"My lady, my lady, " Rosa stood by the bed and woke Anastasia from sleep.
"what is it? " Anastasia opened her eyes. She had only wanted to sleep for an hour; she did not expect to sleep for so long. It seems because of the nightmare, she did not rest the previous night.
"My lady, Steward Muman is here, " Rosa said. There was disbelief written on her face. Anastasia frowned her brows for a few seconds before she realized who she was talking about.
Steward Muman is her father's trusted aide. In her memory, she had only met him less than five times.
"Why is he here?" Anastasia felt alert. Millions of thoughts ran through her mind.
"He said His Grace asked to see you," Rosa answered. She would not dare question Steward Muman.
"My father!!" Anastasia felt like she was still sleeping. She quietly pinched herself. The man would not even look at her while she stood before him. Why would he send his trusted aide to call her suddenly?
Rosa nodded her head; she was also feeling anxious; after all, the Duke suddenly remembering her lady might not be a good thing.
"Help me change, " Anastasia said. She could not guess why her father wanted to see her. Since she could not guess, Anastasia decided to go and find out; it was not like she could refuse to go anyway.
After changing, she stepped out of the courtyard, and she was shocked to see that Steward Mumam was still waiting for her outside. In her wildest imagination, she could not have thought that a day would come when her father's aide would show her such respect.
"My Lady, " Steward Muman got up as soon as she walked out. His action suprised Anastasia again, but she managed to nod in response.
Steward Muman, who followed her father everywhere, never once acknowledged her presence. He treated her just like every maid and servant he passed by.
Steward Muman felt guilty when he saw her reaction but knew firsthand that the wind in the Duke's household was about to change.
Anastasia did not say anything and just followed behind him.
Rosa was worried, so she followed Anastasia. Since she was Anastasia's handmaid, it was not inappropriate.
The group of three walked towards the main building in silence. Each lost in their thought.
When the few maids they walked past saw this scene, they were curious. They could all smell gossip, wishing they could abandon their duties and follow them to discover what was happening.
"Do you think she is in trouble? " one maid asked her friend. She did not look worried; if anything, she seemed to want to watch a show.
"How would I know? " the second maid shook her head. Although she felt it was not a good thing, she did not voice it out.
"I bet she is in trouble, " the third maid joined the conversation, with a smug smile on her lips. The other two maids turned to look at her.
"Hazel? " they called out.
"How do you know? " the second maid asked. She did not like Hazel a lot. In the resident, she was known to hear the latest gossip.
"I heard that her maid dared to challenge her grace's arrangement today in the kitchen, " Hazel replied. She pretended not to notice the contempt in the second maid's voice.
"How bold, " the first maid's jaw dropped. Everyone knew that the Duchess was in charge of the house. Offending her meant trouble.
"I do not believe it, " the second maid shook her head. How could a maid who dared to challenge the duchess still walk freely within the house? She felt that Hazel was trying to spread her baseless rumour again.
"what's there not to believe? My source witness it herself. Look, is her lady not being summoned by His Grace? Don't tell me you think that his Grace finally remembers her? " Hazel said as she pointed at the three figures in the distance.
"What does His Grace have to do with it? He never interferes with household matters, " the second maid remains unconvinced.
"There are things that look improper when her Grace makes a move. You wait and see, " Haze said smugly before walking away.
Anastasia had no idea the gossip that was going on behind her. She followed Steward Muman to the Duke's study under the curious gaze of others.
" your Grace, Lady Anastasia has arrived, " Steward Muman announced as he knocked on the door lightly.
"come in, " Duke Thomason replied.
Steward Muman opened the door for Anastasia and made a please gesture.
"Thank you, " Anastasia said as she walked into the study. It was her first time stepping into her father's Study. She heard the door close behind her as she looked at the ample space before her.
The Duke was sitting behind his desk towards the end of the room. He had his gaze fixed on her. Anastasia was not scared; she took one confident step after another under her father's watchful gaze.
It was the first time Anastasia had his attention, so she felt kind of happy, but like the maids gossiping, she did not think that she was there for anything good.
"Father, " Anastasia stopped two steps away from the table. She bowed respectfully. Her every move was graceful and elegant.
"sit, " Duke Thomason had a warm smile on his face. He had never looked at this 'daughter ' because of guilt.
Anastasia did as was told; she sat upright and looked at the man opposite her. She was not sure of how she should feel at that moment.
Duke Thomason knew that he did not have any good relationship with her, so he went straight to why he had called her over. "I owe you and your mother a lot." he started with a kind smile a father would have when speaking to their child. "I know I have kept a blind eye to you for many years. This time, the Favour of Adonia has shone on our family. The royal family wants to pick the next empress from our family." he paused and looked at Anastasia for a reaction but saw nothing. It seemed like she was only keen to listen to what he had to say and nothing else.
"you are my first daughter, and I have agreed with the emperor that you marry the crown prince,"
He broke the news.
..... Anastasia felt her body go stiff, and her world was spinning around after he finished speaking. Then, her legs began to shake even if she was sitting down. In class, the teachers thought she was not serious because she never wrote much when they taught. The truth was that she never quickly forgot what she heard or saw.
So even if it had been a dream, she could remember very well that the words he just spoke to her were the exact same as her dream.
She wanted to open her mouth and say something, but her throat felt dry. In that dream, she had been excited about this news, but she was frightened this time.
Duke Thomason looked at his daughter, who had turned pale. He felt that her reaction was strange, but upon thinking about it, he felt it was expected; after all, she must have been too surprised.
Who in the entire kingdom did not know of the crown prince's brilliance? He was the dream son-in-law to all twenty Duke in the kingdom. Even the young ladies were happy to become his mistress.
To be chosen to become his wife was the grace only Adonai could give.
"This is the blessing of God on our family. I hope you cherish and prepare yourself. The crown prince has currently gone to the border in the East; he will visit us when he returns. The journey fort and back should take at least one month. He should come for his first official visit to ask your hand in marriage in forty days.
Duke Thomason continued to give more instruction, but Anastasia heard nothing. Her mind was spinning a million possibilities.