Chapter 61: the sound of Zither

"Your highness, I forgot to tell you that her majesty asked her highness for a tea party, and her highness could not refuse." Ian again took the side of Marianne.

I furrowed my brows, "her majesty, the new empress. As far as I know, today was the first time they met, then why did she ask Marianne to invite her?" although I asked, the question was more for me than Ian.

"Anyways, since her highness was the one who asked for the invitation, pass Marianne's bill easily and let her decide things, but make sure to check each bill by yourself. The expenditure should only be for the party" I could not take the presence of the empress for granted.

"Yes, your highness." with that he left the room too.

I walked to the desk and immersed myself in the files again. I waited for one more hour before calling it a night. As I walked out of the office my feet took me towards the central garden.

This was the least visited part of the palace because each chamber has its own garden. But this part has a small lake with a wisteria tree that calms me every time I sit there.

As I reached there, I heard music, was someone playing the zither here? The music was painful, it clenched even my soul as I heard the painful music flowing in there, the magic of moonlight and the flowing leaves of wisteria added a forlorn charm to it.

I should have checked, but my feet moved me there before I could even think.

As I walked further, I found, Marianne sitting there on the ground and playing the zither lost in her thoughts. She didn't even notice that I was standing behind her.

Where were her maids? I looked around but there was no one. I furrowed my brows. I looked at my knights and they bowed, retreating. Did the woman forget her post again? How could she roam without any attendant and security? How could she have such confidence!

I wanted to go and rebuke her, but the way she was lost in the music, shut my mouth. The tone was melancholic, yet soul touching.

How much time had passed, that she finally stopped playing the music. She wiped her eyes, only then did I notice my eyes had tears too.

I thought she would turn and look at me, but now she walked further towards the lake, as she sat there and saw her reflection in the water. There was something strange here. Why was she behaving like that?

It was like she was regretting something! But what? Had she finally realised that she should not marry me! Ha! If only she had that much brain.

Finally, what felt like an eternity, she stopped looking at her reflection and turned back.

I should have turned back and gone. Or at least I had tried to hide, but I did not. I just stood there. I wanted to see her reaction, to understand the condition more. These days her behaviour was getting bewildering.

Like someone had changed the content of the book in mid-paragraph, leaving the reader bewildered.

She was still lost in thoughts as she walked towards me, I was sure she would collide with me but her steps stopped just an inch away, her eyes widened looking at me

But soon it turned into a glare,

"Why are you here?" she asked me with a glare,

"Did you even forget your manners, Marianne?"

"It's her highness for you" she snarled, but then she controlled her expressions and bowed her head a little, "good evening, your highness"

I nodded,

"Why are you alone here?"

She raised a brow, as she laughed, but her laugh was cold, "did I even need permission to be here alone? And where are your attendants by the way?" she asked looking behind me.

See, she did not digest any concern, and I thought I was to blame. Wasn't she become more and more daring these days?

"Don't forget who you are Marianne, and who am I? Or are you not able to maintain your facade anymore. Huh? That is the real Marianne, with no manners, no upbringing.`` I snarled but she glared back.

"Ha, my parents have taught me well, but not everyone deserves my respect. I have a good upbringing that I will pass to my child."

I laughed, "so you find a way to bring the child again in the conversation." my eyes were cold but she remained unaffected.

"You don't have to worry about that, I would rather die, then let you touch me. I was talking about Killian," she replied looking straight into my eyes.

"Good, stay true to your words then." then my eyes widened at what she said, "And since when Killian has become your child.'' I was a bit aggressive this time.

It was clear, she was frightened by my raised voice, but she maintained her stance, "since the day you married me, I am her legal mother," she replied confidently.

I laughed mockingly, "and you think a paper could make you a mother, do you even know what motherhood is' ' for a moment. I thought she was regretting, so I showed concern.

I even thought to free her from this golden cage, but her eyes were still on the future heir of the dukedom. If she couldn't get her child, she wanted to have Killian.

"Oh, then just a- just a...make you his father" she stopped as her face turned red. I tiled my head, what was she about to say that made her so angry.

Her cheeks puffed up. It looked like she wanted to throw me in the lake as she looked at me and then at the lake, with calculative eyes.

``Was she just planning to kill me, standing in front of me with that clear expression."

Then she took a deep breath and smiled. her smile was rather bright as she asked,

"Did you enjoy the zither, your highness?"

I raised a brow but nodded, how did the topic change from right over Killian to her playing zither.

See; that's what I wanted to say. Like a different switch had been pressed every time. She turned cold and then warm in just seconds.

She sure was crazy.

"I did not know, you can play the zither," I asked, and' immediately regretted, but at that moment the curiosity had taken more of me.

"See, You know nothing about me" she snorted. I couldnt agree more. But what was her point here?

"Since I don't want your affection anymore, I deserve to have a child, and I only have Killian and as you said you didn't know I can play the zither. You did not know what kind of a mother I am. So let Killian decide."

And before I could refute, she wished "Goodnight, your highness" with that she turned and left without even turning back.

(The last chapter was edited, 2 hours after publishing, those who had read early, please give it a once over. Thank you)