Chapter 17: Lonely Eyes and a Young heart

 The Duke returned.

As the carriage travels back to the Center Kingdom. The lovely, adorned lady is gazing out at her balcony. Her handmaiden came, ready to attend to her words.

She asked, "Has he left already?"

With a nod, the maid replied, "Yes, my lady."

"Up until now, my lady, he truly loves you," she said.

With a chilly voice, Princess Minerva said, "I still hate him."

"It was an unrequited love, but I still bet that the young Lord felt happy and fulfilled that he nurtured his one-sided love once again," she said coldly. The way she confidently utters it without hesitation is secondary to how her lady treats the young Lord.

Although he is such a faithful man, he will grow tired of unrequited love. As we know, being in the Central Kingdom means being in the spotlight, so he will be surrounded by lots of ladies. Don't worry, my lady. He will get tired of it soon. Her talkative handmaiden smiled and dared to comment again.

Princess Minerva remained silent for a bit before ordering her maid to leave her for a moment. 

There is a pain in her chest. Is that what she wants? She could never imagine what it would be like. She would love that to happen, right?

At least that is what she always thought; that's why she shoved him off but when her handmaiden spoke of it earlier,. It left her stunned and cold and the pain just started inside her chest. It seemed to freeze her body and weaken her knees and that was the first time she ever felt pain whenever she was thinking of the duke.

The young duke overlooked a crucial detail. When they initially met, he revealed one small secret to her. It is still possible to be immune to all mind weapon attacks and attempts, even when it seems to be a bluff. It is valid for common types of mind weapons.

Meanwhile, he returned after many weeks of travel.

The entire kingdom is getting ready for the next upcoming event. Kal, the head priest, was there with the emperor while chatting and fitting a perfect robe he could wear on the occasion.

He greeted the emperor.

The emperor asked, "Are you done punishing yourself?"

He flinched but he kept his composure and said, "Yes, your highness." He spat stinging words indifferently.

"Now that I'm done, may I request to excuse myself and take my leave," the duke replied, obviously doesn't want to stay inside that room in the presence of the tyrant.

The priest excused himself from the emperor's presence and went out to catch him.

The emperor gave Kal a chilly, cornered look of suspicion. Kal laughed and said, "I will not do anything displeasing," before hurrying away.

"Duke," he exclaimed.

"Don't take his remarks seriously. Evan is moody and frank," he said.

Oliver questioned, "Are you covering up for the emperor?" he said with a smirk.

"Ahh" is his brief and naive reaction.

The duke smiled. "I envy you, chief priest, despite your young age, you are held in a high, carefree position," he said.

He patted his back and laughed. "What do you mean by a high, carefree position? Aren't you the same?"

Oliver responded, "Pardon, it seems I am too troubled by my emotions lately," as the duke chuckled, sarcastically. "I just need a moment to calm down," he said, bowing to salute the high priest.

"My position doesn't want me to fall in love nor have my own family, probably I won't feel being not loved; but isn't that just a little lonely?" he said.

He puts his arms at his nape and seems to strangle him like a friend.

"Do you want me to give you a blessing from the heavens?" he said. He released himself from his arms. 

The young duke went ahead after a salute, while the young priest watched his back as he left. A grin started to show on his face.

"Too bad, it was given," Kal muttered.

He left to visit the five officials, who were busy at the moment. The duke immediately started looking for the young prince, Prince Orion, for his presence could not be found inside that room. He heard about the sulking young prince who doesn't want to leave his chambers out of shame but no one told him why. No one was answering while bearing a very serious expression.

It made him worried so he went to look for him. He rushed to see this young comrade. When he left, Prince Caster burst into laughter.

"You're the worst, you know that," Princess Shannon said. Prince Caster simply shrugs, to indicate that there is no way to avoid it. "Do not blame it all on me. You also don't give him an answer either," he said.

She comes across Lady Lianes Lovelle, the young princess who will soon become the emperor's concubine, on the way to the prince's quarters.

She had no attendants with her while she stood before the young prince's room. The expression on her face evokes a sense of guilt and concern.

He greeted the young lady. "Blessings and honor to one of the future brides of the emperor. What brings you here, my lady?" replied the duke.

The young lady averted her gaze and buried her head.

As he began to give the young woman safety instructions, the young duke grinned and said, "You didn't know that they may misunderstand your motive here if you go alone and stand with that face outside the young prince's door." "It will be unfaithfulness, my lady, and the punishment for cheating and slandering the emperor is not cheap," he said.

The innocent young lady was taken aback, which only increased her sense of guilt.

Others might misunderstand her remarks if they saw her. 

"I would drag the young prince again to shame," she said.

"Shame?" the duke repeated.

Since he noticed that the young lady knew what happened, he took the chance to ask her.

"Oh," he said, enlightened.

"Do not worry about the young prince. I'll tell him that you apologized for what happened, Now head back to your quarters," he said

He reached for her hand and then kissed it. He escorted her halfway to where her attendants were. They were so worried, searching for her.

She was reprimanded by her servants, "My lady, we are terribly worried." When they saw their lady's face, they were taken aback. They sat her down and said, "Get some cold water and medicine."

They said, "My lady, you are flushed red. Are you sick?"

She shook her head. "I am not. It's just a little trivial for me but I've never felt this way before," she stated.

They called for the royal physician to check.

Hearing about this, the emperor sent her assistance and Lady Luxiel visited her in her chambers the next day

"The emperor even sent you these gifts," she said.

The young lady shook her head and sadly stated, "It is not from the emperor. It was just said that it was from the emperor."

"What are you saying?" Lady Luxiel laughed. "Of course, it is from the emperor," she stated. 

A puzzled expression appears on her face and asks the young lady to tell her what happened.

"Sister, I'm still young though. Would a little crush be alright?" she said.

She was left dumbfounded.

Meanwhile.

The young duke still insisted on talking to the young prince but he knew very well that he would never let anyone inside his room so he went around and passed to the balcony of his room. Knocking on the door.