The foul stench!

"My lady." Evans laid on the ground as I let go of the sword and finally stopped attacking him. He was looking drained, beaten and exhausted as if he had fought with an army alone.

"Maria, haven't I told you not to disturb me when I am practicing my sword? Or else you will get attacked one day." her face turned white at my empath threat as she took a few steps back.

"My lady, his royal highness, the crown prince is here. He was with a guest and told them that he invited them this time. And asked for an audience this instant.`` That fool! He did not leave a chance to come to the palace as if it belonged to him.

"Ask them to wait in the parlor room. I will be there in a while." she nodded and left when i looked at the man.

"Take a break. Go back to your quarter and rest until you are called." though he looked at me confused, yet he took a breath of relief and nodded.

"Thank you, my lady." I nodded and left from there as he continued to lay in the grass.

That stench again! It was so strong that just by entering the palace I could feel it.

I had decided to bathe first but now I let that plan go. I have to meet them and get done with them first before the person feels the presence of Evans.

I entered the parlor room where both were sitting comfortably on the plush chairs and laughing as if it was their room. The table was filled with an assortment of snacks and special tea that I had recently ordered. I must say that the man was completely opposite to his father who didn't eat food so leisurely even in his own palace.

They turned to look at the door when they heard my footsteps.

"My lady, you are finally here. I have thought that it would take ages to see you again. But luck is on my side that i got the chance to see you again this soon even when you rejected to have a meal with me." he replied with a bright smile as he took my hand and kissed it.

I need to take a bath twice now!

"Your highness, I have never thought that you have this much leisure time to escort a mere baroness who was not even noble by blood. I must say you are too kind and benevolent to do that.'' In short you're a fool who has nothing to do but to roam around from one place to another and lust over the women.

"Aah, I am learning only from you, my lady. If you can give your time and efforts in teaching her. I can at least help you by bringing her here on time." though the crown prince did not notice, her contorted face showed that she had got the meaning behind my words.

At least one of them had brains! Speaking of brains, I did not feel the stench anymore that was hitting my brain.

I looked at the four knights that were standing behind them.

"Have a seat, your highness. I have brought this tea specially from the northern border. Since the maids have already served you my precious tea, I expect that you did not waste it." the girl coughed as she choked on her drink while the crown prince gritted his teeth.

"I didn't know that the palace is suffering from financial losses. Or else i would have brought the tea from the royal palace.'' I raised a brow at his witty reply. This was not the crown prince I knew of and the smirk on the girl's face told me that it had something to do with her.

But I did not see her even lipsing. Then how did she pass the remark to him as they could not know what comment i was going to pass in advance to prepare for it before meeting me.

But I forgot about that when I felt the same stench. My eyes snapped to the knights again.

"You have only bought 6 knights with you, your highness?" I tried to scan all of them but I did not find any abnormality in them. But they could have covered it well.

"Yes! And two of them would stay here as the personal knight of lady Olivia.`` I smiled at the way he called the girl, a lady. Well, at least she is dressed up decently today.

"Of course, after all, the palace is not safe place and attack could happen anytime.'' My sweet and enchanting smile was just opposite to my mocking eyes as I gave a look to both of them.

"My lady, how could this be! I am sure the duchess will protect me even if she had to sacrifice her life. After all, she had promised his majesty. But what can I do? I would feel alone if I do not have anyone knowing by my side. Lara has protected me since i was a kid and Elijah is a kind man who has helped me in bearing my loss when my parents died." there were tears in her eyes. She was looking so pitiful, so weak! A perfect damsel in distress. If i did not know any better i would have felt for it too.

Like the man sitting beside her. His hands were already on her shoulder and another was on her cheeks as he tried to wipe the unshed tears from her face.

"My lady, she is only trying to fight for her loneliness. As a woman who has recently lost her parents. You should be more considerate. Or is that you did not know the feeling or emotions a child has towards her family, since you have personally killed your own family." killing my own family. That was how I was known in the empire. The devil who killed her own family. No one even tried to know who I had killed and why.. All they did was to accuse me for that, yet I was never punished.