Chapter 9

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I have to say, the duke's estate was huge. Sure, not huge as our castle but for a duke, it was. Anyone could get lost if they didn't at least have a guidance map. Now, the main question, what was I doing here???

Carlisa( mind you, Secretary Carlisa) and I came here to the duchy to deliver the invitations to the hunting competition. Usually, a messenger or knight does these kinds of work but when it came to the duchies of Arkcliff empire, officials deliver it themselves.

I tagged along with Carlisa leaving brother Lewis in the dust of misery. I only came here to get some fresh air and definitely not to check on Lady Rose.

Lets admit it! I did come to the Eskater duchy to see Lady Rose or more accurately to see her training. Is she better than me? Since the past week, I 've been imagining wielding a double edged sword and that thought quickly dissipates into an image of Lady Rose in my mind. Carlisa said that her mother would be at the estate, so she decided to come here herself while I put on my puppy eyes and begged her to let me follow. After all, isn't that what the younger brother does?

A butler about half a feet taller than me, bowed and replied that she would call Lady Ameece. Carlisa sat across the huge seat in the middle of the room the butler led us to and took out a small book from her side pocket.

Carlisa was quick and flexible in everything she did excluding cooking and painting. She also creates words when something happens to her. I don't even know how she gets them.

I'm pretty sure Brother Lewis fell for her personality. She looked up at me and tilted her head asking what was wrong. I shook my head and sat down in the opposite chair next to the long seat where Carlisa sat.

The door opened and Lady Ameece entered with Countess Floria following suit.

"Hello, your highness and Lady Carlisa. What brings you here today?"

"Yes, we came here to deliver the invitation for the hunting contest held next week. As usual, we await your presence." I replied in tune with Carlisa bobbing my head behind the two ladies for signs of Lady Rose.

Apparently, she hadn't come with them. Carlisa cleared her throat and nodded. She knew I'd always go to the knights training area when we arrive at the two duchies of the empire. But today, I'm itching for a solely different reason.

I dashed out of the room in a sensible way and made my way through the familiar corridors of the Eskater duchy. I continued walking and saw the dome of the knights quarters. A rough hand ruffled my hair.

"How you doing, squirt?" Robert, the younger twin of the Eskater twins asked. We used to train together and they always belittled me. The twins were 3 years older than me. Does that mean Lady Rose and I are the same age?! I did not know that!

Robert ruffled my hair a little more violently.

"I'm fifteen now!" I yelled. (That line did not improve my fifteen mature image but you can't blame me for being a little stubborn.)

"Says the guy who threw a tantrum to avoid the succession to throne!" Robert countered back.

Though I hate to admit it, I really did go on a strike when dad asked if I wanted to be the next emperor. I was seven and even I could understand that I would have to fight brother Lewis. So guess my reaction? I threw the most embarrassing tantrum in the middle of the night saying that I had no intention to be an emperor with wholesome tears!

Mum hugged me then and calmed me down and the next morning we all laughed at my behavior. During the following days, I even did extra research and requested my dad to hand me the position of archduke. (That should counteract my previous immature actions and Dad smiled at me and officially shook my hand. You have no idea how that made a seven old year like me feel! )

Most of the people who knew me called me gentle but I was a machine in the match. I even had beat my brother once but we kept that to ourselves for the sake of our reputations. (Am I proud? Yes. Am I arrogant? A little bit but I try me best not to show it)

"Are you running towards the training grounds?" Robert asked.

" Yes, you?" I asked a little too eager.

" Then lets go!" He exclaimed as a reply to my question.

The training grounds had been renewed. The blue flags had been replaced by new flags and everyone was concentrating on their training. The knights were playing a one on one duel. I watched with half-interest as half of my brain was focused on spotting Rose.

Most of the knights had silly mistakes. As a new recruit kept his foot wrong, I stepped in the court to adjust it when a sturdy silhouette flashed through the left side of my eye. Rose was hiking up a cliff behind the grounds. If she is supposed to be training, what is she doing climbing a cliff?

"Oh, there's miss Rose. Miss Rose!!!" A knight called out. Lady Rose turned her head at the sound and smiled at the knights sitting down on a bench and waved at them. The knights stood and saluted her, cheekily.

"There goes our Miss Rose!" The knights kept calling with awe at her.

"What happened here?" I asked, curiously.

"Oh, Sir Alvin, Miss Rose requested a duel with Oliver and she beat him in less than a minute. I don't know how she learned to wield a sword but she was so awesome. Poor Oliver, he was wrapped in bandages for three days!" A young knight answered. Oliver was one of the fittest knights of the order and if Lady Rose defeated him, she could be higher in level than that of a Dame!

"She even checked on his health when we met her again. It was actually our fault, since we disrespected her and we deserved it." A older knight replied with a frowned face.

I turned to look at Lady Rose. She had already walked off but what hit me was seeing Carlisa follow Lady Rose. Her yellow cape which represents the crown prince's authority was no mistake.

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Since my duel with the knights, most of the knights started to greet me and salute whenever they meet me. I always did an internal dance after the encounter. I was walking along the path I used to take for about two weeks now, when a group of knights called out to me. I waved as usual and my gaze drifted to an unknown figure.

The second prince was at the estate! Why in the world is this guy turning up everywhere? First, at the weapon shop and now at my home. I don't even get why I'm so agitated because of this guy! Nervous system, calm down! Follow my orders and legs start walking!

I started to take longer strides towards my usual training spot. I felt a gnawing sensation from behind and it kept nagging my mind till a dagger swooped at me from behind. I dodged it in time and came face to face with my new enemy.

"What the hell are you planning?" A lady with a yellow cape asked.

"Secretary Carlisa, am I right?" I asked without a hinge of fear.

"Answer my question!" she seethed. Wow, she's got an amazing temper! Then again, it's normal for anyone to not like Rose but the problem was that she or I hadn't done anything regretful yet.

"You should ask your question clearly without breathing fire through your nose for me to understand." I countered back.

"What are you planning now? Why did you ask for an annulment? What are you trying to do to the Prince?" She yelled with a scrunched face. So, she is head over heels for the prince and vice-versa but why was she attacking me? There is no reason for her to come at my head.

"What would I be planning, I asked for an annulment. You of all, should be celebrating, don't you think?" I asked with a knowing smirk. Her face turned a light shade of red at that.

"You can't fool me, you are the villain and you will always be. Shit! I don't care if I die but you can't try anything till I do." she murmured only letting the last three words come out in a scream. Hold up! What?! She said shit! The novel didn't have a single swear word, I swear!

"Hold up, did you just say shit???" I asked in amazement and her eyes went up to the sky, realizing. I started laughing. I first realized that this world had no idea about swearing when I had cursed a broccoli that got stuck in between my two front teeth and Catelin had no idea about it. She even said 'Pardon?' at that.

"You...you. Are you a reincarnater?" She asked hesitantly and I nodded my head while trying to stabilize my un-lady-like laugh. In my previous life, I never even had the time to laugh at something so hard like this.

"So, you were annulling your engagement to escape the execution huh?" She asked.

"Yeah and a piece of advice, go for it! The dude is totally smitten for you!" She blushed and it was really cute. I could see why he fell for her.

"Nah, the guy will get Lily and well I'd probably die soon." She replied with a melancholic laugh. So, I was right!

"But, why did you or well 'Carlisa' die?" She looked at me like I just told her that the Earth was flat.

"Are you serious?" She asked me and I nodded.

"You skipped the Preface huh???" She crossed her hands and belittled me. Sadly she was right! I did skip it! * hehe*

"For very good reasons---" She didn't let me finish.

"What were they? Hmm I'm all ears!" She purred like a Cheshire cat.

"I was working overtime, ok. The manager was all over us when I first started to pick it up...Why the hell am I even explaining it to you?!" I asked when it had hit me right on the nose.

"It sure feels good to have someone on the same wavelength. I'm Carlisa...no...Jia"

Hallo! You know who this is!

Is this the start of new friendship? What do you all think? Leave your thoughts in the comments and leave a vote. Thank you for reading!!!