Chapter 170: work needed to be done

"I want you to do one thing, I can only trust you, for now, Roselia, I hope you will work discreetly." I requested her to come close and sit beside me, and then I said silently.

"I want you to go and bring two most trusted maids with you and mingle them in dukes chamber and Killian's chamber, for a week they are needed to collect a sample of everything that they both consume.

If I could be drugged, they can be too. I want you to send every sample for testing, there is no space for mistake, in this and the work should be done as discreetly as possible, even my maids should not know about this.'' I added and she furrowed her brows as she knew I trusted my maids a lot.

"Did something happen yesterday, when I was on leave?" though she was asking, there was surety in her voice.

"Isabella, she left the prison," I replied and her face contorted further.

"Well, it was expected, since she is noble, and her family is one of the oldest and related to the emperor, you could not keep her in for such a small matter for more than a day" she added and I nodded, it's not that I was expecting her to be there, not that I was not expecting her to trap me.

But the question was she was so sure that I would come, I had only announced in my chamber that I would go one hour ago before going, then how did she know. I rubbed my temples when my mind had given me the answer, but somewhere I did not want to accept it.

"I am tired, and I need to take a bath, would you leave me for a while," I said as I already stood up.

She nodded as she followed me. "I will send the maids in," she added while walking further and I nodded. I should get a bell too, rather than calling them manually all the time.

"Your highness" came the collective voice of all four and once again I missed Daisy and her message, that girl really had magic in her hands.

"I want a bath with essential oils and a good message too, that also fast," I instructed and they nodded,

I looked at the table in my office when they left and slowly I opened the last drawer and took it out completely there was a secret compartment where I hid the report with all other proofs that I had collected against Isabella, then my eyes fell on the tea Roselia had brought back after testing, and I closed my eyes.

'Shall I fed her the drug, she was trying to feed me?' It was something the villain in me wanted to do so that she acted like crazy and we did not need to fight a long and tiring battle of wits and strength. But the little humanity that I had developed after staying with Killian was stopping me from doing something that would hurt him in the future. I heard footsteps and put the tea with the report hastily and closed the cupboard properly.

"Your bath is ready, your highness" 

I nodded as we walked in, finally getting myself cleaned. This was the second time after being in prison that I was unkempt for such a long time.

"Braid my hair, and choose a dress which has depth enough that I can do horse riding," I added once I came out of the pool. 

"Your highness, Miss Olivia, had finished her first dress last night, would you like to try that dress," asked Lina and my eyes sparkled. It had been only two days and yet she had finished the dress. This way I could see the money flowing in rather early than I had anticipated. I nodded and she walked out, to come back with a dress soon.

It was a white dress, with pink flowers embroidered in it, which had a small set of pearls embroidered in the neckline and hem, it had simple thread work but it was a very classy dress due to its overall look. 

I was impressed to see the fine details on it, which made the simple dress exquisite. 

"Ask her to come and meet me once I return from horse riding." I was beaming as this would be my first time when I would go horse riding after taking birth again.

After getting dressed, I walked quickly towards the chamber in case they were gone when I heard Cassius asking, 

"Killian, why not transfer your teaching right to your mother, she is asking for that for a long time '' I unconsciously held my breath at the question. Waiting for him to choose me but the boy shook his head, which surprised both of us.

"Father, mother is too soft-hearted, she would not be able to handle it, she thinks I am still a child." I furrowed my brows at his reply.

"You are a child Killian, you should not try to grow up all the time, she will take good care of you, she is a wonderful lady." 

To say that I was surprised would be an understatement. When I was hoping Killian would choose me, he did not and thought Cassius would not then he did. I looked at both of them with complicated expressions before finally walking in.

"I apologise to make you wait for a long time, shall we go now?" I asked, they both looked surprised at my sudden entrance but relaxed when they saw my smile and cheery look, it must have ensured them I did not hear a thing.

"You don't need to apologise, mother, it had been just a few minutes," said Killian and the first thing Cassius did was to look at the watch and then at his son, with an amused face, it was clear that he wanted to ask, could you lie any better son, I smiled at them as I moved and gave a chaste kiss on his forehead, which surprised him. I thought that I had taken his place in his heart, but there was still work that needed to be done.