CHAPTER 24
• Ziana Una POV
I am in the royal palace right now. I’m currently waiting for the crown prince for his arrival. There are bandits on the east that he had taken care of. And I, a beautiful girl and had a very good charm waiting for his highness return. I bet he's going to be happy seeing me as I'm sure in not time, he will fall for me.
When, my father the marquis, told me that his highness is done eliminating bandits that harming and residing in our borderlands and that he will go home very soon. That soon, is today. I’ll make sure I’m the first one to congratulate him.
I gazed at the window whether he has arrived or not. I keep dreaming about my coronation day and that queen's crown is mine. I’ll be the empress of this country. I had the feeling that it belonged to me. I just need to get his highness attention.
I heard a neigh outside, which means there’s a carriage that has stopped in the entrance. When I saw who it was. It was the royal carriage but, to my dismay. His highness is nowhere. The people riding there goes out one by one. I raised my eyebrow when i didn't see his highness.
“Where is he?”
“Milady, it seems his highness isn’t arrived yet”
“Are you dumb? I saw that carriage with my two eyes”
“I’m sorry. Milady”
“How did you ended up my personal attendant when you can’t even use your senses”
“Forgive me, milady” she bowed to me to the point her face is on the floor. She should be sorry for her dumbness.
I clicked my tongue. I used any means to climb to the top, to be a worthy woman of his highness. Without a position, I’m no one. They will not nominate me as the future empress, if I’m still stuck living in the mud. There’s a knock on the door and I let it be, I didn’t bother to response who is it because I know those are the servants telling me, his highness isn't arrived yet and they want me to go home.
I glanced who is it, and it was a butler.
“I’m very sorry, milady. His highness wants to relay a message. The first prince won’t be home for a couple of days. After fixing the conflict to the East, he’s going faraway island to make an expedition. The Emperor agreed to this. So, we don’t know how long will he go back to the capital. As a token of apology, his highness wants you to give this”
He opened the box in his hand. It was a diamond necklace that’s very expensive. It’s the latest design too. My? What a gesture! If the first prince don’t love me then why give me such luxurious things. He puts down the box on the table and walks away.
It's really easy capturing his heart. In no time, I’ll be the future empress. I’ll live a luxurious life. I can’t wait for that moment.
I grabbed the box and hurried home. I will boast this to the other noble ladies, I’m sure they will be jealous of me.
As soon as I entered. I saw how panic the Marquis is.
“What’s going on?”
“The first prince step down as the crown prince. He won’t accept the crown. He gave it to his second brother"
“W.. what? And why did you allow that? Why didn’t you stop that from happening? You’re supposed to be there. How useless are you!”
“Don’t talk to me like that! An imbecile like you doesn’t have the rights to say that to me!”
“Oh my? It’s as if you’re very innocent too”
“It’s your fault that I didn’t attend the noble assembly last week"
“Why put the blame on me?”
“I’ve been cleaning up your mess, you didn’t know what you did, don’t you?”
“Why is the first prince stepping down the throne?”
“That, I don’t know. They never said a word about that. It’s just that the Emperor’s decision changed”
“What? Then, what about our plan?”
“Seduce the second prince for all I care, I’m never part of your childish plan in the first place. You’re on your own now”
“You must find out, what is it that made the first prince step down the throne”
“Don’t command me like that! If you keep spouting nonsense and didn’t do the part of your deal. I’m not going to help you anymore and I’ll strip your title as my daughter. Remember that, woman!”
He walks away. I clicked my tongue in annoyance. I drag my feet to my room to free my anger. I throw the vases, I kick all the things I’ll saw. I shrieked in anger. Darn it! Why is this happening? And here, I thought that everything’s going so well. I used my charms and find out so many ways to grab his attention and heart. This is what happened! I need to find the first prince. I need him to go back as the crown prince. I need to convince him.
“Clean all of this!”
I shouted the attendant who was there at the corner. My room is very messy, there’s a broken glasses everywhere and my things were scattered all around. I wanted to punch someone badly.
“I need to find that first prince as soon as possible before I’m too late”
I grabbed my robe so that no one will recognize me and to disguise myself. I need to visit that slumps again.
I walked on the alleyways. I am on my way to the black guild. I know they can provide me some information.
I entered a normal shop but, inside on the underground, that’s where they are.
I knocked to the door three times. When it opened I entered it hurriedly. I saw lots of men in black.
“Where is your, boss?”
“I’m here. What’s a young lady, doing here?”
“I need you to do something”
“We don’t accept any request coming from a young lady”
I put a small bag full of silver coins on their table. He immediately grabbed it.
“That’s what were talking about. Now? What would you like us to do?”
“I want you to give me the exact location where’s the first prince. Right now”
“Hmmm.. on five days, I’ll deliver a letter telling you where he is”
“Three days”
“This is not enough”
I throw again a small bag full of silver coins. He immediately counted it.
“Okay, young Lady Leabeth. Expect us to deliver a letter in three days”
“Good”
“Boss, who is she?”
“Our loyal client, and a stalking lady”
Before, I opened the door to go out. I heard them mocking and laughing at me. Whatever, you’ll be no one when I’ll became the Empress. All of you will just lick my shoe when I'm sitting the throne. I smirk as i thought about that.
I snob everyone that’s staring at me. I don’t like staying in this slum. It’s very dirty and disgusting. A lady like me doesn’t belong here.
As I on my way to the main street when, somebody grabbed my shoulders. I turned around to know who dared to do such thing as touching me.
“W..what are you doing?”
“Don’t you remember me, Una?”
“Don’t call me that, I’m no longer one of you”
I know this guy. He’s my childhood friend living on the slums. He gives me a sad look. I cut ties of these guys. How did he found out I'm going there?
“You’ve changed”
“Yes, I am. I am a Leabeth, a daughter of the Marquis. So, I don’t have any strings attached from you”
“Una, please tell me the truth. Are you pregnant?”
“What? And what made you think that? If I’m pregnant, it would be the first prince child”
“That night…”
“What? Don’t you ever dare tell anyone or even a single person out there. I’ll make sure you’re going to jail if you do so”
I brushed his hands off my shoulders then hurriedly walked to the main street. As soon, as I arrived. I grab my robe and throw it away.
As soon as I walked in on our manor, I have a guest. It’s so called my friend or should I say, the woman who keeps clinging on me. I know she wants my riches. A mere daughter of baroness should lick my feet, and that’s what she’s doing right now.
I fake my smile as soon as I approach her.
“Good day! Elora, what brings you here?”
“I’m just visiting my old friend”
“Oh? What a coincidence I want to show you something”
I glanced at the servant who serving us tea.
“Please, get the new box in my room here, the one I've bought recently”
“Yes, milady”
As soon as she gone out. I looked at the girl in front of me. I bet, she’s hungry right now. Look at those pastries in her plate. Half of the pastries that serve us is on her plate. How pitiful.
“There are still pastries out there, you may enjoy yourself”
“Oh? Thank you so much, milady. But, I think this is enough”
“Don’t worry if you want some more, we can make it any time”
“Thank you, milady”
“By the way, when will you tour me in your house? You promise me that, right?”
“Uhh.. our house is under construction milady, so it may be risky to go there now. Probably, when we’ll be doing a welcoming house party. I’ll make sure you’re the first person to accept that”
“Is that so? I’ll expect it then”
“Yes, milady”
She keeps stuffing her mouth with those pastries. I really don’t care if I can go to her house or not. It’s a shabby old house anyways, who wants to go there?
A beautiful lady like me doesn’t suit to places like that. The door opened and the servant I commanded earlier holding the box that his highness gives me.
As soon as she handed it to me, I grabbed it.
“Here! This necklace came from the first prince, isn’t he adorable?”
I opened it and show it to her. I examine her eyes. I know those eyes, it’s the looks of an envy person.
“My? It’s an expensive necklace. I’m surely that will suit to you, milady”
“Oh? Yes it is, he really knows my tastes. This is the latest necklace in the jewelry store. I saw this yesterday and now he brought me this. I didn’t even bother telling him, he just know what I like”
“All of the ladies will surely be jealous of you, milady, for having the first prince”
I know you're included and envying of me. I smiled to her. “Yeah, I’m very lucky. But, I think he’s the luckiest for having a beautiful and kind woman by his side”