Chapter 348: Game is over!

Cassius pov

I sat on the chair with a tired face. Last night I did not sleep a bit. I was busy getting rid of the make-up and then climbing the wall and jumping made me even more tired. Still I had to attend the meeting and give a reply to all the officials for their foolish questions. I was feeling so tired that all I wanted was to take a nap.

"Your highness' 'I looked above to see Francis was standing there with a pale face.

"What is it?" I asked annoyed, his face telling me that it was bad news.

"Your highness, lady Isabella have invited you for lunch. She said you will be tired after the meeting with officers. So, you should have nutritional food which she had prepared personally for you" his voice was getting lower and lower as he looked at my darkening face.

'Ha! Prepared herself! Did she even know how to cook, huh?' but then a thought came to my mind and a wicked smile formed on my lips.

"That's such a kind gesture for her. We should go and have lunch since she had done so much hard work in preparing it. In fact, go and invite all the officials who are still  in the palace. They would be too tired after such a long meeting as a good host, we should serve them.'' I said as I stood up, making him dumbfounded.

He hurriedly followed me when he noticed that I was already out of the office.

Ian was standing at the corner in the dining room looking at me with a worried face and only then did I notice Isabella was sitting at Marianne's seat. 

His father had not even come to talk about marriage, yet she had taken over duchess duties and now she was trying to take her position at other places too. I gritted my teeth at that thought. She was like a pest who no matter if it was killed or thrown out, it would always come back.

"Your highness, you are here." she said, smiling as she stood up and walked towards me. Giving her body a gentle bow, she greeted me.

I looked at Ian with narrowed eyes and then at the chair. It took him a minute to understand but in the end he nodded and did what I wanted. I gave him an approving smile while he wiped his sweat.

"You should not have taken so much trouble lady Isabella. I heard that you prepared the whole meal by yourself. ``I complimented her with a surprised face and she beamed. 

She gave me a bashful smile as she nodded. 

"Oh that's so kind of you. Come let's see what you have cooked then.'' I said and she nodded proudly.

We both walked towards the dining table and she sat on the seat. Her eyes widened as the sound of something sticking sounds.

"What was that?" I asked, feigning ignorance. 

She bit her lips as she moved gently and then shook her head.

"It was nothing, your highness. My gown just got stuck between my legs' ' that was the lamest excuse i have ever heard yet i nodded. Because I wanted her to pay the price of taking my wife's seat for some more time.

"Then shall we start?" I asked and she nodded with a smile.

The maids moved and started serving dinner. But I did not move or show any intention to eat the food. She looked at me with expectation but soon it turned into confusion.

"Your highness, the food would not taste good if it turns cold." She encouraged me to eat and I nodded.

"Then why don't you complete the decorum of cooking, so that i can eat." I replied back.

She frowned hearing my words but both Ian and Francis spoke in chorus.

"As the cook of your highness, it is your duty to taste each dish before he could eat it. In case it have any kind of poison or other elements that could be harmful for home.'' I nodded to confirm their lines and then I even moved the plate towards her.

She looked at me awkwardly as she said, "but as a lower noble how can i dare to eat before you."

"You don't have to worry about that. If the chef as a commoner can eat before me that you are a noble at least.'' i pressurized and she nodded.

She took a bite reluctantly and it was enough for me to be sure that my doubts were right. It had not been even a day and yet they had started their schemes. Ha! Do they think I was a fool like before?

"Have some more, you should eat a lot" I continued forcing her and when she was not noticing, I slowly changed my plate. I was grateful to Ian as he had already managed to prepare the same dishes for me.

"Isabella. Why did you cook so much food when we were just two people?" I asked casually when I saw her eyes had turned a bit hazy. 

She smiled again. But this time her smile was not bashful at al. it was wicked.

"I have not cooked the meal, Cassius. It came from the marquees palace in my carriage. I lied to impress you." she said with hazy eyes and my smile grew.

"Aah.. Isabella do you love me so much?" I asked, still faking ignorance as if I did not hear the lie at all.

"Ha! You are such a narcissist prick. Always so rude and full of pride as if you are god. Who can love you? If you would not have been the archduke,. The head of the administration and the owner of such a big estate and small kingdoms. I would not have looked at you again." She continued speaking as i signaled both Ian and Francis to bring as many people as possible even if the officials I had invited reached on time. 

'Your game is going to end even before i have thought Isabella'