Chapter 59: Accusing eyes.

"Lady Isabella, I understand your point. I will register a case if you want that. But you must know that paperwork would take time and so as a collection of evidence and witness.

I will inform you once the process will be completed." I replied, passing her a glass of water.

Gladly she nodded.

"I understand, your highness. Since you have given me a word, I am assured now," she said so, but still continued to sit there.

Would it be rude to just push her out? These days I have tuned more impatiently. This whole process was taking much more time than I had expected.

It's time to meet the emperor and ask how much proof has been collected.

I eyed Ian, as he was the last hope. My lips were turning stiff with all the fake smiles.

"Your highness, you are getting late for your meeting with the emperor." spoke in an urgent voice and I showed a surprising reaction.

"Oh my, lady Isabella. Look at my memory. I was so lost in talking to you, that I forgot I was going to meet the emperor before you came." I faked a regret.

She smiled brightly, thinking highly of herself, "it's alright, your highness. I know that you are always busy."

"Thank you, for your consideration. If you excuse me, then" with that I stood up, without waiting for his reply.

She was still sitting there when I walked out of my room. When we were a bit far ways I ordered,

"Ian, keep an eye on her, there are many important papers in the room."

He nodded as he signalled a trusted maid to come and whispered something in her ears.

The maid nodded and ran towards the room.

We both walked out of the chamber and settled back in the carriage.

Once the carriage started, I noticed Ian was looking at me with hesitant eyes.

"What is it?" I was curious, Ian used to talk to me freely but these days, he was turning hesitant, which made me curious about what had changed.

He shook his head, and I raised a brow.

He bowed his head and bit his lip,

"Are you a girl that needs coaxing all the time, huh?" I taunted and he finally looked at me but he was still biting his lips.

Finally, he opened his mouth and asked, "Your highness, you let lady Isabella called her highness as lady Marianne."

"And?"

"Your highness, her highness is your wife, calling her without her title of archduchess was blatantly challenging the authority in front of you," he added, his voice turning accusing which irritated me.

"Are you forgetting Ian, Marianne was nothing but a pawn in the game from the start. You should not worry about her too much.

And we still didn't know what her objectives were? She was begging me to be with him just a week ago and now she glares at me and look at me with murder intent whenever she sees me." I explained to the boy. But he was not at all convinced but kept looking at me with those accusing eyes.

"Marianne is my wife just for words. That's it. She would never get her right as my wife, so why does it matter if her title was used or not." added but it looked like the more I explained the more his grievance increased, so in the end I let it go.

I was not good at explaining anyway. Then why even try. What he did not know that Isabella was testing me. She wanted to know whom I would favour in the case.

If I would have pointed out or scolded her for not using archduchess, it would have been a sign that my favourite is with Marianne. And right now, I could not let her know that. Let her live in the dream that I would support her till I found a solution to this problem.

"Your highness, we are here." said the guard, knocking on the door subtly.

Ian moved and opened the carriage, as we came out. The market was full of hustle and bustles like always. This crowd made me feel fresh instead of being crowded, as there were people, though not with me but still surrounding me.

"Your highness"

"Your highness"

They all bowed as I passed through them. Though all were nobles here, I was still a rank higher than them.

I continued nodding as we walked towards the new segment of shops that were opened for neighbouring country trade.

"Good morning your highness" the count wished me as I nodded.

"All the preparations are done, Issac?" I asked and he nodded.

We both took a round of the area and discussed the matters further.

It took us three hours to finalise everything.

"Issac, who is looking at the arrangements of the commoner market?"

"It's Barron Harington's family sire," he replied after a thought.

I nodded, "ask them to come and meet me tomorrow. I will go in disguise and check. I can not go this way."

He nodded his head in understanding.

"I need a letter to communicate with them, your highness" he added and Ian passed him the letter in an instant.

I must say Ian was always ready, he was the best aide anyone can get.

"Thank you, your highness." he bowed and I nodded as we parted our ways.

Just when I was going to give a last look at the arrangements, my eyes fell on the old man who was looking at me with hesitant eyes.

Thank goddess I met him here, it saved a lot of effort and time.

I walked towards him and looked at me coming to him, his confidence increased and he took steps towards me too. Within 3 minutes we stood in front of each other.

"Good afternoon, Your highness" he bowed his head slightly in respect as I nodded.

"Good afternoon to you too, father in law."