We're in the carriage, and Regan is still staring at me though I did my best to avoid his eyes. He's getting in my nerves...

"Wife? Why're you sulking?" He asked in the midst of silence.

"Sulking? What are you talking about?"

"Is it about the shawl?"

"What's about the shawl? It's just a shawl, nothing to sulk about it."

"*Sigh* I just fear that you'll get cold."

I looked at him, when his eyes met mine, I immediately rolled my eyes. Suddenly he crouch before sitting beside me.

"You're extremely stunning wife."

I looked at him "Really?"

He immediately laughed, it feels like I have been baited for some reason.

"I knew that this is all about that!" He's still laughing.

As of this moment I want to put a duct tape on his mouth and throw him out of the carriage.

"My wife, don't be mad if I don't often say that you're beautiful--"

"You never said that I'm beautiful to begin with." He giggled, I grabbed his hair and gently shook it.

"Ahh! My hair! When I put a lot of effort to style it..."

It made me giggle and look at his hair. His long bangs were slicked back a few moments ago but now there's a few of his hair that's starting to stand out.

"Haha."

I made him face me and I combed his hair using my fingers, though it can't be the slicked back hair that he has earlier, but slicked back hair with few loose hair on his face looks hot on him.

"You don't look bad yourself huh?" I tease which he just chuckled on.

"Okay! Starting from now on, I will never forget to tell you that you are the most beautiful lady that my eyes had laid on."

Tss

"A playboy line, just come back again when you agree to be blindfolded all your life."

"Why? What's the blindfold for?"

I smiled "So you won't be able to look at any lady."

"Hmm okay, sure, when will it start?"

"What?? Then what about your Duties as a Duke?"

"Oh? That? Well... I can't let Zehin read out the documents for me since there are things that is confidential... So as my wife, I allow you to help me."

I shook my head.

"I don't actually care if I'm the most beautiful woman in your eyes afterall."

He just laughed and cuddled with me. Soon after the coachman informed us that we have arrived in the Imperial palace.

Carriages after carriages were lined up through the Palace gates. Though I am quite fascinated of the fact that those carriages cleared the path for our carriage to pass through.

"Eh? Isn't this kind of abusing power?" I murmured.

"Oh my wife it's not." He said as he grope my waist.

The carriage halted, it was Regan who came out first before extending both of his hand to me.

"Come on, you can do it."

God! He looks like he's talking to a baby who's just beginning to learn how to walk!

I groaned but took both of his hands in mine. Carefully, I descended down the carriage, safely.

"We're finally here."

The Imperial Palace walls were elegantly painted in white, red and black colours. Though I still like the colour of my Dukedom.

Yes, favoritism...

We arrived in front of the door connected to the ballroom of the Palace, there are two men who checks the invitation and they would announce the arrival of the people who were invited.

"Are you both ready Your Graces?" One of the man asked. Regan looked at me, he's eyes asking if I am ready. I just smiled and nodded.

"Go ahead."

The man cleared his throat.

"Duke Regan Alistair Bizeviron and Duchess Cressida Ophelia Bizeviron from the _____ is making their entrance!"

*I'm sorry, I forgot where they're from*

The large white doors with stripes of three colors adorned on the door opened.

When it's fully opened, my eyes are now staring at the large room full of people. This is the room that I remembered from one of the memories I retrieved.

I clearly remember how the past Cressida danced in the center with men that I don't know of.

"Are you okay?" I glanced up to Regan before nodding at him.

"The palace have lots of rooms that we can use. So don't hesitate to call me if you are tired and want to rest."

Just being around with these people makes me tired to the bone already...

"Hm I get it."

I'm beside Regan while he's having a conversation with the other nobles. After a few minutes, I felt my legs trembling.

"Regan, my legs are giving up." I murmured to his ears. He got it and he carried me to the side without even saying goodbyes to those men.

I'm wearing a flat shoes today for hopes that I won't get tired easily from standing, but no luck.

"Do you want to rest?"

"But we just got here, the Emperor and Empress has yet to make their entrance..."

He sighed before clicking his tongue.

"Damn them..." He murmured to himself, but I couldn't hear it clearly.

"Then can you wait for a little bit? When they make their appearance, we'll just greet them and then get home."

"Yeah, sounds good to me."

His face draw nearer to mine, I instantly closed my eyes.

*Bonk*

I opened my eyes but his eyes are closed. His forehead is touching mine.

"I'll deal with something, I'll leave you for a while, I'll also get Percival and Johan for you." I nodded.

His face inched backwards before planting a long kiss on my forehead.

"Then I'll be back beautiful."

I just looked at his retreating back from the sofa that I'm sitting on. My place is located to the very side of the room and I am sure it should be unnoticeable.

But the other noble's eyes are digging a whole on my very being.

Oh, I'm uncomfortable...

"And I'm bored too..."

There is foods on the other side of the hall, but I don't have the strength to walk all the way there. Nobles are scattered all around and who knows who might bump into me.

"If it isn't the Duchess..."

A soft voice called.

I look up only to see Czarina Burks, behind her are some ladies. I see that she made some friends huh?

"Would you like to join us over there with the other ladies?" She asked and pointed at the table where other nobles wives and ladies talks with each other.

"Hmm I must refuse, you see that I am not really in the mood to talk because of my condition, right now, I am waiting for my escort."

"The Duke?"

"No, the Duchy's Knight."

"Oh."

For some reason I feel out of breath when this woman arrived, there's also a strange smell coming from her that makes me dizzy.

"Madame?"

Sir Percival, the leader of the Duchy's knights finally arrived.

"Just about time, can you please take me to a nearby room that I could occupy to rest?"

He smiled and nodded before giving me his hand and he escorted me away from Czarina. Even though my back in facing her, I could still feel her intense eyes drilling a hole at the back of my head.

"Madame are you alright? You're breathing is erratic, does the ladies you're with bothered you?"

"No, it's fine. It's just I caught an uncomfortable smell."

That's right, it's really a strange smell... The moment I smelled it, my stomach is starting to feel uncomfortable for some reason...

"M-Madame!!"

Suddenly, Percival offered me a handkerchief. I was confused at first, when suddenly, I felt something wet dropped on top of my chest.

I touched where it was end saw blood.

"Madame, your nose is bleeding! If you're not feeling well, we could go back in the Duchy!"

Pressing the handkerchief on my nose, I shook my head at him.

"I'll wait for my husband..."

I feel unsafe if I'm not with Regan. Looking weakly at Percival, it seems like he agreed with my decision aswell.

We started walking to the 3rd room from the center, Percival said that it is a room exclusively for the Imperial Family's relatives. As the wife of the Empress' nephew, I have this kind of privilege.

"M-Madame!" A voice not far from us echoed through the hallways. I turn around and it's Czarina again.

She hurriedly ran towards me and suddenly she held my hands.

There it is again, that smell...

"Let us hurry inside so you could take a rest!"

Since she was holding my hand, she also went inside the room. She prepared everything for me. She arranged the chairs, closed the big windows. She's doing something that doesn't fit her right at this moment.

"Sir knight, would you leave us for a moment?"

I just stared at her and then at sir Percival.

"I don't take orders from anyone except the Duke. But if the Madame wishes it, I will." He looked at me.

I can't be alone with this woman. She might've held a grudge against me because I poured tea on top of her. Who knows what she can do to a pregnant woman like me?

"Sir Percival will stay as for what my husband had ordered him."

I can see her secretly gritting her teeth, but she instantly got better and smiled at me.

"I see, the Duke must've love you so dearly." I smirked and smiled back at her.

"Oh yes, you don't know how caring my husband is..."

And you won't ever know either...

Her smile turned into a crooked one. Her eyes became dark as she smiled at me. Since Sir Percival is right behind her, he can't see the wicked expression on her face.

"Hmm yes..."

I noticed that she rummage something from the pocket of her dress before standing up.

"Well then, I must go now to the other ladies, but before that, I must go to the nearest wash area. Then if you may excuse me..."

Before she can turn away from her she grinned at me and started working. Behind me is the door to go outside of my room. As she passed by me, something like a glass shattered.

"Oh my! My perfume! I must go and see a maid to clean it!" She immediately went out.

The strong scent of the perfume filled the whole room. Slowly it made my feet numb and I started to feel pain from my stomach.

"Ughh Blargh"

The handkerchief that I borrowed from Sir Percival is now soaked with blood...

"M-Madame!!"

Unedited

July 26, 2022

LizzannaWrites