The day Alaric had been dreading had finally come. Adeline had to go to the palace. Their father was blissfully unaware. In order to work on improving his relationship with his children he stayed at home and joined them as often as he could. Now that they had some stability, he had to tend to a lot of work, including taking a short business trip. He told them some details but the Goddess interrupted her and she could only hear her voice, not her father’s.
"Watchu doing?"
Adeline rolled her eyes, she was trying to talk to her father but she came out of nowhere as usual.
’What do you think? I’m trying to listen.’
"So... Nothing. I’m more interesting anyway. If you ask me kindly, I have some information for you~"
Adeline raised her eyebrows suspiciously, she always gives her information at ’convenient’ times.
’What is it?’
"I said ask kindly!’
Adeline almost scowled at her. She decided to just ignore this annoying Goddess instead.
"Fine, I’ll tell you. I’m too nice. Benedict is in trouble. Your letter reached his place but not him, there’s a bitc- ahem some lady called Anna who got in the way and intercepted your letter!"
At that time, Adeline didn’t know that the Goddess lied...
’Anna?’ Adeline went through her memories again, if the Goddess said her name, then those memories would definitely appear in her brain. Despite how manipulative the entire situation was, she didn’t hate the Goddess. At times, she did feel alone. She wasn’t from this world, and the only other person who was like was this ’Goddess’.
"How are you gonna solve this problem? They won’t let you in." She said with a taunting voice. The Goddess was enjoying herself too much.
"Will you guys be okay by yourselves?" Adeline managed to catch the end of her father’s long lecture about safety while he was away.
"It’s not like it’s the first time," Aaron said casually. He didn’t mean to hurt his father. Adeline and Alaric looked at him with disappointment. He simply blinked and mouthed the word ’What?’
The Marquess felt embarrassed and coughed several times. He did indeed leave to be by themselves several times in the past. But now he is a changed man! It felt like a dagger through the heart to see that none of his children seemed to react to his absence. They did not care. Wiping his invisible tears he left to take care of a few affairs so that there wouldn’t be too much work during his absence.
Once she bid goodbye to her father she got to thinking. How should she solve the problem with Benedict? She wracked her brain trying to think of the character named Anna.
"Who is Anna?!" She swore she never heard of this name before, even her memories were failing her.
"It’s the future Duchess Rolfe."
"Huh?"
After Benedict’s mother’s death, the Duke remained single for a long time before finally marrying his close friend and advisor. So she was this person? No wonder she didn’t remember, this ’Anna’ made sure everyone addressed her as the Duchess. She hated being remembered as a commoner and tried to erase any evidence of it.
Their wedding might have been the last time Benedict ever saw his father, not that they saw each other often before. His father didn’t see anything wrong with his actions. He needed a Duchess to take care of the respective work. She didn’t have a powerful background that could hinder his son’s succession. Finally, she was his advisor for a while, she was a trusted person.
Benedict, however quickly learnt of her true face. To prevent any ’mishaps’, he made sure to decisively eliminate any threat. He started with poisoning Anna rendering her infertile. When the Duke found out he was furious. While he was against having any children with her, he couldn’t let his son become such a man. An honourless man who would resort to poisoning an innocent woman. These were not the values he taught his child.
Seeing his father’s reaction only deepened the resentment. Not long after, he took the position by force and sent his father away along with Anna to a remote city. Whether they lived or died, it had nothing to do with them anymore.
Adeline let out an exasperated sigh.
"Poor Linny. So many responsibilities at such a young age."
"It’s literally your fault!"
"Ahem. So what’s your plan?"
"If my letters are being intercepted... What choice do I have left? The only letter this ’Anna’ dares not to throw out would be if the Royal Family sent it. She would be stupid to make an enemy of the Emperor."
"So, you’ve abandoned the idea of avoiding the Royal Family? When life gives you lemons-"
"Not life, you! You are the problem! You and your crappy plot!"
"Well..." The Goddess shrugged.
Adeline had to suck it up and ask Cassian for help. She was afraid he would ask her to get engaged to him in exchange. There goes the plan of refusing him directly.