Chapter 63: 13 frauds

"Your highness, sir Ian, from his highness chamber is requesting for an attendance." my hands that were just about to pick another file, stopped when Lina informed me.

Ian is the only boy, who had a good impression among all the good for nothing Cassius's staff.

"Let him in."

"Yes, your highness."

Penny walked out and Ian entered in after a minute.

"Good morning, your highness." Ian greeted me with a bright smile, he was the only one who had no malice among us, when he smiled,

"Good morning, Ian." I wished for him to speak further, but no, he just stood there looking around at the office files, even at the oak table, which I was sure had nothing worth watching.

"Did you just come here to wish me morning, Ian?" I asked, raising a brow and the boy bit his lip.

'Interesting' my smile widened as I guessed what it was.

I put the file down and signalled him to come and sit on the front, he hesitated but nodded.

"You know, Ian if you want I can organise a place for you here.'' I initiated the conversation as I was sure he would take a lifetime just for opening his mouth.

His eyes widened as he looked at me with utter shock, "I am a loyal messenger of his highness, your highness, I would not leave him in this lifetime." he replied putting his hands on his chest like he was taking a solemn pledge.

"Too bad," I murmured "then do your loyal work, and pass the message." continued and his eyes widen again

'What! Isn't it common sense that you are here to pass the message.'

He bit his lips again as he took out the summon from his coat.

"Your highness, this is the summon of lady Isabella's case," he replied in a very low voice.

'Was he feeling bad for me?' tch... Did he think I would lose!

"Hmm, so the hearing is after a week, next day to the flower arrangement party.'' I hummed opening the summon and reading it.

"Flower arrangement, isn't it a tea party, your highness." he enquired intrigued.

"How did you know there is a tea party, Ian. As far as I know, I still had not informed the treasurer and his highness chamber about it.'' I am amused and he bit his lip again.

I stifled a laugh as I said "are you trying to blame me, that I mistreated you."

"No, your highness, I had never thought of doing so even if you beat me till death," he replied, taking a vow again.

'Did someone tell him, how sweet he was?' Ian had silver hair and grey eyes, he was stronger than any knight and his post was of a chancellor yet, he left everything just to follow Cassius, I wonder why was he so loyal to him. If not, he could have been the second commandant of knights if not first.

"Alright, then, let me invite you officially. I think tea parties are common and boring, so I am going to set a new trend with my party. I am going to organise some competitions for entertainment, and there would be good prizes for it.

It will be something like hunting in males." I replied with twinkling eyes, I had consumed the whole night, planning for it. This would be a perfect way to make a grand come back, I would throw a party they had never thought about.

"It sounds like a great idea, your highness. His highness had asked me to inform you that you can take the amount from the treasurer, but…" he stooped, and bowed his head

"But what, sir Ian," I asked intrigued, what was the man planning this time.

"His highness had asked you to submit each receipt." he replied slowly, "it's just because, his highness, is very disciplined and systematic, your highness" he added hastily when he saw my eyes that were twinkling turning cold.

my grip on the pen tightened, did this man treated me as a thief.

'Tsk tsk.. Isabella had done more than 13 frauds, which I had already found out just by minor checking of papers, if he was so disciplined, then why had he not found them, and now he was showing all the strictness on his wife, even if the title was just for the name, it still was there. Even a commoner did not ask for every bill these days, much fewer nobles who had enough to splurge.

"It's fine, Ian, I did not need any money," I replied, trying my best to still be polite enough.

"But your highness, we need to give welcome gifts to all the nobles and the competition you are organising would also need a lot of things, and their prizes should be of your standard," he explained and I laughed.

Did he treat me like a novice, explaining everything like a kid?

True, I had not thrown a party since I had been the duchess, but I had always helped my mother in organizing a few parties. And in my past life, I had thrown many parties as I had immersed myself in them to get rid of the loneliness taking place in my soul.

"I know, Ian. You don't need to worry.'' I assured but he wasn't looking convinced.

"Alright, your highness, I will invite his highness for the party then," he replied with reluctance, standing up.

"Wait a minute, did I invite him, why did I not remember so?" I asked, raising a brow.

If I was the one organizing everything with my own money then why did I need a cold statue to accompany me there and take half of my credit?

He stopped in the middle and I was sure his position was awkward. He was neither sitting nor standing, I wondered how shocked he was to freeze like that.

"I rephrase my words for you, I am officially attending the party with Killian as my partner, instead of duke Cassius,'' I replied proudly, raising my chin.

[hey readers, I have a question, and I request each of you to reply and then stick to it.

When I had started the story, I got many requests to change in POV to Cassius, and Killian a few times to know their views. So I wrote the story that way and planned it accordingly.

Now if we think from someone's point of view, we would show his emotions from the start. We just could not pop it up from a random scene. I had made a stockpile of 10 chapters, which I had deleted this morning so as chapter no 63 because you don't want to see past anymore.

And that's ok with me, but I want you to stick to it now. Deleting 11k words is painful, you know. And now I had no stockpile so there may be late or no chapters, these days.

So, you want to know their past, yes or no. give a final reply because I would not change it again.]