Hidden Intentions

The Duke slowly reaches for his sword, his heart beating harder every passing second that he tries to mask his true intention. It's a reckless move but this way, maybe he can save his daughter and put an end to the Duchess's schemes.

After killing the Duchess, the Duke would have to live persecuted by his own people but if it meant the Princess can live without being labelled a criminal and comitting treason by attempting to kill the Duchess then it's more than enough reason for him.

Once the Duchess is dead, he'll make sure the servants that knew of the incident between the Princess and this scheming woman, will be buried six feet underground along with her soon to be rotting body. Let the Earth be the sole witness, and let it be that all the sin is solely for the Duke to bear till he breath his last.

"My Duke, why aren't you saying anything?", The Duchess stopped her fake crying and noticed something was off with the Duke.

His eyes were covered by the loose strands of hair on his face, and the Duchess cannot see the expression he was making.

There was a certain coldness that brushed the Duchess's cheek, and she felt a shiver down her spine.

This was it. What the Duchess worked for was finally bearing fruit.

The Duchess was pleased when she saw the Duke slowly unsheathing his sword, and contrary to the Duke, she did expect for this to be a possibility. The Duke attempting to kill her would just make it all so easy for her to dispose of him and the Princess but she did not entirely bet on it. The Duke, despite it all was still a very level-headed and logical person, it took the Duchess quite a long time to fully gain his trust and when he finally gave her an opening she took it immediately, and without further ado proceeded with her plans.

It all started on that day when they shared their first passionate kiss together. Everything starting from that point on was calculated by the current Duchess, and when the Duke was still blinded by grief because of the death of his wife, she made sure to slowly let him build trust in her, and in her ability. The Duke entrusted her with important duties because of his confidence in the competence and loyalty that she showed back when they were subduing the rebel forces that was slowly advancing towards the peaceful Emerald City. It was then the Duchess built her connection with key figures that can help her achieve her goal, and one by one, the foolish men blinded by greed who the Duke considered as his friends were soon her allies in overthrowing the Duke from his throne with the promise of a piece of the Emerald City that they covet. Of course, the others who did not find it alluring to betray their friend, the Duke, was all of a sudden dead from an unknown illness. The others met with unfortunate accidents that instantly killed them, leaving not a single shred of evidence behind as to why these 'accidents' happened.

After she rose to power from a mere ally of the Duke to his Duchess, she made a show of splurging the hard-earned money of the people to throw off the Duke. The Duchess learned from a very young age that men does not like smart and capable women. Just like her mother, being headstrong and intelligent just might earn her, her husband's wrath hence she was beheaded, and was considered to be a foolish woman who dared challenge the authority of her husband. The Duke was surely not any different, and even if he was, it was already too late for the Duchess to stop.

She secretly met with other nobles at brothels, and there they would discuss their plans. The Duke completely believed that because of the power given to her, she became a loose woman who only knows how to fuck prostitutes for her own satisfaction, and spend excessive money throwing lavish parties or buying jewelries to add to her collection.

It was indeed hard to play the fool, when one knows that deep inside they were meant to rule. There were times that the Duchess loses her composure in frustration because her plan was not yet complete. She needed someone to assume the throne after it was abdicated by the Duke, but it won't work unless he is completely submissive to her. She thought of using the eldest Prince but the Prince was loyal to the Duke hence he was exiled, in order for things to proceed smoothly.

The Duke was busy with his work and could not find the time to visit her chambers but the Duchess was not someone who gives up easily. She needed a son, an heir that will succeed the Duke without much resistance from the people of Emerald City that's why he must be of same blood as the Duke.

The Duchess set a plan into motion. She would serve the Duke his midnight snacks instead of the servants and spike it with aphrodisiac. The Duke with the mental load that he kept on enduring while burying himself into his work would lose all reason, and wake up without much memory of what happened the night before. The Duchess made sure that the servants would remain quite about this little meetings with the Duke at midnight and soon enough the Duchess was pregnant. The Duke find it odd at first but because of the frequent visits of the Duchess, and the weird response his body would make towards her, he was more than sure that he was the father of the child she carries inside her. There were times, the aphrodisiac was not even needed and the Duke would come unto the Duchess on his own volition, like an animal out of his cage.

Everything was now in it's place, the Duchess have her son who she strictly supervised and made sure to be loyal only to her. The allies she gathered was enough to bear witness to the Duke's downfall but there's something missing still.

It was the last piece of the puzzle.

And, that would be to kill the Duke and to appear as a hero while doing so. The people of Emerald City loves their ruler and one can only imagine the chaos that will ensue once the people hear of their beloved Duke's passing without real evidence of a treason. It is even possible for people to start rebelling against their new ruler.

The Duchess understands this very well, but the Duke committing treason is far from likely happening. He was the very example of justice, and fairness which made it even harder for the Duchess to think of a plan that could turn the tables, to be in her favor.

She stayed silent for a few months, even locking herself inside her chambers, not until she saw the Duke following the new Gardener around with that longing in his eyes. He was like a teenage boy pying for the affection of his lover, and she noticed that he would shower her with attention whenever there was a moment that they can meet. The Duchess made a mercenary disguised as a servant to pay close attention to the Duke and his new toy.

And, sure enough the two did the unthinkable. The two would meet even outside the palace walls, and when the Duchess herself followed the two of them outside, she confirmed for herself that the Duke was having an affair, and with a commoner no less?

What a scandal! And, it was just what the Duchess needed for people to lose trust in their Duke's fair judgement.

What would the people think of him?

He turned a blind eye to the Duchess's corrupt ways and lavish lifestyle, and it was all because of his affair with a mere commoner whom he is so enamored with? It was news that would surely spark controversy to every nook and cranny of Emerald City. The people who are struggling because of the war that's still ongoing is sure to be furious about the Duke's nonchalant attitude towards the pressing issues of the City he is in charge of.

The people would welcome even a baseless accusation of treason towards the Duke at this point.

But, not yet. Things need to be a bit more convincing and alas, this day have come. The Princess losing her sanity was only the first step, and now the Duke brandishing his sword against the Duchess while she is weak and bedridden will be the last and final blow.

Both the Princess and the Duke are fools that still think that everything is under their control, they could not see that the palace is now the Duchess's playground, and them, her playthings that could only follow the rules she set. They were no longer in control of their mind nor actions.

It was all according to plan. The Duchess is one step away from the success she waited her whole life.

'Dear Father, are you finally proud of me, your daughter?', were the thoughts in her mind as she gaze at the sword reflecting the sunset's bright red hue that can be seen from her chamber's window.

One strike of the Duke's sword will seal this City's fate... forever.

And, it will also... change the Duchess's fate as the child of misfortune, that led to her own father's demise.

'Now... strike me, My beloved Duke.'