"Was that at the ball? "

He wanted to confirm this hunch when Rachel disappears that night. He remembers how the duke looks at her intently while she was talking with her friends. The animals can smell their competition even if they hide it.

When she didn't come back in the parlor, he had a gut feeling when the duke's butler appeared and informed them that she already returns to her residence. It was a gut wrenching feeling that he ignored and will regret for the rest of his life.

Rachel nod and hung her head down to avoid his gaze.

"Do you have feelings for his majesty?

Rachel fell in silence and cannot answer his question. Simon took her silence as a yes. He felt his heart is being pierce and the pain is unbearable to think that he will lose her.

Without Rachel, there is no meaning in his life. She is the brightest color to his dull world.

Simon went on his knees and held back the tears that is about to fall on his face. He asks her in a trembling voice.

"Will you allow me to be your vassal, your majesty? I promise to be loyal and protect you".

He is willing to let go Rachel physically to the duke of Astrid only if he still has the opportunity to catch a glimpse of her face. He is willing to be hurt a million times as long as he can see her beautiful smile and laughter.

Rachel can't bear to see him in pain, she loves him like her own brother. Simon is proclaiming a knight's oath to her master, and she doesn't know if she can handle this burden.

"Simon my dear brother, please rise. I am not sure if I can do this, but I want you to be happy. I value greatly your concern and loyalty."

"Your majesty, you are the reason for my happiness. My intent is to see you safe and well. Please allow this humble subject to protect you".

In the end Rachel agreed to his plead. This is her weakness, saving her loved ones from their sufferings.

The shadow knights witness the plead of a young man to his unrequited love and they must report this incident to the duke. Interesting days are ahead of them, it's been a long time since the north has been idle.

'Indeed, there really is a beauty that can bring down an entire kingdom.'

***

The following day, Rachel is escorted by the duke's convoy to perform the mana rites ritual at the temple.

Upon her arrival, the Pope welcomed her warmly. The women priest assists her to perform the rites and her blood shone brightly in the stone of wisdom. It was a sight to behold.

Indeed, she is the descendant of the Goddess of Light Dragon, a magical being sent by the dragon god to cure the curse of the guardians of Kratoryah empire.

Following the rites, Rachel went to the Pope's office to discuss her transmigration.

"I thank the holy Pope for the arrangements of my mana rites ritual".

"It is an honor to assist the future duchess of Astrid and a gratitude to the Goddess of Light Dragon for bestowing her descendant".

"I have a question for the Pope if you don't mind".

The Pope smiled warmly and urge her to continue her question.

"Since the holy temple approved my blood rites, uhmm were you able to see the soul of this vessel?".

Rachel is taking a risk to ask the Pope because this is her only chance to go back from her world.

"My child, I can see the soul of your vessel. The mana that is flowing in that soul is pure and powerful".

Rachel took a deep breath and continued her question.

"This vessel took my soul. I came from another world".

"I can see that you are not from this world. The master wizard and I are searching for information from the ancient scriptures of your arrival."

"I want to be honest your Holiness. I would like to return from my world after I cure the curse of his majesty".

She looks at him earnestly and continue.

"Is there a possibility that my soul can go back?".

"Your case is the first that we encountered. For thousand of years, we have not received a prophecy of a soul traveler. Perhaps you are the first one".

The Pope opens a magic box and it shows a screen like hologram with an information of the creation of this world.

"A soul cannot go back to its vessel once it has departed. This is the law of creation. However, if your vessel from the world you live in has gone to a deep sleep, you may have the chance to go back".

Rachel understands the Pope's explanation. A deep sleep is like a coma from her world. Her vessel should be alive for her soul to come back.

"Then if my vessel is in a deep sleep, what should I do so I can return?".

The Pope is silent and looks at her intently. He doesn't want to give her a false hope but he's also curious of this soul traveler.

"You need a permission from the creators of this world. The blessings of the Goddess of Light Dragon and a sacrificial blood from the descendant of the God of Dark Dragon whom it happens to be the duke of Astrid".

Rachel would like to cry about the information she heard from the Pope. How in the world she can get the blessings of the Goddess of Light Dragon and the blood of the duke? Is this a joke?

"The Goddess of Light Dragon had stop giving her blessings to the empire hundreds of years ago. Paradoxically, if she sent you here to cure the guardian's curse, she can also send you back from where you came from, that is a theory only my lady".

"May I borrow the history books of the creators of this world?"

"The history book of creations has four volumes; the two volumes are kept here in the temple and the other two was given to the guardians of Astrid. I will ask the priestess to lend you the two volumes after your succession".

The temple guarded this book for thousands of years, only the family members of Astrid can have access to see the contents of this book. Her succession as the Duchess Astrid is a guarantee that the book will be returned to the temple.

"I would like give my deepest gratitude to his holiness".

"It is my blessing to serve the future duchess of Astrid".

After Rachel left in the Pope's office, he is in a deep thought. She may find success to get the blessing of the Goddess of Light Dragon, but the duke will be another matter.

The guardians of this world do not conform to the matters of the heavens. He clearly remembered that the duke's eyes sparkled when he was talking about the lady.

'Can she get out from the shackles of his desire?' The Pope felt a deep sympathy for the lady.

***

Rachel is a little bit depress of the information she obtained from the Pope. It is not so easy to return. She needs to work hard and hug the thigh of the final boss. Her ability to return depends on the duke, and in exchange for her body, she will try her hardest to lift his curse.

She would like to curse all the Gods of the universe, why they put her in this situation. 'It is so unfair! Have I committed sins in my previous lives for which I must atone with good deeds in this one?

Her only resolve is that once she cures the duke's curse, she can ask help from him, and she's so convinced that her idea will work.