chapter 27

Since Claire becomes the head of the Allardis Palace, there's a rumor going through the citizens and become the hot topics within the capital.

" The cold princess tamed the monster as her pet and took over the power of the Allardis duchy as the new head. "

" Once she took over the power, the princess quickly gets rid of all of the rude vassals in the palace! She's really amazing! "

" Gosh! She wasn't just a beautiful princess, but a wise one at that! "

" But.. Wasn't with this, the princess will gain her right as the candidate to the throne? "

" Right! She's already got the attention of citizens with her wise decision. "

" Then, what do you think the crown prince will do now? Now that his position as a crown prince will get challenged by the presence of the princess.. "

" Hm-mm. I wonder too.. "

****

A beautiful girl with pink colored hair and a pair of green eyes, sitting gracefully on the bench in the center of the garden. Looking through her book with her focuses face and her delicate fingertips that slowly tap the table each time she loses in her thoughts make a really beautiful scenery whenever she rest at the garden. But, frankly lately every time she's taken a walk before the people, nobody would get near her because of something huge behind of her that walk along with her each time with a leash around its neck and its menacing aura that break through the air every time someone gets near them.

" It-its that really the young master!? "

" It's the first time I ever see a wolf that huge! "

" But don't you think they seem more like a pet with its master? "

" ..you mean, the princess takes her dog to a walk..? "

" .... "

While saying that, all the servants instantly take a look at Claire with deep silence and thought running through their minds.

" When you put it like that.. "

" ...Yeah.. "

" .... "

Claire, who was greatly uncomfortable with their gazes on her quickly looks in their direction with a big frown.

" Hm..? There's nothing.. "

With Claire's sudden turns, every servant that has gathered to talk about her immediately hides behind the wall in hurried, almost before she's taking a glance on them slacking their works together.

" My lady, the weather is quite hot today, I'll escort you in. "

" It's okay, Daisy. "

" By the way, don't you feel any weird gazes on us lately? "

" Hm? what do you mean, my lady? "

" ...Well, whenever I take a walk with Adam, I felt some weird stares on me each time I stepped into the garden. "

" Hm. I think you're tired, my lady. There's no such thing. " While calmly pouring the tea into my cup, Daisy smiles a little towards me and nodded her head in determination with her own words.

" You think so? then alright. " With a smile, I glance at Daisy while my left-hand, keep busying to pat Adam's head for a while already.

" It's good for his fur, although it's a shame that his golden color would change to a dark brown whenever his body touches the light. So, I'll stay here for a while, Daisy. "

" .... "

"I understand. "

I nodded at Daisy when she asked me to get going first and then as she walks away, I slowly lean on my chair to get some rest under the big tree that covers my head from the sun with its big shade.

' Ugh. it's quite hard to keep Adam as my pet... I need to hurry to find the way.. '

" Greeting the lady. "

Suddenly a sudden shade of a man blocked my way from getting the hot light from the sun.

Blinked by the man before of me. I look at him dumbfounded. " What's the matter? "

" Greeting lady Claire, marquis Escart at your service. "

" Marquis Escart? "

" I see. Please take a seat, marquis. " quickly I sit still on my seat and look at him with a big smile.

'Marquis Escart', one of father's right man and the most loyal families in the history of Romanoff. Seem like father already knew what's going on within the Allardis Palace.

" Hm-mm. Seem like the archduke sends you to help me with the works here, marquis. "

" Ah, you're still quick-witted as always, my lady. seem like the decision that I make will soon bear fruit. "

With a smirk at his tested words towards me, I place my chin on the back of my palm while raise my left eyebrow to look at him. " Although you don't know whether the fruit will become poisonous or not? "

" Hm? That's quite interesting, my lady. You obviously tell me about your thoughts on having a trusted ally. " he continued to sip his tea with a big grin on his lips as a response to my words.

" That's true, marquis. I need some influence that I could give my trust to, so I need to be a little firm with everyone. "

" Even though the influence you mentioned at was once an enemy to you? " saying that, the marquis take a glance at Adam and slowly lean his back on the chair with a disappointed face.

" I don't know what's going through your clever head but this is unexpectedly unforgivable sins, my lady. You purposely abandoned the Romanoff even though you're the right heir and then unexpectedly you took over the Allardis duchy and get engaged with their only heir even though you're supposed to be a crown princess next year. "

While calmly sip my tea again, I let go of a sigh in annoyance.

" I have changed my mind at the last minute, marquis. From my own view, crown prince Noelle wasn't suitable for the throne. "

" ..! "

" Then, you mean..? "

I glance at Adam while gently stroke his head with a smile.

" No, No. you can't! the grand duke wouldn't agree with this plan at all. "

" I'm not going to hear his opinion in this matter, marquis. I would arrange my plan as I pleased. "

" Lady Claire! you can't do this! the Romanoff has depends on you since you were born but you were gonna turn your back from our trusts? "

" No, I'm not. you wanted me to become the empress so I'll grant yours wish no matter what. "

" But this gonna be a rebellious act towards the right successor of the throne! "

" Marquis Escart. " I quickly look at him firmly with my green eyes.

" ...sigh. "

" ...I understand just by looking at your gaze, lady Claire. but do you really think that the emperor would agree with this nonsense plan of yours? "

" I'll take care of that matter as well, marquis. "

" Ha. but you need to.. "

" We'll not discuss these matter any further than this until I successfully change my main subject in my plan, marquis. "

" ..... " with a disappointed gaze, marquis Escart who was standing in annoyed quickly takes his seat with a big sigh came out from his mouth.

" I knew you had something that you've already set on your mind and nothing can change it anymore but I hope you'll think about these matters more carefully, lady Claire. "

" I'll keep that in my mind, marquis Escart. and for the help, I'd be happy to take in someone I can trust, like you. "

" ..... "

" Yes, lady Claire. It's a pleasure to help you with all of I've. " with a bow towards me, marquis Escart slowly gets up from his seat and walk away from me with a disappointed expression on his face.

****

" My lady, where are you going? " Daisy look at me with a dumbfounded face when I suddenly turn my way towards the left-wing building although we were supposed to have a teatime these hours.

" To the library. I'll be there until evening to does my studies. "

" Yes, my lady. "

" ....Hmm. "

" There's nothing.. "

As we walk through the shelf in the library, I look at Adam who walks behind me with his tail wagging in eagerness.

" Why I couldn't find any book about the west tower, Adam? "

" Woof! "

" ... "

" Sigh... If only you could tell me.. " with a smile, I stroke Adam's head while continuing my walk through the library again.

" Hello there. "

" ...! "

Stop her feet from getting further. Claire looks before her with a frown on her face. There, suddenly a black figure of a man stood right before the end of the wall in the library looking at her with a smirk on his face. Blocking her way to get further anymore.

" Who are you? " while my voice starting to get shaking, I tried to had a better look at his face with my green eyes. It's really hard since the guy purposely stood in the darkness with his face get cover with a cloak that he's wearing.

" Come with me. " with his rough voice, the guy suddenly turns his body away from Claire and continue his step to the dark even further.

" To where? "

" Grr! grr! " I quickly change my sight to look at Adam who was suddenly growling in anger with the presence of an unknown man in front of us. While trying to hold his leash by tightening my grip on it, even more, I stroke his head gently to make him calm down.

" Adam. Sit still! "

" Grr! Grr! Grrr! "

Even though I command him to do so but he's not even listening to it for the first time and eagerly take a step further to catch the guy with his growl sounds.

" Adam! " dragged by his tough force, my body gets to lead by his step into the dark and thus we walk in the dark while Adam won't stop his growling on each step we take as if he's being wary by his surroundings.

" Let him be. Let go of the leash and come with me, Claire. "

" Grrr! "

" You know me? " asked the question towards the guy even though I didn't take a glimpse of him, I look at Adam while trying to calm him down.

" I know you. You wanted to know about the west tower. Let him go now and come with me, Claire. "

" I won't. I don't trust you. Who knows what you would do to him. "

" ..... " a silence suddenly breaks the air within us in that dark place.

" Alright then. At least let me do this to help you. "

" What? "

Bang!

" ...!!! "

In shock by the loud sound beside me, I look at Adam's body beside me that suddenly freeze up and didn't even move at all anymore.

" Wh-at..? what did you do to Adam!? "

Fwoosh...

" ...!! "

" Adam! " my voice shook as I keep calling his name with my cold lips, while my hand keeps shaking Adam's body that slump on the ground like a dead body right beside of me, I glare at the man in anger.

" What have you done!!? "

" Adam!! "