When I dealt that last blow to the strange man, the realm cracked open, and I escaped. I opened my eyes to excruciating pain, while blood was gushing out of me like water from a leaking dam. It felt like I was on the verge of death. I was gasping for air and had no strength in my limbs. The room was spinning, which was not helping my pounding headache. Thankfully, I had already finished the duke's treatment while I was fending off the culprit. Sir Nate, the princess, and even young master Dimitriu's faces were white as a sheet of paper as they gaped in shock.
"How are you feeling, Fati? Are you in pain anywhere? Your complexion seems a little better now, thank goodness. You gave us quite the scare." said the young master while grabbing my hands.
"Keep your hands to yourself, young duke." responded Sir Nate scornfully as he yanked my hands from his grasp.
He clasped his arm around my shoulder and cuddled me closer to him, all the while glaring at the young master. Though his attitude towards him has never been the best, he's never been this blatantly disrespectful before. I had better step in before he gets himself into more trouble.
"I'm feeling much better thanks to your care, young master." I said with a slight bob of my head.
When I glanced up at Sir Nate, he was glaring at the young master. His grip around my shoulder had tightened slightly, which indicated he was angry. Despite how close we've grown over the past few months, there are still times when he seems like a complete stranger to me. I'm getting better at discerning his mannerisms, which can be tricky, especially at times like these.
"You look very elegant in this dress, Fati. It suits you quite well." commented the younger with a warm smile.
How odd. It's the first time I'm hearing a compliment from him, yet my heart remained undisturbed. Until now, his mere presence would make my heart thump as my face turn beet red when his fingertips randomly grazed my hands while working together. I used to yearn for his attention whenever he wasn't around. But now, it's as if my feelings for him had completely waned. Everything I felt for him has now become nonexistent.
"I believe it's time for his grace to return to the duchy. The roads aren't as safe as they used to be around these parts." he said sarcastically.
"Pardon me for asking…" I chimed in nervously.
"What is it Fati?" responded Sir Nate.
"Doesn't this villa belong to the young master? Why are you kicking him out of his own home?" I whispered in his ear.
He chortled for a brief moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. Everyone, including the guards who were present gaped in bewilderment. I couldn't understand why they were so shocked.
"This villa and the whole of Chilsela belong to my parents." He responded boastfully.
Though it's not entirely untrue. I received this small city as a birthday present from my father when I turned twelve. Ever since mother passed away, his gifts have become more and more extravagant. As though he's trying to fill up the hole my mother left in my heart.
It all started on the day when count Hertzman presented a concubine to my father. He was widely known as an unscrupulous old geezer with a severe thirst for power. Despite being aware of this, my father was oddly tolerant towards him and allowed his influence to broaden inside the castle.
"With all due respect, your majesty, I suggest you think this through. Although I'm not entirely against the idea of you taking concubines, I cannot allow lady Mertrude Buchanan to enter the palace."
"I understand your reasoning, my dear, but we're left with no choice but to accept count Hertzman's offer. He managed to get the entire council on his side in such a short time."
With his eldest daughter being married to duke Kartier, and his illegitimate one was nowhere to be found, he was out of options. That was until his niece suddenly appeared on his doorstep. Mertrude Buchanan, the sole daughter of his brother, whose family faced ruin when authorities found them guilty of tax fraud. The person who reported the whole affair was none other than Count Hertzman himself.
"There is no cause for concern, my dear. Although she will reside in the palace, I am under no obligations to visit her bedroom."
Though my father had other concubines in the palace, he would always inquire for my mother's permission to visit their bedroom. It was his way of showing her respect and loyalty as his empress. An entire year had passed after lady Buchanan moved to the palace, and not once did my father visit her bedroom. Upon realizing her position, concubine Mertrude's attitude towards my mother gradually changed. Her animosity towards the empress had suddenly vanished.
"Your majesty, please accept this cosmetic set as a token of my gratitude. Happy Birthday to the most beautiful moon in Alkaraz! Thank you for always looking out for me, your majesty."
Her noble gesture and honeyed words deeply moved the crowd, including my naïve parents. Thence, no one could have predicted what would transpire next.
"Your majesty! Your majesty!"
Mother suddenly collapsed in the middle of the festivities. She was coughing up blood while panting and squirming in agony on the floor. Three days later, she was pronounced dead. During her autopsy, it came to light that her cause of death was aracnocrobe poison. Based on that conclusion, an investigation was immediately put forth to find and punish the culprit. The maid who served her the glass of poisoned champagne committed suicide in prison, and the results from interrogating the guests revealed nothing out of the ordinary.
The longer the case dragged out, the more it felt like my mother's death was in vain. The entire empire fell into a state of unrest, and the people began to question the authorities' proficiency in resolving the matter.
"Apprehend count Hertzman and concubine Mertrude immediately!"
Count Hertzman's eldest son, Victor Hertzman suddenly came forth with concrete evidence of his father's involvement in my mother's death. Apparently, he had been keeping tabs on his father ever since his cousin suddenly became an imperial concubine. His reason for not reporting such crucial information before was because he thought his father would change his ways. Thanks to him, the perpetrators had no choice but to confess to their crime and receive their due punishment. Death by lapidation.
His noble act deemed him righteous in my father's eyes. Henceforth, the emperor rewarded him with the title of marquis. However, unlike his father, he was not allowed to be a member of the council. Ever since then, my resentment towards their family grew exceedingly deep.
++++++
The rapid gallops of the horses and the rattling of the carriages made for a rather boisterous atmosphere. The constant bouncing due to the roughness of the road rendered me sleepless as I incessantly yawned. I had to be up at the crack of dawn, so I'm tired.
I was utterly surprised when Sir Nate suddenly announced we were joining a delegation on a trip with the crown prince. While I was grateful for the much-needed break and freedom, I can't help but feel ill at ease. What if the crown prince found me out and decides to execute me? No Fati, do not entertain such horrendous thoughts.
"Why are you shaking your head so vigorously?"
He finally spoke!
"Sir Nate…"
"Nathan…" He interrupted curtly.
Ever since I found myself at his mansion that day, his attitude towards me had changed drastically. He's now more or less cordial in our conversation and has asked me to remove the 'Sir' when I address him. I have no problem doing so, but I wish he would be a tad bit nicer when we chat.
"Ahem! Right…Nathan. Is it truly alright for a slave to ride in such a fancy carriage?"
"Apart from me, no one else here knows you're a slave. Besides, so long as you're with me, no one would dare to question your identity."
Is he that powerful?
"Wouldn't the prince find it distasteful to be in the same vicinity as a slave?"
"The prince does not worry about such trivial things. Not to mention his carriage is at the very front of the line."
That's true. Phew! I guess I've got nothing to worry about since our carriage is at the very tail of the line. Thank goodness.
"Do you…despise the crown prince that much?"