Right now I'm off to battle. I spent the whole day thinking of this moment, i couldn't enjoy lunch with theodore as i felt bad for lying to him. Would theodore be angry if he found out? Am I making a big mistake right now? Times like this i Miss Sarah so much, i sent a letter to her but i have no way of knowing if she received it.
"My lady, you don't look good" I must have worried her.
"I just miss my previous personal maid, she was always by my side so it feels lonely not to have her by my side"
"You should have her come here your grace, im sure his grace would be happy to employ her for you."
"She wouldn't have wanted to come. She was only by my side because of countess dumont"
"But did she say she didn't want to come with you? She was by your side all those years I'm sure she must miss you too.
Your grace do you know that i was the one who proposed to my husband " huh? I knew hannah was bold but I never knew she was propose to someone bold.
"We were childhood friends so he thought I would never love someone like him, that day he told me he was going to marry the lady his aunt introduced to him. I slammed him against the wall and proposed to him on the spot. He was so shocked because he thought his feelings didn't reach me but I was always waiting for him to make the first move. What I'm trying to say your grace is, for years I waited for him to come to me but when I was in that moment I didn't think of the past that was lost but the future I would lose if I let him go. You will never know how the future will unfold if you dont try your grace. I hope it didn't overstep with what I just said" I guess change doesn't happen like magic. I just have to keep trying one step at a time.
"Thank you hannah. I'm glad I have you beside me. So today I want you to make me look beautiful. I'm going for battle you see"
"You can count on me your grace, i won't let you down"
"Wow you are so pretty like a doll" she just walked in but I could feel my anger rising. It was her, i could never forget her description. Deep blue hair, pale skin but what stood out were her black eyes. The novel described them as so black it seemed like light didn't enter them.
"Welcome miss ivy and lord jordan. I am duchess clarisa Leandros. Please have a seat." Since its not a pleasure to meet either of you, there is no need to pretend.
"Greetings your grace, it is a pleasure to meet you"
"What!! Why are you being so formal jordan? She is theodores wife" did she just call him theodore like they were buddies? Is she trying to taunt me?
"Miss Ivy, please address my husband properly. Before he is your friend he is the duke and my husband." She looked shocked. Imagine the face she would make if i called him my love. But I know better than that.
"What? Theodore doesn't mind me calling him by his name. We have been friends for years" she had a proud look on her face.
"Miss Ivy, theodore is the duke of runan and as such you will addess him with the respect he deserves."
"Im sorry your grace, Ivy must have been anxious to meet you, so she made a mistake. Please excuse her rudeness." jordan in the novel, was just a side character but the few minutes I've spent with him I can tell what kind of man he is. He is a weakling and clearly he is in love with Ivy so he overlooks her behavior and ends up in awkward situations.
"What? No i wasn't anxious, theodore is....."
"Miss Ivy, i will not remind you again. It's his grace to you." I kept my voice low, calm and menacing. She looked like she was about blow up at any second.
"Theo.... i mean his grace didn't mind us addressing him by his name."
"Lord jordan I'm sincerely disappointed in you. I can understand Miss ivy's ignorance but you as the son of a count should know better"
"Your grace, how could you say that i am ignorant, I have done nothing but try to be friends with you but you keep acting like this" how can anyone be so bad at keeping their emotions in check. I'm so tired of wasting my time on this.
"Ivy" jordan grabbed her arm but she yanked it away from him.
"Miss Ivy you are a commoner. so I don't expect flawless manners from you but this is just disappointing"
"Your grace, you are crossing the line" I cant believe im risking my relationship with theodore for someone so childish, how laughable.
"Lord jordan what is the proper procedure to request an audience with the duke" his face turned pale as he hid his face embarrassed.
"This will be the last time you will be allowed into the castle with such improper manners. Next time you need to....."
"Your grace, you may be new to runan and do not know this but we have been friends with theodore for years. We do not need to follow those rules" ivy screamed cutting me off looking extremely upset.
"I am the duchess and the lady of the house as such my word is law within the castle."
"Where is his grace, we would like to see him now" she sprang up heading for the door.
"Unfortunately his grace is extremely busy today, so he cannot receieve you. You will have to return back for the day."
"Your grace, you cannot stop us from seeing theo..." I shot her a death glare, she flinched back.
"I mean his grace, he accepted our request for an audience, so it would be rude not to see him before we leave"
"Steven, please see the guest out of the castle. We are all done with the conversation"
"Yes, your grace"
"Duchess clarisa, you cannot do this I'll report this to his grace"
"If they refuse to leave quietly, you can tell the knights to use force"
"Yes your grace"
"Ivy, let's go" this was the first time he spoke in the commotion. I had almost forgotten he was here with us.
"Jordan, we cannot let her kick us out. I'm sure theodore isn't aware of all this"
"Thank you for your time your grace, we will make sure to follow proper etiquette next time, let's go Ivy" I guess he still has some shame left in him. I can't believe this wench though, acting all high and mighty like she owns the place. I shot her a nice smirk as she contorted her face in anger on the verge of tears as she walked out.
I couldn't take it, seeing her shamelessly walk in all smiles like she owns the place just made me mad. She feels no remorse for what she did. She was probably aiming to be duchess using her position as 'friend' to her advantage.
"Steven do you think I did the wrong thing? "
"I have worked here for almost 30 years your grace and this was the first time i felt joy kicking someoneout of the castle." he was smiling from ear to ear like his lifelong wish just got granted.
"Do you think my love would think the same way" what if he hates me? If his gaze turns icy, I dont think I would be able to survive it. I'm so scared.
"You have nothing to worry about your grace, his grace doesn't have such a close relationship with them. I'm sure he would feel relief if anything" is he being considerate of me? i never knew steven could smile like that, he looked so proud. That makes me feel much better.
"Thank you steven for not taking them to see my love first. I will make sure to explain to him that I was the one who requested for them to have an audience with me and not him "
"No need for thanks your grace, it was the first time you asked me for a favour and i'm just glad that his grace has someone to protect him now. He has always shouldered the burdens of others so i always worried for him because his burdens were quite heavy too."
I knew it, marrying the villainess of dumont what was his grace thinking. Kicking out his grace's guest who does she think she is? Yes i also hate them too but his grace keeps them around and we have no right to object. she may be the duchess but she should know her place.
Knock knock
"Your grace I'm coming in"
"Cavill, i don't remember sending for you" he still has his face buried in paper work. Well his complexion is looking better than the last time I saw him.
"Where are your aides? Forget that, i heard you have been having lunch and dinner with the duchess is that true?" Look at me your grace, you haven't forgotten what happened in the past right?
"I don't remember asking for your opinion on my marriage. You just got back from a mission, did you miss me so much that you ran here to see my face"
"Your grace i know i have said this before but if you want to finish expeditions fast just drop your sword and tell jokes. I'm sure all the monsters will die from how bad they are."
"Did you just come here to nag? Leave if you are all done" something is different about him.
"Did you know the duchess kicked out lord jordan and miss ivy from the castle?"
"So i heard" it's the same calm voice again. Its almost like he has lost his humanity.
"Are you really okay with this your grace? Did you forget all about the past?"
"Cavill, she is my wife and the duchess, she has the right as the lady of the house. If she kicked them out she must have her reasons." Lady of the house? My wife? Who is this ?
"Your grace, did you truly fall for her like the rumors said, i don't understand"
"Cavill" his voice was cold but his glare was colder. I could feel the chill down my spine as his gaze made my body heavy. Why is he protecting her? It was the same with miss ivy in the past, i won't know if you dont tell me theodore. I just want to share your pain with you.
"Fine, allow her to deceive you when she betrays you, don't come running to me for support" spinning around i stomp out and slams the door. I saw how it broke him, I still remember the look on his face that day 8 years ago. I never want to see you looking like that theodore. I refuse to fail you again.