Chapter 9 "Deathflag or a Doomflag?"

"My lady! The Duke has been looking for you."

Mary is sweating profusely and tells me that she was almost caught wearing the Lady's outfit.

This news came crashing down on me when I finally returned safely.

"Why did my father request an audience with me?"

Im glad we didn't get caught this time.

"He said that he will meet you on his office." she seems a bit worried and I don't know why is that.

I signed. Perhaps I should face him. I really need one thing to be able to go to the Auction.

"Okay, Just doll me up and I will meet my father."

After few tweaks and turns. I am infront of his office.

The knights flung open the door for me, and I walked right in.

I'm not sure, but this is my first time in this place, and the thought that I'm in the Duke's office is suffocating me.

The butler guided me in one of the seats and I took a seat on the sofa, and the Duke fixed his gaze on me.

"Your maid informs me that you aren't doing so well these days." The butler propably told him that.

"Is there anything else you require, Yurianna?"

"If I'm being completely honest, I do require your assistance in answering my questions. Father."

He seemed to be taken aback. After her mother died, Yurianna never once mentioned the term "father."

"I'm listening so speak your mind."

"Why did you confined me to my room without me hearing a single word from outside the estate?"

"There are some that you mustn't know right now. Bear with this for a second Yurianna."

I signed in defeat, "So why did you call me here if you don't want to tell me what I want to know?"

The Duke nodded at the butler and opened the door. My eyes widened when the butler came in bringing the Knight in the story.

"Kylus Justine Cassadeus greets the Duke and the Lady of the Hazlett Duchy."

A gentle echo with a sense of weight. His voice does suit him very well!

If someone from my world is here as well even if they have to cling on their sleeves just to avoid being embarrassed like crazy.

No one told me that this Royal Knight is have an air around him that attracts the attention of others just because of his looks!

Oh dear God. My eyes is blessed.

It seems like Im forgetting my etiquette so as a noble lady and as a fangirl of this epitome of beauty. I did a simple greeting.

"Lady Yurianna, greets the Captain of the Royal Knights." He greeted me back and I was nearly jumped out of the room.

'such a cutie! Second male leads are the best!'

"It appears that you have some business with my daughter Sir Cassadeus." My father's voice is very firm while holding a letter with the imperial seal on it.

"Yes your grace, The Crown Prince ordered me to escort and protect the Lady."

I nearly spit the tea I was drinking when I heard him say that.

'Why would that bastard wants his personal royal guard to protect me? Is he insane?

Well, he really is insane.

"There has to be some misunderstanding Sir Knight," My voice raised a little as I speak.

" I asked the Crown Prince to break off our engagement weeks ago."

I looked at the Duke for Confirmation of my statement but he just breath a deep sigh.

Just What is happening in my life!

"As you are aware of this Yurianna, The Hazlett Duchy has always been a loyal supporter of the imperial family. The King himself gave permission to tie the knot with the Duchy by Marrying you into the Crown Prince."

'By severing the Engagement before the marriage of the bethroned is an act of disloyalty to the law of the Imperial Palace.'

I sipped my tea as my mind going in such a chaos. I know that but I thought that if I asked the crown prince to break the engagement.

Which I already did. He may be able to break it pretty clean cause first He has no Interest in me or whatsoever so that's the reason for breaking our engagement.

If he somewhat doesn't break the engagement. One thing is for sure. He is aiming for something or wants something from the Duchy to take interest in this engagement.

Just what is it!!? (Every atom on my Nervous System is working together to figure things out by making a diagram on my head.)

That's why he sent his loyal subject (pertaining to this epitome of beauty) down to my side just to spy on my back.

"I will be your escort and a personal Knight for the upcoming days."

'Jeez just stay forever and protect me from my doomflags Sir Knight!'

I just smile and answered. " Suit yourself Sir Knight and Please take care of me for the time being."

I leave the office and head straight to my bedroom where Mary is so shocked in my state.

I was so drained thinking what that Bastard (crown prince) was thinking.

I dismissed Mary and jumped in my bed due to the frustration that I am feeling.

-The Next Day-

"Are you going to escort me even when I'm inside the Estate?"

"Yes My lady."

The Knight. Kylus Justine Cassadeus, known for being such a loyal dog of the Crown Prince.

How loyal can this guy be?

KYLUS POV

I didn't expect that Prince Ivor wants me to spy on his fiance.

FLASHBACK.

~In the palace~

"Come now Kylus, Why are you so stiff? Loose a little bit. The chamberlain and maids were so frightened by your presence."

The crown prince were playing chess as I sat on the sofa

"Just get to the point Your highness."

"So direct to the point, Well I want you to watch someone in my stead."

"It's the first time that you want to watch someone rather than kill them your highness."

"It's no fun to crush them when I didn't know their hidden agenda behind my back..." he placed the horse where the king is cornered with no moves left.

"Checkmate... If there's anything that can be considered suspicious. Report to me urgently."

The Crown Prince people says that he is the ideal heir to the crown a wise ruler and gives mercy to those sinners that commits a crime.

But no, He is not only a wise ruler but a Genius who uses his wits to outcast his enemies and kills them when he needs to.

A strategist and a phantom of the night.

"And who do I place my suspicion on?"

"The Lady of the Hazzlet Duchy."

"Isn't she your fiance Your Highness?"

"Yes, She seems to be plotting something, She wants to break the engagement. Who knows if the other countries were reaching out to the Lady of the Wealthiest Family in the empire."

He starts to organize the chess pieces altogether.

"It can start a power imbalance to the country if that was the case."

END OF FLASHBACK.

~~~~~

A cunning and an evil woman. That was the rumours about her.

But I spent a day observing the lady and she seems like a normal noblewoman to me.

BLAG!

"I'm sorry! My lady!"

I was curious to see if she is truly a noblewoman the rumours were about.

And I guess I was right.

YURIANNA POV. (Before the Incident)

"Sir Knight-- or can I call you Sir Kylus?" I was asking this man what to call him. As much I like calling him sir Knight just to feel some novel vibes he doesn't seem to quite like it cause he keeps flinching or somewhat annoyed.

How can I tell? By his eyes ofcourse. Not a single reader will forgot how this Second lead express his emotions by his pair of jewel like blue eyes.

"You are free to call me Sir Kylus, Lady Hazzlet." He firmly said.

"So then, You should call me Yurianna too!" I smiled at him while keeping my laughter to myself.

He's so cute! He seems like a cute docile puppy and a moody type at that.

"Yes, Lady Yurianna."

I told mary to prepare some snacks and I will go to the main garden by the huge oak tree It becomes my hanging grounds when I want to think something and sent Mary to the Treasury since I need money to spend in the Auction for the following days.

"The Garden is well maintained."

"Yes, Thanks to our hardworking gardener this place is well maintained up until now."

"Is it special to you?"

"Kind off." If I was Yurianna she will definitely said that She hates this place the most where she can remember the past where their family is complete and happy.

We talked about lots of things and most of all I unintentionally gathered some information regarding why is he here and what is that bastard-- no crown prince is thinking about.

First he's here to escort me for today. (More on spying though) so in order to ruin his agenda a little I sent Mary to the Treasury where she can move freely. (I definitely need money right now.

Second for tomorrow he's not going to escort me cause of his Royal Knight duties and he will sent someone in his stead to be my temporary guard. (It's good so I can head to the Auction house and rescue the Forsaken Prince before the Festival.)

Third I guess he seems to believe the rumours about me cause everytime a servant approached me he will fix his gaze unto something but I know that he still listens in the conversation.

'Im just a good person here trying to survive!' I wanna scream this unto his face but nevermind.

Fourth the prince probably think that I'm scheming something to make a turmoil in the power balance in this empire.

Im am not a 'so called the business woman if it wasn't for my wits as a shark in the business world in my last life!'

The time went so fast and I can see Mary waving at me with a sign that I thought her if she was able to do her job perfectly.

Seems like everything is unto place.

So let the scheming arg no LET THE OPERATION BEGIN! (Rescuing the Prince without the Duke or Everyone finding out about it!)

TO BE CONTINUED~