'She didn’t want a title to answer to.'

"We don't know what's going to happen next, so don't beat yourself up too much." Vance laid a comforting hand on top of Amelia's. "First, we need to verify the report about the weapons and put a stop to it early, then we can move to how we're supposed to face this… issue," the advisor seemed to be out of words, "and how to deal with it."

She tried so hard to control her breathing but seeing his hand patting hers, made her want to cry.

"Honestly, in my perspective, this is great!" Jude Colt sounded cheerful. "As we've formerly discussed, we're but a poor and humble duchy. Through the duchess' marriage to the wealthiest duchy in the empire, we might be able to turn the tables in our favor."

"I'll try to forget that you sounded just like a greedy bastard just now, Colt." Maud grimaced. "As I've pointed out earlier, this will be seen as an even greater threat."

Maud was right. With the addition of Walton's weapons, it would seem as if Osmea and Thuenia are trying to merge and create a separate sovereign state. George Walton, after all, is still a member of House Florence unless he drops dead or remarry someone else. It is more of a disadvantage than an advantageous one.

"The emperor will stop you, and we still don't know how the other kingdoms will react."

"That's why I'm not going to officially announce this in public."

"We'll let rumors be rumors," It was Lycken again who spoke. "I've been to my daughter's salon a few times now, and things like these are a favorite topic. Plus, with the duke's past reputation with women, as long as there's no concrete evidence, they'll see it just as one of the duke's ambitious conquests."

Ambitious conquest. Amelia mentally frowned at the thought but couldn't do anything than sigh. For someone who doesn't want to be part of her council, Lycken gave his opinion and suggested things the most.

"No matter where this choice of yours leads, your grace, I think we can all agree that your safety is of utmost concern and importance." It was Sir Lewis who spoke now, and the others nodded their heads in unison. "Some might rejoice when you're gone, but we've seen you grow up to the brilliant duchess you are now. We know your pain, sacrifices, and struggle so the duchy can keep its dignity and prestige, but we won't stay put and let someone come in and ruin what you've achieved."

A tear almost left Amelia's eyes so she diverted her attention to Count Royfield who was just listening and nodding along.

"I understand, Sir Lewis, and thank you for your kind words. I ask each of you here to keep supporting me, and I trust you to tell me otherwise if my decisions are wrong and keep me on the right track." There were sounds of agreement and smiles towards the duchess that any feeling of uncertainty left her.

She knows she has chosen the right people to surround her with.

And now for the last topic.

"Since the topic about my safety has come up, contrary to my statement earlier this morning…" Amelia turned to her advisor, "As much as I would offer everything I have and can, after much pondering earlier, I cannot allow you to leave the empire, Uncle." She looked him straight in the eyes.

Vance's eyes widened. His mouth opened and closed, at a loss for words.

"But duchess…"

"I am very sorry, Uncle Vance. I will send as much help as I can to Pradour, to find your family, but I can't let you travel and go in the middle of a brewing war. I need you here too, Uncle," she took his hand and squeezed it.

"I acknowledge your concern, duchess… Lia… but I can't turn my back on… my family too." He said and her hand squeezed tighter. Tears pricked the back of her eyes.

She can't cry. Not in front of her council; not in front of her advisor.

"You are not turning your back on them. You'll help them but somewhere where you can be away from harm's way so that you can do more to help."

"You don't understand, duchess… I…"

"My answer is still no, Uncle." She repeated, emphasizing the word 'uncle'. She stared at him so hard, but she heard no response. When Amelia saw Vance relaxed, she let go of his hand and faced her council again. "We will end our discussion here. This has been an insightful meet. We'll see each other again in the coming days. Sir Lewis, I'm sorry, but I have to postpone our discussion with Marchioness Maud to tomorrow afternoon. I'm a bit tired. And Mr. Beauchant, I hope to receive a positive response to my offer soon. Good day to everyone." Amelia slightly bowed her head and when the others did the same, she was the first one out the door.

She didn't have a destination in mind, and it is true that she was tired. Too much thinking exhausted her, and though she clearly heard her advisor calling after her, she pretended she didn't and went straight to her private quarters where her ladies-in-waiting were waiting, chatting.

"Your meeting took longer than expected. Would you like some tea while I have your bath prepared?" Constance knew exactly what Amelia wanted and the duchess was more than grateful for the initiative.

In the following days leading up to her birthday celebration, she ignored, declined, and rescheduled every single request to meet with her advisor. She knew what he's going to tell her and her heart's not ready for it. Just looking at him from afar made her want to cry. How much more talking to him alone? They've had usual meetings, but in the presence of others, and when his questions start to steer towards the topic of his departure, she cuts him off.

Amelia busied herself with the decorations of the halls, the food, and beverages to be served, writing invitations, and even nitpicking the color of table napkins, which, again, all looked the same to her, just so she can avoid having to meet with Vance.

"A letter without a stamp was handed to me by a knight who was on his way here. She said a messenger left it a while ago," Christa said the afternoon before the ball.

"Hmm?" Amelia raised her head from signing some last-minute approvals for some small requests, "Read it."

Christa tore off one side of the envelope and fished out the folded paper inside. "Uhm… It's a confirmation of Duke Clement's attendance at your ball." She said, not surprised since Amelia already told of her arrangement with the duke, though she received a lengthy lecture on what could go wrong or right with her association with the duke, just like her mother, she calmed down faster than Amelia thought.

"That's it?" Amelia sounded disinterested but she looked expectant as her hand stopped moving, until Christa finished reading the last bit.

" 'I hope you will grant me your first dance, Cice,' is what he said at the end." Christa almost rolled her eyes.

"Oh," was only the duchess' reply, but since she had her head down, her ladies-in-waiting didn't notice the small smile that drew on her face.

**********

"Have you sent the letter yet?" Alexander asked Jyver on their way back from the port.

"I have. Sir Whitt will come as soon as he can if he thinks there's something to gain. But if he's not here on the date and time specified in the letter, we can assume that he's not interested."

Alexander nodded. He didn't want to get the Felfords involved. If his grandchildren can do that kind of interrogation, how much more the very patriarch of it? He had set the time for the afternoon the day after tomorrow because he was planning on coming with Reignold back to Osmea for Amelia's birthday celebration.

"Are you bringing gifts to Osmea?" Jyver asked.

"I've been so busy I haven't thought about it."

"Well, I guess she'll be happy with just you being there since she's not a very materialistic person to begin with." Alexander nodded, smiling.

"But I still have to bring something, right? How can the duke of the wealthiest duchy in the empire not bring anything?"

The small chat ended there, and since it's still the middle of the day, Alexander thought he still have time to stop over another town before calling it a day.

The next morning, while the duke was out training with Jyver and his shadow knights, a servant came up to them. She came fairly calm but when his knights turned to face her, their sweat glistening across their muscled bodies, she blushed, and Alexander chuckled.

"What is it?" It was Jyver who came to her and asked.

"There's a man here to see you."

"Name?"

"He didn't say. I didn't see his face either since he was wearing a black cloak that covered most of his face." Jyver turned to Alexander.

"Bring the man to my office. Then have the other servants prepare me bath." Alexander ordered as he walked to a small table to gather his things, "We'll end our training here." He said to his knights, and they all nodded and then walked to where their things were.

It's Reignold. He came earlier than expected.

-----

"You're here early." Alexander greeted when he entered his office. "I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow."

"I've been staying at Castle Talcard in Romsey with Maud and Lewis." Reignold casually answered, only looking up to the duke when he passed beside him to sit at his desk.

"That's an odd combination. Why was Marchioness Maud there? It's that rundown castle between your northern and eastern borders, right?"

"We're doing some renovations and I happen to have time on my hands, so I volunteered."

The head of the Felfords Clan has all the time in the world, so why would he help renovate an old castle?

"Oh?" Alexander said, trying to sound uninterested.

"Where have you been these past few days? I've been waitin' for this for a while."

"Since my sister is out doing you-know-what, I've been at sea with my brother since our uncle had some business in Ragalla."

"I didn't know you have a brother." It's not where Alexander wanted the conversation to go but he'll play along until he can steer back to why he's staying at Romsey with Amelia's tactician and one of her knight commanders.

"Adopted. He's one of my knight commanders in charge of our men at sea."

"I thought it was your sister's job?" Reignold fiddled with one of the small ornaments on the duke's table, especially the crystal sculpture of a rose, one that Amelia sent him along with one of her replies to his letters.

"She didn't want a title to answer to." Alexander's eyes followed the clan head's fingers as he traced the petals. "It's almost time for lunch. Would you like to rest after then proceed to what you came here for tomorrow morning? I'll be leaving for Osmea for Amelia's ball tomorrow as well."

"No lunch," Reignold stood up and Alexander was surprised. "I just dropped by to let you know I'm here. I'm meeting someone in town."

"It's not one of your spies, is it?" Alexander meant it a joke but, instead, Reignold gave him a meaningful smirk and a small nod.

"Got'ta be the eyes and ears for our dear duchess." he said then he was out of the door.

Alexander leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Can't seem to get past that old man," he murmured as he, too, prepared to head out.