"Where you get this new things, princess Delaney?" I looked at Lady Criseta, asking why I have a lot of new things, that I just brought last night when I sneak out.
Warren and I will have a meeting, after I recover and when I will start to work.
For the mean time, I will recover and make sure that I will be fine once that I start to work again.
But last night, he offered a lot of things that he have, and he said that he will offer more, once that I have meeting with him, but these things are so many, and I don't know how to manage all of this stuffs that I received.
"Nothing, I brought it when we are out yesterday." I said while massaging my fore head and can't look at the road because I feel a little bit dizzy because I didn't sleep that well.
"Are you sure, because I am the one who organized all of your things?" I rolled my eyes and didn't pay attention at Lady Criseta was saying.
Now that I am healed. I will finish what I left the last time, after my travel from Itumg to the capital, I will organize all of my things and have a dinner with my family, because they require it.
Before, they didn't even bother to asked me for dinner, but now. They want to to eat with them, I am irritated as fuck right now.
I just want to end all of my errands today and sleep, or read some books at my room with my hot tea.
But for the mean time, I will endure it and make sure that I will finish all of the things that I left when I am having a rest.
"Princess Delaney—" Lady Criseta didn't finish what she is about to say, and the carriage stopped.
I am shocked that the carriage stop and a lot of the guard was surrounded at my carriage, I open the window, and there's a lot of bandits there.
Sir William is fighting with his men, guarding my carriage while the bandits are slowly getting defeated.
I opened the door and didn't listen to lady Critesa.
One bandit was about to slice my face, when he fall right in front of me and I saw Akeldama's face.
Smiling from ear to ear at the moment he saw me.
He's back, I know that he didn't abandoned me. But there's a lot of changes to his appearance, his hair is longer and his complexion become darker this time.
"My queen, it's good to see you well." He kneel and kisses my hand, his men killed most of the bandits, until the very last one.
Sir William was shocked, when he saw that Akeldama is in front of me, and I am smiling with him.
"I missed you, where have you been?" I asked and he stand up, helped me to walk. The battle finally ended, and the people is calm now.
Sir William went closer to me and to Akeldama, he looked on how the Mercenary King held me like I was a jewel.
"You know the mercenary king, princess Delaney?" I nod and Akeldama just smile to Sir William.
"Greetings to the leader of the holy knight of Drivike, the hero." He bowed his head and smile to Sir William, but I don't know why William seems uneasy with the presence of Akeldama.
Maybe they are not in good terms?
"It's good to see you, mercenary king." They shake their hands and look at me, I am clueless why they are acting like they don't know each other but they did.
"It's a good thing that you're here, I am just done at my mission," Akeldama said and holding my hand. Sir William raised his brows while looking how Akeldama hold my hand while talking to me.
"We are about to go back at the capital, I am here because the highest priest healed me, I was cursed when I was being punished." I explained and he just nod.
"Let me know if you need something, I am here to help you, no matter what kind of help is that." I nod and look at Sir William.
"We are done here, can we go back to the capital?" I said and Akeldama kissed my hand, before I went back to my carriage.
Sir William went inside my carriage and instructed Lady Criseta to stay at the other carriage.
"Why?" I asked Sir William, and he is still waiting for some answers that he didn't even ask to me.
"What is it, why you're here at my carriage?" I asked once more, and it looks like he finally give up and went closer to me.
"Why you know the mercenary king, does you know how his mind works? How he want to control anything that he can?" I just shrugged my shoulder and look away.
"He's nice to me, and as long that he didn't do anything to harm me, he's all good. He protect me at the Gribe, when no one can help me because of the influence of Emperor Blake, he is one of the person who's there when I needed the help." I said and he just look away when he heard that.
I'm just stating the truth. Akeldama is nice and he never failed me once I expect more to him.
"Just make sure that he won't betray you, because those guys was not the right person to trust." I just nod and didn't listen to his whims.
I know that sir William just want to protect me, and I appreciate it big time. But he can't judge people just because that is what he heard from other people.
"I am just concern, and you know that I will always protect you, with all of my might. Because you know that you're the only one who was there, when I feel that no one can help me, when I am helpless." Now, I look at sir William, his eyes tells that he is sincere to every words that came out from his mouth.
"Thank you. I really appreciate it all, and I won't let you down." I hold Sir William's hand and smile to him, he's always nice and helpful to me since the day that I went back here at Drivike empire.
Like now, he's here with me, even that he has errands, he choose to be with me. That's why I am thankful that Sir William is at my side.
He didn't hesitate to show to my parents that he choose me, over my siblings.
...
After I came back at the capital, I rest for a while and now, I am on my way to the dinner with my family, because they required it.
I just wore a simple gown and didn't wear any jewelries, because after this. I will sleep early and will continue my works.
"Good to see you, princess Delaney." They bowed their heads and open the door of dining area.
My father and the empress was there. All of them, and they all looked at me when I arrive.
"Delaney, take a seat. We have a lot to catch up after your travel at Itumg." My father said and I looked at my siblings.
I am wearing my eye silk and take a seat, my siblings are in front of my seat.
They are looking at me, like I have some disease and they feel disgusted by my presence, well. Same.
I didn't even like them, their maturity isn't that good, and how come that they got that title without working hard for it, nor proving themselves as a princess and prince of the empire.
"Delaney, how was your condition. I heard that the Duke Theron suggested you to get healed by the highest priest, may I know why?" I want to laugh hard and tell them, really?
As if they didn't know the reason why I was being cursed. It's because of them, they want me dead. Because they can't admit that they are threatened by my presence. Because his daughter and son is not capable to become a good leader of Drivike.
"I am good, it feels like I am reborn. Because the time that I was cursed, it feels like I am dead." I said before slicing the steak and my sister rolled her eyes.
"I hope the highest priest has the ability to undo your eye curse, so people is not threatened by your eyes." I smirked and rolled my eyes as well. It's a good thing that they didn't see my eye reaction.
"Really? I also hope that too, I wish highest priest has that ability, because I feel bad to feel cursed." She almost chocked by the food she is chewing.
The empress glare at me and started to talk. "It's the fault of your mother, why you're suffering, if she isn't that greedy, you're normal, just like your siblings." I smile at the empress, and she looked offended because of my smile, why?
I wanna laugh now, now she's offended by this scenario that they started. God, I just want to survive this dinner, and I want to rest.
"I am sorry for what my mother did, but don't worry, I won't do anything to harm any of you, I just want a normal life." I wipe my lips and the empress is not done.
"Then stop being the fiance of the Duke Theron, your ambition is not what you deserve, Delaney. Duke Theron is a presentable man, and has dignity, and his imagine might get ruined, once you became the duchess of Windsor," she said and look at me, before talking again.
"You have no proper education, you can't handle his affairs, how sure you are that you're capable of being an duchess?" I smile sweetly, and she twitched.
"The Duke Theron really loves me, he helped me to become a decent woman. And he never failed to support me, to become a good duchess of his land. He trusted me, that's why I study hard, so he won't become disappointed on me." I smile at them, and now. My father started to talk.
"Listen to your mother, Delaney. She is concerned, as well as me. The nobility might target you, since your relationship with the nobility wasn't stable, and the position that you are assuming is not easy, as what you imagine." I nod, like I am considering their plan, even I wasn't.
"I understand father, that's why I studied hard for six months, and here I am now. I know his affairs, I am the one who take care of his affairs at his land, while he is here at the capital, I also thought that it's hard, but when I started to love what I am doing, I realized that it's easy." They looked surprised, as if I just say something that I am not supposed to.
"Don't worry, I will work more this time, so you won't be disappointed on me," I said and they didn't talk.
"You will regret this, getting the things that is not supposed to be yours!" Princess Hannah snapped, and she is mad right now. She just throw the water to my face, and no one didn't move, they keep eating while my sister is starting to create an havoc.
"Just vanish, you're not supposed to be here, you're nothing, but a daughter of concubine, and your ambition is not for someone like you!" She screamed, and my father looked at Hannah.
"Stop it, Hannah." She looked shocked when father called her name and she looked afraid now.
"I am done eating, thank you for the delicious food, emperor and empress." They twitched when I stand up and didn't bother that Hannah splash some water to my face.
I swear, I won't stop to trigger Hannah this time. She's testing my patience.
I am not the same Delaney that they used to fool around.
This time, I will fight back.