Duchess Viasse Is Back
Chapter 2
The birds chirped sweetly on the branches of the tree. The sunlight illuminates the houses of the people and those around them. Light blue skies and white clouds moved slowly along the spring breeze. The clear morning witnessed the activities of humans in the Phireum Empire.
In contrast to the sunny and friendly weather, the atmosphere in the dining room of the Viasse family residence was very gloomy and cold. The servants trembled while doing their duty, like they were walking on thin ice.
Aldis, who ate alone in the dining room, had a gloomy expression and let out a chill in the surroundings, while the aged butler was only able to silently shiver beside his master.
Tak.
Aldis put down his fork, a sign that he had finished breakfast. He took a napkin from a servant and wiped his lips.
"Philip," he called out in a hostile tone.
"Yes, Your Majesty," replied Philip, the butler of the residence. His shoulders trembled as he watched his master take out a letter from his suit pocket. "This...?"
"Tell me I'll visit the palace. Now." Now."
Seeing Aldis' ferocious face, Philip immediately nodded quickly. "Good! I'll tell you now!"
Aldis did not respond and stood up from his seat. "Call waiter. I have to get ready" he ordered firmly.
Philip was puzzled, as he remembered there was no timetable that required the duke to leave the residence. "Are you going out? I'll get the train ready soon."
"Yes, hurry up."
"Where is your goal?"
"Stana."
"Yes?"
Philip looked at Aldis strangely and astonished, then looked at the letter in his hand that had been stamped.
'Why do you send letters? Ah, what's more polite?'
The old man nodded his head justifying the contents of his mind.
'It's a rapid increase, anyway. Your Majesty will always come to the palace without notice. That is why it is often scorned.'
However, the butler did not know that someone whose attitude had changed in such a short period of time was extremely frightening. And does the 'that' Aldis really have a polite demeanor to the man who has already sent his wife into battle? Of course not.
The silver-haired man smirked little without anyone knowing.
...―•♡•―...
The Phireum Imperial Palace was a place that no one could enter. Those who wish to come here must submit a request for a meeting written by letter and must certainly have the approval of the emperor, the ruler of Phireum.
That was why the young noble ladies flocked to make up themselves just because they got a tea time invitation from the queen.
However, this rule does not apply to this man.
"A-astaga!"
One of the knights guarding the gates of the imperial palace exclaimed in shock as he looked at the luxurious horse carriage that had just arrived. The emblem of the white wolf head with the crossed sword on the carriage made it tremble involuntarily.
"Greetings to―"
"Open the gate."
The sharp sound of the carriage coachman made the knight on duty sweat.
"Sorry, but you must present a letter of approval or invitation from His Majesty the Emperor, and the gate can be opened...!"
"Yes...."
The silver-haired man sitting inside the carriage sighed. It clucked. The glare of his blazing eyes from his dark blue eyes led to the knight. His eyebrows pucker up a sign he's upset. The figure of his face that was visible through the window of the carriage made him look like an angel of death.
"Open the gate or die. How dare someone like you hold me back. Do you want your head chopped off now, huh?"
"T-no...!" the knight replied spontaneously, looking panicked and scared to death.
His bold action of detaining a warlord was indeed worthy of applause. Who doesn't know the man on the train? Even everyone knows its bad nature! That person only needed to pull out his sword and it was all done!
So in order to protect his life, the knight opened the gates of the imperial palace with an expression begging for mercy.
"Punish me, Your Majesty the Emperor...! I'm doing it for my life and the cleanliness of your residence! You definitely don't want this place to be inundated with blood, do you!" the noise was half whispered, although it was meaningless because the 'Duke Viasse' heard all the chivalric talk.
While Aldis ignored the knight's meaningless remarks, he chose to focus his gaze on the Phireum Imperial Palace he frequented lately.
Of course to ask the annoying emperor to return his wife. This time, the plan was to come here for that. However, he had already prepared an incredible 'bribe' to the emperor.
"God."
Aldis grinned wickedly.
His feet stepped in when his chariot stopped in front of the palace's main door.
...―•♡•―...
"What brings you here, Duke Viasse?"
The stern voice of someone welcomed his guest's arrival. His shoulder-length brown hair was neatly laid out, connecting with his beard. A golden crown shone over his head, signifying that he was the ruler of the Phireum.
He was Edson Cherpire Phireum, emperor of the Phireum Empire, or commonly called Emperor Edson II.
'How deep is his love for his wife?! To the extent that he begged me repeatedly to return the Duchess!'
To be honest this could be an advantage for Edson. He finally knew the weakness of Duke Viasse who was very, very near perfect. But the persistence of the man made him feel that his gains were meaningless.
"Of course I came because I wanted to greet His Majesty the great and wise Emperor Phireum."
'Hm?'
Beyond a doubt, Aldis, someone who seemed to have a grudge against him, smiled and praised him instead. Edson so feels the unpleasant air of the duke's suspicious nature.
"That's it...."
Edson responded with an awkward smile, then forced his laughter.
"It's an honor for me to be addressed by Duke Viasse the warlord of our empire. Haha."
Once again Aldis smiled, then gestured to a man standing behind him.
"Your Majesty, please accept my gift. I prepared this with 'full heart'" Aldis said, revealing the jewelry box in his hand. "I hope Your Majesty likes a gift from me."
'Aha.'
Edson smirked slightly, knowing the intent of the polite and kind deeds Duke Viasse had aimed at him.
'So he wants to bribe me? Well, let's see what kind of bribe he gave me....'
Clings, clings.
When the jewelry box that Aldis was carrying opened, Edson gaped in disbelief, while his purple eyes reflected a glint of admiration.
"LWOOOHH! THE DUKE! THIS IS AN EXTREMELY RARE ELF GEM!!" the cheers are excited and happy. He subconsciously jumped down from his throne and rushed over to Aldis while constantly exclaiming in admiration, "This is my gift? Can't be trusted!"
The joyous expression that Emperor Phireum showed made Aldis smile with satisfaction. "Yes, Your Majesty. This is your gift," he replied politely.
"Wahh! Thank you very much! Is there something you want, Duke? Just say! Whatever it is!"
Whether conscious or not by his own words, Edson was blinded by the elven gems piled up in the jewelry box. He was busy sorting out his gifts, while Aldis grinned evilly.
"Then, Your Majesty. I want to ask you something."
"Yes, yeah! Just tell me what you want!" reply Edson without taking his eyes off the prize.
"My request is simple. I'd like you to return my wife."
"Of course!" edson said he granted Aldis' request, still focused on the prize. "I'll be returning Duschess Viasse soon. So―"
"Thank you very much for your generosity, Your Majesty," Aldis cut off with a smile. "Then I go first."
"Ah? Huh huh? Oh?" Edson, who was too late to notice the atmosphere around him, gasped in shock when he realized what had just happened. "Wait, Duke...!"
Alas, Aldis is no longer in place. The man disappeared as fast as lightning without leaving a trace.
'Aakhh! I shouldn't be lulled by these gems!!'
Edson wanted to regret his actions but he remembered that the rare treasures in his hands could be used as state treasures which certainly had high historical value. Moreover, a person's pretty face appeared in his mind.
'Ah! I can make up with the Queen through these gems...!'
...―•♡•―...
"Master Philip!!!"
The cry of a person who ran with bawling breath immediately became the center of attention of the Viasse residence workers. The one who ran excitedly was Ivan, who came with a pale expression on his face.
"I-It...!"
"God! Viscount Broun!"
Philip immediately approached his master's aide and told the servant to take a glass of water.
"Why are you running like this? Do you have any needs with me?"
"It!!" exclaimed Ivan enthusiastically while showing a letter in his hand. "There's a letter coming!"
"I also know it's a letter," Philip replied with an awkward laugh.
Ivan glared his eyes as he said, "This is not just a letter!"
"Yeah. Continues to?"
"This is a letter from the Duchess!"
"WHAT?"
―――――――――――――――
from 900s word to 1300s word.
Tbc.
