"Viscountess, I believe you are going in the wrong direction". The woman was about to approach the Duchess when Sir William interrupted her.

"Sir William, it has been a while. Do you know where his Majesty is? He told me to wait for him until he came back, but I haven't heard anything until now."

"I'm not in the position to tell his Majesty's whereabouts. What does it have to do with the Duchess?". William's voice sounds irritated throughout. He won't put up with her desperate attempts to upset the Duchess.

"Please let me speak to the Duchess Sir William. She has to know my existence". Olga made the bold decision to act now for she won't get another chance because the Duchess is closely guarded by the Duke's people.

"Under whose authority did you decide to be so bold? Did the Duke approve of this?". William will not hesitate to snap her neck if she will continue her impudence.

Olga was about to say something when they heard a footstep nearby.

"William, please leave us". Rachel came close and interrupted their conversation.

"My apologies your Majesty, but I'm not allowed to do that". William stands on his ground as her knight.

"As the Duchess of Astrid, I commanded you to leave". Rachel used her authority to dispel Sir William.

Sir William resigned in reluctance and followed the Duchess order since she exercised her power over him. The shadow guards and her head lady in waiting were all exchanging troubled expression before they finally left.

"Shall we move to the garden?". The Duchess glance at her shortly and lead the way.

Olga followed behind and observed the Duchess. She thinks that her visage is fragile, a weak body that requires meticulous maintenance. Although she posses the most beautiful face in the empire, her body is not to Sebastian's standard. Sebastian's bed partners are mostly curvy with strong physique. She is skeptical of the method she used to seduce Sebastian into marriage because she was aware that the Duke had a soft spot for the southern crown princess, the cousin of the Duchess.

When she saw the newsprint of their engagement, she couldn't believe it. Her infamous scandal in the south and crime for poisoning her cousin made her the least candidate for the Duke's companion. So, she wanted to witness the lies behind all the commotion in the north and watched the couple in the balcony greetings. Her heart was torn into pieces when she saw how the Duke looks at Rachel as if she is a delicate treasure. He seemed to be enamored with her and Rachel is oblivious of his feelings.

She wondered why the Duke did not pay her a visit on his return from the war. So, this person is the culprit. Sebastian has a madness in his blood and has a strong sexual appetite. She was his favorite bed partner out of the three because she let him indulge in his bizarre sexual perversion and liked the way the Duke treated her in such manner.

Looking at the Duchess countenance, she highly doubt if she can withstand his endless sexual perversion. Can she last longer? Olga sneered menacingly, hoping once more to catch Sebastian's interest sooner than she had expected.

They finally arrived in the garden. Rachel turns to face Olga with a calm demeanor. "What is it that you want to talk about. Speak freely".

Olga changed her demeanor into a pitiful character. "Your Majesty, I just want you to know my existence. I was the Duke's bed partner prior to your marriage". She shyly said the last sentence to see her reaction.

"Viscountess, I have nothing to do with my husband's previous affair. I shouldn't have agreed to be his wife and the matriarch of this kingdom if I have to worry constantly about his past relationships". Rachel grinned pleasantly as if to brush off her feigned concern.

Olga is surprised with the Duchess response. She thought that she will lash out and use her authority to subdue her. The person in front of her exudes confidence and power. Her frail look is just a façade but in reality, she has sharp tongue.

"Then your Majesty, please pardon my impudence if I speak with my mind. Will you let me live if the Duke decided to keep me as his mistress?". Olga wanted to poke her patience if she can still maintain that calm demeanor. She hated that beautiful face who seem to look down on her.

Rachel laughed in sarcasm. 'Do you want to play this game? I have met worst bitches in my previous world'.

"Oh my! are you asking the wife, of the most powerful man in the empire, to consent her husband having a vulgar affair?". Rachel responded by asking the same question.

"Say, what is the punishment under the law of the empire for those who covet another person's husband?". She finishes it by putting her in her place.

"Your Majesty, please pardon this mere subject. It is not my intention to covet his Majesty. I honor the Duke and Duchess of Astrid's sacred marriage."

Olga shook violently and bowed her head in submission to the Duchess' authority. She clenches her fist to contain her anger at having lost in this confrontation.

"Rise. I'll make sure to inform my husband of your existence. You may leave."

"Thank you for your benevolence your Majesty". The Viscountess hastily left that she bumped the incoming head lady in waiting.

Rachel hangs down her shivering body into the nearby chair after the Viscountess departed. She then grabs for her heart and starts to sob while covering her mouth, so she doesn't make a sound.

Sir William and Anne were about to approach the Duchess out of their intense worry when Rachel made a stop hand gesture for them to back off.

Author's note: Hail to the queen mother of the north for not backing down to annoying bitches. 💁‍♀️👸