Chapter 55: his view on isabella

As the morning sun peeked into my room, I opened my eyes to welcome a new day. As I woke up the servants served me as usual.

But my mind was not calm like usual. Her eyes haunted me last night and so did my past memories. But I did not want to waste my day thinking about her.

So rather than wasting my time here, I got ready to go to Killian's chamber.

We have a sword-wielding competition today. So, I tried to finish my paperwork early. As I walked out of the chamber, I followed me again.

Without asking anything he reported me. I must say he was the one who understood me most,

"Your highness, her highness had already taken the charge of the household duties."

I nodded my head, as a satisfying smile crept on my lips. Finally! Since the day Elizabeth had taken Isabella as head, I kept on protesting but each time, the same question shut my mouth as to who would take the duchess duty then.

And I could not go against Isabella publicly, not now anyway. So I was bearing, the snake was coiling my palace.

If not for the assurance of the emperor I would have killed her a long time ago. But they needed to do things methodically, without creating chaos in the empire.

Isabella belongs to one of the founding families of the empire, that's why it has been two years and I am still bearing her.

Plus, Marianne, that's good for nothing. I had thought she would be good at handling everything since she was handling her father's house and was also in the process of being announced as an official heir.

But since the day she had entered the palace all she had done was asking for love and spending time together. Sometimes I wonder if she was 26 or 16th. I hope this keeps that woman busy enough. So that she could get rid of all the planning and plotting she kept on doing all day.

Killian was doing exercise when I reached there. His face had a warm smile, which stunned me. He was just like me, we both had a cold and stoic face by default. We did not laugh and mingle like others.

But right now, he was looking like a warm child of his age. I wonder what he was so happy about. And I could let him stay like that. But this was the biggest drawback of being part of the dukedom, you could not be a warm happy person.

They would find the reason behind your happiness, and then use it against you. This was a dirty life. Sometimes I wished that I did not need to be too hard on him. But we did not have a choice.

As I reached in front of him, his warm smile went away automatically, without me saying anything. A tinge of pain I felt, but that's it.

"Good evening, your highness." He wished me with a slight bow.

"It's alright, Killian we are alone now, you can call me father,'' I replied, trying to warm me but it was not in my blood. My voices still sounded harsh and cold.

He nodded as he greeted, "father"

His voice was emotionless just like me, we were truly made of the same cloth.

"So, are you ready to challenge me, Killian?" I asked, holding the hilt of my sword. He nodded as he picked up his sword from the table.

"You have chosen a good one," I replied looking at the sword he had taken.

We both had a practice match for two continuous hours. There were many times when my sword was just an inch away from his when he was able to save himself.

"Concentrate, Killian. You would not be able to win this way.'' I chided and he nodded.

His eyes were filled with determination as he turned and attacked again.

"That's right, try to attack too. Always defence is not good.`` I was motivated as his moves turned sharp. But his skills still needed polishing.

As I attacked next time, my sword clashed with his sword and went flying. I looked at him as his face turned red.

"It's alright, I would pick it up," I said as I raised my hand to stop them from picking up the sword.

"You need more training soon, I am going to ask the commandant of the knight to send a new master for you," I spoke as I walked towards him.

The sun was already set, I looked at his sore hands and the scars on his hand which had been the result of our match.

"Now go and take a rest, we will practice tomorrow, again." With that, I kept the swords back in its place.

He nodded and walked in with hurried footsteps. I tilted my head in surprise, my son was always poised in front of me too. I never saw him running. In my childhood too. Then what changed today that he went running. Did he remember something suddenly?

He was also getting strange these days. Look like I needed to give him more tasks to keep him further busy and sane too. I shook my head, as I looked at the minor scratches on my hand. The sun was already set as the darkness started falling taking everything in its embrace.

Just then I heard footsteps entering in, the sound of heels was so distinguishable that I did not even need to turn back to know who the person was.

Like a snake she had lurked around all the while, I wish I could show her reality to the world. But this was not the right time. A single mistake and my wait for 3 years will be wasted.

Let her believe that we were fools, and I would continue to collect the proof she would leave in a haste, then only she would be punished properly. I would not let you go unscathed Isabella.

(Thank you halima00 for the ring.. I never thought I will get one ever, thanks a lot)