It was one of the usual day, Chae-Won had just returned back home from her work.

The young girl looked very tired, her long jet black hair which could also be compared to the night sky were messy and undone, chestnut brown eyes looked exhausted, like have not gotten a proper sleep for days.

But if not for these, her face was enough to be called absolute beauty.

The girl opened the doors and threw all her stuff on the floor.

Heading straight to her room she fell on the bed as if dead.

"...Finally i can relax now."

"It was such a tiring day that my whole body aches."

A while later she twisted and turned around on the bed, facing the cealing above, she whispered in the soft voice.

"....But nevertheless it's worth it."

'Looking back on those days when I was a little kid and my parents left me alone in this world, compared to that these days looks much better than that.'

'They died in a car accident when I was just a 5 year old kid.'

'Alone in this world with no shadow to hide myself in, I had no choice left but to get adopted by my relatives whom I had never seen in my whole life.'

'Back then when they announced that they would take me in their family and treat me like their own child, I thought there were still some people on whom I could rely on and call them my family.'

'But that was only wishful thinking of mine.'

'How naive I was.'

'They only took me in for the money and assets that my parents had accumulated in their whole life before dying in the car accident.'

'They used all that money and lived a comfortable life, and I on the other hand lived more like a beggar in their house.'

'I was on their whims if I wanted to survive, it's a stroke of luck that I was able to continue my studies.'

'I still cannot come to believe that I survived 12 years of my life in that disgusting family.'

'It's almost have been 5 years since I severed all my connection with them.'

'I have been living alone since I graduated and got a job.'

'Life is peaceful, I like it, but somewhere in corner of my heart I also wished to just die and follow behind my parents.'

Resting for while, she jumped right up from the bed with a mischievous grin on her face.

"...It's been a while since I have read any novel, let's see what I have got here to read."

She approached the book shelf placed near her bed.

It was like a treasure chest to her where she kept all her romance novels and especially R-19 novels.

'Hmm.... What should I read now?'

In front of her there were several books lined up.

Moving her finger tips on the books laid up in front of her she picked up a peculiar book with a puzzled look.

"What is this, a novel?"

"Well, I do not remember ever buying this one."

The cover of the book gave off a very mystical vibe.

Her eyes which were glued to the book in her hand shine brightly like a kid who just got a new toy to play with.

'Anyways let's just go with it.'

She with an enthusiasm like that of a child jumped back into the bed and started reading like a thirsty Beast.

A while later in the middle of the night, while reading the book her eyebrows furrowed.

'A blank page !'

Turning the Pages vigorously she looked like as if wanting to scream, she jumped up from her place.

"Not here, not here....,it's blank!!!"

'What the hell.'

'There's nothing written after this .'

'....But it was progressing so perfectly.'

She turned all the pages of the book with distressed look on her face and finally found something on the last page.

'What's this ?'

A line was written at the top of the last page saying -"Do you wish to continue, if so then sign here."

Chae-Won with the perplexed look tilted her head sideways as if wanting to ask what???

"Signature !"

"Is it a joke?"

"It is a physical book not any online comic or novel for which I've to pay or get subscription to keep reading it."

"Like as if the pages are going to reappear again if I signed here."

"...."

Though she felt it weird, curiosity got the best of her. (You know, like that part of the brain where every non-sensical things goes on.)

After signing

'I should be crazy to think that the pages would reappear.'

Surprise to her something unexpected happened.

"Whatt!!"

The pages which were supposed to be blank were filled with unknown characters.

"Huh, what's the meaning of this, it was blank just now, but now-"

At that time the book in her hand started to glow with the blinding white light, instinctly she shut her eyes close.

When she opened her eyes again, she witnessed something that was unbelievable.

"huh!!!"

"It's gone !"

"What the fu**."

The book she was reading before had vanished into a thin air.

It was her first time experiencing such a thing.

It was so unrealistic that she thought of it to be a dream.

Suddenly she pinched her cheeks.

"Ouch !!"

"It hurts."

"It's not a dream!!"

Her reasoning became dull that she pinched herself some more, she couldn't comprehend what just happened and tried to find that book everywhere in her room but all her efforts were in vain.

There was no trace of that book in her room.

"Then was it magic ?"

"For real ?"

All her worries disappeared into an unknown excitement.

Then the first thing that came to her mind was to tell about this incident to her friend even though she knew that she would only be made fun of.

The very next day in the afternoon, with the dark circles under her eyes, she left to meet her friend.

Who knew that what she wanted to tell her friend would never reach her ears.

On the way she died in an accident so miserably that there were no chances left for her survival.

Two over speeding trucks coming from opposite direction collided with her, resulting her body being squashed in between.

"...F*ck it all." saying these last words, she departed for the afterlife.

Weirdly enough, she was the only one who died in that accident.

The two truck driver survived which was hilarious.

...****************...

"Ugh, my head hurts."

Chae-Won woke up with her eyes half asleep woke up and sar up holding her head in her hands when a shrill voice penetrated her ears.

"You brat, get your *** out of that damn bed and start moving your hands, clean the windows of the western palace now if you even want to have a lunch today ."

Shocked to what she heard just now, she was left speechless.

She pondered there for minute - 'hmmm...hm...what!!'

'First of all as much as i remember i do not have any roommate or any friend, so how come...? '

She opened her eyes wide open and looked around as if astonished.

What she saw was not her room but a completely a different room like that of beggar.

It was a small and dark room with not much of furnitures in it.

A stream bright light coming from crack of wooden window penetrated the darkness that was hovering all over inside the room.

If it was not for that stream of light, then she wouldn't have been able to see where the other person who standing infront of her was.

The person who was speaking to her was a middle aged woman in a maids uniform, looking at her with such disgust as if she was a garbage.

'Well, anyways.'

"What do you mean by cleaning? Do i look like a house keeper to you?"

The maid frowned, she glared back at her like she would murder her right instant.

'Heh !'

'Wow, wow.'

She was taken a back by the glare of the maid.

'That was scary as hell.'

"What, why are you looking at me like as if i said something out of ordinary"

Although the maid didn't look like would reply to her question but replied reluctantly.

"How could it be ordinary, aren't you the filthy illegitimate daughter born from that filthy maid."

"I don't get it how dare that wench Eris snuck up into the bed of his Majesty, Zalem-Al-Lumiere and more so have a child like that."

'!!'

At that moment something clicked in her mind.

She spoke up cautiously - "Are you talking about his majesty Zalem-Al-Lumiere the king of the kingdom Zeren?"

Hearing her, corner of the maid's eye twitched.

"Today, seems like you have lot of questions, haa."

"So what, just because you have half royal blood in that tiny body of yours doesn't mean you are a royalty, look at those eyes and hair, it's disgusting that an illegitimate child like you have it."

"Get changed and start cleaning the windows of the western palace, don't cause me anymore trouble."

After saying that, by slamming the door the maid left the room.

A complete silence fell as mourning for someones death.

Chae-Won got up from the bed and approached a shabby looking dressing table placed near her bed with a distorted expression.

'Something ain't right, my body feels quite light.'

Reaching the dressing table she looked into the mirror with blank face.

"Arey, who is this cutee ?"

"Is this a portrait of someone ?"

"I thought it was a mirror, my mistake."

But suddenly when she moved the image also moved.

She was stupified.

She touched her hairs and face.

As much as she looked at into the mirror her expressions became more and more darker.

A loud scream came out of her mouth.

"Whaaat!!!!"

In the mirror a cute little frail girl was being reflected, she was wearing a white coloured night dress which was stitched from almost everywhere.

Lustrous silver hair were flowing down from her head, a pair of golden eyes that looked like could see through everything were sparkling like jewels, rosy cheeks as soft as newborn were flushed red.

"Who is this, is this really me, no it can't be, these eyes and these hair ,ar-are these mine?"

"Except for the hair and eye colour, I look like the me from my childhood when I was 7-8 years old, but why and how?"

"Is this for real?"

She sat back on the chair placed near her with her head in her hand.

'It is absurd.'

'Am i hallucinating things or am I just in a dream?'

'But....this is too realistic and detailed to be a dream.'

'And even what that maid said.'

Her mind was a complete mess.

"I don't know what should I do now, should i just do as she said....., maybe?"

After a while.

'Yes, that's right, i have to get out of hear right now otherwise i wouldn't know what's the situation I am in right now.'

'Although i have a vague idea of my identity by what happened just now.'

'I just want to confirm it by myself as it seems so impossible to be true, or at least till I saw that creepy book disappear in front of me last night.'

She changed into the dress that was placed on the dressing table.

Looking into the mirror she clenched her fist which adorable like hell.

"Now, I am ready, Let's Begin."

...****************...

'Yes, that's right I have become no other than a side character in a romance novel that i had read in my past life before I died in an accident.'

'It's strange, if anyone else would have reincarnated in place of me then they would have probably tried to find a way to go back to their real world.'

'And one of the way maybe by killing oneself.'

'But I guess that also require your original body to be alive.'

'I gave up the idea of going back to my world.'

'I don't even expect my body to be remained intact after facing that accident.'

'And spiritually speaking, like the priests say that after dying one's soul gets reborn, like that I also got reborn but in a different way and in a different world.'

'Although my situation here is not so welcoming because here also I am fated die, but right now I'm in a more advantageous position.'

'I have both, the memories of my past life and the memories of Luna Lumiere from the novel.'

'But there is one another thing that is bothering me, its that I can feel original Luna Lumiere inside of me, but I don't get it, if she is there then why is she letting me take control over her body.'

'Afterall I'm the one who trespassed.'

'Does she not care whatever I do with her body.'

'....If so then be it, I'll do as I please.'

'Anyways it has been two days since I started working here and offcourse maids here really bully and abuse me since I'm an illegitimate child.'

'I have become Luna Lumiere, an illegitimate child born from the King of the Zeren Kingdom Zalem-Al-Lumiere and a maid who worked in the palace of the king.'

'A side character who lived not much long and died at the age of 17. [She lived a very unfortunate life.] except for this line and the way she died there was nothing else mentioned about her in the novel.'

'Though at the time when I was reading the novel I did not see any worth in mentioning about her since she was a side character after all but now i regret it since I've become that same person.'

Luna looked into the mirror.

'I don't get it why the author didn't write anything about Luna, because look at these beautiful eyes, this face, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I look like a fairy.'

'Ahem, I'm not bragging about myself but I have to say I definitely look cute.'

'But is it a coincidence?'

'Even though I look cute and beautiful, but except these eyes and hairs, I somewhat resemble me from my childhood in my past life.'

'Does original Luna also looked like me?'

'If I just grow up a little more then I'll be able to make sure whether we look alike or not.'

'Anyways.'

Clenching her fist "How dare that bastard father treat me like this."

'I guess he is blind, how dare he left this fairy like child to live like a beggar from street.'

'I'd like to punch him in the face even if these small hands doesn't hurt him.'

Changing her clothes into that of a maid, like it was natural thing for her, she left her room.

...****************...

Luna was mopping the floor in the western palace corridor with a cloth and a bucket of dirty water beside her.

Western palace was the palace solely build for the first Princess Evelyn Lumiere, the first child of the king and queen of the Zeren Kingdom.

It was not that big compared to the main palace but surely was the most extravagant palace in the Whole kingdom.

The king built it like that to show his love for his daughter after her mother the queen died.

It was built using the most High quality material and had all the things that a child would need like a library, greenhouse, playhouse, etc.

Though it was not as big as the Main palace the corridor was quite long and the sunlight was coming through the windows.

While Luna was mopping the floor in that corridor three maids approached her.

They were wearing clean and clear maids uniform.

Luna herself was wearing an old apron and a shabby blouse with dirty stains.

And a black skirt with cloth patching around.

She was wearing clothes that didn’t fit her age.

The maids called her out.

"You runt, after when you are done with the floor here, go and wash the dishes in the kitchen."

Hearing their words her expression remained calm, rather than that she didn't show any expression.

Contrary to her calm appearance the insides of her head had already exploded.

'It is really surprising that I'm this calm after hearing this, if I were me from my previous life I would have already thrown this bucket of water on them.'

'Hmm... should i do that?'

'Nope, I can't do that since I am not in a very good position right now.'

She raised her chin looking up to them and asked.

"But isn't this my only work for today and soon there will be lunch time also."

If she was Luna from before she wouldn't even have questioned them, instead would have nodded her head and obediently have done what she had been asked to.

The maids frowned.

It was very surprising for maids who had always ordered her around to do their work.

This was the first time when this small and obedient girl had questioned them back.

With a very disgusted look one of the maid spoke up.

"What?"

"Are you going to disobey us?"

And with that another maid also came in front and joined the fray.

"We are the one who gives you all the food you eat and clothes to wear, you dare to question us."

"It is your duty to follow our orders and repay us for the kindness that we showed to you."

Luna smirked, in a low voice looking down at the floor she spoke up.

"Heh! What kindness are you talking about?"

"The food and clothes you give me are the obligation that the king gave you to follow."

"Although the food you give me are nothing but leftovers which you youself don't eat and the clothes you are talking about are nothing more than of a beggar."

"Is this the kindness you are talking about, if so then I would rather not show kindness to anyone."

When she blurred her words out as if she was mocking them, the maids became furious.

Even though she knew this could worsen her situation she intentionally provoked them.

And the maid's reacted the way she wanted them to.

"You insolent brat, how dare you talk back to us."

The maid in front raised her hand and slapped her in face.

"Bam"

The cute and small girl's cheeks reddened like it would bleed any moment but the girl remained still and spoke up again looking down.

"What,is the truth not to your liking?"

She spoke so only they could hear her.

The agitated maid raised her hand again but when she was about to hit her a person appeared behind her and held her hands back.

When the maids turned back their face whitened as if they had seen a ghost.

A middle aged man in formal attire was standing behind them.

Deep blue hairs and sky blue eyes like that of a sapphire.

Time chiselled skin, tall height and a huge build.

It was no other than the archduke Alphonse Valore of Askerin dukedom.

"Th,The Duke!"

The maids froze on the spot like a statue, they were sweating profusely that their back facing Luna got wet.

Unlike the maids the girl remained still looking down at the floor.

At the same time, a cold voice rang out.

"You need to clarify the situation now."

On Duke's expressionless face, there was a sign that he was holding back his anger.

The Duke slightly raised his chin and questioned them.

"Why have you been hitting a child like that."

The maids stiffened their shoulders.

Shivering in fear a maid spoke up.

"Greetings to the archduke Valore, we were just teaching this child some manners so the Duke doesn't need to get involved in this."

Duke frowned

"Haa."

"Are you trying to order me."

A cold chill ran down their backs.

"N,no, how can I do something like that to the Duke of Askerin, like I said we were just teaching this child some manners noth-"

The duke interrupted her words and spoke in a twisted voice.

"huh, manners you say."

"Yes?"

The maids looked perplexed.

Blue eyes were leering back at the maids were so frightening that it could give anyone a heartattack.

"Are you saying you were teaching manners to the child who already took classes in manners and etiquette and excelled in it?"

"You sure are a genius."

The maids were stupified at the words of the Duke.

It was like that because the original Luna Lumiere already took classes in manners and etiquette and in other things with her half sister Evelyn Lumiere.

Although Luna was able to attend classes by the permission of the king but that was not because he cared for her, but because Evelyn wanted her to attend those classes.

Evelyn wanted to embarrass and Bully her in front of her friends for her lack of knowledge but contrary to that,she never got her chance to do so.

Luna learnt everything at her first attempt.

At the end she even surpassed Evelyn.

Evelyn didn't get any chance to mock her.

Evelyn asked the teachers to teach luna separately and raise the level of study and if she couldn't cope up then beat her up severely.

But something had gone very wrong that it was beyond their imagination.

Even though teachers raised the level of study, no-one was able to find any fault with her.

They taught her the things that only scholars were supposed to understand, she even surpassed their own knowledge.

She could only be considered a genius but even after knowing that the teachers kept it secret from the King and other nobles.

When Dahlia came to meet her best friend Evelyn at the capital city, she came to know about the treatment that the royal tutors were giving to Luna from the mouth of Evelyne.

She did not like it and wanted to stop Evelyn and those teachers but she couldn't.

She was forced to return back to Askerin because of her poor health.

So she told all about it to her father and asked him to do something about it.

The duke when came to know about what the teachers did to Luna from his daughter, he severely punished the royal tutors.

But nevertheless he remained silent about Luna's mental ability, otherwise Evelyn who is dearly loved by the king and who is going to be the next crown Princess would loose the favour of the nobles.

The king could do anything for his beloved daughter even could harm Luna, so the duke remained silent.

He also did not wanted to get involved with the matters regarding royal family.

He only did this much since it was a request from his beloved daughter.

Chae-Won was unaware of about what the Duke did to the teachers, that was because nothing much was mentioned about Luna in the novel.

She only had the memories of Luna so she was unaware of why the royal tutors had changed.

Evelyn who knew about what happened to the tutors, never came across Luna and bully her in person.

Instead she ordered her maids to physically harras her in silence.

The Duke spoke fiercely to the maid's as he approached Luna.

"Get out of my sight this instant while my sanity is still intact."

The maids moved ran away in a blink of an eye.

Realising the Duke's approach Luna bit insides of her mouth on the side where the maid hit her, making blood come out from the corner of her mouth.

The Duke was not able to assess how badly she was hurt as he couldn't see her from behind the maids.

He lowered himself to level of her, bending down on his one knee.

Putting his hand under her chin, he raised it up to have a clear look at her face.

Her cheeks were bruised up, blood was spilling out from corner of her mouth.

Under the hem of her clothes, only her bones were visible.

He gently caressed her cheeks where she was hit by the maid.

She remained expressionless the whole time as if it doesn't hurt her.

The Duke spoke up "I'm sorry, if had just came a bit earlier then"

Luna interrupted him and spoke coldly.

"Pardon my rude behaviour, but your grace doesn't need to apologise to me or feel sorry for me."

"I'm born from a maid that's why everyone behaves like that to me, you can also act harshly or just ignore me like everyone does."

"I promise, I would not resent you or hold contempt against you."

"The day I was born I was destined to be treated like that, so the Duke should not worry about me."

"....."

Duke couldn't comprehend what he just heard.

Each and every words of her felt like were piercing his heart.

"Seems like the Duke is here to meet The Princess, so I shouldn't hold you here anymore, then please excuse me."

She picked up the dirty cloth and bucket and left from that place as if nothing happened.

As he gazed upon her back that was fading away in the distance, something inside him felt like would break any moment.

Duke's expression became dark, frustration was swirling up inside of him.

He got up and gone straight to meet to Evelyn.

Although he arrived infront of her room, he did not knock the door like he used to do when he comes to meet her.

'I do not feel meeting her right now.'

'I think I should go back and meet her next time.'

"Creak"

As he was about to go back the door opened and a girl

in a very beautiful dress popped up infront of him.

Silver hair adorned with beautiful accessories, violet eyes like that of hellebore flower were gleaming like stars.

"Uncle Valore?"

Evelyn smiled at him innocently.

Watching her being like that he smiled back at her reluctantly.

"Uncle, what are you standing there for, you should have just called me out through maid."

"I would have come to you right away at your call."

"Anyways, would you like to have some tea with me, I have been waiting to meet up with you since the last time of your visit."

"How about having tea in the greenhouse?"

"Yes, let's do th-" She was interjected

"-Um wait, I'm sorry my dear, there is something that needs to done urgently, so I have to go right now."

"Next time when I'll come, I'll surely spend some time having tea together with you."

"Ok then, take care of yourself."

"...Yes?"

Turning his back towards Evelyn, the duke left in a haste.

As soon as the the duke left, Evelyn got inside her room and locked the door from inside.

'What! What just happened?'

'Why did he leave in such a hurry?'

'Was there really something that urgent for him to go personally?'

'Maybe?'

'But he never behaved like that, he even smiled so awkwardly.'

...****************...

Luna in her room, wearing her nightdress, she was brushing her hairs.

In the glint of the candle light her face, her eyes, her hairs shone brightly in the dark room.

"Really, that was a close call."

'Thank God, I did not act rashly and lash out on those maids earlier at that time.'

'Otherwise I would have lost a great individual who could have become a great ally in rescuing me from this place.'

'I had already seen duke from afar approaching us from the window, so I just had to provoke those maids to hit me and act pitiful when the duke arrives.'

'Those fools easily took the bait.'

'I acted like that and even hurt myself to make my condition look more severe.'

'Well, except for hurting myself I didn't have to put much effort into acting since I naturally inherited Luna's usual behaviour, expression and cold personality.'

She grinned.

'But I have to say it worked out perfectly since the duke behaved the exact same way as I expected. '

'Now the maids wouldn't dare to abuse me in fear of the duke, but if they do then I would just device another plan.'

'Although it shouldn't happen for quite some time now but who knows.'

'Well I think I should make a good use of the duke.'

She smiled mischievously.

'According to the novel the duke of the ducal house of Askerin, Alphonse Valore is one of the two great pillars of the Zeren Kingdom.'

'There are three things required for you to be a ruler of any Kingdom that is power, wealth and support, and in these three the Duke has abundant wealth and fortune.'

'Zalem-Al-Lumiere was able to become the current king of Zeren due to his favor only.'

'The duke has two children one son and one daughter.'

'Right now his son Rezef Valore is in Axel Empire for the study as an heir apparent to the duchy of Askerin of Zeren Kingdom.'

'And his daughter Dahlia Valore is bedridden due to a serious illness.'

'According to Luna's memories her condition is quite severe right now since she is not even able to move around.'

'Although in the novel it was not mentioned clearly but she died before Rezef came back home in winters.'

'The duke kept Dahlia's death as secret from him until he came back.'

'Anyways since I don't know in which year Rezef came back from academy, I can't tell how much longer Dahlia would live.'

'The duke dearly loves his daughter, everytime when he would come to the palace for work, he would always also come to meet Evelyn who is Dahlia's friend."

'He would give anything to Evelyn whenever she asked for it.'

'In the novel it was told that he was kind and generous as much as he was rich.'

'But that doesn't mean he would do anything for you.'

'He has a strong sense of justice, he would not stand it if any innocent person is being mistreated infront of him, he could take your life in an instant if you are found guilty.'

'He is not someone with whom you should mess around.'

'But that doesn't apply to me since I am desparate situation right now.'

'I promise, if I just grew up safely, I'll f*ck it all up, from the royal family to all the people who bullied me, everyone is going down.'

She moved into her bed after brushing her hairs.

"Well, I should sleep now, I don't want dark circles on this cute face of mine."

...****************...

Soon the day came when the duke Valore visited the king in the main palace.

In the king's office, two people sitting accross the table were discussing on something with a rather profound expression on their faces.

In the light dark room, sunlight entering the room from the window behind the king shone on the Duke's face.

"Your majesty, pardon my rudeness but I'd like to request you to call off the plan of expedition towards the southeast."

The king frowned at the words of the duke.

"And may I know the reason why you say that."

"It's because the Balmund kingdom is under the protection of the Empire."

"..."

"Is it really true?"

"Yes your majesty."

The Duke nodded firmly.

"200 years ago, when there was a great war and Empire was on conquest of subjugating all the nearby territories, the Balmund kingdom was left out at their request."

"At the Balmund kingdom's king's request Empire left their territory to him on the condition that they cannot have arms more than 20% of their overall population."

"Except for the arms Balmund kingdom was free to do as they pleased, because Balmund kingdom was in poverty at that time and had nothing much valuable which could peak the interest of Empire they were left out."

"Though that had a written proof, there was one more thing that emperor had promised to the king of Balmund."

"Though it was just a verbal agreement, but a promise was made."

"It was that if in future the Balmund kingdom is attacked then the Balmund kingdom could always bend towards Empire for their help or protection protection."

"Though they never did that so this promise was almost forgotten by everyone."

"It took me a while to research on this topic to make it clear whether it was true or not but such a promise was made and it is a fact that cannot be denied."

"..."

"Your majesty?"

King Zalem was lost in deep thoughts, then a response came that the Duke had not expected.

"Though I respect the Duke's thought over this matter but we are not calling off the expedition."

"...."

"But your majes-"

King interjected

"Yes, I know what the Duke is afraid of, but you know how the current situation of the Empire is right now."

"The current emperor Alexis Kailesto is in a very weak state of health and the empress Dowager is the one who is making all the major decision regarding Empire."

"Since the current emperor got bedridden Empire is in chaos."

"And according to what we have seen, the Empress Dowager who is on top right now is quite a person who would not do something if it's not to her benefit or to her son."

"All the heirs of the emperor Kailesto are still in the academy or to be more specific the son of empress Dowager, Luca Kailesto is still immature and cannot take lead of army to fight in the war to gain legitimacy to the throne."

"Unlike Prince Luca other Princess' are much more capable and can take part in the war.

"If they took in it, it would definitely threaten her son's succession to the throne."

"Therefore she'd not allow them to take part in this fight since it would be easy victory to them."

"And if we just bribe her enough she'd not let anyone else take part in this war."

"Tell me, isn't it too good situation for us?"

".....But how you are going to bribe her?" duke asked

"The rare mana stone mine hidden in Balmund kingdom's Medelor forest is still unknown to everyone, even to inhabitants of that forest."

"She wouldn't have known about it, so she won't ask for it."

"So how about giving her one or two of our own normal mana stone mines, although Empire has large number of those mines but they are not under the control of imperial family."

"She'd probably want to have one of her own, wouldn't she."

The duke still was not sure enough but nodded his head.

"Then please do as you wish, your majesty."

"Good."

"I shall take my leave now, I had promised Evelyn to have a tea with her."

"Hmm"

The duke left his office and the king got busy in his work.

...****************...