Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

The sun was setting and Sancho's office- in the inner palace was painted in red hue. The atmosphere, were heavy enough to affect my breathing. Both of them looked at me with serious expression, they are still against this idea however it's a raise against time and this plan is the only one that could slow them down. A month before our wedding, I was supposed to be contracted with an unknown disease and Logan, pretending to love me will still push through the wedding, then two months later, my health should decline then finally four months into our marriage I'll die of that disease. There is only one type of poison that can cause such symptoms- wolfsbane.

"So, let's hear your plan." Sancho looked at me with stern eyes the blush of orange light from the sunset behind him made him look more dashing. Sapphire eyes similar to mine stared at me as if one wrong move could earn me a one way ticket to afterlife.

"First, let's rush the wedding. It should be next month." I said nonchalantly as I sat on the sofa. They both looked at me confused, well it makes sense we wanted to buy time yet here I am planning to rush the wedding.

"Logan's side that plans to commit treason were lesser than the supporters of the royal family. That was exactly why they needed the help of another country and it will take a lot of time for them to prepare for an attack because they have to weaken the royal family first. Since our supporters are bigger than theirs, they'll use a psychological attack by using me" I had been the subject of everyone's affection and it's safe to say that I am my family's weakness.

"So how exactly can your death buy us time? And you're actually rushing through the wedding!" Sancho snapped as if all those faith he has in finally agreeing to my seemingly stupid plan were all down the drain.

"If I'm not mistaken, someone in Eclates also plans to commit treason and after helping Logan's forces, he'll lend them a hand in return." The question is who is that person?

"According to the report, Eclates military forces were weaken due to the civil war that happened between their two powerful noble families. It will take them sometime to reorganize everything and whoever is helping Logan, he won't be stupid enough to send soldiers right away. If I die right on our wedding day, that will cause them confusion, they won't be able to take advantage of your grief because their help were not yet ready. And by the time they are prepared, you're already over with the death of the princess." Silence, the two of them just stared at me contemplating whether what I said made sense or not.

"How did you know about the timeline of his plan?" Helix looked at me with eyes full of suspicion. Yes, how exactly did I know about this?

"Lady Maureen is stupid enough to write his plans on her diary. She was jotting down the time it'll take before she becomes queen." I said nonchalantly. Lady Maureen was quite the ambitious even in high society, for a daughter of a count, she would always flail her arms around those who have a status higher than hers, she even invited herself to the castle on the pre tense of visiting her friend which is in this case, me.

"How did you get her diary? Where is it now?" Sancho asked, well it is potential evidence.

"In her room? One of her maids is my loyal spy. I asked her to copy her diary as if it was the original. It would be bad if she noticed her diary was missing." I said. Now the problem is how things would play after my "death".

"Brother, after my death my body won't appear until a week later. Use that time to gather forces and evidences as much as you can under the pretext of searching for my body." One week may be a short while but it should be enough to cause a ruckus.

"We need to be careful. We have to match their timeline as to not draw any suspicion." If he needs a year, it means that their treason won't happen until winter next year. Or if worse thing that the attack happens to be earlier than expected, it should six months from now, that should be enough time for us.

"Then, answer me Asiana. Where do you plan to hide?" For the first time in a while, Helix called me by my first name which means he won't be taking any indecisive answer.

I never thought about that! Where do I go after I die? I may have originally made this plan but that was just the general idea the rest is up to them. All I have to do is die peacefully and forget about being Princess Asiana.

"I- Uh, I don't think I should tell you?" if they knew where I am, no matter how smart they are they will definitely won't be able to resist themselves to check up on me. That may ruin our plan.

"Look, you can't know where I am! Some may grew suspicious and snoop around, and if they find out you were checking up on me, that will ruin everything!" I looked their dark eyes a pair of emerald doe find its way to meet my sapphire ones. I can feel the discontent of everyone in the room but they had no choice but to surrender. Right now, our priority is to smoothly get rid of the Achilles heel of the royal family. Me.

"Mother! Father!" I smiled and kissed them both on their cheeks. Both of them are aware of the situation which is why after my untimely death, they'll spend their time mourning away from the capital, in an island that only the member of the royal family knows. Ideally, I should join them but with the risk of being followed I decided to go on a separate journey.

"Sol, I have talked with Duke Asval. He was actually against the idea of you rushing the marriage, should pass a royal decree?" his majesty, my father asked. That is to be expected anyway, considering his personality, Logan will definitely panic when his plans never goes his way.

"Yes, father." I answered with a smile.

And the next day, an angry Duke came to me.

"Asiana! What the hell is this? Why are you suddenly rushing the wedding?" I stared at Logan's face, his dark black eyes shoots daggers at me and his brown hair shines in the sun. I took a sip of my tea and asked him to sit down. What a way to kill the mood, his majesty send a royal order early this morning and now he's here trying to suppress his anger by harassing me. I never really loved Logan to be this heartbroken over his cheating issues, because to begin with it was an arrange marriage that their family's been pushing through for years. Apparently, the moment they knew that a princess was born, they were shameless enough to send an engagement proposal right away.

I smiled sweetly and gently brushed my hands in his arms.

"Why, Logan? Almost all of the preparations are ready, even if we move it tomorrow, the wedding will still be a success." I sweetly answered his brows furrowed as if he heard the most ridiculous excuse there ever has. Has he always been this overbearing? From what I remember, he always acted like a fool who's head over heels in love with me. His actions right now is a full contradiction of what he has done to so far.

"That's not the point! I still have to sort things out on my end, we're going to be family from now on I just want to ensure a good future for you." I almost laugh at his sudden shift of emotion, what an actor. The way he gently speaks to me could be perceived as soothing but in reality it was his way to coaxed me into trying not to rush things.

"Logan." I called out his name coldly. This guy shamelessly tried to make it seem as if I was that desperate for him when in fact it was them who practically threw themselves on us.

"Did you forget that this whole engagement was made because the Asvals have been pestering us the moment I was born? I should've been with Helix right now but I'm rushing our wedding. You should consider it as an act of mercy from me before I decide to break it off with you and be the Marchioness de Marso." Logan stood still in his sit while I rose up and left my napkin on the table. His expression was shocked as if he just realized something. I feel sorry for using Helix's name in this kind of moment, but from the very beginning, I have always tried to get away from my engagement with him by setting up an ambiance that me, and the Marquis of de Marso were an item.

"So you really can't give me your heart despite me being your fiancé?" the way he answered made me cringed. What the hell why does it sound like he's a victim of a cheating scene from a play? I smiled.

"I broke it up with him for the sake of 'our marriage' so we should get married before I change my mind."

If Helix was here, he would've died of trying to supress his glare towards me. I'm sorry Helix I need to keep Logan from trying to delay the plan.

"I understand." His sullen look can paint a picturesque view with the autumn leaves falling behind him. I smiled and turn around ready to take my leave.