"Father"

"Yes"

"Is the food not up to your liking?" asked Killian and I furrowed my brows. Didn't we just sit there, when was the food served?

I looked down and saw that food was already laid, but I did not see the maids coming.

I looked around and saw Marianne and Phil were laughing. Killian shook his head, looking at me and my eyes narrowed.

"That must be a good thing to do in your empire, Philip." she was still laughing.

"Of course, people of every age enjoy that. I wish I could take you there, the fair was very famous all over the continent" he replied and I deduced they were talking about the Wusnaustan empire.

"I took the fork and started eating salad when I noticed Marianne was moving her fingers and then her hand went to her injured neck as if she was trying to set her hairs, but that was not true, she wanted to scratch her wound. Her hands often went there but she controlled herself at the endpoint and just set her hairs and took it back.

The scene looked so funny to me that I laughed. All of a sudden the room turned deadly silent, even the sound of moving maids stopped, it was so silent that even the dropping of pins could be heard.

All of their eyes on me and they were looking stunned. I furrowed my brows, "what is it?" I asked annoyed, Killian was still looking at me but Marianne retracted her gaze and started eating her dinner back.

All the time she stayed silent only nodding and shaking her head if asked something by Philip. That half an hour lunch was the longest period of this year.

Finally, I took a sigh of relief as I stood up ready to go.

"Marianne, you know, I was very surprised when I reached your chamber, my chamber is behind the library, just beside yours. I am sure the view of my balcony is your garden" he said and I gritted my teeth. Was he here to work or enjoy views.

I would ask Ian to change his chamber to the corner most part.

As we walked out of her chamber I said, "I have some office work, make yourself comfortable for the rest of the day. We will start your training tomorrow."

He nodded and we walked to our separate ways. Finally, I was free with all his nonsense.

As I walked towards my chamber, I saw a guard and Ian standing there in a tense environment.

I walked in nodding to Ian, and they followed me.

"What is it?" I asked, settling on the leather chair.

"Your highness, I was assigned to her highness by sir Ian, to keep an eye on her for safety purposes' ' he said and I nodded.

"And?"

"Your highness, her highness went out to the market today," he told me and I sighed.

"I know that, would you come to the point, I have other work to do too," I added impatiently and he took two steps back.

Why was he so afraid?

"Your highness, I was asked to inform if her highness met anyone outside ever" here again he was stuck on things that I already knew.

I narrowed my eyes and he finally spoke something I did not know, and I had never expected.

"Your highness, her highness had privately met lord Baringstone in the tea house." he finally said and bowed.

"What did you say?" I looked back at Ian and even he averted his gaze from me.

I chuckled, my voice was getting colder.

"Very well, so she had started following the same path now." I snarled and both of them shivered.

"Get lost," I ordered and the guard ran away hot on his trails.

"Did you not hear what I said, just leave." I snarled but Ian was still standing there, though I knew he was afraid too.

"Your highness, don't think from your heart, think rationally with a calm mind please." he pleaded and I chuckled again.

"So you still think I am the wrong one here. Alright, I am wrong, then tell me why she hid the fact that she was going to meet Damien? It was not like I had restricted her to meet anyone.

In fact, did they not have dinner last night. They were talking like they were close with all that Dami and Mari... I still accepted it thinking that they were old friends but the whole world knows that Damien had proposed to her.

Was she a fool to not understand that." It was absurd, completely absurd that we were still standing here talking while she was meeting her so-called childhood friend secretly.

"What do you think they could do in a public place, my lord? Even sir Roselia was with them in the room." he reasoned and I snorted.

"She is the sister of that lawyer, how would it make any difference if she was there or not." I snarled and he bit his lips.

"There could be one very important reason for them to meet privately," he spoke hesitantly and I looked at him, signalling him to comment.

"I had heard from my sources that sir Damien is trying to find leeway in the procedure of divorce. He had even pleaded his majesty to change the condition of taking the divorce and give both parties equal chance to get separated.'' His words made me stunned as I remembered her face that looked like she had seen his enemy of various lifetimes.

"So, she wants a divorce now, very well, if she wants to be separated then so shall be. start the procedures, what would be a better wedding anniversary gift than this." I spoke and he shook his head.

"You are not calm enough to think wisely. If nothing else, think about the plan you are working on for the past two years," he added and I shook my head.

"Let her get free first."