After Rachel bluntly told her father about the status of our relationship, I imdiately blushed. The girl herself stood with an absolutely imperturbable face, as if she had reported sothing insignificant.
Duke Cassius, who had been looking at strangely before, looked even more closely. In fact, he was very surprised, although he didn't show it.
There was silence between us for a split second, and I really wanted to slap Rachel for introducing without permission. After all, I was a representative of traditional views, and I believed that getting to know my parents should take place in a completely different environnt.
It took the Duke so ti to put this news in his head. Since he knew his daughter's character perfectly well, he knew perfectly well that she definitely wouldn't joke. Therefore, the man did not even ask again if she was serious about what she said.
«Who is this lady?» Duke Cassius asked as calmly as possible.
Finally, I got a chance to introduce myself on my own.
«Sir, I am Leriana of the House of Ashford,» I said politely, «my father is the first Archduke of the Empire, Henry Ashford, surely you have heard of him.»
The Duke was surprised by this fact even more than what his daughter had reported earlier.
Considering the situation they were in, the girl definitely wouldn't lie about her origin. Especially in front of him. The man's gaze sharpened on her erald hair, and he rembered that the deceased wife of the Archduke, whom he had seen during his lifeti, had exactly the sa.
But what did soone like her forget next to Rachel…? Almost all the aristocrats avoided their family, and this was not news to anyone. All these people wanted to preserve not only their reputation, but also their lives, and only a madman would go against this universal «rule».
In the future, Leriana Ashford will have to beco the first lady of high society, and it is even more unprofitable for her to get involved with soone like Rachel. There was simply no apparent motive for this. So why is she doing this?
Has the Archduke's daughter gone mad?
After I introduced myself to him, the Duke looked at very coldly. I was even afraid that I had said sothing wrong.
— …And I am very glad to have the opportunity to et you! — I hastened to add, despite the fact that it was not quite true. I just hoped it would sohow smooth things over.
In fact, it would be strange if I was eager to et Rachel's father. The fact that I managed to sohow establish contact with the girl did not an that I could stop being afraid of the rest of this damned family. It is quite possible that if the Duke does not like our relationship, he will decide to get rid of .
Even the emperor had to make concessions to him, let alone . In order for this person not to kill in the first dark alley I ca across, I had to make the most pleasant first impression about myself.
From the burning gaze of Duke Cassius, any normal person could get a heart attack.
But despite the fact that the fear of him stuck in my throat, I kept a smile on my face with an effort of will.
— What does the Archduke's daughter need from our family? «What is it?» he asked sharply.
I was out of breath. There was only one visible explanation for what was happening.
«I… well… you see…» I began awkwardly, trying to find the right expression, «It just so happens that I like Rachel…
— …
Duke Cassius was stunned when I confird what my daughter had told him a couple of minutes earlier.
— So it's true? — finally he said.
— If you don't like sothing, you can keep your opinion to yourself, — Rachel said gloomily, — I'm already an adult, and I can decide what to do myself.
I was a little taken aback when Rachel spoke so rudely in front of the Duke. Even if she was going to defend our «relationship», she had to do it in a milder form. Even though he was her father, he was still the main villain of the empire, from whom you can expect anything.
Sparks flew between Rachel and Duke Cassius. I didn't even know which one of them was more intimidating at that mont.
In the upcoming family showdown, I felt like the third extra, and if I had my way, I would have slipped away from here unnoticed. But now it was becoming dangerous to lift a finger.
— Rachel, if this is all toys for you, I advise you to get it over with as soon as possible. You don't know what it might turn out to be yet.
Deep down, guessing how this dangerous relationship could end, the man tried to dissuade her. But the girl didn't want to hear him.
«I said you can't tell what to do.
— I'm your father! — he was indignant, — Is it difficult for you to listen to at least once?
«I already made a concession when I agreed to study at this damned academy! Rachel snapped, «Do you think I like it here?»
The Duke fell silent. Rachel had never argued with him like that before, and even more so, she put pressure on his sore spot.
Duke Cassius sent his daughter to the royal academy without asking her opinion. And this was the first ti she directly reminded of it.
Their scarlet eyes burned into each other with equal intensity when Rachel said:
«If you don't agree to take her, I'm not going anywhere either.»
The man exhaled indignantly, while I stared at her in surprise.
Take it where? What is this conversation about?
Now, Rachel looked so determined that it seed that no one would be able to change her mind under any circumstances. Duke Cassius understood this.
He did not respond to her statent, but it could be taken as a silent agreent.
The next mont, when I was tired of being the only one in the dark about what was happening, I took Rachel by the hand and took her aside to talk. She didn't resist.
— What does that an? — I hissed softly, — Where are you going to take ?!
— To my house, — Rachel replied quite calmly. When we were alone, the rage from the conversation with her father subsided in her eyes.
I was taken aback.
— What…? Why is that?!
«My father insists that I undergo treatnt at ho,» she muttered, «so I need to leave the academy for a while.
The explanation sounded quite logical. Probably, the father really understood his daughter's health better than the doctors of the empire, who knew nothing about her mysterious illness. And yet, despite this statent, I still had a lot of questions.
— And what does it have to do with ? — angrily blurted out, — How am I connected with your illness?
«No way,» Rachel replied glumly, «I just don't want you to be alone with this jerk for a long ti without .»
Naturally, it wasn't hard to guess who she ant. The recent episode with Philip was still fresh in my mory. And yet… How could Rachel make go with her, just because of her personal whims?!
— I can't!
«And why is that?»
— How can I just leave in the middle of the school year? — I burst out, — Do you think the director will just give permission for this?
Rachel shrugged her shoulders.
«You've seen how he shakes at my old man. If he «asks», then the director will not have the courage to refuse.
The girl talked about such things so simply that I did not imdiately find what to answer her. She probably didn't see anything wrong with threatening to take away from the academy. But I didn't agree with that.
— How can you decide such things for ?!
— What's the difference? Rachel sighed irritably, «Winter holidays will start in two weeks anyway. We'll just leave a little earlier. What's wrong with that?
I lost my temper.
— But I don't want to spend my holidays with you!
At that mont, I rembered the promise I had made to my father before leaving. I said that I would definitely co to visit him when the opportunity arose. Probably, my father was waiting for my arrival for the New Year holidays, so I couldn't change my plans so easily because of Rachel.
The girl herself looked at indignantly.
«So that's what your promise is worth?» Are you ready to just forget about him?
At first I didn't understand what she ant, but then a mory flashed through my head… I really promised her. At the banquet, in order for Rachel to agree to beco my partner, I said that I would fulfill any of her wishes.
But I didn't expect her to use it for such a situation.
I was ready to beco an errand girl, and other similar humiliation. But not that Rachel would want to take to her estate for the winter holidays.
I really didn't have a choice.
If I break my word now, Rachel will be disappointed in forever. Therefore, I ntally asked my father for forgiveness at this second. Looks like I'm really going to have to do this.
— Okay. I'll co with you.
***
That evening I had to pack my things urgently, since the departure to the family estate of the Cassius family would have to take place tomorrow morning.
In my heart, I was still dissatisfied with this outco of events, but what could I do? I promised Rachel, and I have to pay for my words.
Therefore, although I was sowhat afraid to go to this place, I resigned myself. In the end, it is unlikely that I will be killed there.
Since there was not enough ti, I gathered only everything I needed. Previously, she also wrote a letter to her father, in which she inford him of her plans. So that he would not worry about the fact that I was going to the abode of the most dangerous villains of the empire, I lied, writing that I would spend the holidays with a close friend. At least I hope he can understand .
Sighing, I put down my pen and leaned back in my chair.
I will be staying at the estate of the Duchy of Cassius for almost a month. So far, I had no idea what was waiting for there. And thinking about it only made more nervous.
Our contract with Rachel… I wonder how far he will go at all?
We started dating not so long ago, but I've already t her father and now I'm going to celebrate Christmas with them. At this rate, it will all end with a real wedding and four children.
No! Not that!
I slapped my cheeks as these sudden thoughts popped into my head. It is necessary to gather the courage to be ready for everything. In order for our agreent not to grow into sothing completely unnecessary, I will have to stop in ti.
Rachel, I'm pretty sure, didn't take it seriously either.
During this ti, we will only play our roles, after which we will peacefully disperse on different roads. There's nothing complicated about that, is there?
Getting to know and build a relationship with Rachel's father could also be part of the plan. After all, as long as I was Rachel's fake girlfriend, trying to make connections with her family seed quite normal.
Having cald myself with this thought, I decided to go to bed early so that I would wake up refreshed tomorrow. The trip to the Duchy of Cassius, which was located in the northern part of the empire, was going to be a long one, so I needed to gain strength.
However, when I was almost ready to go to bed, the commandant of the hostel suddenly notified that soone was waiting for on the street.
I was surprised who could have been brought so late.
I hoped with all my heart that Philip would not turn out to be an accidental guest, because I wanted to et him last of all now.
Throwing a robe over my pajamas, I went downstairs with heavy feelings, expecting to see a visitor who was not too welco. But to my surprise, it wasn't the Crown Prince standing on the porch at all.
A guy with black hair and a cute face brightened up as soon as he t . He was still in his school uniform, even though the school day had ended a few hours ago.
«Your Highness?» I asked, perplexed, «What are you doing here?»
Razor Blanche smiled at just like before. It was like we were back in the ti when I still called him «the black rabbit.»
«I just wanted to check if you were okay,» he said, «and I've already told you that I don't like it when you address like that.»
Despite his friendliness, I frowned. The experience with the Crown Prince taught not to buy into an innocent face so easily.
«I don't know why you're asking this, but I'm fine,» I replied.
— That's how… I'm glad to hear that.
— Did you co so late just for this?
The young man looked at with a faint smile.
«Isn't that normal?» I don't know about you, but I still consider us friends.
— …
I didn't say anything.
To be honest, I didn't understand what he was trying to achieve with these words. Friends…? After all that had happened, could I close my eyes and continue to trust him as well? Moreover, I still did not forget that in the novel Razor was Leriana's second love interest. It is quite possible that he is only trying to reduce my vigilance with speeches about «friendship» in order to seduce afterwards.
After I didn't answer him for a long ti, the second prince spoke first again:
— I was worried that Duke Cassius would not arrive in ti because I sent the letter late. But, fortunately, everything worked out.
I was taken aback.
— What are you…?
Razor lowered his head guiltily in front of .
— I'm sorry that everything happened because of my brother, — he said, — I tried to dissuade him, but… — the guy hesitated, as if not deciding whether to tell everything in full or not, — In general, I sent a letter to Duke Cassius, in which I wrote what happened to his a daughter.
This news ca as a big surprise to .
Naturally, before that, I wondered how Rachel's father was able to find out about what happened so quickly and co so soon. I assud that he had so personal connections at the academy, thanks to which he found out everything first-hand.
However, I could not even imagine that Razor was involved in all this. The guy personally addressed such a significant figure, despite the fact that he himself was only a student. This gesture was truly noble, but at the sa ti… Extrely incomprehensible to .
To help Rachel and , the prince went against his brother's plans.
The king would also be displeased if he found out that his son has a personal correspondence with the cursed duke. And even more so if these letters were intercepted on the way. I didn't understand why Razor decided to take such a risk.
— Your Highness… Why did you do that?
I stared at him, trying to guess what motives could be behind this act. But Razor didn't look suspicious at all.
— Like I said, you can trust ,» Razor explained, «No matter what, I won't leave my friend in trouble.»
— But…!
— I also think that my brother did wrong, — the guy sighed, — I should have stopped him in ti so that he wouldn't do stupid things.
I froze, not even knowing what to say.
Today, Razor Blanche opened up to from a completely unexpected side. A variety of feelings overwheld at this mont.
And I also didn't think I'd ever tell him that.
— Thank you, Blake.
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