Chapter 222 - Meeting The Strangers

"Are you not afraid to travel with two strangers?" It was not like I wanted to travel with them. I was sure that Bella would have left. And waiting here for three hours would be a lot since travelling also takes a lot of time.

"Then you can show me your faces and tell me your names. This way, we would not be strangers any more." I replied and they laughed again.

"You can enter, we are getting late for the royal palace. His highness would be angry if we would be late." said the man and I finally entered with a nod.

Instead of talking to them, I decided to spend my time by looking out of the window.

"Do you work in the royal palace?" they asked, breaking the silence and I turned to look at them. 

"Aren't you too?" I asked , raising a brow but he shook his head.

"We are the messengers of the northern duke. It is our first time going to the palace." i frowned not only because i was hearing this name everywhere but it was because even when the face of both of the men was hidden, i was having a strong feeling that i knew both of them. Especially the one who was silent from the start. 

"We are not asking personal things, just an overview." said the man when i did not reply.

"I understand, but it will be better if you see it yourself. After all, getting one without even giving anything in exchange, wouldn't it be wrong, even if it was just information!?"they chuckled as they got the meaning behind my words.

"Aright, except the face of the master you can ask everything to us. But we also need the same amount of information then." said the man who was silent till now.

"Alright, then tell me what is the age of your master?" this was i wanted to ask since he had started to pursue me but that old butler only laughed and shrugged the matter off.

"He is a young man who has recently celebrated his coming of age ceremony." replied the first man with a slight confusion. 

"Do you only want to know this?" he asked and I nodded with a smirk.

"Alright, then what about his parents? If he is so young then why is he ruling the whole northern empire?" he frowned and asked.

"It is my turn, young girl!" I shook my head at his abruptness.

"I have asked one question and so have you. So shouldn't it be my turn?" It took him a second or two to understand what I was saying and he frowned.

"But that question was not related to the royal palace!" I shrugged my shoulders but stayed silent. He gritted his teeth and then took a deep breath.

"You are shrewd. Master is an orphan. He did not have parents. He had won the whole northern empire by war or alliance. It was divided into small parts and ruled by small kingdoms or viscounts and counts. My master united it, developed it and now it is the most prosperous area of the empire." there was pride in his voice and the way he was speaking, even i felt the greatness of his master.

His voice was filled with glee. As if he was a lucky person to serve his master. But if he was such a great person then why did he want to marry me? A person, he did not know anything about. and i don't know anything about him.

"Now, tell me are all the rumors about your crown prince too? Was he really a womanizer and wastrel?" though i was expecting this question somewhere but the mocking tone he used, irked me up to no end.

"If he would have been like that. Why would your northern duke send a message for him??" 

"Do not ask questions in response to questions. I have replied to you properly. So, I deserve a proper reply too.

"No, the answer is no. My lord is not a wastrel. He is an efficient man with higher knowledge and wisdom." the man chuckled as if he had heard an absurd joke.

"The crown prince is wise and witty? Oh my! I Have heard this for the first time. Don't tell me, you are one of his concubines. Is that why you wanted to go to the royal palace in a hurry?" he added when I did not reply.

"Since you are already so sure about the information you have. Why are you even asking me for it?" i did not know why, i felt so much irritation the way he laughed over the crown prince.

"Alright, I apologize, but you are the first person in the whole empire who said that. Anyways, tell me how strong is the relationship between the crown prince and his father, your majesty?" 

"I do not know much about it, but they live in harmony for now." though i have doubted too that both siblings did not like their father but it was not my place to interfere.

"Hmm, so you don't know much about the crown prince. If so fine we can have our own sources to know about it later. Tell me do you know any Abigail Essendson? She is the knight of the crown prince." If I had any doubt before, now it was clear that they were going to the palace for me.

He must have wanted to cover all the places! But then should he not go to my palace! Why was he going to the crown prince's palace!?

"Yes, I do. Why? Did she again make some mistake or was rumored to be in an argument with the northern duke. I have heard that the man is strict.." and i do not understand why a man of his caliber was wasting time behind me!

"No, we are here for business with the crown prince. The lady did not want our master to come here. So we are here to sign the deal instead."

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