Her brother glanced at Duke Raziel, then turned to look at her as she stood frozen by the door. “You two know each other?” He asked. 

She raised her eyebrows at the question. “What?” Why is this man here? What is he planning to do? 

Duke Raziel stared at her, his eyes were telling her something. “It has been a long time, Lady Vienna.”

She snorted, realizing what he was doing. He came here, as her brother’s guest, claiming that they are friends. How impudent. 

The nerve of this guy! After threatening her last night and sending her a letter asking for her hand in marriage, he appears here as nothing happened! 

Still standing at the door, she dared to meet his gaze. “Oh, yes it has really been a long time, your grace.” She emphasized the word really. 

The tension around the room was so heavy that her brother spoke up and broke the silence. “So you two really are friends, come and sit here with us, my dear sister.” He offered, patting on the space beside him. 

“No,” Duke Raziel interjected, ushering her on the empty space beside him, “Sit here beside me, my friend.” 

Looking at both of their expectant faces, it was obvious where Lady Vienna would sit. She approached her brother and sat beside him, giving a sarcastic smile in the duke’s direction. “I think I’ll have to sit beside my brother, your grace.” 

The Duke huffed at that and just nodded. 

“You were just in time, we were just talking about you, Vienna. I didn’t know that you were really friends with the Duke.” Her brother commented, chuckling. 

She threw her brother a look, nudged him in the arm and he yelped in pain. What kind of nonsense is his brother talking about? Sometimes, she just wants to hit him in the head like the times when we were kids. He can’t seem to read the mood. He’s completely oblivious to the fact that he hates the villain. 

She looked at Duke Raziel across from him. “Not to be rude, your grace, but may I ask what are you doing here? Seeing that you were too busy...” 

“I’m glad you asked.” He answered. “I saw your brother on the way and thought of you. Have you received my letter?” He asked, his eyebrows raiser. “I was planning on talking about it yesterday at the coffee shop, but you didn’t appear.”

So he was serious with that letter? She faked a smile, “Oh, I apologize for that, your grace. I didn’t forget about it.” She lied, she forgot it and thought that the duke was just messing with him, but he doesn’t have to know that. “My father also forbid me from going out.” 

The duke just stared at her for a minute, examining her face if she’s lying, and just shrugged it off.

“Haha, as I was saying,” Her brother butted in, “Do you have plans on getting married soon, your grace? If it’s alright to ask.” 

She chuckled nervously at that, feeling sweat forming on her forehead. She discreetly wiped it and her brother noticed it. “You seem to be sweating, sister.”

She chuckled again, hitting her brother playfully. “Haha. It’s just hot in here.” 

“Here.” She saw a handkerchief in front of her as the Duke offered it to her. 

Her brother ushered her to accept it and hesitating, she sighed, grabbing it and lightly dabbing it on her sweat. She could linger the smell from the duke’s perfume. It smells fragrant, strong, and masculine. She cleared her throat. “Forgive me, your grace. I’ll return it to you once I ask the maids to wash it.” 

The duke shook his head, “No, keep it...for remembrance, we’re friends after all.” 

Turning to his brother, the duke then responded to his previous question, “About my marriage...everything is settled, except my future wife’s reply to my proposal. She seems to be thinking about it very carefully.” As he said that, she could feel his gaze trailing her, sending chills down her spine. 

Her brother laughed at that, although nothing he said was funny. “That’s great, I am hoping she’ll agree soon. Send me an invitation when you two marries. I’ll be cheering for you, your grace.” 

Then her brother stopped, looking at both of them. She gulped, nervous for some reason. What nonsense is he going to say next?  “Excuse me for saying this your grace but, now that I see it, you two look good together.” 

She coughed, almost choking on her own spit. The Duke diverted his eyes and looked to the ground, feeling shy. 

Lady Vienna swears that right then and there, nothing is more satisfying than hitting her brother. He’s an expert at obliviously putting her in an awkward position! She fought the urge not to do that, taking a mental note to get her revenge after this situation. 

“Did you hear that Lady Vienna? Your own brother said it himself...” Duke Raziel said to her, raising his eyebrows at her. If not for his mask, she could swear that he’s smirking. 

Just then, the door opened and Titus appeared. He bowed at them, clearing his throat to catch their attention. “Forgive me for interrupting your conversation, but dinner is prepared, my lady, my lord, your grace.” Said her personal knight Titus. 

She almost grinned in victory but stopped when the next words of her brother came out. 

“Oh, I meant to ask for your grace. Do you want to stay for dinner and eat with us?” Her brother asked.

The Duke glanced at her, then shook his head no. “I’m sorry, as much as I want to, I need to take care of an urgent business.” 

Her brother nodded. “Then I’ll see you next time when we have time then. Vienna, see him outside.” He ordered her. 

Lady Vienna looked at his brother with furrowed eyebrows. “Why me?”

“You’re his friend.” 

Sighing, she guided him outside their mansion.

 After this, I won’t have to deal with him. She thought to herself. 

“Thank you for today, I had a wonderful time. You and your brother were a great company.” The duke said. 

“Yeah yeah, you’re welcome, your grace.” She said, rolling her eyes. 

Instantly, she felt the duke leaning and whispering to her. “Don’t think that I had forgotten that you stood me up. You may have managed to get away from me at that time, but I’ll continue chasing after you until you let us talk about my proposal.” He said in a low voice. 

She would have said that she was intimidated, but this is Lady Vienna that we are talking about. She’s an aggressive and strong lady who never backs down. “Then I’ll keep on rejecting you, your grace. Stop chasing me and find another lady. I promise I won’t spread your secret.” 

“No, it has to be you. Or do you want me to tell your father that you visited the Rouge library, and asked to kill me?” 

She stopped. Well well, looks like this will be a long ride.