Pride

Lady Vienna asked for Duke Raziel to pay a visit again to the Rogue guild.

But he has been refusing since breakfast this morning.

“I said, I’m busy today Vienna.” Was all his reply as he wrote a letter, sitting at his usual position in the mansion, which is his lovely chair at his desk.

“I am currently looking for a way to track your knight, as you requested of me last night.” He replied.

Lady Vienna looked at him. She didn’t think he would be serious in agreeing to that request. “Oh, you work fast.” She commented then continued asking, “But it’s fine. I have Roxy on my side. You can even ask Huxley to guard me.”

The reason why she’s so persistent to ask him is that she wants to talk to Fedel about what he said last night.

But Duke Raziel wouldn’t have to know that.

Duke Raziel shook his head, still firm at his decision. “No, it won’t be enough.”

“Then I can come alone. Haven’t you forgotten I am strong?”

Putting down his paper, he looked at her sternly, “It’s dangerous for you to be alone. Why are you even intent on going there? You want to meet someone?”

She pressed her lips in a thin line, now sulking. Crossing her arms in front of her, she protested, “I’m not meeting someone. And stop treating me like a child.”

He sighed, “I’m just worried, Vienna.”

Lady Vienna pouted and thought of an offer, “I won’t leave this room unless you say yes.”

That made him smirk, “Oh, I like that idea. It would be beneficial for me.”

Lady Vienna gulped, now regretting it. She shouldn’t have said that. She shouldn’t have.

Now she was forced to spend the rest of her morning sitting at the sofa in the center of the room in silence as she watches the duke sign the papers. She didn’t move in her seat, and neither did the Duke who seemed to tease her.

Her pride couldn’t even say anything.

She huffed, “Change your mind?”

“Still no. You have to persuade me better than that.” He said.

She gnawed her teeth and scoffed. Really, it feels like he’s not the villain duke anymore with the way he’s acting.

Well, neither does she. Is she even considered the villainess?

She’s not tormenting people anymore. What’s the point?

Having tea together with the duke, the rest of the hours passed as the duke decided to sit beside her and kept her company.

He stretched and sighed, and Lady Vienna smirked. “I can do something to ease your body’s pain.” She offered.

Duke Raziel instantly turned his head to her, “W-What are you talking about?” He sounded nervous and flustered but seemed excited. “That’s very daring for a noble lady to say…”

Lady Vienna quirked an eyebrow and started to get his hands and massaged it.

The Duke was hesitant at first and she just let her do it. “Oh, you were talking about that? I thought it was something else.” He mumbled.

Lady Vienna nodded, “Something else? What was on your mind?”

The duke refused her gaze and looked at the ground, “You don’t have to know.”

Lady Vienna decided to set his strange behavior aside and continued on massaging his hands. He seemed to relax quite a bit and cleared his throat to ask

“Where did you learn this? Were Noble ladies taught this?”

“No. I read this from a Chinese tradition. I do this to calm my nerves sometimes. I tried to do it to my brother sometimes but he felt nothing but tickles.”

Duke Raziel’s chest vibrated as he chuckled a bit, “You and your brother are close.” He commented and she nodded, her eyes shining brightly.

“Yes, we are. He’s irritating but I can’t deny that we need each other.” As she said that, she couldn’t help but feel sentimental and the memories of her and her brother started to make their way in her mind.

I wonder how they are doing now?

She suddenly missed her family. Their family dinners. She couldn’t deny that this marriage was rushed and how they were very accomodating to her. But being a daughter of the Xaviera family is really priceless.

She also misses Ramon and their family knights. Duels with them were fun. Were they sent on another mission?

“Well, I don’t have siblings. But I wonder what it feels like.” He admitted, his voice slurring a bit. Against his mask, she could see his red orbs faltering close until the duke leaned on the sofa and closed his eyes.

“I apologize. I think I need to take a break for now.” And with that, the duke slept on her shoulder. She hesitantly patted her back and sat completely still, not wanting to wake him up.

She stayed like that, supporting his head and carefully placing his head on the sofa. She made sure to move quietly and stand up.A

Well, she enjoyed that time with the duke. But sadly, she’s still persistent in her decision to go to the Rogue guild.

Opening and closing the door, she took one last glance at the duke before running away and got to her room.

Lady Vienna prepared a bit of coin and gold and her training attire. She’s a noble lady but she doesn’t want to wear a dress for now, not now when she’s chasing time. She couldn't afford to stumble in her dress while running, could she?

It was still in the afternoon but it should be enough. She would have enough time to go to the Rogue guild and return without the duke noticing.

Going to the gates, she spotted Roxy who was smiling from ear to ear.

“Thank you Lady Vienna for the advice! Huxley and I cleared things up. I misunderstood him.” She said.

“You’re welcome Roxy, but I’m in a bind here.” She said hurriedly, looking behind her. Huxley isn’t around too so that’s a good sign.

Roxy looked at her weirdly, “Oh, why are you in your training clothes, my lady?”

“Pose as me on my bed while I’m still gone.” Lady Vienna said urgently.

Roxy gasped and exclaimed, “Don’t tell me you’re going to escape?”

She instantly covered her maid's mouth and whispered, “Shh be quiet, Roxy. No, I’m not going to escape. I’ll just go somewhere for an hour. Help me.”

“But are you sure this is a good idea, your grace?” Roxy whispered back.

“I’ll bear the consequences. I need to go now. See you, Roxy.”

Grabbing the rope of the horse that she stole from the stables, she started to go up. A few maids managed to see her and were just silent and curious, but they didn’t say anything to stop her.

She knew her way to the Rogue guild, and it felt like she was the Lady Vienna who also escaped from her knight last time in search of Dillon.

She chuckled at the memory.

Except, she’s coming to the guild for another reason.

She finally arrived successfully at the Rogue guild and was greeted by some other masked man there. She couldn’t recognize them but one of them said, “Oh, you’re finally here.”

It’s strange. Why do they act like they are expecting her to come?

She looked at them, there were ten of them now. She couldn’t see Fedel around but what caught her attention was the man seated at the desk.

“I knew you would do this, Vienna.”

She blinked at his voice and his mask. It was Duke Raziel, smirking at her.

Wait, wasn’t he just sleeping? How did he get before her?