"All done, Your Grace," Mary said as she braided my hair.

I looked at myself in the mirror and admired myself for a moment. I was wearing a pastel green gown embedded in flowers, for accessories a matching set of rose single-pendant gold necklace and earrings. My hair was well-braided and with light soft make-up that complimented Sophie's soft face.

"Your Grace, are you writing a story?" Mary pointed at my desk which was full of papers and crumpled ones. 

"Yes, it is. I've been writing a story and planning to publish it if I can." I said. During my free time, I have been writing my old stories that were rejected. For how many years that I've been revising it, I already memorized it word by word. I've written the first book of my story and planning to ask Sir Albert where I could secretly publish it. Although, I'm still hesitant to ask for help.

"I wish I could read it someday, Your Grace," Mary said with a sad smile. My brows furrowed and I looked back at her, "What do you mean? You guys can't read it?" I asked her and the maids that were beside her.

Mary and the maids nodded their heads in unison. I felt sad, I realized that even though this world is full of magic they are still in an era where the poor only have little access to knowledge. Like writing and reading, they are limited to the poor. I wish I could teach them though.

"I have an idea! What if I teach you guys how to write and read?" I suggested, and they all looked worried.

"Why? Did I say something wrong?" I asked.

Mary held my hands and smiled at me, "We are grateful that you thought of teaching us how to write and read, Your Grace. But, it's against the law of this empire that people like us know how to write and read."

I was stunned to hear that," 'Against the law'? What kind of an empire is this? Limiting the knowledge of its people and taking their rights to be literate? Such discrimination!"

Mary was more worried and was trying to calm me down. "Your Grace, you shouldn't say those things. You might be heard by someone who may accuse you of treason to the empire."

I stopped myself from saying any further, it was just frustrating to think of it. If I ever get the chance to have an audience with the Emperor, I will have a good word with him!

    It was almost dinner time and I was already escorted by the guards of Griffith to the dining hall. I read somewhere that their guards were strong and they have a name for it. I forgot what they called, maybe I'll refresh my memories in Sophie's journal later. the guards were quiet and was very wary towards me. Maybe they are like this since I've just got maids and a doctor being tortured and imprisoned. I also noticed the hall of this castle is very majestic, if this is majestic what could the imperial castle look like? I stumbled upon a few portraits of unknown people, they looked scary but there was one portrait that wasn't. It was the previous Grand Duchess, the mother of The Grand Duke. She was breathtakingly beautiful. A beautiful woman with long silver hair and green eyes like Sophie's. Her facial features were in good proportion and her well-sculpted body too. If she was in the modern world, she would be a popular model. Even if she was in her mid-40s, she was still beautiful. I wonder if Sophie would still be pretty if she turns old.

"Your Grace, the Grand Duke is waiting for you inside." the butler said.

"Oh, my apologies," I replied.

     I didn't realize that we were already at the door of the dining hall. My attention was still on the portrait of her mother. I composed myself and took a deep breath before the door opened in front of me. The moment the door opened, my jaw slightly dropped at the amazing dining hall. It was shining so bright due to the multiple dazzling chandeliers that were hanging in the hall. The dining hall was very spacious, it was like a big ballroom. The long tables were decorated with beautiful red roses and there were golden plates on each chair. Maids were lined up behind every chair as if they were assigned on each seat and what's more amazing is the food. Varieties of dishes were at the center of it, I could feel my mouth water from the visuals of it. There were fruits, roasted chicken, beef dishes, soups, and many more. I thought to myself, could we even eat all of this?!

"The Grand Duchess Sophia Grace Rosewood-Griffith is here, your Grace." the butler announced my name suddenly to which I was quite surprised to hear it in complete name. I looked at the furthest side of the long table, it was the Grand Duke but he wasn't alone. Four people were seated near him, one man, and one woman, and there were two girls and boys. The man was quite familiar to me even from afar. 

"Good to have you here, Grand Duchess." The Grand Duke said.

The Grand Duke stood up from his seat and suddenly walked towards me. I was a bit stunned when he suddenly offered his hands. My brows raised as I accepted his hand, he was escorting me to my seat which was beside him. The moment I sat down, the man who was seated in front of me smiled. I felt a chill from his smile, but I managed to smile back. I swear this man is familiar to Sophie, but I couldn't point it out.

"I am delighted that my daughter is doing well, Your Grace." the man said.

My eyes widened when he said that. Daughter? Is he Sophie's father?

The Grand Duke took a seat and smiled back at him, "Let's make a toast for her health then."

They took their goblets and all raised their glasses, while they were taking a toast I was still in confusion. If he's Sophie's father, then who are these other people? I looked at the woman who was beside the man looked at me with a smile. But I knew that smile was somewhat fake, she was wearing super dazzling jewelry. Her earrings were so big and she wore 3 layers of necklaces on her neck. Also, her hair was so extravagant with decorations. I almost mistook it as a Christmas tree. Compared to me, I was barely wearing any jewelry because it was heavy. The jewelry in this world is heavy as hell, that is why I can't imagine how she managed to carry all of it. I managed to convince Mary to let me wear the light jewelry to which she was opposing it at first.

"My my, Sophie. You look healthy but you look so plain, dear," she looked at me with a disdainful look and I swear I heard her snicker for a moment. 

"It's my new fashion statement," I replied. It made me angry but I just put on a smile and took out the meat knife and stabbed the nearest roasted chicken. It made her flinched for a moment and she immediately shifted her gaze at the Grand Duke.

"Your Grace, since we will be here for a few days it would be delightful that you could tour us to your humble abode. My dear Adele has been making a fuss about visiting this castle and was eager to meet you, your grace." the woman gestured at the eldest girl who was beside her. The girl was most likely at the age of 20 and was also wearing an extravagant gown and jewelry like her mother. I see what this is, she's making her daughter make a move on the Grand Duke. 

I looked at the Grand Duke and waited for his response, he smirked and said; "My apologies, since when did I say that you could stay here?"

I snorted a laugh and they all looked at me, especially the man, and the mistress glared at me.

"But didn't you invite us here to visit my daughter, Sophie?" the man asked with a nervous chuckle.

"I did invite you, but I didn't say you could stay here." The Grand Duke said nonchalantly. As he said that, he continued to eat his food as if he didn't say anything.

I looked away for a moment because I was hiding my smile. It was so satisfying to see their faces, especially I remember now who these people are. It was Sophie's gambling-addict father who left her in debt. This man was stated in her journal multiple times. Sophie pledged to cut off his connection with these people and never involve herself with them. The woman was the mistress and the other people were their children. But, something was amazing that I learned in Sophie's journal. Sophie uncovered a dark secret of her father's mistress.

I cleared my throat and continued to eat, I could feel the man glaring at me as if he was waiting for me to rescue them. But I just feinted ignorance and looked at them with a smile, "Thank you for visiting me, Father. It's been 5 years, right?"

"Yes, it has. I have been sending you letters but you didn't even reply to me. So I immediately accepted the Grand Duke's invitation, my dear. I couldn't possibly forget my daughter, who became the Grand Duchess overnight." he said.

Suddenly the Grand Duke called his butler, he whispered something to him and the butler nodded. The butler went outside the hall and we continued our meal. It was a suffocating meal, to be honest. I barely managed to eat because the mistress and her daughters kept glaring at me as if I were some kind of plague. I didn't mind it though, but what made me sick to my stomach was how thick-skinned they were. Sophie's father was talking nonsense to the Grand Duke about his business, he was pushing this topic on him and the mistress was always talking about her daughter, Adele, on how talented she was and pretty she was. To be fair, she is pretty but Sophie's more beautiful. The Grand Duke was kind enough to put on a fake smile and ask questions as if he was interested in them. The other children were quiet and were kind of nervous, I guess they were intimidated by the Grand Duke. As they were talking, the door suddenly opened and the butler was back. He called some people in and they were pushing a cart filled with big chests. The butler opened them one by one and everyone at the table's eyes widened for it was a pile of money and jewelry. The man, who was said to be Sophie's father, was brimming with greed. His smile widened and was somehow excited about what he saw. The mistress also was excited by the treasures she saw. And then, a tall cloaked man entered the room. He was in a white cloak and his face was covered in a white mask. The white-masked man took off his hood and his long blonde hair shined. Who is this man?

"The reason I've invited you all here is I want to verify something. The Rosewood territory has been very helpful to our military forces for the past few years especially its magic crystal mine that was given by the Rosewood, and suddenly I was alerted by my men that someone was deliberately stealing from the Rosewood mines which were supposed to be owned, by my wife, the Grand Duchess. The Grand Duchess can't steal it since she was in a coma for the past 2 years." the Grand Duke leaned forward to the table and let out a piece of paper. It was a contract of agreement between the condition of the Rosewood Crystal mines.

The moment the Grand Duke said that I was in a coma, the man turned pale and let out a nervous chuckle, "You were in a coma, my dear?" he asked me.

"Yes, I was. For 2 years, to be exact, father. You look pale, is something wrong?" I replied. His face was pale and somehow his other children were in confusion, while the mistress covered her face with her feathered fan. She was also sweating even though the room was cool.

"One day, the guards caught someone in the mines stealing a cart of magic crystal, but they claimed as a member of the Rosewood family, he said, he's one of the Rosewood children. So, I released him and sent him the invitation. Isn't that right, Fergus?" the Grand Duke looked at the 18-year-old boy who was sitting beside Adele. Fergus bowed his head and nodded.

"But you see, my wife stated before she was the only child of Rosewood, so I want to know what kind of relationship these children and this woman to my wife. Can you tell me, Sir?" The Grand Duke looked at Sophie's father.

"Your Grace, they are my children. So, they are Sophie's half-brothers and sisters. They have the right to be a Rosewood since I married Sophie's mother. It is stated in our marriage agreement that we have split shares of the Rosewood territory so they also have some shares in that territory." he said.

I scoffed at the things he said, doesn't he realize that he's stating bullshit. Sophie is the only child of the Rosewood family and the sole heir to that territory. They don't have any rights. I wanted to retaliate to his words, but the Grand Duke beat me to it.

"I see, are you certain that these are your children?" he asked.

This time, the man's face turned red in anger, and yelled, "Your Grace, you're being disrespectful! Of course, these are my children."

"He's right, you're being disrespectful to us, your grace! Are you accusing me of cheating on my husband?" the mistress exclaimed. She began to fan her fan aggressively and was looking more pale than ever.

The Grand Duke nodded with a smile and clapped his hands, "To solve this problem, I brought my trusted friend, an Arch Mage, he will confirm the legitimacy of these children claiming to be Rosewood. If proven to be true, I will give you these chests of gold and jewelry for compensation."

The man's face lit up and was looking at the chests with greed.

"But if proven to be false, I will see to it that you'll be punished accordingly." the Grand Duke's face suddenly turned cold and his golden eyes glowed. It was like the time when he cut off that maid's hand, his eyes glowed like that. I felt shiver at the sight of his face looking intimidating like that. The same goes for them since they will be the ones who will feel his wrath.

"Yes, your grace." the man agreed and gulped out of fear. The Grand Duke ordered the Arch Mage, and he walked towards each of the man's children and inspected them. His hands glowed and for a few minutes, he did the same on each of them. It took us like five minutes for the Arch Duke to inspect them, but I was busy watching the mistress. Every time the Arch Mage inspected her children, she fanned more aggressively as her sweat was dripping out of nervousness. 

To be honest, I didn't know anything about that crystal mine. I didn't even know that Sophie had that kind of asset.

"Can I inspect the father too, Your Grace?" the Arch Mage asked the Grand Duke. He nodded at him and proceeded to inspect Sophie's father. It glowed like the rest and then the Arch Mage stood beside the Grand Duke.

"What are your findings, Arch Mage?" the Grand Duke asked.

"They are not blood-related to the Grand Duchess, Your Grace." the Arch Mage said.

Sophie's father slammed the table and stood up, "That is a lie!"