His decision

Balor internally rolled his eyes. There was nothing gentle about this palace. He thought to himself.

"Balor, did you just roll your eyes?" The Duke's hardened voice reached his ears, making Julius' head snap in his direction. Balor and the governor never got along well.

"I dare not, Your Grace," Balor replied and kept his head low.

Victoria stayed quiet with her head low. If there was anybody she did not want to offend, that would be the Duke. While waiting for the said punishment that she would receive from him.

Hareton then looked away from his commander who was acting off recently. "See me later in my study Balor, we have enough topics to catch on. Especially on the matters that concern Everia," he noted.

"Yes, your grace," the general commander bowed in respect. "I would like to excuse myself as the palace security needs some attention."

"Do as you wish," Hareton remarked, waving his hand to dismiss the aloof commander. He raised his head from inspecting the letter which he had received from Everia, it landed on Victoria.

"Leave us, Julius."

"Yes, your grace," and with that, the governor also left the presence of his master. Unaware why and what the commoner was doing in the palace.

Noticing the amiable silence that had enveloped the hallroom, Victoria lifted her head. Her eyes met the hard ones of the Duke who was staring at her with a lopsided smile. "I believe your father must have given Balor a hard time before allowing you to be brought before me," he said to her with amusement beaming in his eyes.

Victoria's fingers formed into a fist at her sides and proceeded to reply to the haunting Duke. "If I may speak your grace, you're wrong to think that way as I came here on my own freewill. I just want to serve my punishment and head home to my father."

"Wrong?" Hareton raised an eyebrow at the girl's words. He then moved closer to Victoria. "I do remember the man who pleaded on behalf of his daughter," he chuckled softly. "Don't tell me he didn't look worried before you were brought here," he prodded the girl who seemed to be resilient in her actions.

"Why don't we leave my father out of this matter, Your Grace?" Victoria asked, her eyes unwavering from his piercing gaze. She felt like hiding away from him but that cannot be possible.

Hareton chuckled darkly and came to stand in her front. Hence, intimidating the commoner who was so brave to indirectly negotiate with him about her father. "You want to go home, isn't that right Victoria?"

"Of course, that's very correct," she replied with a rush in her voice. The man was so prudish and quick to force words out of her mouth.

"What if you won't be seeing your old man for quite some time? How about that? Hm?" Hareton asked as he caught a loose fringe of her brown hair between his fingers. He was also wondering what about this woman that caught his attention.

Victoria immediately drew back as if he was on fire, so hot that he might burn her. "What do you mean, Your Grace? Are you planning on making me a servant to serve this palace?" She fired at the man, not minding if he was far above her.

Hareton chuckled softly yet it sent chills into her spine. "Fascinating. That was far from my plans but it's quite a good one, isn't it?" He asked.

The color immediately drained off Victoria's face as he had slyly used her words against her. In a way, she has dug her grave by herself. Her face turned red in an instant at the impending doom which was sure to befall her. "You snitch!" She said between her teeth.

Hareton laughed loudly. A rich combination of sweet like honey and power. He voluntarily leaned into her face, staring at her. "I'll inform Julius of our new servant for now. Until I see another mode of punishment which is deemed fit for your audacity, you'll serve the palace." He turned to walk away from there.

Victoria couldn't breath at the Duke's proclament. "What about my father? I can't leave him alone and worried," she drawled.

"I'll see to it that both of you are reunited shortly. Until then, you'll remain here." Then, he stormed off without another word.

All Victoria could do was glare at the Duke's retreating back with anger and brewing hate for him. How can a man be so lofty to separate a father from his daughter? She thought to herself. Just as she was about to walk in the same direction as the Duke, a soothing female voice reached her ears.

"That's the Duke's quarter dear. Hareton doesn't appreciate being disturbed," a woman said from behind the new girl. The palace has been flowing with new juicy gossip about the Duke bringing a new girl to the palace. What intrigued her the most was when Julius told her that Hareton had gone to welcome the lady.

She sighed in helplessness. "I'm not familiar with the palace and have no idea on where to go," Victoria murmured before looking at the woman who was dressed in a royal blue gown which adorned her body perfectly.

The woman smiled and outstretched her hand for the girl to take. "Come here girl, let me do the pleasure of showing you around."

Victoria felt relieved at the woman's words and took her hand in good faith. Her palm was soft and warm like that of a baby unlike Victoria's whose hands were callous.

The woman didn't fail to notice the rough hands of the girl but remained quiet.

"Welcome to Galwynn Palace."

"I'm here to serve the Duke, a welcome isn't necessary," Victoria huffed as the woman took her into another corridor. "What about you?"

The woman paused and released Victoria's hands. "My bad. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Duchess Elizabeth Sullivan. Mother of Duke Sullivan II."

Victoria's eyes almost fell out of her socket upon realizing that she was walking hand in hand with the Duchess of Galwynn Empire. "Your Grace," she immediately gave the woman an apologetic bow.

Duchess Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. "You don't have to apologize. It's been quite some time since I last saw a gleam of happiness in my son's eyes," the woman said as she stared far ahead with a distant look in her eyes.