Chapter 123 - Duke And Duchess Of Westeria

Thunder Lily Grand Castle (Duke and Duchess's Residence in Westeria)

The Thunder Lily Grand Castle is where Kenzo was born and raised. It's not the first time that Victoria came to the Thunder Lily Grand Castle. Prince Philip held his birthday party a few months ago. Now, every staff member in the castle was waiting for them. Victoria tried hard to focus and smile. She will act as a real duchess, with grace and elegance. 

"Don't worry, they'll love you," Kenzo whispered to her. She smiled up at him and kissed his lips. Their limousine stopped in front of the great entrance of the Castle, guards were lined up, staff was waiting outside and there's a camera in the distance. They wouldn't reveal the Duke and Duchess' faces in public easily. 

The door opened to Kenzo's right. He kissed her forehead and squeezed her hand. He came out first and then, he smiled at Prince Philip, King Edgar, and Lady Kaisley on the front door. Kenzo held out his hand to his wife with that bright smile. Victoria gracefully adjusted and put down her feet first and gracefully bent down as she reached her husband's hand. 

Kenzo admired the beautiful engagement ring that she's wearing on her left hand. She still wore the old engagement to her forefinger on her right hand. He carefully put a hand over her head so she wouldn't hit the roof of the limousine. She smiled up at him and had her hat on as Kenzo put his hand at the small of her back and took her to the aisle to the stairs where their family was waiting. 

"Well, look how happy they are?" Kenzo looked down at her with that bright smile. She giggled as they walked toward the grandparents and the adopted granddaughter waiting for them. 

Victoria curtsied as Kenzo bowed in front of them and Kaisley curtsied to them. Then, Kenzo's grandparents hugged them both and took them inside as they were introduced to the staff of the house and three handmaidens that would attend Victoria. The most important are the Head Butler and Head Maid was the one who would also assist Victoria with everything she liked to change or renovate around the Castle. 

"We prepared your favorite things here," Prince Philip told Victoria while he's showing everything around in the grand hall. 

"Kenzo was so cute there." She said as they passed by the hall full of paintings and gigantic photos of Kenzo as he grew up with his parents. She giggled and looked at her husband who was flushing. "I want to see baby photos." She mumbled as Kenzo chuckled. 

"Love, no." He shook his head. 

"Why not?" 

"His mother treasures those memories so much. I have them secured. You can have them anytime." Prince Philip said. 

"Wow, thank you. I don't want to see them." She grinned at her husband who was flushing. 

"So, the rooms!" Kenzo said as they passed by his old room and went to the Duke's room. 

"I will renovate it just as you like." Prince Philip said. "The Duchess's room is next door." 

"I have my room, again?" She creased her brows. 

"Don't worry, dear. If you are pissed at your husband, you can have your room." Prince Philip said. 

The reason why the Duke and Duchess have separate rooms is that every couple needs space, and their health is the most important. However, for years, the Duke and Duchess and other royals who were madly in love with their spouses didn't have separate rooms. For Kenzo and Victoria, like Kenzo's parents and grandparents, she wouldn't sleep separately from her husband. 

"I know that you went to a few places here, but you have the life to check out everything." Prince Philip said. "You can set up breakfast nearby. There's a beautiful garden and bungalow." 

She nodded as the Prince toured them shortly until they reached the Duchess's Garden, the one that Kenzo's mother loves most with beautiful roses, lilies, orchids, and a gazebo. Kenzo pulled out a chair for his wife as they all settled on the round table to be close to each other. 

"I know that we should let the two of you rest. But at least, rest with a full stomach." Prince Philip said. He has never been talkative for many years. Usually, he was talkative when his wife was around or his daughter-in-law with his son… he's talkative whenever he's with his whole family. Now, they are the only ones left in the world. The true Royal Bloods to the Empire. 

"You are right, Grandpa. Kenzo hasn't eaten since we were on the plane." 

"Not to mention that you are nauseous. How can I eat when I am worried about my beautiful wife?" Kenzo grinned. She giggled. 

"I was nauseous, probably because of a headache. But I am completely well now." She smiled like an angel. 

"These are the food goods for digestion and you need meat dear." 

She nodded at them as they ate their lunch happily. It wasn't that hot in the area and the wind blew perfectly fine and fresh. She enjoyed eating with them and even mentioned Kaisley's upcoming engagement. 

Kaisley suggested having it in her castle. Just a simple gathering would do. Plus it was close enough to the Royal Castle. The couple visited a few places in the mansion after lunch and after an hour, Kenzo escorted his wife to her room where he will also be staying. 

"Are you sure that it isn't too girly for you?" She asked while stripping inside the huge walk-in closet. 

"Nope." He rubbed her beautiful curvy sides. "You are girly in your way." He kissed her head. 

"I think I need a nap." She mumbled. "Join me." 

"Sure," Although Kenzo had a lot of things to do, he wanted to prioritize his wife's health. 

Kenzo joined her on the bed while wearing his casual clothes. She was fast asleep and so he left the bed to do his job. He went directly to his study room where his grandparents and Kaisley were waiting. He bowed to them. 

"Sorry, I have to make sure that my wife is sleeping peacefully." He apologized as he sat down. 

Then, on the monitor is Maverick who was controlling the Marduque City, also known as part of the Central City. 

"Duke Kenzo," Maverick bowed as he typed quickly on the keyboard. "Here are the top assassins in the country and yet, I couldn't find any data from other hitmen. Including our main subject." 

"Too shame," He looked at his grandfathers. 

"It only means that the person was working inside the Royal who knows about the Emperor." The King said. 

"My lords," Maverick shows a sketch on the screen. "This is the man that I had remembered. If you see, it was a little bit dark. It's hard to recognize the man in the dark." 

"But one thing we know is that you leave a scar on his left wrist," Kenzo said as the two nodded. 

"What if this man is working for someone who knows the Emperor?" 

Emperor refers to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) that the Royal Empire created to protect the citizens and to find the truth behind the killings. Few data have been deleted and it only means that there's a person in their family who was controlling it. No matter who it was, all of them had no idea. 

"What if even the aristocrats were involved in this?" Kenzo asked. "They've been trying to choose on disbanding the King for years now." 

"And make it as a democratic country." Prince Philip said. "However, the people of Great Greivania will be in a poor situation. We all know that few of the nobles were dealing with illegal things." 

Kenzo nodded. Even Maverick has been investigating through it and Belmont was part of them. Maverick now understands the reason why his father married his mother. Since his mother is a Royal, it would give Belmont more access to few more things around. Although high class and high rank dominate in the whole country, the Royal Empire always thought of the commoners. 

For over years, the Etrama Empire always improved their benefits as they think of the commoners who work for them as one of their main investors in the company. It started from Prince Philip's views as their father agreed to it. Once they release the policy, lots of workers become more and more enthusiastic, loyal, and productive. They build more accessible hospitals for them and the beneficiaries, it's free for them. Their country became one of the happiest and peaceful during those times. But after the King died and the throne was passed to Prince Edgar, who is now King Edgar, after a decade, things didn't go well. 

The happy country became a tragedy to everyone as each member started dying. It was traumatic for Prince Edgar as his wife died because of poison including his children and few relatives died. But they managed to save Edward who was part of the royal family. Vanessa Edward was Maverick's mother. She always kept a low profile to protect her son. However, the scandal escalated in Belmont Castle that she was an adulterer. But the truth always comes out. 

Prince Philip and King Edgar who survived managed to protect Maverick and Kenzo as their heirs. The creator of the Emperor is someone who always kept a low profile. 

"But, I wonder who made the Emperor.." Kenzo finally wondered.