Chapter 481: Concubine
The upcoming Frostbloom Revelry introduced a surge of exercise to the Kingdom, however amidst the hustle and bustle, Lucas remained devoted to spending high quality time with Rosalind. They cherished one another’s firm, strolling via the property’s picturesque grounds or exploring the colourful market to savor pleasant delicacies whereas admiring the breathtaking sunsets collectively.
Their frequent outings and visual affection for each other made them well-known among the many residents of Wugari. The Duke and Duchess’s love story was a subject of fascination, but it surely additionally invited undesirable consideration. Some people tried persuading the Duke to tackle a concubine, regardless of the evident bond he shared with Rosalind.
Including gas to the rumors was the truth that Rosalind had not but introduced her being pregnant. This fueled speculations and gossip among the many nobles, diverting consideration from the upcoming Revelry to deal with her relationship with the Duke. Consequently, she obtained a deluge of invites from numerous nobles inside and outdoors Wugari, together with an invite from Princess Isadora of Rakha.
The Rakha Kingdom and the Empire of Korusta had established teleportation portals in Wugari, which facilitated environment friendly transportation between the 2 realms, benefiting companies and entrepreneurs. Nonetheless, for Rosalind, it introduced a little bit of inconvenience. Regardless of her want to focus on the expansion of the Duchy, she acknowledged that participating with different kingdoms and nobles was additionally a part of her duties as Duchess.
Standing earlier than the teleportation portal that might transport her to the Kingdom of Rakha, Rosalind requested her present guards, Magda and Huig, if all the things was ready for his or her journey. She had determined to attend the Princess’s banquet not for the revelry however to personally talk about issues with the Princess’s father, notably concerning an island and a few valuable relics.
Elias and Valentin had been nonetheless occupied in Lonyth, coping with menacing creatures, so Rosalind solely wished Magda and Huig by her aspect. Though the Duke had provided to reinforce her safety element, she felt it pointless. She wasn’t a queen, and having ten guards trailing her appeared extreme, contemplating she wasn’t even royalty. This chapter is up to date by nov(e)(l)biin.com
“We’re able to depart as quickly as you might be prepared,” Magda spoke with a tone of authority, her eyes gleaming with confidence. She nodded on the man who stood beside the shimmering portal. He was a talented portal supervisor with years of expertise in dealing with such magical gateways.
Rosalind returned the nod. “The items?” she inquired, her voice regular. This could be her first official go to to Rakha, a momentous event that demanded correct diplomatic etiquette. She had meticulously ready considerate assembly items to honor the customs of the opposite kingdom. Nonetheless, unbeknownst to the royal household of Rakha, Rosalind had visited the dominion in secret earlier than, looking for to grasp its folks and tradition on a extra private degree.
“Every thing is prepared, your grace,” Huig replied with a bow, his face stoic.
With a swish movement, Rosalind gestured for her entourage to proceed towards the imposing portal. The portal’s body was crafted from gleaming golden metallic. It sparkled like a treasure trove of historic knowledge. It emitted a gentle, pulsating glow that appeared to resonate with the very essence of the world’s magic, beckoning her ahead on this momentous journey.
The Crown Prince, Princess Isadora’s brother, could not assist however voice his issues, defending his sister’s honor with fervor. “Isadora is to not be handled as a mere concubine!” he interjected passionately, his admiration for his sister was evident in his phrases. “She is a Princess, deserving of respect and a correct standing befitting her intelligence and style.”
“Certainly, it would not be truthful to topic her to such a task,” Duke Hector nodded in settlement with the Crown Prince’s sentiments, his frown deepening. “However maybe we’re getting forward of ourselves. Is it not untimely to imagine that the Duke of Wugari will even take into account this alliance?”
“The Princess was assured that the Duke would agree,” he spoke, his phrases hanging closely within the air. The room fell right into a thick, suffocating silence as the burden of the state of affairs settled upon everybody current. “I didn’t affect her determination; she initiated this proposal.” This proposal appeared a bit rushed.
The King’s ideas had been divided. On one hand, he valued the prospect of forming an alliance with Wugari, recognizing the strategic benefits it might deliver to Rakha. But, he was unwilling to take advantage of his daughter’s feelings for political acquire. Princess Isadora was a drive to be reckoned with, recognized for her sharp wit and crafty nature. How had she immediately arrived on the determination to marry the Duke of Wugari?
Regardless of his reservations, the King had allowed the banquet to proceed, hoping to realize some perception into his daughter’s motivations. Nonetheless, to his shock, it was not the Duke who arrived, however the Duchess of Wugari herself. This surprising flip of occasions left the King feeling unsure and uneasy. He could not fathom his daughter’s true intentions, and he was adamant about not being a puppet in anybody’s schemes.
“However the Duke is not going to come. As an alternative, it was the Duchess. Somebody who was not even a noble, to start with. What was the Princess considering?” Duke Hector’s confusion was evident in his puzzled expression. The prospect of a wedding alliance with Wugari appeared promising, however the sudden look of the Duchess threw a wrench into the fastidiously laid plans.
The Prince shared the Duke’s bewilderment. He had been aware about Isadora’s intentions earlier than she disclosed them to their father. At first, he had assumed she was jesting, because the information of the Duke’s latest marriage had unfold simply weeks in the past. How might Isadora, the crafty and clever Princess, entertain the notion of marrying a person who was already sure in matrimony?
The Prince tried to make sense of his sister’s motivations. He contemplated whether or not Isadora had been captivated by the Duke’s attract, regardless of having solely glimpsed fragments of his face behind the masks he usually donned.
Nonetheless, the masks did little to cover the Duke’s vanity, a trait that hardly appeared enticing. Absolutely, Isadora could not have fallen for him on seems to be alone. Was it the Duke’s power and energy that enticed her, driving her to hunt an alliance with Wugari at any value?
The considered his sister sacrificing herself for the sake of an alliance weighed closely on the Prince’s coronary heart. His face turned grim. He couldn’t enable this marriage to proceed with out understanding Isadora’s true intentions and guaranteeing her happiness.
“The Duke of Wugari is to not be underestimated,” The Duke’s voice lower via the contemplative silence, drawing the eye of each the daddy and the son again to the current. “He’s a person of each power and discernment, and he is not going to enter into any marriage flippantly. It’s unlikely that he would comply with this proposal, particularly provided that he had already encountered Princess Isadora in individual. Furthermore, was it not apparent sufficient? He selected to marry the present Duchess as a result of she just isn’t a noble. She doesn’t maintain any energy or affect. She is weak. On the finish of the day, she can’t be thought-about a really robust chess piece.”