Chp.12: It was a hunch.

"In the modern world, I worked as the CEO of a company name W&K Corporations. I was an orphan who was adopted by the chairman of W&K Corporations when I was twelve years old. He was like a father figure for me. He paid for everything including my education and living expenses. I never got to know if he had any other family members apart from me. But overall he was a good man in my eyes. But one day everything changed and all the truth I knew just became lies." There was sudden anxiety in her eyes.

"Calm down duchess." Said Elena with a serene voice.

"When I was in the orphanage I had a friend. We were very good friends and even his mother was very nice. He also had a brother who used to play with us occasionally, but one day they left the house where they used to live and I was left all alone." Janice had a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"Everything in my life fell apart when that friend came back into my life. For the first time after seven years of adopting me, The chairman asked me to do a favor for him. I was always grateful that he did so much for me and paid for my education, so I said yes without a second thought.

That yes, cost me the loss of everyone in my life. After that, I just lived as a doll who worked for the company day and night. I guess the chairman loved to see me in that state, he also created all kinds of rumors so no one can approach me.

But I guess, there is a price for everything to be paid, and doing that favor was the price I paid." Janice narrated.

"But then he personally came to ask me for the reason behind my actions. I never once wanted to be forgiven for what I did, but seeing the agony and anger in his eyes, made me feel hopeless and helpless. I always wished growing up that we will become very good friends if we meet once again. But when we did meet again, everything was over." Tears started rolling down her eyes.

Baroness without a single word handed over a napkin to Janice.

"The day when I came here, was the day when I decided all the truth that I kept with myself for three years. But I guess Destiny is indeed a cruel thing. I never saw him again and I guess I will never be able to see him and clear all the misunderstandings between us." Janice had the expression of regret.

"Do you regret it duchess?" asked Elena.

"No. I don't have any feelings about anything right now." Janice gave a flat response.

There was a silence of a couple of seconds.

"Janice was pregnant the last time we met before three years." Elena started to narrate the story of Janice Tyler.

"She was a good girl, used to do all the work, and had a smart approach to everything. She was also first academically. The king liked her overall personality and it turned out that the king had a favor that he owed to Baron Tyler, Janice's father. The king announced the engagement of the crown prince and Janice, without asking either Janice or the Crown Prince. But there was a war that lasted for two years and the crown prince had to go on the battlefield." She explained.

"And in that time period, Janice met Duke Gilbert, Noah's father. People say that upon his request, the king annulled the engagement between Janice and the Crown prince. And immediately in the spring of that very year, he arranged the marriage of Janice and the current Duke Gilbert." She said.

"But what people said was only half the truth." Said Elena.

"The king was anxious about will his son win or die and the baron's business also wasn't doing well either. Seeing the king's lack of firmness in the decision, Janice's mother.."

"Mom?" Janice interrupted.

"Yes, Baroness Hera Tyler, used her witch powers to unlock Janice's witch powers.", Elena said.

"That means Janice was a Witch too?" asked Janice.

"Yes. And no one knew it, not even the current duke." Said Elena.

"Her mother did all this solely so if Prince Kyte gets injured In the war, Janice can heal him to win over the king's royal favor. And indeed that day someone was injured and came back from the battlefield. But without thinking twice, Janice used her powers to heal him. She never saw the crown prince and thought the person she was healing was the crown prince. But since they were in the royal castle the news spread quickly that Janice cured someone. Within the next few hours, the rumor was denied when Hera concealed the fact that Janice had any powers. She said that Janice had knowledge of medicine and by mistakenly healed Noah Gilbert, the son of Duke Gilbert and the direct heir to the duchy without seeking permission first." Explained Elena.

"But how did Elena concealed the fact that Janice healed Noah and had any powers?" Janice asked out of curiosity.

"She killed the maid who spread the rumor." Said Elena with a smile.

Janice suddenly felt shivers down the spine.

"Hera gave her powers to Janice to help the crown prince but things took the worst possible path when she healed Noah instead and she also felt the hunch that maybe the crown prince won't ever return from the battlefield. Due to her bad habit of jumping to conclusions, she met with the Duke and asked him to get the king to annul the engagement between Janice and Crown Prince. And since his son was saved by the Baroness' daughter, he decided to agree." Said Elena.

"But why did Noah marry Janice? They never knew each other in the first place?" asked Janice.

"Because Janice's mother didn't want to let go the power that she suddenly over one night got a key to. That power was the 'Power of Nobility.' And for that she made the duke agree to an arranged marriage between Noah and Janice. That's how they got married." She said.

"By that time everyone was sure that the crown prince would never return since the condition at the borders was only getting worst. But two days after Janice's wedding he returned and asked to look for Janice." Elena took a pause.

"That's when everything started to fall apart for everyone, duchess.", Elena said with a glare in her eyes.