Chapter 9

She saw the kid sitting in her seat, wearing her glasses, looking cute. When Violet saw him she wanted to pinch his cheeks that resembled a marshmellow. She gave up her work and started playing with him. After spending about an hour in the garden, she realized she hadn't even asked his name.

"Do you know what your name his?", she asked him in a sweet voice. The kid didn't respond and just tilted his head as if he didn't understand. Violet called for Ana to know whose family he belonged to.

"Duke, it seems that the kid does not belong to any of guests who attended the ceremony. The servants say that he came with a suspicious man who dissappeared soon after the start of the event", Ana responded. She suspected the kid's background to be complicated which might put even the Savine family in danger.

Violet glanced at the child which was playing by itself in the corner. 'As if the current problems are not enough, I even have to deal with a kid whose name and origin is unknown. Well, at least its lovely little one', she thought. Violet commanded Ana to arrange a room as well as some trustworthy servants for him since he might be staying with them for quite a while.

The same day she was summoned by the emperor, although it was not unexpected, she still found it to be nerve wracking. The carriage sent by the Royal Palace was quite eye catching, extravagant and elegant. It set start as soon as she climbed it. Within few minutes, she found the carriage in the vicinity of the Royal Palace. She was led to the king by the gurads into the room accomodating the emperor and other aristocrats.

The guard guarding the door announced her arrival as the door slowly opened. Entering the hall, she felt like a culprit being interrogated in a court with the king as a judge and the aristocrats as the witnesses. The air at once became serious with the king breaking the silence.

"A very good evening Ms.Violet. Let's skip all the formalities and get right to the matter, shall we?", his voice was commanding and imposing at the same time.

"Yes, your majesty", she responded while bowing. Since she was a duke now, it was not necessary for her to get down on one knee to greet him.

"How do you explain the incident which took place yesterday?", He questioned me solemnly.

"I apologize for my incompetency. According to the sources, there was a spy among us. They had planned it carefully beforhand. Our people were drugged prior to the ceremony, thus they were unconcious during the whole time. Taking advantage of it, the cloaked men created a ruckus by attacking us. In the meantime, my brother was kidnapped and taken along with them. After investigating I found that they were men from the 'Asis' guild. As to the reason for them to do so is still unknow, your majesty", she informed him.

While half of it was filled with truth, the other half was filled with lies. After all she couldn't have said that he had escaped in spite of such tight security, even though she had kept her eye on him. Evan being the guild leader was unknown to others which proved to be an advantage for her. Violet managed to find some information about him with the help of Ana who was quite familiar with the place where information was bought and sold.

She could tell that the emperor was still suspicious of her. Others might have bought her lies but not the Emperor. He might have not bothered over such small issues if it had occured in other familes. The monarch had always kept the Savine's and the Calisto's in check for they had always been a time bomb for them as well as their kingdom.