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❦☾𝕲𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗.5.𝕰𝖝𝖕𝖊𝖈𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘☽❦

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" Your Highness!" Jennie sprinted to Ophelia, " I'm sorry to disturb your meeting!" 

Both of them turned their heads to Jennie's intrusion. Her eyes were overwhelmed with tears and it was clear she was in extreme distress.

Leon glared at Jennie for her disturbance and upon noticing it she bit her tongue and stumbled back and in a small mumble said: " I..I'm sorry-"

" Jennie!" Ophelia ran up from her seat and gave her an immediate hug. " What happened?!" 

Jennie's eyes clouded with tears, as her inflamed heart filled with anxiety was squeezed by Ophelia's sudden solace.

The Duke who had expected the Princess of Alira, to punish and be offended by her maid. Was at awe by her response.

' I would've punished that servant...' He scoffed to himself, ' It just shows how badly her servants respect her. How unfortunate...'

" Y...your Majesty," her voice sounded scratchy. 

" It's alright, tell me. No need to suppress your tears," Ophelia told her.

Her tears began to stream down her face " My mother...she is dying! She caught an incurable disease from the capital! I must go to see her!" She wailed in her arms.

' Jennie's family moved here because of me. It's only fair that I allow her to leave.' Ophelia thought. 'Plus she's done so much for both me and Ophelia. And from her memories, she deserves the best!'

" And you wish to visit her?" Ophelia inquired.

Jennie's sobs slowed " Would you allow me to?!"

"Of course," she replied. ' My authority is low, and I'm yet to be officially the fiance of the Prince in this Empire...' She reasoned to herself.

Grabbing the paper and pen from her hand Ophelia had gone back to her table.

" Finally, I see you have remembered me..." The Duke joked.

Dismissing him, she wrote a permission slip of a 2 and a half week holiday. Then lifting her head she smiled at Leon and asked " Could you please give your stamp of approval,"

She gave him the paper and pen, but he was more baffled 'She is giving her personal maid an extra two and a half week holiday? Is she seriously foolish?'

He glanced at Jennie who fumbled at his gaze and back at the paper. " Alright, I'll sign it," he smirked.

" Thank you!" Ophelia rejoiced.

Then giving Jennie the paper she instructed her to take some of her money and leave since the medication is expensive.

She thanked her and left them to continue their meeting.

After Ophelia had returned to her place she resumed in drinking her beverage.

" Your awfully friendly to a vulgar maid," he stated.

With a scowl, she sharply replied " Don't speak so recklessly, I am offended. Plus Jennie is like family to me and has sacrificed a lot to be here with me. So I feel a strong sense of responsibility towards her!"

'Her expression is so harsh, this is new she's only showed me kindness,' he felt slightly upset by it. 

" Well, one might say being too kind. Your majesty can make you a pushover,"

"Kindness. Your grace. When presented as a virtue shows that you care. However, when it becomes a personality trait one tends to become naïve. And so I presume that's when one becomes a pushover," with a slight laugh she grinned.

" And I'm neither naïve nor blind towards intention," she continued in finishing the last bit of her tea.

' So she is polite to me because she 'cares' about me...how am I meant to believe that. And what does she mean 'blind to intention? Does she mean she knows that my current self is an act?'

" Anyway, It seems the new disease in the East of the Capital is turning into a epidemic," he sighed whilst rubbing his forehead.

Ophelia was instantly  alarmed " Already?!" She coughed.

' Hm? she knew about this...and she sent her maid to die?' He assumed.

" Yes, part of the reason I'm staying here at the Palace. There are many issues that the board has called upon the higher nobles to deal with immediately," he continued.

' How is this possible?!' She debated ' I'm sure this happened further in the novel, unless everything for some reason changed, could my actions on my first day been a catalyst?!'

He then said in a cunning manner " In 2 weeks from now a meeting will be held to determine which case is given to which Duke and Duchess,"

He then leaned forward, putting up 6 fingers and said " There are 6 main issues, the drought in the South of the Empire which equalled to the dramatic decline in food, making it more expensive to afford for the commoners. This lead to people becoming malnourished and feeble to this new disease in the East of the capital. 4 and 5th issue, is the increase of population alongside it poverty. And lastly, this new problem which I've mentioned this new illness. Which in my opinion is by far the most crucial to solving," 

Ophelia bit her lip in concern and answered: " Don't you think this is too convenient?" 

Of course, she already knew it is.

The Duke fascinated by her response questioned: " How so, these are just political dilemmas aren't they?"

" Well of course, but everything seems planned," she explained to him.

" The drought is a natural occurrence that can't be solved as easily. But the decline in food should have also affected the Nobles, yet if you look at us now it's as though it isn't even occuring. Plus with the increase in population and the reduction of food things would become extremely worse for us all. But taxes became higher and so poverty did too, this is another benefit to the Monarch since it would be hard to get money into our economy with the lands current state so raising taxes at a point in time where immigration to the capital is high is extremely strategic," 

The Duke started grinning ' She's more intelligent than I imagined, maybe I should make use of her to a full extent,' he schemed

Ophelia prolonged " And this recent yet random sickness has already taken effect and will kill hundreds if not millions of people if not regulated properly, convininet to think right? With the upcoming famine that seems to have already begun, plus poverty it means that the rise in the needy population would have grown. People like the elderly, Orphans, disabled, homeless and more. The state is responsible for taking care of these 'expensive' citizens, but from my view this disease will chop them off one by one first, maybe on purpose, "

With a smile, Leon told her "Princess? It seems you see our Monarch as corrupt? Should I take offence?"

'He's very tactful. But unfortunately, I know his games!'

" No, not at all. I'm only an outsider and cast my view as one. It just seems to me that great calamity such as this could've been avoided if the leaders weren't fraudulent,"

With a large beam he implored "Since in the near future you shall be viewed as our Empress, shouldn't you take your place at the council,"

Ophelia jumped at his offer " Oh really? Is that possible,"

" Of course, plus it seems you have the intelligence to spare in political matters. Take it as work training. I'll take you under my wing,"

In Leon's mind he was killing two birds with one stone, ' Not only can I spend more time getting her on my side. But I can already use her status to get more power.'

Then checking his pocket watch, he stood up to leave " Well then I must be off, goodbye Your highness and shall we meet again in 4 days,"

She nodded and watched him stroll away. But at that moment she remembered something she wanted to say to him.

" Your grace!" She called out in a soft tone. He turned to face her and was yet again met with a provoking expression.

" May we meet again, but I hope for you to leave that deceitful persona because I wish for you to be comfortable around me!" 

She picked up her gown and walked in the other direction to him, followed by two maids.

The Duke's heart began to beat at a barely exhilarated speed. His eyes widened at her statement. 

' She knew...I was deceiving her yet she still smiled at me....' Her words from earlier rang in his head yet again ' When kindness is a virtue it shows that you care.'

" What is wrong with me! I barely know her, and she seems just as conniving as myself. She knew my name so she might have incite to my past," he sourly stated to himself.

" She has no reason to care for me, but a lot to of reasons to trick me and manipulate me," he sneered then continued his journey.

" If she continues to confuse me, I'll have to dispose of her," 

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