Chapter 156: three letters

"I came to see her," I said, with a strong voice matching hers.

"Why, who is she, your friend, long lost sister, you were the one who had sent her here in the first place?" he sneered.

"I was here to know why she did not leave when you had already released her." I matched his tone, and he sighed.

"Do you have any idea what could have happened if I had not come here on time? She would have accused you of beating her, and then imagine your all the hard work to make a place in high society again, so that you can start your own business would have gone waste as you have been labelled as a violent and crazy woman.

And then even those free jewels you had made and sweet talks would not have worked anymore." his voice was low, yet worried. Was he worried about me! But why?

"I would have managed like i always had, i still have my wits, your highness" i replied back, just how could he be kind and arrogant at the same time.

He walked towards me, as if he wanted to say something, his eyes had that string look, but when he finally stood in front of me, his gaze was intense, yet he did not say a word, i waited for a lifetime there but in the end he just sighed and left, though i was sure there was something he wanted to tell me urgently.

This man is becoming confusing day by day, but right now, i had to go and look for Isabella, their relationship was not simple as she had told me.

I walked out when the guard bowed, "I apologise, your highness. I didn't mean to disrespect you, I just did not want to lose my job." he said in a softer and guiltier tone, but I did not feel a bit of pity.

'If everyone would think like him, then no one would ever support others.'

"You really made me laugh, how could betraying your master had saved your job" he tried to speak again, but I just walked off. These days I was dismissing a lot of staff, but it's better to have less staff than a disloyal one.

I walked towards the physician chamber when I heard her shouting. If I say that it gave me a lot of peace to see her in this condition, would I be wrong, aah, who cares! I am a villain at the end of the day.

"Your highness, his highness had denied your presence." said the two knights who had dragged her here.

"Why?" 

They just bowed their head at my silly question, of course how would they know!

"Let me go, i am not sick." she shouted again, it took me all the courage to move from there without enjoying the show, that man could never see my happiness.

"Go and check what is happening inside." i ordered Lina, who nodded and made an excuse to enter and i sighed as i turned back.

"Your highness, there is a letter from royal palace"

Just when I entered my office, I saw three letters there. But my eyes gleamed when I saw the letter from the house of Earl Smington. 

I opened it with a lot of anticipation.

"Your highness, 

It's been three days since I left, hope you have forgiven me now. As promised, I had claimed my title as Earl of  the house of Smington and the moment I will receive the acceptance of her majesty, I will open a store in the name of our house, that would be a hoax for you. I will write to you soon, once everything is settled.

Yours guilty

Ian Smington.

*******

'Ah, a good start, now I have a few samples of jewels ready, a good designer and a store to be opened soon.'

I closed my eyes and imagined the day when my future would be strong and secured enough that I would not need anyone's assurance and dependency.

Then my eyes fell on the other letters.

I was surprised to see the seal of my house, 

Dear Mari,

Your brother arrived home last night. If possible come home, i do not want him to come and meet you in the palace. I hope you are well there and will respond soon.

Your mother

Diana Essendson

******

I was sure he would kill me once he saw me. I visibly gulped as I closed my eyes and remembered his eyes when I had seen him last time.

Why did it feel like there were more and more things just adding on my plate these days?

I sighed as i opened the last letter

Duchess Marianne,

This letter is to remind you that we are supposed to meet after three days in the royal palace, hope you will be there on time. As I had planned a lot of things for that day.

Katherine.

***********

She had not even used his majesty name or the name of the emperor behind her name, just Katherine!

Did she really think it was that easy to get rid of the title, naive girl. She was part of the treaty, there was no way both of the empires would let her go off this deal.

"Hope you have a plan Katherine, or else your end will be more painful than mine" 

"Your highness"

I opened my eyes when I heard the knock on the door.

"Your highness, the reports."

"Ah, give it to me."

I skimmed through the report of last week's condition of Killian's education, it contained all the new things he had learnt. Three leaves he had taken and the work that was assimilated for him to deal with.

I just wanted to check if he is still being treated harshly by his mistress, but surprisingly the reports had nothing.

There was not even a single mention of punishments. Did his teachers have a change of heart or had the facts been hidden properly.

"Who had collected the reports, Kate?" 

"We are not allowed to stay there without written permission from your highness, the reports are given to us, by the headmistress." she added, a little afraid and I nodded.