Chapter 151 - Another Side of Zenia Anisen? (Part 3)

Zenia finally came face to face with Vaughn in the study. He locked the door as soon as she entered. He quickly removed his mask and walked to Zenia to kiss her.

"Don't even try it," Zenia blocked Vaughn's attack with her four fingers.

"Why not? When I wake up this morning you're already nowhere to be found," Vaughn pouted like a child.

Zenia was beginning to think that Vaughn had been deceiving his people for so many years. She couldn't imagine that the man before her was the same fierce man that the servants in the palace had described.

"You might erase my makeup, and it's difficult to re-do it. We need to be careful."

Vaughn kissed the top of Zenia's head and whispered, "I miss you."

Zenia pinched his cheeks, "I miss you too, but I'm working now. Can you give me a day pass?"

"Oh, I forgot about that."

"It's good that you forgot. This way, it looks more natural. That maid found me quickly. I bet they have been waiting for Leyna's return. Verone is expecting me to visit her today. "

"Are you going to see her now?"

"Yes, I want to know her plans and whether they can still receive messages from the Left Minister or Ninth Prince."

"Is brother-in-law going to stay in our room for now?"

"Do you have other options? I think it's best for him to stay there for a while to make sure that there's no loophole. Verone's courtyard will be ready in a week anyway."

"Where are you going to sleep?" Vaughn asked without blinking.

"In the maid's quarters, of course. Someone might suddenly look for me there." Zenia explained as calmly as she could.

She knew that Vaughn was just being difficult. He was already used to sleeping with her in his arms. Her pure, sweet scent could calm his mind and spirit. He never had a good sleep since the first assassination attempt, but it all changed when he slept with Zenia. He thought that the feeling of security that Zenia gave was the one responsible for giving him a good night's sleep – he was wrong. It was Zenia's calming scent that was the culprit.

"Can't you just sneak in at night so we can still sleep together?"

"Do you know that you sound ridiculous right now? This is a covert operation. It needs to be flawless. I need to be in the character to perform everything flawlessly."

Vaughn kept quiet and then decided to voice out his concern in the end. "I can only sleep peacefully if you're with me. I never had a peaceful sleep before, but I had it when we slept together for the first time."

"Why does that sound like something happened between us?"

"It's only natural that something should happen between us. We are a real husband and wife."

Zenia cleared her throat before continuing, "We are deviating from the issue. How about this, I will try to return at night and lull you to sleep. Is that okay?"

"It's not the same as…"

Zenia snatched the day pass and stood up. "That's my best offer. Take it or leave it."

"Cook something for me now, and I will think of another way."

Zenia hesitated first but nodded her head in the end. She walked to the door and went out of the room. Vaughn smirked. Even though he said that to his wife, he already had something in mind. He could wait for her patiently for  other things , but she should not skip sleeping with him at night.

Zenia walked to where Verone's room was located. She had no idea whether Verone had already met Leyna before. Would she recognize her as being the fake one? To be honest, she had no contingency plan. She only came up with the idea suddenly. 

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Your Highness, I am the kitchen worker that the head cook has sent."

Verone turned to Johana and asked, "Is that her?" 

Johana nodded her head.

"Let her in!" Verone ordered the oldest maid, Stella, to open the door.

Everyone looked at Zenia from head to foot. She looked really ordinary. They also did not expect her to be so tall with beautiful body shape. If she looked a bit better, she could pass as a beauty with her height and built. In Verone's eyes, it was good that she looked so ordinary.

"Your Highness, I am here now." Zenia tried to sound like Leyna according to how she remembered her.

"Leave us," Verone ordered her maids.

The maids left the room and locked the door. They knew that their mistress would discuss something with the woman named Leyna.

"I know that you are the spy that the Ninth Prince and the Left Minister have planted within the Palace of the Crown Prince. Did you come in contact with any of them during your absence?"

"I have not. A guard came with me when I went home. I told them that my mother was sick. I thought I could get in touch with the Ninth Prince or the Left Minister. I never expected that the Crown Prince would order a guard to follow me around. I never tried to contact them for fear of being discovered."

"Do you think they are already suspecting you?"

Zenia knew that Verone could be a little dull, but she did not expect her to be so stupid. Would the Crown Prince send a guard to protect a newcomer who had a shady background? Her admiration for Doctor Odessa had reached a new height. She could tell that Verone was a lost cause.

"I think so, Your Highness. I could feel that someone was always following me ever since I returned to my hometown. If it was the Ninth Prince's man, he would have approached me already."

Verone thought for a while and found nothing wrong with what Zenia had said. At first, she still doubted the identity of Zenia, but she presented valid and irrefutable reason that convinced Verone that Zenia was Leyna.

"What should we do now? The Crown Princess is not someone easy to deal with. The Left Minister and the Ninth Prince still don't know anything about it. Except for being ugly, I think Zenia Anisen is not as useless as the rumors said."

'Ugly? This face that is similar to Zeze is ugly? This woman is looking for a good beating!'

"I will follow what you have in mind, Your Highness. I don't know what to do either. I don't receive any message from the Ninth Prince and the Left Minister too."

"We will do it according to the Left Minister's initial plan. Help me find an opportunity to be alone with the Crown Prince so I can grab his attention. I know that he won't be able to resist my charm."

Verone was conceited and arrogant when she uttered those words. She was beautiful, but her beauty was still far inferior to Zenia's in Vaughn's eyes. In fact, no woman looked better than Zenia in Vaughn's eyes.

"Your Highness, I'm afraid that it would be impossible for me to do. I'm a kitchen worker, and I only have a day pass today. I will not always be lucky to have a day pass. By the way, what are the dishes that you want? I need to say something to the head cook."

"You can think of something for me. I really don't have anything in mind right now."

"What kind of dishes do you prefer?"

"I am okay with sweet desserts. I also like creamy, salty dishes. I want shrimps and high-quality fish and beef. I don't like sour and bitter foods. I have allergies to peanuts. I prefer fruit juice in the morning and tea in the afternoon. Salad is fine with me. I prefer light snacks. I usually eat my supper at six o'clock. That's it."

"I'll keep all of it in mind. If you excuse me, Your Highness, I will take my leave. Staying here longer may arouse suspicions."

"When are we going to meet again?"

"I will see what I can do, Your Highness."

Zenia stood up and headed to the door. She was about to turn the knob when it was suddenly opened.

"Your Highness, please," the youngest maid, named Bettina opened the door and let the Crown Princess in.

"Greetings to the Crown Princess," Zenia and Verone almost uttered in unison.

"Hmm, I don't think this maid should be here in the main residence. Why are you here?" Zekiah would always recognize Zenia no matter how she disguised herself.

Verone began to sweat and turned pale. She did not expect that the Crown Princess would pay her a visit in such a crucial moment. Would she suspect something?

"Your Highness, it is I who…" Verone was not able to finish her sentence.

"I am not talking to you. Don't interrupt me when I'm not asking you." Zekiah used a stern tone when he interrupted Verone.

It was a good thing that Zekiah and Zenia had the same timbre of voice and no one would be able to tell the subtle difference. 

Verone looked at the Crown Princess in disbelief. She could tell that there was a murderous aura coming from the Crown Princess. They had not met for a day, but Verone felt that the Crown Princess seemed to…change.

'Is this another side of Zenia Anisen?' Verone felt a chill down her spine.