"I am not certain if you know this. But, this is not a place where someone like you could brandished your fangs, thinking no one would harm you." Lucinia accepted the tea that Madam Liliana got for her. "Are you going to sit?" she asked Madam Chapman. "Or… would you want me to make you sit?"
Madam Chapman gulped the words that she was about to say. Indeed, she had heard about the embarrassment that Kuzma received from Lucinia. It seems that intimidating Lucinia was not going to work this time. So, she decided to use another approach instead. "Your highness…" she uttered as she sat opposite to Lucinia. "The Queen sent me here because she wanted to make sure that you are safe."
"I am safe. You can leave now."
"No… that is not what I was trying to say." Madam Chapman observed Lucinia's face. Just as what the rumors had said. Lucinia was now refusing to bow to anyone else. Madam Chapman recalled how Lucinia would love to flatter her before so she would tell the Queen good things about her. However, this time, it seems that the woman does not care if she badmouths her to the Queen. "The Queen granted you ten knights. They will protect you from now on."
"Ten?" Lucinia asked. "Can they withstand my abilities?"
"No. They are knights and not vampires."
"Then… they are useless," Lucinia uttered. "Please thank the Queen for her generosity."
"You— You are going to accept the knight?"
"Hm?" Lucinia lifted an eyebrow as she finished her tea. "Is there a reason why I should reject the Queen's generosity?"
"I— I was just— "
"Please tell the Queen it would be best if she could send more people. The bulkier the better." Farming needed people with a good physique. She needed people that would hunt for her meat, people that could plant for her rice and sugar. She needed a lot of them. Theodore and Madam Lilian are both older people. They needed help in washing her clothes and chopping firewood.
All these are things that a knight can do.
"You— "
"Is there a reason why Madam Chapman is so red? Are you perhaps feeling ill? Would you like me to send you outside to your carriage?"
Her words were simple. She wouldn't spare a room for the knight to stay in this castle. Even if Madam Chapman is ill, Lucinia would still let her stay inside her carriage.
"I am good. Thank you. It's just that… how many knights do you need?" For some reason, Madam Chapman was having a bad feeling about this. She was expected Lucinia to actually decline the offer and send her back with the knights. Then the Queen would cry to her husband because of this disrespect.
Who would have thought that Lucinia would accept everyone? Had she become smarter too?
"Ah… for my security. Perhaps… another twenty knights. Preferably, the best ones with bulky arms and a huge physique. After all, witches and other vampires are sinister people. They could easily overpower one weak knight." Lucinia smiled. "I know that Her Highness, the Queen cared so much about me. I am fortunate to have the Queen defending me all the time."
"…" No matter how much she listened to Lucinia's tone, she never heard a tinge of pretense from her. She seemed to be grateful for the knights. Was she wrong in her previous judgment? Was it possible that Lucinia was still as simple-minded as before? "Then… I will inform the Queen of this matter."
"There is no need for that."
Lucinia almost let out a curse when she heard that man's voice. "Duke Mo…" she hid the anger in her eyes as she strode towards the man and whispered. "Why are you here?" Is this man trying to sabotage her plans?
"To see you, of course." Duke Mo suddenly leaned and kissed her cheek.
"You are not welcome here." She hissed and slowly folded her arm around his waist, pinching it. She used all the strength she could to try and wake this man up from his dream. On the outside however, her action looked extremely passionate as it looked like she was hugging the man before her.
"My… " he chuckled. Duke Mo didn't even bother looking at Madam Chapman's already pale face as she leaned closer. "Hugging me while telling me that I am not welcome here. What a bold move."
"Leave," she hissed under her breath. However, before Duke Mo could respond, Madam Chapman already cleared her throat as she stood and curtsied towards the Duke.
"Duke Mo… It's a pleasure seeing you here."
"Hmmm." Duke Mo held Lucinia's waist tightly as he walked towards the woman. He smiled. "There is no need to leave the knights here. I already talked to his highness the king about this matter. From now on, my people will protect this castle. Thirty knights shall stay here starting today. Five knights turned vampires would guard the castle's surroundings, and ten new servants will stay in this place. Plus, I will be staying in this place from now on."
Madam Chapman hid the surprise in his eyes. The Duke was one of the most mysterious entities in this continent, and yet, here he was telling her that he would guard the princess. This was a crucial piece of news! She needed to report this to the Queen as soon as possible! "Thank you so much for the Duke's concern to Princess Lucinia. I will deliver this news to her highness."
"Hmmm. You can leave."
Madam Chapman curtsied before leaving without a single word.
"Who told you that you could stay here?" Lucinia's face had already turned sour as she pushed him away from her.
"Me." He smiled and walked towards the velvet couch. He elegantly sat before she smelled the tea. "Lavender. I wasn't expecting that you would like Lavender."
"Duke Mo… I am not sure why you are acting like this, but I think it is a bit presumptuous of you to assume that I would allow you to stay with me."
"Hm?" Duke Mo lifted his gaze from the tea. Smiling, he added. "But I am allowing myself to stay with you."
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