The sun slowly descended on the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow across the sky. As its rays danced and flickered, the streets below ca alive with joyous energy. Brightly colored banners fluttered in the breeze, bearing the na of the Duke of Wugari, Duke Lucas Rothley, who had led them to victory against the beasts.
The people had taken the street to celebrate.
Tonight the Emperor would reward their hero!
The plaza was teeming with activities and the air was thick with laughter and music.
Children ran and plated, chasing each other around the fountain in the center of the square as they sang the Duke's na.
People of all ages and backgrounds mingled together, laughing and talking in solidarity and happiness.
The beasts are gone!
The Duke had saved them all.
As the sun finally slipped beneath the horizon, the sky was painted in an array of vibrant colors that looked like banners. It was as if the sky wanted to celebrate with Aster.
The celebration continued.
Many wanted to join the awarding ceremony that was held inside the palace, but only the nobles were allowed to be there.
Because of this, the citizens of Aster chose to celebrate the Duke's victory outside of the palace gates and then into the plaza.
It was such a joyous night.
"Was it true?" Dorothy asked her mother. They were sitting in one of the restaurants that had a view of the plaza. Originally, Dorothy did not want to bring her mother with her, but Victoria insisted. Moreover, Victoria said that she would not let her out of the mansion without a proper disguise and with herself and Jeas by her side. "The songs and the rumors. Did the Duke really end the war?"
The reason why she ca here was that she wanted to listen to the rumors from everyone. While rumors might be baseless, so of them ca from the soldiers who saw the Duke fight.
"Your father has refused to say," Victoria said. They were now having tea while watching so people try to depict what happened in the war. It was such a dramatic sight.
"What would you do if it was true?" Victoria asked.
"I want to et him."
"Impossible. Your father will never allow it."
"Then I want to et him in secret."
"Dorothy"
"Mother, if he was the man who ended the tide then don't you think he is soone that should beco my friend?" she smiled. "Connections are everything."
"I do agree with you, but the Duke is not just soone that anyone can et. Even if they wanted to."
"Do you really think I am just anyone?" Dorothy pouted as she batted her large beautiful eyes toward her mother. "Please, Mother."
Seeing her pitiful appearance, how could Victoria still refuse this simple request? Her daughter had been through a lot in the past few days.
In the end, she nodded and told her that she would do sothing about it. Not long after, a carriage arrived to take them to the palace.
Since this was the night that the Emperor would reward the Duke, the nobles were invited to join them. However, Victoria refused to go because of Dorothy.
Who would have thought that her daughter would suddenly pester her to see the Duke?
The carriage took them to a boutique so Dorothy could pick a dress that she liked and put on so decent makeup. Luckily, she just took a bath and cleaned herself or it would have been difficult to prepare her for the ceremony.
While all this was happening, Victoria sent a letter to Martin telling him that they were going to join the festivities. She wanted Martin and Federico to treat her daughter like royalty so she made sure to tell him to save a seat for Dorothy.
After the preparation, the two arrived at the palace.
Sadly, the awarding was already done by then, and the only ones there were so noble families and the Princes.
The Duke already retired to his room.
"Then I would like to talk to the Duke," Dorothy told her father.
"What?"
"I said I wanted to talk to the Duke."
"Do you have any reason to talk to him?" Martin Lux frowned. He did not expect that Dorothy would show up here. However, what surprised him the most was the fact that he could not feel anything from his daughter's body.
There was no trace of darkness or that suffocating atmosphere around her anymore.
"It was the Goddess," Dorothy lied without batting an eyelid. "This was the Goddess's Will."
Naturally, Martin knew that his daughter was lying. After all, he knew that the one inside his daughter's body was sothing else.
However, he was curious to know why Dorothy would suddenly want to see that man.
Just the thought of the Duke imdiately worsened his mood.
The Duke of Wugari was not only scheming! He was also very greedy!
The man actually demanded the amount of gold that he wanted to receive! Not only this, he told the Emperor that he wanted so trading arrangent that would highly benefit the Northern Kingdoms!
Despite this, the Emperor gave the man what he wanted everything that he demanded. To the Emperor, fighting with words against Lucas Rothley was simply not worth it.
The man seed to be very good at hurling insults while smiling! It was infuriating!
In fact, when the eting ended, the Emperor told Martin how he felt like a large thorn had been removed from his chest!
Then the Emperor concluded that talking to the Duke is almost as difficult as fighting a beast! It was tireso!
"Your Blessedness, the Duke of Wugari has refused to see you."
Martin looked at the servant as he wondered if he sohow heard the wrong thing.
"What did you just say?" he asked.
"T The" the servant stuttered before he cleared his throat. "The Duke of Wugari refused your invitation. He said He said fighting against those beasts was so exhausting he wanted to spend his ti in bed."
....
Eve's Gambit is already out! Yey! Please add it to library. Thank you for the support!
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