Chapter 25
Tap, tap, tap!
The butler hastened his footsteps in a hurry as he saw the time on his pocket watch.
Nario arrived in front of the chamber where his master was and knocked on the carved wooden door.
"Master...this is Nario. I came to inform you that the carriage is ready."
"Master..."
Nario knocked again when he didn't receive any response. Two minutes had passed, yet Duke Idris didn't reply to his call.
"Master, I'm coming in," Nario said and opened the door.
When he opened the door, Nario was welcomed with a soft melody playing on the vinyl player. It is a beautiful piece that gives the listener a sense of peace and serenity, in contrast to the gruesome sight of corpses inside the dark room.
The smell of blood entered his nose as he stepped inside the room. Nario's face remained unchanged as he skillfully stepped on the pool of blood without getting his shoes dirty. Amid the dead bodies lying on the floor, Nario found his master sleeping peacefully on the chair beside the large window.
The bright moonlight seeping through the window cast a serene illusion on the Duke's face.
"Master... it's time to wake up."
Her long black lashes trembled. Idris's eyes slowly opened, revealing a pair of beautiful crimson orbs.
Idris's eyes moved and settled on the butler, politely bowing beside her.
Duke Idris rose from her seat, took off her white gloves stained with blood, and threw them on the floor.
"Please, change your gloves with this," Nario presented a pair of black gloves to her.
Idris wore the fresh gloves without hesitation and fixed her wrinkled clothes. Nario fetches her coat on the chair and helps Idris to wear it.
"Tell the servants to clean this up," Idris ordered indifferently before leaving.
"Yes, Master."
* * *
A luxurious carriage donned with an intricate crest of a black rose surrounded by six swords arrived at the Imperial Palace.
The knight quickly came forward to open the door. A woman dressed in a men's outfit with an imposing aura stepped out from the carriage. Her shoulder-length black hair was neatly combed into a slick back hairstyle, revealing her ears decorated with golden ear cuffs and a pair of silver Taslan earrings.
The luxurious purple cravat tied around her neck was decorated with a large emerald brooch. Her black coat and vest were embroidered with silver linings and gold threads.
"Welcome, Your Excellency."
The knights guarding the entrance greeted her.
Idris looked at the Imperial guard and nodded before ascending the stairs leading toward the entrance of the Imperial Ball.
The doorman opened the door and announced her arrival, "Entering Her Excellency, Duke Idris Calista Von Dirvyr!"
Idris Calista Von Dirvyr is the current lord of the Ravalan Dukedom, located in the western part of the Soerein Empire.
It wasn't that long since she ascended to the position of a Duke after winning the succession battle. No one expected that the youngest child of the previous Duke Jeanne Sarax Von Dirvyr would win the battle of succession.
Idris is the daughter of the former Duke to his 3rd wife, Eleanore Calista, a foreign royal Princess with no backing in the Soerein empire.
The youngest has no intention to compete against her siblings and has no greed to take the Duke's title. Jeanne was disappointed when he learned that Idris wanted to travel the continent, as he was aware of his daughter's incredible talent that surpassed his four children.
Nevertheless, Idris took the successor class because it was a tradition of the Dirvyr family to allow all the children to have equal rights regardless of their birth rights.
However, Idris's siblings noticed the subtle favoritism of their father and hatched a plan to dispose of Idris completely. And they decided to target Idris's weakness, her mother, Eleanore. At the scheme of her siblings, Idris's mother died. Eleanore was assassinated using an extremely rare poison that is tasteless, odorless, and almost impossible to detect.
At that moment, Idris, who lost herself in rage, held out a mana sword and marched toward her siblings. She killed her stepmothers in front of her siblings without mercy and slaughtered them like a savage beast.
At that moment, Idris earned the name, The Devil of the Black Rose.
Idris frowned as she saw the eyes of the nobles dart toward her. She was aware of her reputation that was circling the capital.
They called her many names, the devil, a savage beast, and the tyrant of the west.
Idris couldn't help but frown at the unsavory gaze of the nobles. She hated mingling with this flock of bird brains, who knew nothing but to indulge in luxuries and pretentious conversation.
"Duke Dirvyr, it's been such a long time."
The man with slanted eyes approached her. He is the heir of Duke Palmore, Glen Diego Palmore, and Idris's classmate in the academy. However, the two have been at odds since the start of their academy days.
Idris has a strong distaste for Glen. Many thought of him as well-mannered and a good-natured noble. But, the truth is he was an arrogant and a condescending prick.
Glen also hated Idris for being a genius despite her being laid-back. He couldn't accept the fact of being overshadowed by Idris. A woman.
His jealousy shot up when he learned that Idris inherited the Duke's title earlier than him. It was unthinkable for him to address Idris politely, as he now has a higher status than Glen.
"A wind must have blown over the west, seeing the reclusive Duke suddenly appeared in the capital." Glen sniggered.
"It's none of your business," Idris shunned him coldly and walked passed him.
She can feel Glen's eyes blazing in fury as he glared at her back. However, Idris didn't care because she knew Glen's downfall was nearing.
Idris's lips twisted into an evil smirk.
* * *
Sidereae scoffed in amusement.
She watched the nobles trudging carefully around her.
Even in this world, she is also avoided by people. Except for the few people who were trying to gain her favor. What differs between them is that they avoid Idris because they feared her.
Idris has power and authority that even the Imperial family cannot challenge easily, while Sidereae has nothing. She's powerless that even her existence was also questioned.
Her train of thoughts was interrupted when the announcer announced the arrival of the Imperial family.
His Majesty the Emperor and the Empress on his side arrived in the ballroom. Behind them were the Crown Prince and the Princess.
They are dazzling to see. The clothes down to the tiniest accessories were all made from the finest and most luxurious materials in Soerien Empire.
As the Imperial family appeared, the air inside the ballroom changed drastically. Everyone can feel their imposing aura from them.
Idris can feel the regality in the gait of Emperor Terron, even from afar.
The nobles quickly greet the Imperial family with different intentions, and Idris couldn't help but sneer at their disgusting personalities.
They either blatantly or subtly tried to butter up with the Imperial family while trying to marry their sons and daughters to the Crown Prince and the Princess.
Idris is no exception for having a foul personality. However, she would not stoop that low because of greed.
She despised people who couldn't satiate their hunger for power.
"Tch!"
Idris clicked her tongue when she noticed that the Emperor was looking at her. His sea-colored eyes curved as the Emperor caught her presence.
With a reluctant feeling, Idris had no choice but to give her greetings to the Imperial family. She strode forward and halted a few steps away before taking a deep bow.
"Duke Idris Calista Von Dirvyr humbly greets the mighty ruler of the empire."
"Hm, I am surprised that the Duke accepted the invitation and finally showed her face to the capital," Emperor Terron said.
"Of course. I dare not disobey an Imperial Order from Your Majesty," Idris responded politely."It is my humble duty to comply."
Terron burst into laughter at Idris's attitude. Despite her polite speaking, a tinged of irritation is hidden behind Idris's voice.
Her crimson eyes wore an uninterested expression conveying that everything was bothersome.
"Is the Duke pertaining that you would not attend a ball hosted by the Imperial Family if it's not an order? Aren't you being rude and disrespectful to the noblest family in the Empire?" Empress Felicia said in a rebuking voice as she sharply glared at Idris.
"If that is how Your Majesty perceived it, then I sincerely apologized," Idris answered and bowed again.
The nobles who watch this scene has a mixture of intrigued and grim look at the exchange between Idris and the Imperial Family.
It is widely known throughout the Soerien Empire that the Imperial Family and the Duke of Dirvyr have a dour relationship.
These two families have been keeping on checking each other for decades. As the Imperial Family was afraid that the Dirvrys would gain more power than could challenge their authority. And because the Ravalan Duchy is in the westernmost part of the Soerien, it would pose a great problem if Duke Idris decided to betray the Empire and allied herself with the Palveno Kingdom.
The Kingdom had diplomatic issues with the Soerien Empire, and they became more severe after Elleanor's death.
Terron knew the close relationship between the Palveno Kingdom and the Ravalan Duchy because of Idris's mother, Elleanor, the King's sister.
"Now, now. Duke Idris must have her reasons, my dear Empress."
"Hmph!" Felicia scoffed, "If that's true, then I shall forgive her insolence towards us."
"Thank you for your generosity."
After her brief exchange with the Imperial family, Idris turned her back against the ballroom and left.
Sigh.
Idris let out a deep sigh and loosened the cravat tied around her neck. She leaned against the carriage wall and looked at the outside window.
She wants to go home badly and take a rest but couldn't do it right away because of her prior engagement.
"This is so troublesome," Idris complained.
"Konrad, tell the Coachman to go faster. I want this evening to end quickly," she ordered tiredly before casting illusion magic to hide the carriage's appearance.
"Yes, Master."