Duchess Valimos still pretty much treat everyone coldly except certain people. Aurora had the impression that Duchess Smith was thinking about it a lot because she is always the one who receives it. It would be a lie to say she doesn't feel any bitterness about it, given that they were childhood friends. However, the 'real' Natalie is nowhere to be found. Maybe she has already died from the poison.
"You are still cold as ever to me, Your Grace, although we are already joined hands on this," the Duchess smiles sadly at that, feeling her heart strained for it.
Aurora looks up to all the Duchesses in the book, particularly Medea. She's thrilled to have met such a wonderful person, much less one who now resides in Natalie's body. And yet, Aurora, in her role as Duchess Smith, was doomed to death and had to be executed to escape. Because of this, she was too busy to worry about it.
After that, Medea turns her head to the side and starts watching Natalie. The blonde woman's eyes were closed, possibly in an attempt to regain herself. Her long eyelashes give her a Goddess-like side profile.
"I recall you sneaking into my manor late at night. You'd always find a way to entice me by telling me about your day. You'll then bother me while I'm studying or reading, claiming I've abandoned you. On the other hand, our fathers are always angry about it, but they soon tire of finding you sleeping soundly in my bed in the morning," Medea suddenly blurts out.
Natalie had not anticipated her behaviour in the least. However, their friendship is more potent than she imagined. Still closing her eyes, a flashback of the Duchesses in their teenage years hits her.
Flashback
"Medz, you are so occupied these days," Natalie slumps the side of her head on the table while her ruby eyes continue to gaze on the beautiful friend.
"Something requires my immediate attention," the amethyst eyes keep her sight on the paperwork.
The younger woman frowned at Medea's action. Her lips pursed, while her ruby eyes flashed hurt, but it turned to a mischievous smile. Finally, she lifts her head up, standing on her feet, looking at the older woman engrossed with her work. Then, Natalie slowly walks to Medea's side until she reaches beside her. She looks at the woman, tilting her head to get a better sight until Medea feels a burning gaze on her side.
"What are you doing?" Lady Medea raises her eyebrows, confused by this woman's action.
Natalie doesn't utter words but lets her hand take off the paper from Medea's hand while the amethyst eyes fill with irritation and confusion. Then, the younger woman slips herself on Medea's lap while maintaining eye contact with her and wrapping her arms around the older's neck.
"You have been stuffing your face into that paper, yet you never look at me once today," Natalie said softly, tucking the strand of purple-haired strand behind Medea's ears.
The blonde woman smiles mischievously at Medea while her ruby eyes playfully look at her.
"Nate, I need to finish that today," Medea sighs, looking at the blonde woman.
"I know," the ruby eyes look down, forming a sad smile.
The older woman knows that Natalie is frustrated over this, but there's nothing she can do other than to finish that at the moment.
"Look, tomorrow I promise that we will spend time together more," Medea said, after a few considerations.
The ruby eyes lit up at that sentence as she asked, "Really?"
"Yes," Medea nods, not knowing why she said that.
"Alright then," Natalie flashes her smile, knowing she will have time with the older woman tomorrow.
Medea immediately caught on to her scheme, narrowing her amethyst eyes before her hands slither to Natalie's side. She pokes on the blonde's side, causing the woman to jolt from the surprise, pushing herself to stand up again.
"Now get off," Medea chuckles, smiling and turning her attention to the paper.
Medea smiles more and giggles more around Natalie in this memory. Natalie's silly acts or even nonsense stories are mostly to blame.
Aurora then abruptly opens her eyes, unable to believe Natalie's memories are flooding into her mind. She clenches her teeth, feeling the pain throbbing in her head. Medea then kept her gaze fixed on the blonde woman, furrowing her brows and worrying about her. She then instinctively places both hands on both sides of Natalie's shoulder.
"Are you all right, Nate?" Medea inquires.
Duchess Valimos is unaware that it is slipping from her lips, but Aurora is.
"Nothing, it is just my head is suddenly spinning," the Duchess of Light trying to dismiss the matter.
Then she abruptly changes the subject by saying, "Yes, our night was filled with laughter as we tried to ignore everything around us. I wish I could go back in time," Duchess Smith smiles warmly at Medea.
Medea could feel her heartbeat speed up as she saw the smile. She hasn't seen that smile from Duchess Smith in a long time. She is unable to admit how much she has missed her best friend. Natalie groaned in pain again before she could respond to her. The headache is getting worst after that.
Medea offers her shoulder to the Duchess without saying anything.
"Thank you," Natalie expresses gratitude for the gestures.
Soon after, the Duchesses resume their silence. Meanwhile, Natalie nods off while resting on Medea's shoulder. Medea never imagined having a moment like this with Natalie again, especially under the moonlight.
After 20 minutes or less, their sweet moment is interrupted when Marquess Hector comes to the balcony. Not long after that, Lord Apollo also being at there. Duchess Valimos simply raise her hand, indicating both men to be quiet.
"We will leave after this," Medea said in a low voice.
The men want to argue but have decided not to. Not when Medea intends to take a breather before entering the ballroom for Hector, meanwhile for Apollo, and not when Natalie peacefully sleeps.
"Her Grace must be exhausted from last night's event," Apollo thought as it shifted to another one.
Lord Apollo wonders if Duchess Natalie told Duchess Medea about it. They both appear to be close now, but it is still too early to make a decision.
The man is also aware that the Duchesses were once best friends. However, just as Hector does not know what has destroyed their friendship. Duchess Natalie has never revealed the reason. Who would tell anyone that she kissed her best friend and disappeared as if nothing had happened the next day?
The gentlemen wrapped their coats around their ladies before leaving them alone. Hector's on Medea, while Apollo's on Natalie. The blonde Lady has already awoken from the minor commotion. Being a light sleeper has never helped her sleep peacefully under certain circumstances. However, because leaning her head on Medea's shoulder is comforting, the Duchess simply enjoys that time.
"Should I wake her up?" Medea considered waking Natalie up while the blonde woman was enjoying that moment.
So, hesitantly, her hand moves to shake Duchess of Light softly. Natalie jerked her head in response to a soft voice. "Duchess Natalie, wake up."
Medea has reverted to addressing her as Duchess Natalie. Perhaps Duchess Valimos says the nickname without thinking about it.
"Hmm?" the vision remains blurry as Duchess Natalie rubs her eyes.
She notices a figure next to her and squints her eyes even more. Then her vision returned, and she could see Medea more clearly. After a small break, the Duchesses brush off and retouch their gowns before returning to the banquet. To avoid suspicion, they do not both leave at the same time. Medea arrives a few minutes after Natalie leaves.
Countess Hera is still at the banquet with Prince Ares. Because they interact with so many nobles, they have lost track of time. Ares is still in character as the lovely Prince who adores her lover. He wrapped his arm around Hera's waist and smiled joyfully at her. The Crown Princess of Angelos Empire has little choice but to go along with the show.
She could feel her skin crawl as she played along with it, feeling his touch on her skin. Although he practically touched her dress, the warmth from his hand was enough to make her sick. She worshipped him as God for rescuing her from the basement life. How could everything she had hoped for with him be nothing but a lie?
Nevertheless, she is pleased to see Duchess Medea in that silk dress. She sends the dress to the Duchess tonight under the Cardinal's name. She is upset that she cannot give it to her directly, but she hopes Medea will be satisfied and happy with the gift. Indeed, she is right; Medea cherishes the dress, which complements Hector's outfits perfectly.
"Where are Lady Medea and Lord Hector? I haven't seen them in a ballroom quite a while," her emerald eyes glance slightly, searching for their figures.
The Marquess she seeks is sitting alone in the garden, waiting for Medea to return from her rest. He is concerned that the Duchess will side with Natalie. That wicked woman.
"What is Lady Medea's relationship with that woman? She cannot be betraying Lady Medea for the Prince, right?" Hector still couldn't believe Duchess Smith.
Duchess Smith can use the same method to betray Duchess Valimos. Since Hera's betrayal, he has become more cautious around the blonde woman. The distant relatives also have been trying to take the Duchess' title from her. Luckily Medea manages to eliminate them all.
Hector is also paranoid about losing Medea for the second time. The image of Medea on the verge of death while inhabiting Hera's body at the birthday banquet flashes through his mind from time to time. The man worships the Lady, pouring his heart and soul into Duchess Medea. In other words, Duchess Medea is his God who saves him from hell, the agony of losing his parents unexpectedly, and the power-hungry relatives. The man would always be grateful for her actions and obey her wholeheartedly.
While waiting for Medea, Marquess Alwyn stares into the distance to clear his head. Then, he looks up into the night sky and watches the moon. The moon's appearance tonight is nothing short of breathtaking. He was blind to the fact that he was always out late. Even though he does not believe in any deity outside of Medea herself, at that moment, he makes a wish to the moon, promising to be by Medea's side forever and hoping for her happiness.
While Hera is searching for allies, Prince Ares is doing the same.
"Where is Natalie?" his sapphire eyes searching for the Duchess of Light, feeling odd about her behaviour tonight.
It was customary for the Duchess to greet them both at the banquet. Instead, Duchess Smith remains silent while following each pair's tracks. The Crown Prince reflected on the evening he kissed Natalie and how her ruby eyes glowed with excitement when he confessed his feelings to her. Strangely, Natalie seems to be avoiding him after a night when everything should have gone swimmingly. But he pays no attention to her as he prepares to revel in his other evil scheme.
The Crassore Empire's Imperial Family was also being swarmed. Some nobles are smitten by Princess Isis. Some nobles would try to play matchmaker for their children, as they always did.
Count Harren even takes advantage of the opportunity to speak with Princess Isis. She could guess why the man is so devoted to his dream, but it is most likely due to his greed. The elderly gentleman claimed to have the best connections for his business with a foreign Kingdom. He would like to expand his business in the Crassore if possible. Making contact with the Imperial Family of the Crassore Empire.
In addition, Count Harren introduces his daughter to the Crown Princess. His daughter is lovely, but the Crown Princess is uninterested in her. Harren's daughter appears to be the same; perhaps she is only there because of him. Her face was slightly embarrassed to be with Isis, with her eyes looking down as she spoke. Count Harren continues introducing his daughter to the Crown Princess, even making jokes about a marriage alliance.
The Princess politely declined, claiming she would only choose the one she wanted.
"I have to make haste now. I'll take my leave," Isis feels a little suffocated due to Harren and takes her to leave when she sees an opportunity.
Her gaze wanders, looking for two specific women. Neither of them is in her line of sight. She wants to get to know them both better after their earlier meeting. Maybe she is curious about their personality. She is drawn to both women for different reasons.
With Medea, she feels how attractive that woman can be. Her intelligence level is superior. The way her words spin around but still can be understood, lying her intention hidden. Meanwhile, it feels comfortable to be in Natalie's presence. Isis love to be in a light situation like that.
Isis, on the other hand, notices something they have in common. That is their coldness and dangerous presence. It should make Isis nervous, but it has the opposite effect. She is drawn to them rather than threatened by them.
She resolves her first crisis well during the first dance. As her decision would impact both sides, she thinks wisely about choosing Hera. Poor Hera is trying to improve her dance, occasionally stepping on Isis' feet. The emerald-eyed girls apologize a lot to the Princess. Her face flushed red like it was about to explode, causing Hera hides her face by facing the floor. The Princess laughs it off as she finds Hera is so adorable. No wonder Ares falls in love with this woman.
Princess had no idea that it was all a ruse.
"There they are," the raven-haired beauty spot the Duchesses finally as she is about to walk, possibly trying to find them.
Isis sees Natalie holding a wine glass, talking to another noble. The blonde is still wearing Apollo's coat at the moment. The conversation looks serious, as Natalie wears her poker face talking at the noble. After that, she notices Medea is doing the same thing on the opposite side of her place. The aristocrats smile, rambling on their words in front of her.
Even their reaction hasn't confused or flustered Duke Valimos. She does not interrupt their conversation but instead listens to it. The raven-haired beauty then notices a woman who has been staring at Medea for quite some time. Every time she sees Medea, her hatred for the Duchess intensifies, and her eyes become even darker. The woman is surrounded by a group of young ladies of noble birth.
"They are probably slandering the Duchess. Those nobles," Isis shakes her head, unconcern over such things.
In the same way, nobles in the Crassore Empire would use their tongues as swords to bring down an opponent. In spite of this, Isis is confident that Duchess Valimos will easily defeat them. So she shifts gears and talks to another nobleman. Until that is, she became aware of a commotion off to her left.
"Oh my God! Are you alright?" a sinister smile coming out.