Episode 17

"Rosita, what's wrong with my little girl? Why can't she stop laughing?" Grandma asked, as even though Sol tried to suppress the laughter, it remained uncontrollable.

"I don’t know, Grandma, perhaps now she truly has gone mad,"

"Don't say such foolish things, child. How could it be possible that my girl has gone mad? I'm certain she's been up to some mischief. Lately, she's been quite the rascal, but at least she looks happy."

"You're right, Grandma, but I'll ask her and see if she wants to tell me."

_In the living room_

"Aaahh... my princess! Guards! A doctor, for Heaven's sake, my child!"

Upon hearing the scream, the Duke left his study, along with several servants who were nearby.

Sebastian: "What happened?"

He asked upon seeing her fainted and disheveled.

Maricela: "Someone tried to take my princess's life, Duke, you must seek justice for her, maybe she... she... no, no, no."

The Duchess imagined the worst upon seeing her in that condition.

Sebastian, calmly, assured her, "Her clothes are intact. Perhaps she merely fell and hit her head."

The Duke knelt and examined her head, finding a large bump. He carried her to her room.

Sebastian: "Let her rest; she merely fell and has a bump on her head."

He turned to leave but was stopped.

Maricela: "Duke, you’re leaving? Won’t you stay here with me, worried about our daughter?"

The Duke turned and looked at her sternly, frowning.

Sebastian: "Do you see me in Sol's room? Sol is my daughter, Sandra, well, she is just your daughter. It's not my duty to be here with her. I must leave; I have work to do."

The Duke continued on his path and left the room, aggrieving Maricela.

He knew his daughter was involved in the incident, feeling a sense of deja vu, as if he had lived through a similar situation before. Strange but markedly familiar, yet he would support his daughter.

He could not help but head towards Sol's room to confirm she was alright.

The door was ajar, so he overheard the girls' conversation.

Sol was explaining how things happened and conceded that they might soon discover her secret training spot, since the younger witch had found her in the servants' quarter. That they would uncover her belongings. Yet, she would deny everything, asserting they were her alibi. If someone inquired whether she had left, they were to confirm that she hadn't, stating she had been sleeping.

The Duke chuckled at such a statement, opting not to enter the room but instead summoned a couple of his men. They went with him to Sol’s modest but complete training room. It shocked the Duke and his men what was there. Sol had a modest gym, rather comprehensive, with a multi-purpose bed (for crunches, weightlifting, etc.), dumbbells, ankle weights, a pulley system mounted on the wall, and a punching bag. It was modest but fully equipped.

The Duke pondered when and with what money his daughter had arranged all this, as he didn't recall her asking him for money.

Sebastian: "Disassemble everything and move it to the north side of the mansion. Find the largest room and arrange everything just as you found it here. Then station a couple of guards at the entrance to that area, no one is permitted entry, except my daughter Sol."

Guards: "Yes, sir."

Sebastian: "Hurry, guests will arrive soon. Let no one see you, and if someone does, tell them to keep quiet or I'll cut out their tongue."

The guards nodded and promptly dismantled everything, with two additional guards helping to remove it all in one trip. They returned to fill the room with cleaning supplies. There had never been a gym or training area there.

What happened next?

Well, let's summarize: Sandra woke up with a terrible headache, the doctor gave her medicine to ease the pain. Once better, she began to blame Sol and spoke about the place where Sol engaged in men's activities. An irritated Maricela went to Sol's room to find her sound asleep. The Duke overheard but decided to let his industrious daughter handle everything.

In the confrontation, Sol denied everything, remaining silent while the Duchess raged as though she was mad.

Maricela: "I'll tell your father about that cursed place, and he will believe me, you wretched little brat."

After watching her leave, Sol leaped out of bed and, still in her robe, chased after Maricela, knowing the Duke might be cross with her.

Maricela knocked fiercely on the door. The Duke, annoyed, emerged but still listened to everything the woman said. It mattered little to Sol if her place was discovered, but she couldn't bear the thought of her equipment being discarded.

Once at the location, Maricela flung open the door to find a room full of brooms, rags, and various other items.

Sol: "Father, I can explain."

Sol rushed after them to clarify what they were seeing.

When Sol walked in, her eyes widened in surprise at the empty space. The Duke smiled, seeing his daughter's reaction. Sol glanced at her father and relaxed at his reassuring wink.

Following the incident, the Duchess was reprimanded and had her allowance halved for a month, with a warning of a year-long punishment for any further incidents.

Days passed until the awaited day arrived: the meeting between Prince, Sol, and Sandra.

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