"What?" I said as I saw them staring at me.
"I know that the Northern territory belongs to the former duke or Klartis who sadly passed away even before you were born my lady, and that land was passed to your mother who also passed away," Jarnus said as he was explaining the things that I already know.
I just looked at him, like telling him that I already know about it, I tried to looked behind again and saw Ernie was still there.
"How long do you think you're going to hide there?" I said as I looked in front of me but I was pretraining to Ernie.
"My lady I wasn't hiding there," Jarnus was the one who answered it, and how didn't he noticed Ernie's presence when all of them has a strong sense when it comes to their surroundings.
"I wasn't talking about you," I said as I looked at my back and Jarnus also looked to where I was looking and-
Jarnus walks towards the window where Ernie was hiding behind the curtain at the moment.
"You idiot! You were just there all along !" Jarnus said as he hit Ernie on his head.
"That hurts!" Ernie said as he scratches his head where Jarnus hit him.
They were still quarrelling each other when," That's enough you two," He said as he stopped the two from killing each other, " And you!" He said as he pointed his finger at me," Everything you heard here shouldn't come out, if not" He stopped in his sentence," I will hunt and kill you," He said as he looks at me dangerously.
I glared at him what does he think of me? Does he think I like gossiping? if someone who likes gossiping between us was him not me, "What do you think of me? Do I look like someone who likes gossips? and besides I should be wary of you, " I said as I crossed my hands in front of my chest. " You're the one who planted its spy on us, " I said as scowled at him, " And you don't even bother going back to duchy as for we all know here you were the spy he puts in our place," I said as I point Ernie who was just looking at us and he grimace when I point my finger at him.
"Just go woman," The frog prince said as he shook his head in disbelief.
"And why you're highness your the one who brought me here, should you at least have the decency to send me home?" I said as I mock him.
"Go by yourself, you're already an adult now," He said as if there's no danger waiting for me outside, and besides I don't know the way back home from this place to the duchy and I left my purse wit Mildred.
I sighed and went near him, " You, you brought me here, the least you can do is to send me home as I don't know the way home," I said as I put my hands on what document he was currently reading.
He raises his head and he met my eyes, damn this man is gorgeous, I blushed as I break from our stare, if only he was not male lead maybe I will admit to have a crush on him, but as we all know he was.
"Ahhmm" I look at the one who break the silence and saw Jarnus and Ernie who were also looking at us. "We can send you home lady Acantha, and besides it's almost night it's dangerous for you to walk alone besides, you are the duke's daughter and he has a lot of enemies who were just waiting to strike at him," Ernie said as he looked at me and wink, ugghh why is this man so flirty? he was the same with the man I met last time who was his name again? I only got his last name.
He just looked at us and when as he signaled to the two that they can do whatever they want.
I went home with two that and we only rented a carriage as the prince himself didn't brought one. When I was at the door I was welcomed by Mildred who looks worried.
"My lady, where did the prince took you?" She asked as she inspect me if I have some bruise or anything.
"I don't know Mildred, is father already here?" I asked if the duke was already at home.
"Yes, he just came and he asks where you are and I said that you went to lady Roys house, " Mildred said as she looked at me as she sighed when she didn't see any bruises.
"That's a good alibi Mildred," I said as I smiled at her.
I went straight to my room to change my clothes, after I finished I went down again to eat dinner with the duke and I will give him the gift that I bought which I found in my bed, Mildred may put it there when she came back alone here.
When I was at the dinning hall I saw so many food were already served and the duke was already there waiting for me, when he notice my presence he smiled at me which is I'm still not used to see.
"It's good that you join your father in eating the dinner, Aki" The duke said as he slices his meat on his plate.
I lift my face to meet his gaze, " Father, I have something for you," I said as I pulled the gift that I hid under my dress and give it to the duke.
The duke was a little bit surprised when he accepted my gift , " I hope you'll appreciate it, it's just a a small one but I put my heart out looking for it, " I said as I looked down, I remember when I was still Lucille I used to gave gifts to my parents , but they just discarded it telling me how childish I am and I should act maturely and focus on handling and making something for the empire.
I saw the duke opened the gift and as I was waiting for his reaction I could feel my heart beats really fast, " I love it Aki, and please do remember that even if you don't give me anything I'll still be glad, " He said which made my heart melted.
He was so different from my past parents and definitely he was different from the way he was portrayed in the novel who seems not give a damn with his daughter.
This duke in front of me was different from what I know.
We talked a lot of things that night and he even asked me if I and lady Roys are already friends which I answered that we're just an acquaintances.
The days past and my dress for the ball already arrived it was more beautiful than what I expected from my design.
"You look very beautiful tonight my lady," Mildred said as she guided me to the carriage where my father was waiting outside , he will be escorting me to the ball as no one dared to sent any letters to be my escort.
"You really looked like your mother," the duke said as he guided me inside the carriage, there was a silence between us inside the carriage, I was feeling nervous on what will happen tonight but also at the same time I knew my father won't allow anything to happen to me.
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Helion was bored he was forced by his mother to be lady Noraya's escort for this ball as a debutant, he would rather study the files that Jarnus sent him the last time as it has more sense to him than attending this kind of party and worse be an escort.
Lady Noraya has been staying at his mother's palace and his mother keeps on bothering him every now and then, the last time he was also force to go with the lady to buy some jewelry which why he pulled Lady Acantha to escape from Noraya.
She has been so clingy to him and it starting to get on his nerve, but he didn't know which is worst having Lady Noraya with him or being with the woman who used to follow him everywhere when they were just kids but now seems to have a problem with him, just because of the stupide letter that his mother sent to her.
The party has already start and he already walked with lady Noraya and they dance together he was roaming his eyes to find someone as he also knew that she was going to be one of the debutant in this evening now he wonders who was his escort?
Helion clenched his fist with the thought, but when he realized what he did he sighed.
Right, he was just looking for her to know whether she spread what she heard from the last time.
His world stopped when the door opened and -