work together

Dumbi Royal Palace.

"Father would be going to Gousho in a few days; when he returns, there would be a date for the marriage rite, and then we can make our next move," Jessica told Benedict, who came visiting.

Benedict nodded her head without saying a word. She looked deep in thought. "what is bothering you?" Jessica noticed the look on her cousin's face.

"Father, I overheard him talking with mother yesterday; it seems he wants to marry me off to the son of Lord Lucas," Benedict replied.

"What?" princess Jessica did not expect such a thing. "Are you sure of this?" she asked, feeling her headache. She did not expect her uncle to do something like that. If Benedict replaced her to marry the second prince when her father wanted her to marry someone from the Lucas family, Jessica would also have to take the place of Benedict.

"yes, I heard father and lord Lucas talking about it. Although Father has not accepted, I am sure he will; after all, the Lucas family is respected," Benedict replied.

"then we would have to cancel the arrangement; if I would have to marry someone from the Lucas family after you marry the second prince, then I would just go ahead and marry the prince," Jessica sighed. She felt that fate has decided to play her.

"No," Benedict panicked. She only made mention of the marriage with the Lucas family so that Jessica could see that she was giving up something in order to help her. Who knew that the princess would react opposite of what she expected. Jessica looked at her and felt something was wrong with her cousin's reaction. one minute, she looked like she wanted to marry the young man from the Lucas family and the next, she acted like marrying the second prince was her life.

"I am just telling you, I would tell mother about our plans; I am sure she would find a way to convince father," Benedict explained; she could tell that Jessica was suspicious.

"uncle is difficult to convince; if you can't convince him, then forget it," Jessica shook her head. She was not a person who did not care about the difficulties of others.

Benedict nodded, but she was sure her father would accept. The Lucas family was only a tiny fish compared to the royal family of Gousho.

.....

" Lady Benedict," someone called Benedict once she came out of the palace

Benedict turned to see a man she did not know. "General Ramsey Balthazar would like to have a word with you," the man said.

Benedict looked puzzled; she had liked Ramsey for a long time, but the man had never looked her way, so she was surprised that he had taken the initiative to see her.

"where is he?" she asked. She was suspicious of the man in front of her.

"His carriage is next to yours," the man replied. Benedict looked a distance away. Indeed, there was a carriage not far from hers. She hesitated for a few seconds but still walked toward the carriage. At least if there were a chance for her to cause trouble between the princess ad Ramsey, she would happily make a move.

Ramsey smiled when he saw Benedict getting into the carriage. His smile made Benedict's heart miss a beat. She had liked Ramsey from a young age; back then, she had done everything to be close to him, but he always had an awful personality. When the princess turned sixteen, she met with an accident, and Ramsey saved her.

She had hurried to visit the princess and when she saw Ramsey present she had thought it her chance to get his attention, but the man had his eyes on Jessica. For months she had been bitter about this, so having him smile at her like that was like being given a box of gold.

"Do you have a message for the princess?" Benedict swallowed her unwillingness. Now she had to marry the second prince of Gousho. She could not throw herself at the man. Moreover, she could not expose her true thought to the princess at this time.

"No," Ramsey shook his head; he had observed her reaction since she stepped into the carriage. He knew that General Tait was trying to steal the throne from Jessica. If he could not take it for himself, he could get it for his son.

So Ramsey did not believe that Benedict was sincere in her friendship with the princess. Benedict was surprised by his answer.

"No?" Benedict had a puzzled look. She waited patiently for Ramsey to say what he had to say.

"I heard from the princess that you intend to replace her to marry the second prince?" He asked.

"Yes, the princess is dear to me, and I will do anything to make her happy," Benedict felt her tongue was bitter when she said those things.

Ramsey saw through her act, giving her a mockry look. "You can drop the pretends; I know you only want to marry the second prince of Gousho to help your brother fight for the throne," Ramsey exposed her with a smile.

Benedict felt her heart missed a beat when she heard this. Although she did not agree to marry the prince for these reasons, she seemed to figure out something when she thought about his words.

Her father indeed only cared for her brother, and the only reason he would recognise is if she was of any use to him.

Benedict balled her hand into a fist. She felt that her family only saw her as a tool to achieve their aim.

"Your father treats you like a tool; what if I tell you I have a way to free you from his control without you having to marry the second prince?" Ramsey asked.

"Why should I trust you?" Benedict was not stupid. She could tell that Ramsey was trying to use her as a tool.

"You don't have a choice; the two of us are the same; we are both taking advantage of the princess's love and trust, so it's best we can work together to achieve our aim," Ramsey replied.

"You want to betray the Princess?" Benedict Was shocked.

"Do not act surprised; the two of us are the same," Ramsey said.

"Are you not scared that I will expose your plans to the Princess?" Benedict asked. She felt that the princess might be trying to test her loyalty.

"You are free; we would both be exposed if you do. or do you think the princess is stupid not to see through the both of us if a seed of doubt is planted in her heart?" Ramsey raised his brows. Benedict swallowed. Indeed the only reason why she had fooled the princess for so long was that she trusted her,

"So, do you want to work together?" Ramsey asked., seeing that she had nothing to say.

"Let me listen to your plan first,"