Chapter 53: Her trap

I sighed, at least I did not need to worry about his safety for now. I would let Killian meet her often, and see her true self when she would not be able to maintain her facade for long.

As I walked out of the chamber Ian started following me, no question being asked.

"Send a trusted maid, and mix her in duchess staff to keep an eye on her. Do that too with Killian's chamber to keep him safe." I ordered as we entered my chamber.

"Yes, your highness."

"Have you seen her doing any other thing differently?" though Ian stayed with me most of the time he was my eyes and ears.

He knew everything that happened behind the walls. And he was the one I trusted most as he was with me since I was a child and his family was serving us for generations.

"Yes, your highness"

I stopped in my tracks for a second before continuing again. I had asked, yes. But I had never expected her to create more ruckus.

"So what had she done this time? Beating maids, crying in front of other nobles or infiltrating my chamber." and here I thought she would remain in her facade for a month.

We reached my chamber yet Ian did not reply. I sat on my office chair as I rubbed my forehead. This woman had always been on my nerves.

"What had she done this time, Ian?" I asked again, looking at the hesitating man.

"Your highness, her highness had appointed her three trusted maids to the lord's chamber."

I nodded, I already knew that. "And?"

"She had already asked the Lord to come with her to the royal tea party, even before you went to deny her. Her highness had already sent a letter that she wouldn't be able to go with you," he replied bowling further.

'What! Since she did not want to go with me in the first place then why did she ask for things in exchange? Didn't she get both things in her favour?'

I laughed as I released that she had made a fool of me. I once again fell into her trap.

But then why did she not want to go with me, every noble will go there with the whole family as the party was divided into three parts. Going without a husband would show the whole world that we were not on good terms.

As if reading my mind Ian spoke, "the lady had asked us to not inform her about anything related to you, she had even denied the head maid to enter her chamber." His face was telling, he wanted to speak more, But I didn't ask further.

For now, I knew her target had been changed, from me to Killian. So I nodded my head and waved my hand.

Receiving the signal he left my chamber. I was alone in the room again. This loneliness had stayed with me for the longest time When I had befriended it, I didn't even remember.

I walked towards my bedroom and changed my clothes to give myself a rest, these days the palace was in chaos. As the previous emperor had signed a peace treaty from the neighbourhood empire, we had a cold war for many decades. He had accepted to tie the countries with the marriage alliance, even when he knew his son already had a wife whom he loved dearly.

That was the reality of nobles. All the commoners look at us like we are having a luxuries carefree life. Well, luxurious? yes, but carefree! No. All the nobles were filled with deceit; they wanted more power by overthrowing each other. There was nothing but schemes laid down everywhere.

As I closed my eyes, laying on my bed, I saw those eyes again. Her eyes filled with regret, pain and disappointment. Those eyes were not looking like a greedy selfish woman, but the one who had already lost everything I sat up with a start as I ran a hand in my hair.

"Come out of her thoughts, Cassius." I scolded myself as I stood up again and walked towards the cabinet.

I took out the file of my previous wife, it had all her details from the day I first met her to the day I married her. Her smile, her glare, her quick responses. All were just like Marianne.

As if they both were made up of the same mould. I read all the details with keen eyes, though I had already read it a thousand times, still each detail amazed me.

The more I read, the more my eyes hardened. That was the thing which developed the seed of hatred in my heart. Yet I still decided to give Marianne a chance.

On the day of our marriage I was poisoned, the nerve of those people to hurt me in front of so many people. yet I behaved as if nothing had happened. I attended the marriage, but when it was time to kiss her, I avoided. in case she got affected by the poison which I still had in my mouth.

But the woman instead of thanking me for my kindness, she looked at me with accusing eyes. I told her I was tired but she did not listen. She tried to grab my hand strongly every five seconds.

For a moment I thought, she's the one who had tried to kill me. She did not let me go even after trying hard, so in the end, I jerked her hand back and walked out without even looking back.

Next day, I thought she would be angry, but she was in my bed in that embarrassing clothing trying to seduce me. Her actions, her words reminded me of Elizabeth so much that my blood boiled. If only I would hit women, I was sure I would have hit her.

But I have my respect, so I walked out of the room. But she was still not satisfied, she kept on doing so.