Chapter 130: deeper than you thought.

"Ian, pass the bill to the duchess chamber, it should be double the price of jewels that had been gifted to the guests," I ordered with a bright smile, she had done wonder today and any gift she would ask for was less in comparison to that.

"Yes, your highness."

"So, finally you realize your wife is a gem or is it a change of heart?" asked Charles finally getting rid of Philip.

"Charles, why don't you first take care of your wives, I saw how you respect and care for Katherine." I taunted, wasn't this man lecturing me a few days ago! At least I never tried to imprison Marianne in the palace.

Charles sighed, "it's not that, I did not want her to go out, your wife is a firecracker, I did not want sweet Katherine to turn like her." he added looking at the distance where Katherine and Philip were talking, and I chuckled.

"Oh, much more than you think, but then, she didn't go anywhere with your first wife too,'' I added and he nodded.

"You know Rosamund was never happy with the title of queen, but higher nobles never let her be the empress, and now when Katherine is here, she is very insecure, I can understand her insecurity but she has to understand that I am bound too."

"I have promised my father that I would marry any woman he said, if he let me marry Rosamund, still our marriage took 6 more years than yours."

"And now when she is still not pregnant, I could not stop father anymore, you know that very well, though he had given me the title of emperor 2 years ago, I still can not go against him," he said, taking a sigh and I shook my head.

"Your life has turned much more complicated than before." his eyes dimmed as he took a deep sigh.

"You have no idea, I feel bad for Katherine, but at the same time I feel bad for Rosamond too, sometimes I think life would have been much easier if I had been at your place," he said and I narrowed my eyes if only he knew!

"I will see you tomorrow," he said as I saw his both wives were coming from opposite sides.

"Your highness, can I have a minute of your precious time." said marquees Wiltshire.

"Yes, of course, marquees, are you here to apologise?" I asked, turning ignorant towards the pitiful look his wife and daughter were giving me.

"Pardon, my lord!" Their eyes widened at my statement, I was sure they were here to complain, I hated them for every time they did wrong, yet they came to me, to complain about others, and since I had to make them more hollow, I had to be sweet to them, and fulfil their small wishes.

"Since you tried to accuse the mistress of the palace in her own house, and created a spectacle in front of everyone, almost ruining the party, then what else could be the reason to come here, if not apologising?" I asked and his fists clenched, thanks to Marianne I could see them burning and seething yet silent.

"I understand your highness, I apologise for my wife's mistake," he said through gritted teeth. "And as an apology, a small token of my goodwill." with that he forwarded me a gold kettle and packs of tea, which was received by Clara.

"I will take my leave then," he said and I nodded, Isabella continued looking at me, turning her head with an aggrieved look as I cared even a bit, in fact, it gave me peace.

"Your highness, I saw the baroness here" Ian announced and my face hardened.

"How could this happen Ian, looks like she did not want to live anymore, where is she?" I snarled and he took me towards the entrance, but when we reached there she had already crossed the door and was entering in her carriage.

"Ask guards to stop her, and take Killian with you, I want to talk to Marianne.'' I ordered and he hesitated, "now '' I shouted and he went forward and took Killian with him.

My eyes saw nothing but blood when I reached her, but I was surprised that I controlled myself, in fact, I reasoned with her, I told her the truth, not complete but still, I told her the truth and left the place before we had an argument, as I reached the chamber Ian was already standing at the door.

"I hope things did not turn worse, your highness," said Ian as I entered my chamber, Killian was nowhere to be seen. And it did not need much effort to know where he would be.

His eyes checked me closely and stopped at my hand and then he sighed.

"You are still affected by them" how could he expect me to not be affected by her presence in this palace, they were nothing but a disaster to me and my family.

"How did she even enter the palace?" I asked and he shook his head.

"I have checked all the invitations personally, her name was not there, I was myself shocked to see her when she tried to hide herself in the crowd," he said with a doubtful voice.

"Thank goodness, Marianne and Killian did not know about her, otherwise I did not know what could have happened."

"Your highness, do you think, baroness Veronica brought her here?" Ian asked and I shook my head.

"That lady is a greedy fool, but she also doesn't know the reality. Moreover, no one can bring others without invitation.`` I added and he nodded.

"We will handle it, I will look at the matter and ask the guards and other staff in the morning," he said with such confidence that I let the matter go.

"Your highness," he said hesitating and my eyes met his.

"Hmmm" 

"That slap was perfect, lady Isabella was so shocked, I even saw blood at the corner of her mouth," he said with so much pride in his voice that I chuckled.

"For a moment when we reached there, I thought Marianne was at fault, so I tried to let the matter go, but who would have thought? I felt such a relief when Marianne slapped her, it made me feel that we do not need to protect her anymore." I said and Ian nodded.

"Your highness, her highness can be a good ally." I was wondering that too.

"If everything goes well, I will tell her the truth after our marriage anniversary party," I said with a sigh and a smile bloomed over his face, but then he felt worried.

"What about…?"

"He didn't need to know, it's not like he is sharing everything with us, I am sure the pit is much deeper than it seems.." he nodded his head.

"Would you like to have dinner, your highness?" I shook my head.

"I will just complete these files and take a rest." he nodded and started walking out of the room when I added.

"Ian the tea"

"It's already handled, your highness," he said and I smiled.

"Hope things go smoothly until our anniversary Marianne."