A sacrifice

After 2 weeks of preparation she finally is ready to visit the knights estate. It's been A month since her arrival in this world. And the world is bending to her liking. She no longer is viewed as a kid who was a puppet of her step mother. Every maid and workers are affected by her charm. They have found a new hope of protection and seen new potential in the duchy. Rosanna will be taking her business classes from 1st day of the coming week as the teacher assigned to her will be the chancellor himself. The duke condemned her words and assigned the best teacher of the empire Chancellor Aston. Aston is the director of the business handling of the duchy and anyone can tell that the richness of the duchy comes from his hard work. But he is the man whose family have been serving the duchy from generation to generation. He loves the duchy and it's his home. After the duke the one in the command is Aston himself. He have been witnessing the fall of the finance in the duchy after duke recklessly married the mistress who had two sons of the duke in desperate need of hire. But he is reviewing all the potential candidates to take over the duchy, the step sons and now a new candidate in the run 'Rosanna'. Aston is keeping a keen interest in her moments.

(In the knights training grounds Rosanna sudden appearance startled the knights. She is wearing a dark red dress with black laces around the neckline and edges. Red heels and red little necklace around her neck that perfectly matches her ruby eyes and red hair. She looked like a fairy of beauty and seduction. Her body posture was fragile as if she needs desperate protection yet her eyes looked dominant and powerful as if you want to bow your head to her. She looked like a master the knights always dreamed about.)

Knights: (murmurmur..) she looks astonishing. She is beautiful. I wanna protect her...(talking with each other)

Rosanna: Greetings to the protector of duchy. Greetings general Ashar. It's a pleasure to meet you.

Ashar: lady Rosanna! Don't bow your head to lowly humans like us. (Kneels down and kisses the back of her hand) We live to protect you.

Rosanna: You are embarrassing me general Ashar, you are the head of the knight you deserve my respect. I have brought some towels for the knights please accept it.

Ashar: Its your generosity my lady. Could you please tell us the reason of your visit.

Rosanna: Ashar..I will be watching your knights for few days. I have been allocated to choose my personal knight.

Ashar: My lady I would be delighted if you gave me the chance to serve you but I cannot participate as I shall be controlling the knights squad.

Rosanna: (Louder) I will be choosing the best knight among you all, I hope to have the best knight to protect me. I will give a handkerchief which I will be knitting as the symbol of our relationship to the knight that will be chosen.

(Knights are eager to protect me as I am the legitimate first child of the duchy and their lady of the house. A little bit of competence will provide me inference in state of knights estate.)

Knights: lady Rosanna, you even came all the way to the training ground for us and even brought us towels. We will do our best to protect you.

Rosanna: Anna, prepare a place from where I can view the knights and bring the deserts. ( As I called the name of Anna all the knights flinched at once. Seems like she is well known spy of duchess. After the duchess started so called manage the estate, the whole duchy fall down on her expenditures and luxury. She doesn't give a damn about the knights protection and supplies. After her entry the whole duchy seems to have collapsed. Her regime shall end soon enough now. I shall have to prove them that they can trust my leadership and compel them to choose my side for which I will have to make a sacrifice.)

After a while in the small picnic spot from which Rosanna could view the knights and knights can view Rosanna.

Rosanna: ( Seems like the one I was waiting for is here.) Anne you know what to do. Bring it for me.

Anne: But my lady; it's dangerous. It could kill you.

Rosanna: It is absolutely necessary.

Anne: Yes my lady.

(A cup of tea is brought. Anne looks frightened and she is sweating.)

Anne: My lady here is your tea.

Rosanna: Is it jasmine tea? Smells likes it.

Anne: Yes my lady the one you like the most.

Rosanna: Well done.

(Rosanna takes a sip of the tea, chokes and falls on the ground. The silver utensils turns dark purple and black indicating poison.)

Anne: Ohh my god, my lady I am really sorry. I didn't mean it (cry). Lady I was forced I had no choice. (Ran away to the place as advised by Rosanna.)

Knights: (ran to Rosanna) lady Rosanna!!

(A strong slender figure of knight appears and picked her up and took her to the duchy castle in a hurry.A royal doctor was summoned. Anne was no were to be found. The duke was summoned immediately.)

In Rosanna's chambers, she is being treated by the royal doctors. The duke appears with his chancellor.

Duke: What happened to my daughter ! (Nervous, distresses, worry)

Butler: My lord she was poisoned.

Duke: Poisoned?? Who is the hell had the audacity to poison my daughter?(Angry)

Doctor: The poison is a special type which is only accessible to the duchy and the royal family.

Duke: Are you trying to tell that my daughter was poisoned by my own family member how absurd. Do You wish to be executed for slandering my family's name?

Doctor: lord duke mercy, but I am also the royal doctor I can't lie about such things. She is the future royal princess and the lady of the house of duchy. The one to poison her must be the one with power and control.

Duke: Doctor, did you notify the royal family about the matter?

Doctor: A message was sent to her fiancé the royal prince Callisto.

Duke: Shit, now matter cannot be solved by my own hands (Duchess I knew you hated her but seems like your brain have finally died. How could you decide to poison the lady of the house and fiancé to the royal prince.)

Duke: When will she wake up?

Doctor: She shall wake up in few hours.

Duke: Aston, the matter of punishment shall wait till the lady wakes up.

Chancellor (Aston): Yes my lord I will make the necessary arrangement.

Duke: Confine the duchess in her palace. And search for traces of poison in her quarters.

Aston: Knights will be arranged in her doors.

(Aston thoughts: The duchess is not foolish enough to try to kill her plus with the poison only allocated to the duchy of course. Seems like lady Rosanna is the master mind after all. She even harmed herself to destroy this bitch. Plus the head maid of Rosanna seems to have ran off. Ohh! The maid' yes she is to be the sacrifice of her bait. Her plan is commendable but if no proof is found in the duchess chambers she will be set free. I will have to help her with this after all she even risked her life. I can trust her brilliant confidence. Their still seems to be hope for the duchy.)

Two days seems to have passed by and Rosanna still hasn't waken up. The duchess was confined to her palace. Anne is hiding in Rosanna's large dressing room. And she hasn't eaten in 2 days. The only thing their was water to drink. Rosanna said that she will wake up in some hours but the matter is getting out of control. She must wake up or lease everything will be destroyed and her life will end.