38 A DISH BEST SERVED COLD (1)

ISAAK realized that he had been awake for more than 24 hours now.

He was fine with it, but he was worried about Zoe.

Since they had different destinations, they had to part ways at Yosef's temple. He sent Zoe to the carriage that would lead her back to the Royal Capital. She looked tired, so he told her to sleep on the carriage since it would take two hours before she reached her destination. But he knew that sleeping in the carriage would be uncomfortable.

[This is all because of Nigel Ratliff… that bastard.]

"Welcome back, Your Grace."

He ignored the servants that greeted him outside the main building of his grand mansion. It was better to ignore the servants instead of lashing out at them just because he was in a bad mood.

"Sir Uncle!"

Princess Runa's cheerful voice snapped him back to reality.

And when he saw the princess smiling brightly at him, his fatigue disappeared. He was delighted to see his niece in pretty clothes. Her hair was also tied neatly today, as opposed to her usually unruly tresses. Moreover, compared to when she first arrived, her skin looked better now.

"Welcome back, my lord," Scarlet (the mage) and Briella (the vice-captain of his knights) greeted him respectfully.

It was also good to see two of the most competent people in his estate serve as Princess Runa's guards.

He nodded at Scarlet and Briella's greeting before he dismissed the two.

Isaak got down on one knee to reach Princess Runa's eye level after only the two of them were left in the room. "I have returned with a piece of good news, Princess Runa," he informed her politely. "I am now married to Lady Zoe and therefore, we can finally adopt you legally."

Seeing that Tori hadn't returned to the estate yet, his cousin might still be working on the adoption papers. Yosef acted lazy most of the time, but the High Priest was quick with important matters.

[Yosef must have already sent the wedding certificate to Tori.]

"You married Lady Zoe, Sir Uncle?"

"Yes, I did," he said. He thought Princess Runa would be happy, so he got worried when he saw her frown. "Do you not like Lady Zoe anymore, Princess Runa?"

"I still like her and I'm happy that she's now my mommy!" the princess declared with a determined look on her face. Then her gaze fell on his left hand. "But Sir Uncle, why are you not wearing a wedding ring?" She raised her head to look at him with curious eyes. "Did you not give Lady Zoe a wedding ring?"

He flinched.

Both he and Zoe lost the "ribbon rings" that they tied to each other's ring fingers after Yosef poured holy water on them.

But the ugly truth that he forgot to prepare wedding rings remained.

[Forget about wedding rings– I didn't even give Zoe an engagement ring.]

"Sir Uncle, even if you only marry Lady Zoe to adopt me, you have to treat her kindly," Princess Runa scolded him lightly. "I don't want my mommy to hate living with us."

"I'm sorry, I'm still lacking as a husband, but I will do my best to make it up to Zoe later," he said. "We will choose a proper pair of wedding rings once everything is settled."

The princess smiled and nodded. "Sir Uncle, when will Lady Zoe come home?"

"Zoe is a little busy for now, but she might be able to come here this week," he said. "Are you excited about meeting her?"

Princess Runa's face lit up. "I am very excited, Sir Uncle!"

He was glad to see the princess being cheerful these days.

[She really seems to like Zoe.]

"Princess Runa, I'm sorry, but I need to leave the estate again."

"Are you going to pick Lady Zoe up?" the princess asked with a hopeful look on her face.

"Yes, but before that…" He took a deep breath. "I need to meet my father-in-law first."

Princess Runa cutely tilted her head to one side. "What does "father-in-law" mean, Sir Uncle?"

"My father-in-law is Zoe's father," Isaak explained gently. "And he's also your grandfather now, Princess Runa."

***

"MY LORD, Grand Duke Viotto is on his way to our estate now."

The pen in Hendrix Rochester's hand snapped after hearing Secretary Anderson's report. "Is that so?"

He may appear calm on the outside, but deep inside, he was seething.

His closest aide, Anderson, confessed that he sent Zoe a report about Count Nigel Ratliff's marriage proposal. His aide also informed his daughter that the count threatened to bring him to a noble trial that may result in the count demanding for their Dragon Lair as compensation.

He scolded Anderson, but he knew that his aide only did it for the sake of his family. Zoe, as his successor, had the right to know everything, especially since she was the one the count had proposed to.

[Zoe… you didn't have to worry about that.]

But his daughter was indeed stubborn.

Last night, Zoe's attendant named Dal, returned to the mansion and informed him that his daughter entered a contractual marriage with Grand Duke Isaak Viotto.

His daughter also sent him a letter.

<"Father, don't worry too much. Isaak is a good person, and the best ally we could use to protect our family from the red fox. Please have faith in me.">

That was the content of Zoe's letter.

[The "red fox" that she mentioned must be Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Veronica. It seems like my daughter is aware of who the real enemy is. Perhaps, the Grand Duke feeds my daughter with useless political agendas…]

What was the Grand Duke thinking, anyway?

"My lord, this is impudent of me to say, but I believe that Lady Zoe has made the right decision," Anderson said carefully. "The only way to disobey a request from a member of the royal family without hurting our family is to use another royal. Lady Zoe's marriage with Grand Duke Viotto will protect us from the count and Her Majesty's scheme."

"I know that," he admitted bitterly. "But that doesn't mean I have to like the Grand Duke as my son-in-law." His jaw clenched in annoyance. "How dare he seduce my little princess?"

"My lord, it seems like it's the other way around."

He glared at his aide.

Anderson cleverly bowed his head to avoid his gaze. "I will prepare for the Grand Duke's visit now, my lord."

[Tsk.]

"Don't serve him anything expensive," Hendrix Rochester said sternly. "I don't care even if I become a poor host--- just don't treat the grand duke like an esteemed guest that he wasn't."

***

ZOE felt refreshed after getting three hours of sleep.

Isaak sent her to the Royal Capital instead of the Rochester Mansion. In the capital, Dan waited for her. After that, they booked a room in the hotel owned by her father. Since she was tired, she rested for a bit before she prepared for her dinner date.

And now, she was dressed to kill.

She was glad that Dan found a simple yet striking red dress for her in a famous boutique in the capital.

"Dal."

"Yes, my lady?" Dal asked while she was busy tying her hair in a braided bun. "You may ask me anything."

"I can't kill Count Ratliff, can I?" Zoe asked playfully. "I mean, I know that I don't have the strength to do so."

"I believe you can get away with hurting the count as long as you don't kill him, my lady," her attendant said casually, as if they weren't talking about harming a member of the royal family.

[But this is what I like about Dal.]

"Then, Dal…"

"Yes, my lady?"

Zoe looked up at Dal and smiled brightly at her. "Will I be fine if I cut off Nigel Ratliff's penis?"

***

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