Still playing cards, Estelle looks calm despite her knowing that in just a short time, her executioner will be coming for her. So, she decided to lose this last game. She placed her losing card with a smile on her face but her eyes looks so sad.
"I won! I finally won!"
One of the knights exclaimed with excitement that he even hugged his co-knight.
"Here! Do not do BL of a sudden right in front of my face, really!"
Estelle jokingly said as she handed a small bag to the knight despite him confused what she said.
"This is...", the knight gasped.
"It's all my winnings against other knights. Aren't I amazing?!", Estelle jokingly said.
"I can have it all?", the knight asked.
"Of course! You are the first person who won against me for 5 staright days before my execution, so I had fun! Thank you, Mr. Knight"
Estelle happily said but the knights were saddened about it.
"What's with the long face?"
Estelle awkwardly asked and crossed her arms.
"I do not want this anymore"
The knight who received the small bag which contains silver coins said as he handed the bag to her.
"Aren't you too cute for a knight?"
Estelle asked as she bursts out laughing because she find the act of the knight so cute.
"I am not cute! Knights are not cute!"
The knight exclaimed, hiding his embarassment that he even pouted that made Estelle laughed even harder.
This scene was witnessed by Emperor Victor XI, Princess Camilla, Duke Jerome, and Sir Litton. They were all relieved when they saw Estelle alive and laughing.
"Estelle"
The Emperor called her. This is the first time that the Emperor properly called his youngest daughter's name. This even made Estelle so shocked and at the same time she felt warmth in her heart but she immediately came back to the reality that maybe they are here to insult her before her execution.
The knights gave their respect to the royals before they return to guarding Estelle's cell.
"So, who among you are my executioner?"
She bravely and sarcastically asked with a smile.
"Estelle! We are not here for that!"
Camilla worriedly said to the point that she nearly cried.
"It's good that you are fine now, Princess Camilla. You too, Sir Litton", Estelle replied.
"Then, why are you all here?"
She asked as she sat down in the bed as she felt the hunger strike again that made her knees feel weak.
"Open the cell, now!"
The duke commanded as soon as he saw how Estelle weakly stride her feet before she sat down.
One of the knights immediately opened the cell. The Duke hurriedly check Estelle's condition. When he checked the weak pulse, dried lips and extreme body weight loss of Estelle, he immediately carried her in his arms.
"Hey!"
Estelle exclaimed as she used her remaining energy to resist but she is too weak already.
"Ugh"
She felt nauseaous after using her strength that made half of her consciousness faded.
"Stop moving"
hHe gently said to Estelle and gave her a forehead kiss.
"Please call the royal physician. Estelle might die in this condition"
He calmly said to the Emperor but his turquoise eyes is so fierce that he is ready to kill anyone who may bring harm to the woman she love.
When Estelle opened her eyes, she is now in her very bright luxurious room that made her blind for a second. She got used to the dim light in the cell and now she is adjusting to the bright light of her room.
"Oh!"
She gasped when she saw Jerome sleeping in a chair with his arms and legs crossed.
"He looks cool even in his sleeping state. As expected of the main male lead"
Estelle thought and stealthily get another chair and placed it in front of the duke. She wanted to stare at the handsome man in front of her.
"His eyeleshes are long, his hair is so silky, his high nose bridge, he really has a god-made features"
Estelle thought while closely staring at him
"Oh? He has a mole near his earlobe"
She thought as she unknowingly touched it. As soon as she realized what she was doing, she removed her hand but it was already too late since she closely met the turqoise eyes of the Duke.
"Are you done?"
The duke asked with her face so close to her.
"I-I do not know...!"
She embarassingly replied as she tried to escape but the Duke grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to him.
"I bet you do know"
He replied with a gentle smile. Estelle immediately pulled off her arm from the Duke's gentle grip and hide her blushing face. Then, her stomach suddenly growled that made her blush even more.
"I'll ask the chef to prepare your meal"
The duke said and he instructed the maid outside to inform the chef to immediately prepare Estelle's meal. He came back to his seat and continue to look after his weak fiancee who is now stiffly sitting at the edge of her bed.
"Um... Aren't you going home, Duke Blanchett? It is already late at night... I think...", Estelle asked.
"Not yet", he shortly replied.
"Not yet? Ah! You need to do tasks from the Emperor. I see"
She immediately concluded as she thought the duke is staying because the emperor asked him to supervise her.
"No", he said.
"Huh?"
"It is to my own accord that I want to stay and tend the needs of my sick fiancee", he said.
"But I am fine, really"
She replied while smiling to assure the Duke that she is fine but her fiancee's expression turned grim.
"I will find out who did this to you and make them repay thrice of what they did. How dare them lay their hands on you!", he angrily said and this made Estelle happy.
"Thank you...", she said. The duke was about to ask what is she thankful for but he stopped when he saw her tears.
"Thank you for getting angry for me"
She added as she unknowingly put a genuine and beautiful smile before she wiped her tears. The Duke was too stunned on her beauty but he fell in love deeper than he thought that made him speechless in front of her.