Lady Vienna threw daggers with her eyes to her brother, “Tell me, brother, why are you being harsh on him? Weren't you friends?”
His brother sighed and finally admitted, “I just hate that I wasn’t there to help you.”
She snorted at that, “I’m fine, brother. Things like that happen. I was even kidnapped a few times in the past, right? I’m strong.”
He nodded, “Yes, I know, I was thinking…what if you didn’t wake up? I was just worried. Please understand me, Vienna.”
“But that still doesn’t explain why you strongly hate the duke. I was the one who married him but why are you so affected by this?” She said, crossing her arms in front of her.
Her brother just got quiet and the carriage moved.
After five hours of riding from the land of Xynnar to the land of Creneia, which is the territory of the duchy of Xaviera, Lady Vienna glared at her brother the whole ride. And when they finally arrived at their mansion, she looked around and felt a sudden strange feeling.
It felt so long since she has last seen this place and somehow, it looked different to her now.
It didn’t felt like home.
“We finally arrived home.” His brother announced and helped her get out of the carriage like a gentleman.
She accepted his hand against her will and entered their house. She ascended the stairs and went straight to her father’s room.
“Father!” She yelled, seeing him lying on his bed with her mother beside him.
He looked so weak with his now skinny arms and his white hair stood up the most. Hearing her voice, her parents instantly looked up and smiled at the sighed of her.
“Vienna my daughter!” Exclaimed her mother happily and came to hug her. “You finally arrived thank goodness! We missed you so much, my child!”
She then came to her father teary-eyed. “Father, I’m here. I’m safe. You don’t have to worry.”
Her father just smiled and his weak arms caressed her hair, “Was the duke mistreating you?”
She blinked at that. Why does everyone think that the duke was mistreating her? If anything, he’s been so kind to her.
Well, this must have been because of the reputation of the duke. He’s the villain after all.
Her brother then came in and they all came to hug each other.
Although deep inside her, she’s physically here, her mind was somewhere else…busy thinking of what the duke must have been up to.
She spent the rest of her days cooped up in her room. Her brother was closely monitoring her and she has been going in training with their family knights.
“Aha! I won again, my lady!” Exclaimed Ramon, one of her family’s knights. He threw some sword skills and held up his chin proudly. The other knights rolled their eyes at him.
“Can you see our lady was distracted? You were even fighting her with all your strength.” Whispered their other knights.
Ramon scoffed, “That doesn’t matter. I still won.”
Lady Vienna breathed hard and just looked at the sky and let the knights chatter to themselves.
Werner, the serious and uptight family knights came,” “My lady, are you alright?” He asked and continued.
“You always defeat us all in five minutes in the past….” He trailed off.
“I’m just not in the mood….” She trailed off. Well, she knows her skills were getting rustier every day since she hasn’t trained that much back at the duke’s house, but that’s not important now.
Duke Raziel, wasn’t giving her letters for any news. It felt like he abandoned her. And that irritates her.
“That damn duke.” She mumbled to herself.
Werner Must have heard her as he cleared his throat, “Ramon, the weakest knight of us, just won, my lady.”
Throwing her sword on the ground, she turned to Werner, “I know. Do you know where Titus is? I need to ask him for advice.”
Werner avoided her gaze, “I uhm…I’m afraid your knight is still in his hometown.”
She looked at him incredibly, “For a whole month? That’s a lot of time off. Shouldn’t you guys look for him? What if he was ambushed?”
Werner smiled at that, “Titus is one of the great knights in the empire, my lady. Should you trust him?”
“I'm just worried. And I miss him.” She sighed inwardly.
“Awe, you always look for him. How about us? We’re always here for you my lady!” Exclaimed Ramon loudly, appearing out of nowhere. Werner scolded him for that and Lady Vienna just chuckled.
She admits, having their company here eases her worry.
“Haven’t you heard? The enemies from the north were slaughtered. They were all brutally murdered. Almost as if a beast killed them...” She heard one of the knights whispering to the other knight. That took her interest so she listened for more.
“We believe it’s that monster duke…” added another one.
“Shh. Are you stupid? Our lady might hear that.” Said the previous knight.
“Hear what?” She asked, an evil smile playing on her lips, and approached them closer. “I must admit, you should do a better job at gossiping. I heard everything.” She said and asked again.
“Was that monster duke you are calling my husband?”
They stopped midtracks and hesitantly nodded.
“Good. Then do you mind telling me everything in detail?”
Hearing all the details from the knights, Lady Vienna memorized everything. From the sudden killings in the west up to the brutal murders of corrupt officials from the east.
Sure enough, Lady Vienna’s husband, Duke Raziel, was currently finishing off enemies on his own.
To think he didn’t even bother to disguise himself as Dillon while doing all of those killings.
He’s doing all of this with an intention. Wiping out almost the entire nation.
Lady Vienna suddenly felt a sudden fear. Damn, now that things are changing…will this start the coup d'etat of Raziel? And was it because of her?
One thing is for sure. The empire is in chaos right now.
Going back to her room to think, Lady Vienna changed into her dress just in time for dinner with her parents. Her father is now looking healthy as she starts to eat more.
As she was finished eating, she wrote a letter and asked Roxy to deliver it to the duke.
Just then, she felt someone knocking in her window. And not much to her surprise, an all-familiar figure appeared. Duke Raziel is standing outside her window, looking all messy with the blood all over his clothes.
She smirked at him, “Wow, so nice of you to pay a visit…in that state.” She commented. Honestly, she kind of expected him to do this.
“I hate being covered with blood...it reminds me of that day...” He said and came inside her room and leaned into her. Lady Vinna let him stay like that for a minute and when he raised his head to continue, he caressed her cheeks.
“I finished off all possible enemies that would harm you so you could be with me now, Vienna.” He said, eyes burning passionately.