Chapter 209 - Admiration

It was more like love at first sight for Tristan. But admiring her from a distance was enough to make his day. She was happy around the Duke. They were intimate and as he watched them from his window, he never felt envious like this before. He wanted to snatch the Duke's wife badly. He wanted her so much. 

He pulled out his phone and messaged Katarina. He decided that he needed to take revenge for the love of his life. He was about to approach her that night in the bar but then he chose a shabby man that turned out to be the Crown Prince. He thought that he would take advantage of her but he didn't. He cares for her and worked hard for her. He saw it all because he investigated him. He couldn't find anything about him that's why he focused on Victoria's happiness. 

It pains when he sees the woman he loves happy in someone else's arms but then, he thought that she would never be happy with him. Because he can't give that happiness that the Duke can give. 

He looked down at his phone where Katarina Parson replied immediately. He ignored it and went to the sofa. He crossed his long legs and spread his arms. He sighed and closed his eyes. It was aching a lot. A soft knock in his room made him even more frown. Then it opens. 

"Sire, the Marchioness sent you a chamomile tea for your sleep." 

"The Marchioness?" He opened his eyes and looked at him. 

"Yes, I happened to mention that you always got headaches." 

"Find something to give her as a present." He said. The Butler closes the door. 

"I don't think that the Marchioness needs anything, sir. Why won't you speak to her personally after you have your nap?" 

The butler served the hot tea as he reached the teacup and smiled at it. He remembered that Victoria loves tea as well. And giving them tea as a gift would be a little useless. The Marchioness ran a tea house and Victoria could get any kind of time if she would ask the Duke. He sipped on the tea. It was refreshing, cool, and bitter at the same time. But it was enough to relax his nerves from all of the work last night. 

He put away his phone and finished the tea. Then, he removed his clothes and took the pajama pants that his butler gave. He lay down and was about to close her eyes when he heard screams outside. He sat up and the Butler closed the balcony and windows. 

"What is it?" He asked. 

"It's just the Duchess and the Duke. They are having fun." 

He frowned and glared at the window. But he pushed the duvet and strode fast to the window and found the Duke and Duchess running around like kids. 

"They looked damn adorable." He grumbled but he hated the sight. However, seeing the Duchess laugh and happy, the hate becomes love. He could always say the same words. Damn this heart!

<><><> 

Stacey breathed in and out. She should let out all of those negative thoughts. 

"Okay, Victoria is safe, stop thinking about other things." She grumbled. 

"Love, another nightmare again?" Maverick asked and kissed her forehead. 

"I'm sorry." She pouted at him. 

"Why are you sorry?" He scooped her face and kissed her. She started crying again like a baby. 

"You didn't get me that strawberry shortcake!" She cried and wiped her tears. He froze and stared at her, puzzled. "You said that you will get it to me today." 

"Shit." He mumbled. "I'm sorry! I'll get it for you now." 

She sniffled and shook her head. 

"I should stop crying like this every time." 

"You should." He kissed her forehead and rubbed her back to coax her. "I will get that strawberry shortcake right away. Stop crying now." 

She sniffled and nodded like a child. Mave wiped her tears away and then he called Butler Reinheart and asked for a strawberry shortcake and whatever she liked this afternoon. 

"I love you." She said and held his arm. 

"I love you too." He kissed her lips and then rubbed her bump. "Lay down, love. I will get it ready." 

"I can't draw now or maybe go out?" 

"No," he shook his head. 

She was so stressed the other night after the news that she fainted. Butler Reinheart has a medical background and he told her to rest for a few days and shouldn't get stressed too much. It will be bad for the baby. 

"Then, what should I do?" 

"Watch some cartoons or movies that won't stress you out." he shrugged. "Love, you knew well that it's bad for our baby if you get too many uncontrollable emotions." 

"I know." She sighed. "Alright, I will sleep again." She yawned and held his hand. "Stay with me for a while." 

He gave her a glass of water and she sipped on it. Then, she lay down and held his hand. He caressed her hair and gently coaxed her to sleep. It takes thirty minutes for him to stay with her and finally he left and went down to the basement. He sat down on the swivel chair ten meters away from her mother since he's operating as Emperor. 

"How's Stacey?" She asked.

"She just fell asleep again. She gets weirder every day." He said and started typing fast. 

Vanessa smiled and glanced at Butler Reinheart who stayed beside her. Maverick didn't notice how the two would look at each other as he focused on a few main things. 

Maverick stared at the email of the farmers and the Doctor who was complaining about the Kennedy. He promised them that they will be served justice. He then hacked someone else's satellite and pointed it in the direction where they might be hiding. The house and location are perfect for a hideout. This villa was sold to someone and then a woman came out wearing a fancy dress. 

"I found them." He said. 

"Alright, I'll monitor them," Vanessa said and then Maverick checked Kenzo's location and the Duchess using another satellite. 

"In 27 minutes will be the meeting with the King and Prince of Spania. I sent out people to watch over them." Maverick said and checked the chip locations of the security of the red bull. 

From the Red Bull, they currently have the Emerald Army and then the Aqua Dragon Army which was made by Princess Vanessa and Butler Reinheart. It was all of Butler Reinheart's men back then who became more loyal to him. They act as the Shadow Army of the Royal Empire that follows Princess Vanessa. 

"What's the status of the Blue Sphinx?" Vanessa asked him. 

He typed the Blue Sphinx's name and the live camera showed up in the Thunder Lily's Castle, which is the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Westeria. 

"They are guarding well." She said and checked the faces of the guards. 

Butler Reinheart's phone beeps. He bowed his head. 

"Secretary Loren arrived." 

"Alright, I'll meet him later," Maverick said. Butler Reinheart left and went back upstairs back to the main lounge. 

Maverick turned around to her mother and looked at her lazily. 

"Really? You have to flirt with him in front of me?" 

Vanessa giggled and he was surprised that his mother looked so much younger than before. She looked boyish and beautiful. 

"Can't I flirt, my dear? I know that you already found out about us. And, it's time to tell you that we have been married for so long." 

"Alright, and I was on the street and you were flirting with him?" 

"He always watches over you, Mave," Vanessa said. 

He stopped and there were times that he found money tucked on his back. Although it wasn't that big, it was always enough to get him food. They couldn't take him because there were eyes around and it might also put his mother in danger. They planned it perfectly and he came back as well. 

"Go back to Lwazi city. Take your wife to the villa that you purchased for her. It was secured enough for both of you. You can't stay longer here." 

"But how about the Emperor?" He asked. 

"The Emperor was always with you, my dear son." She smiled. "I will have Armin fly you there in a few hours." 

He nodded and sighed. 

"Alright, it seems like you always want to be alone with him always." 

"Of course," she grinned at him. "We will visit soon after the Duke is done with his schedules." 

"How about the assassin?" 

"Don't worry son. I have it handled. We are only tracking him for now." She smirked. "Finding that bitch who killed our family was pleasant enough for us." 

"How about the King?" He asked. "I haven't talked to him for days." 

"He's on his way to the Spania. It was a secret trip. He has to disguise well." 

"And who was acting as the King." 

She smirked. 

"The man of disguise, your grandfather Philip. He was only staying with the King." 

He faced the monitor and checked a few emails. 

"Mother, why do you want me away from Marduque?" He asked. "What's going on? You can't hide anything now that I'm an adult." 

She sighed and nodded her head. 

"We were cleaning out a few spies from the castle of Marduque.. Plus, your wife is not safe in that area."