15 Accept

Nia hid behind a wide pillar.

She was waiting for Duke Felix to come. It was their usual meeting place. A place that was surrounded by huge bushes and wide stone walls.

It was an abandoned place that Nia had found by mistake and since then it had become their meeting place. She closed her eyes as she took some deep breaths. All the happenings from the morning were playing in front of her eyes. The mere thought of it was frightening to Nia.

For once she blamed the Duke for bringing up the topic in front of everyone. It was something between them and she could have asked the Princess herself but why would the Duke come and ruin it?

"Are you thinking about me?" A deep voice frightened Nia as her eyes widened. She looked back as she swallowed hard. The man she was thinking about stood behind her. His deep eyes looked down at her with a smile.

"Duke …" Nia managed to say as she bit her lips. Many things were running through her mind. She was even confused but she still managed to control her heart.

She told herself again and again that she was feeling so fluttered because Duke Felix was near her. He was too close.

Duke Felix smiled as he touched Nia's hair but before he could move further, she moved a little back. The lady that was so close to being in his arms was now at a distance.

"I have something to tell you." Nia smiled as she said softly, her eyes were looking at the Duke.

Duke Felix was confused as he nodded his head. He did not know what was troubling Nia, but he knew there was something. Nia had never behaved in such a way before. "What do you want to tell me?" Duke Felix came a step forward as he touched Nia's face, "Did Princess Eleanor accept the offer?"

Nia's face hardened. She did not know how Duke Felix could be so relaxed. He should be the one who should have known it all.

Nia found it a little weird. How can Duke Felix say those words in front of the people of the Roulux Empire? There were consequences for this.

After Princess Eleanor had explained it, Nia understood that there was a fine line that she should not have ever crossed but why would Duke Felix not understand such a simple thing?

Nia decided to leave everything behind as she closed her eyes. She knew that all those were useless thoughts and Nia should not be focused on them for the time being. Nia had other things to clarify for now. She looked straight at Duke Felix.

"The princess did not agree, but we got a new offer that might be helpful to us?" Nia said she saw the change in Duke Felix's expression.

It felt as if Duke Felix was shocked that Princess Eleanor did not agree. Nia understood why Duke Felix felt so disappointed.

Duke Felix and Princess Eleanor have been friends for many years and the bond between them and the family has always been strong.

Princess Eleanor has hardly rejected any of the things that Duke Felix's said but today she completely disregarded his words. Although Nia knew why Princess Eleanor rejected, it was still hard for her to see the dejected face of her lover.

"Sir Kit is the one that will be escorting Princess Eleanor to the Empire. He had offered to help." Nia looked at Duke Felix as she continued, "He had offered to let us use his name instead of Princess Eleanor. We could write to each other under Sir Kit's name but we have to keep Princess Eleanor's name away."

Duke Felix raised his eyebrows. The corner of his eyes tightened. It was clear that he was not happy with what he was hearing. "Sir Kit offered to help with what condition?"

Duke Felix was an intelligent man. He knew that nothing in this world was free, there were always some hidden conditions when someone helped selflessly.

"What is the condition?" Duke Felix asked again as he looked at Nia.

Nia was silent as she swallowed hard. She shook her head as she looked at the Duke. "It was something between Sir Kit and Princess Eleanor. I was asked to stay away for the time being."

Duke Felix was silent but his eyes were filled with emptiness. He knew that there might be something that Princess Eleanor had to agree to, otherwise who in their right sense of mind would give permission to use their own name to write letters between two lovers, especially when it was between an Empire and Kingdom.

Although the Kingdom was ready to send their Princesses to the Empire everyone knew that the tension was always there. Although the Empire ruled every Kingdom there was always a possibility of Kingdoms rebelling against them. That's why the Emperor did everything in his power to destroy the rebels.

Duke Felix knew that Princess Eleanor's father, the former King, was about to rebel as well but before he had a chance, he was killed. Even though the killers were not found, assumptions were going on in the upper circle that it was a conspiracy by the current King of the Avington Kingdom.

"What do you think?" Duke Felix asked Nia who was staring at him for a long time. Although the Duke didn't need to ask such a question, he wanted to know Nia's opinion.

Nia's eyes were on Duke Felix, staring at him with an unexpected reaction.

Nia knew that Duke Felix was in a very high position to be asking such a question.

Nia's mind went back to the time when Princess Eleanor said to her, "Think before you act?"

Those words were filled with many meanings. If Nia's assumptions were correct the Princess has already accepted the condition. If she did not accept the generous offer she would have no way to communicate with the Duke.

Princess Eleanor sighed, "We cannot put Princess Eleanor's reputation in danger anymore. She has sacrificed a lot for us?"

Princess Macy's angry face was still fresh in Nia's mind. The misunderstanding surrounding the Princess and Duke Felix was huge. Nia felt guilty for putting Princess Eleanor in such a position so she decided that it would be better if she does not involve Princess Eleanor in her love affair anymore.

Nia's tone was filled with determination, "Let's take up on the offer."