lunch and supper with her and her other family members. The young boy had started going to school, and I set one of the guards to always take care of his transportation to and from school. Her sister was not quite the training type; she was always speaking with the guards or just staring at space or nothingness. "The carriage is set, my lord." One of the guards stated that, and with that, I followed behind. I was set to leave and visit Lady Elizabeth, but despite my desire, I was already invited to the ball by the Arlington family. With that, I had worn today like a real Duke, embracing my half-sleeved white shirt with a long wool black cardigan. As I was set to leave, I called upon Jaykim and instructed, "Take care of the girls, make sure our businesses are up to date, and I will arrive soonest after my visits." With that, he nodded and waved me by. I wished to go to Lady Derby's room and maybe wave her my goodbyes, but somehow I saw no need. She was here not for me but for some other businesses, so I stated in a rather loud tone to Jaykim, who was watching my steps as I left, "Tell the ladies I shall be back." And with that, I entered the carriage, ready to leave. It was eight in the morning; I sure would arrive earlier than expected. The journey was quite silent, if I may say. I was busy observing the beauties of the roads—the trees and flowers planted systematically along the roads. The business was working out a little well. The Smith men were a little happier with my increase in salary, but this meant I sure needed to work a little harder. My sleep was not a priority anymore; I was sleeping at the darkest hours and waking at the insane hours. I would say I slept for like two or three hours to just let my mind rest, and the body should just accept or rather adjust. The military had accepted my offer and had requested that I make more negotiations with countries other than our neighboring. I was rethinking doing Russia and maybe some Arabian nations; however, I wasn't quite sure. Father was not fond of buying slaves to work for him, so that was not a matter of discussion. I heard the carriage stop, and back to reality I returned; we had arrived. "Where do we alight, at the Viscount or Lady Elizabeth's?" That question made me remember the viscount, but today, off the offer that the Lady had made, I sure yearned to visit her, "Lady Elizabeth." I stated, and the carriage was set and stopped in her place.
"Your lordship. How nice of you to visit." Lady Elizabeth stated this in the most melodious and happy voice. "I sure would. I am a man who never stops or evades from his promises. I have been quite busy with the work; however, I brought you a token of something, hopefully for your liking." I knew that life in the royals never had the beauty of the blades that were made by the outcasts. I had so brought her five blades from the smithing workshop, maybe which she would give her guards for protection. "They are made with steel and cannot easily break even on the hardest rock on earth; additionally, they do not bend. Embrace yourself." I stated that, having my guard remove one of the blades and offer it to her. She checked it for a while and, with a light smile, stated, "Thank you. This means so much to me."
Afterwards, we talked with the lady about life, work, the duke, and everything. She was also set to leave for the ball, so at least I would have company. Her fields were well trimmed, embracing the beauties of the various animals with precision. Evening had arrived, and we had already set ourselves to leave. The ladyship carefully caught my hand and, with precision, helped her enter the carriage. I followed her next. Leaving it did. The journey was not as far, for we arrived as fast. Some people had arrived, and one could see the beauties that our hosts had prepared. The floors were well cleaned, the musicians were well set, and the house was well decorated for a nice ball dance and enjoyment. I carefully held the lady in my hand after we were welcomed and quite swiftly walked through the house. "I am a quite good pianist." I stated, which made her chuckle, "How about playing a piece before many people arrive?" With that, I went straight to the set place for music and requested that the man seated there to give me a chance. On acceptance, I sat at the piano and one chord after another started clicking, with some smile watching the lady who stood beside the large piano, observing me. I knew she wanted a beautiful play, and I sure would not reject the wants of this lady, Lady Elizabeth, for I also missed doing the honors of this instrument as much as she deserved. There was a piece I once worked for since my childhood, so I decided to just remind myself that if it were a song, it would be the sad song, followed by happiness, maybe set to happen in my life. It was not a random piece; it was a piece that so much dictated my life: low rhymes followed with high-pitched happiness; it shoved in everything; always have 10% expectations to avoid the pains of heartbreak; and so I started.
Ingrained, piece by piece, chord by chord, in my mind singing the song with my hands playing the piece, I had not noticed once that people had started dancing to my song. The musicians had also started following up the rhymes, and for the first time in London, my heart smiled. I had not observed every person here when I heard someone from behind touch my shoulder. A light touch, smooth hands, I may say. So I stopped playing and looked up, as the people chattered in a frown, to see why I had stopped playing. I looked back, and in a glance, I saw, It was her; it was her, but I wished it was not her as much as I yearned to set eyes towards her. I quickly rose from the little piano seat and stood as I paved the way for the princess to walk after me towards somewhere in the corners of this large house. It had been a long time since I had set eyes on her. The last time was that day, leaving like one with no feelings or a heart that felt anything. "Princess." I stated this after reaching the at least quiet corner. She did not speak but just looked at me. Her eyes still shined, and God knows, her face glowed day by day. I would say today, she looked exquisite. "I am to be married soon." She stated. And with that, my walls crumbled, and my eyes watered, which made me look away from her gaze. I could not be the best gentleman, I know. But I was not ready, especially today, to have her married to another man. My mouth was dry, but I needed to speak, at least something whatever, and after a long composure, I spoke, "Who gets the honor of spending a lifetime with you?" She just looked at me, but my eyes—I would not say shy—could not even look directly at her. It felt hard to take in her words. I thought of her every time; my workings, my sleep deprivation—everything set by me was so that I could have the greatest fortunes and call myself deserving of her hand. "The prince. The prince of Russia," she stated. I knew what she meant. Everything. I knew. With that, I just nodded. If wanting was a matter of just taking, I would right now run away with this girl. The prince of Russia were just the words that embraced my mind. "Aren't you going to say something?" She asked. I did not know what to say, so I just said, but after the stare she gave me, I decided to tell her in a rather slow, breaking, or hurt voice, "You are my sister. But Lady Elizabeth states, you belong to the queen's family, which was what has reigned my hopes in regard to you. You sure can't be. I tell myself every day, You can't be; the slicker of how that you can't be, maybe, just maybe." I looked away, somewhere down, and then stated, "I am not a Viking; I am no a duke; I am a bastard; I am, I belong to the dynasties of the throne." The words, I know, were too many to process; I had not processed them even as much as I did today. I realized for real that I was engraving myself with the sins of thinking, or rather, embracing myself with thoughts of desire out of a sister. I was practicing a sin before the God of England. I wanted to leave, and I wanted to leave quickly. My legs shaked, and my body felt nothing but nothingness; my heart became emptier, and it felt cold again. A part of me felt cold. When she caught my hand and stated, her eyes watering, "Is it a joke?" I had no answer to that; I knew everyone in this place; someone was observing us and I replied, my eyes waterly but looking at her straight, to see my emotions maybe and understand, "It's not a joke. Mother was Lady Isla.". "All this time I thought of you; I had the dreams; you shall come back. I thought that you might have been confused, but this, You couldn't even tell me this in the slightest manner, not even in a letter. Lady Isla? God." She was mad with the pains the words were uttered; her words exhibited pain, hate, feelings, and confusion. "How would I tell you when my mind could not accept the words?" I replied. My mind had not yet accepted all this; it was still damned by the thoughts of her highness, the princess, being a commoner with whom I could marry. But hearing these words made me feel like she really was my sister. "Apologies." I stated, walking away from her. I needed space—a lot of space—when I heard her shout from behind, "How are you to be my brother when you live with the Vikings?" It was a shout, not a whisper. Everyone heard a scandal." "Scandal" were suddenly the words that embraced my mind. Whispers started as soon as those words were stated. I did not look back; I continued walking, one step after another, blurring my vision from the little stares and speeches: "Is he the King's another bastard?" "How would he disrespect a princess?" "What with him?" "Is it true?" I knew that tomorrow the publishing company would write words, speeches, and words of interest that no one in the dreaded adage of my nearness would yearn to hear. Maybe the bastard in collision with the princess, maybe the Vikings secrets, maybe a Willock for dynasties, something But I needed air when a strong hand caught me and helped me out. I felt I would pass away. My mind was a mansion; it was so quiet and crowded with nothing but insane thoughts. "Do you know what you have done?" The voice stated "Henry?" I asked. My mind could not focus, but I felt it was him. "You have brought up a rumor, and this is not good, brother." I needed to go home; I had no home. To Lady Elizabeth, she sure would be a part of this scandal. I could not reach Tigris. I need a drink. "I need a drink." I stated, when Henry chuckled sarcastically and stated, "Let's go home, brother."