It was dawn and the cold morning greeted us. Morning mist in the castle surrounds us and the chilly breeze slightly blows my crimson hair. I was outside the castle and was waiting for the carriage that I'd be riding. I was standing outside and admiring the beautiful view of the front yard of the castle. I slightly yawned for I couldn't sleep well last night. I was thinking a lot of things. Things that I need to resolve and things that I need to find. If only Sophie's memory could reoccur and help me find her contract copy. The maids and servants of the duchy were busy loading our stuff in carriages. It looks like it'll be a long journey and a very tiring one too. I was imagining the long ride on these roads. Let me tell you it's not all concrete like in my modern world. Also, there were a few knights of the duchy joining us as well, I glanced at the knights and saw how tall diverse, and beautiful they were. Some were well-built and strong-looking lads. I was mesmerized by their armor and their demeanor. They were like the knights that I'd imagined from those fairytale stories.

"What are you glancing at, Your Grace?" Mary asked as she checked my luggage. I sighed and pointed at the knights lining up.

"The knights of Griffith's duchy, Mary. They look exquisitely fine." I said. Every one of them was eye candy. I couldn't help but compare them to Sassanico and the Grand Duke. Some were cute and handsome, some strict-looking but still had an eye-turner beauty. I couldn't help but swoon at their beauty.

"What about them?"

"They're all good-looking. Is it part of the requirements of being a knight? To be good-looking and muscular?" I asked, when I turned around to glance at Mary, I was greeted with a stern look from the Grand Duke. I almost fell from my stance to my surprise. This man always knows how to pop out of nowhere.

"No, it's not a requirement but I might be considering getting unpleasant-looking knights next opening." He said. It was him who I was talking to earlier because Mary was already riding on her carriage and it was him behind me all along. I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment.

"Do you always like doing that?" I said with an irritated tone of voice.

"Doing what?" He tilted his head and acted as confused.

"Suddenly popping out of nowhere and talking to me as if we're on good terms now."

"Are we not on good terms?" He looked puzzled at my statement and I rolled my eyes at him.

"No, we aren't. I still don't forgive you." I said and I went inside to one of the beautiful carriages. Then, the Grand Duke followed me inside my carriage which I was even more surprised by.

My brows furrowed; "You're going to ride in here, Your Grace?"

"Yes, is there a problem, Grand Duchess?" He said as he sat on the seat across mine.

"No, Your Grace," I said with a fake smile. I took out my fan and started fanning myself.

The journey to the Arch Tower is said to be 3 days. It's near the capital city of Helinia. The Grand Duke said that we'll be staying in one of Griffith's mansions in the capital. I heard they have 3 big mansions, but only one of them was used and functional. Sir Albert said it was an investment by the Grand Duke to own multiple properties in the capital. I mean, I can't blame him. Even in modern times, real estate is a good investment depending on location and quality. Sir Albert is also joining the journey because he will attend some kind of meetings in the capital, but I heard he left earlier and was making his journey ahead of us because he needs to arrive before us. I was also kind of excited about visiting the capital for I will go shopping and submit my manuscript to a publication. I was given an allowance by the Grand Duke, he gave me a chest filled with money and said to be my 2 years' worth of allowance that was piled up. And let me tell you, it is a lot! I can live independently if we divorce.

The carriages started to depart and I peeked outside the carriage. There were 20 knights lining up and 5 carriages carrying our luggage and some treasures that were said to be an offering to the Arch Tower. I don't know what kind of superstition it is but I don't care. 

I was just enjoying the view outside when suddenly the Grand Duke sat beside me. He was sitting across my seat, but now we are sitting side by side. He was a few inches apart from me.

"Why are you sitting next to me, Your Grace?"

"It seems that it'll be a long journey so if you ever need a shoulder to sleep on, you can lean on mine." He said.

"No, thank you. I humbly decline, Your Grace." I said and turned back at him. I looked out the window and gazed among the trees. 

"Suit yourself." He replied.

I heard the Grand Duke flipping through pages of some files he brought. He was doing his paperwork while we were on a journey. I also grabbed my manuscript from my bag for I was getting bored too. We were sitting in silence and we were just flipping through the pages in unison. My story is actually about a knight falling in love with the princess he serves. It's a normal fantasy romance story that I think this world would love. The Princess is about to be married to a Prince from another kingdom. The story will be full of struggles between the knight and the Princess as to how could their love be when they have responsibilities.

I was so immersed in reviewing my manuscript that I almost didn't notice the papers from the Grand Duke's hand fell. I glanced at him and saw that he was already asleep. His head was almost falling so I gently grabbed it and lay it on my lap. He looked so tired that I felt sorry for him. I'll let him sleep on my lap just this once since he guarded me when I was in a coma. I continue to read my manuscript as his head lying on my lap. He sounded asleep and I could hear his soft breathing. I glanced at him and saw the dark circles in his eyes. I fixed his bangs for a bit and examined his face. He looks so innocent when he's asleep, but when he's not he looks scary and intimidating. He's also sly nowadays. Is he like that? Or is it a change of heart? I continue to examine his features because it'll be rare to see him up close. He has a beauty mark under his left eye that I didn't notice because of his dark circles. His lashes were long and thick and I felt envious of it. His lips were plump and looked soft. 

Then, suddenly a flash of memory came through my mind. It was the Grand Duke on top of Sophie and they were in his bed. He was on top of her half-naked and was looking down at her with a slightly struggling look. I shook my head and slapped my forehead for it was a memory of Sophie and the Grand Duke's first night. I breathed deeply for I wanted to erase that memory from my thoughts. Luckily, the Grand Duke is asleep and he can't see how I look because I swear I felt heat on my cheeks. But the sight of him lingers in the back of my mind that I almost want to push the sleeping Grand Duke away from me. Oh Chastity, embrace me now.

"Your Grace, it's time to wake up now. It's time for dinner." I heard a soft familiar voice calling me, and I slowly opened my eyes and saw Mary smiling at me.

"Where am I?" I asked her as I rubbed my eyes.

"You were asleep the whole trip, and while you were sleeping the Grand Duke carried you here to fall asleep properly," Mary said as she was standing beside my bed.

I sat up and saw that I was already in bed. I looked at my surroundings and saw that we were inside a big tent. I was in a bed all dressed comfortably and all of the things we needed for camp were already arranged. I was stunned because I remembered that I was reading my manuscript.

"My manuscript?! Have you seen my manuscript, Mary?" I asked her. She shrugged her shoulders and said, "I don't know what a manuscript is, Your Grace."

I got up and looked through my luggage but nothing. It was gone. Then it hit me, it must've been with the Grand Duke.

"Where's the Grand Duke?" I asked.

Mary led me to another big tent, which was much smaller than mine. There I saw the Grand Duke sitting on his desk while reading my manuscript. I hurriedly ran towards him and grabbed my manuscript. He was stunned for a moment but regained his composure at me.

"I haven't even finished reading it yet." He said.

"Why are you reading this? I didn't allow you to read this."

He chuckled, "Why not?"

"Because I feel embarrassed someone I know reading my story."

"If you feel embarrassed of me reading it, then why bother publishing it?"

"You are different, Your Grace."

"How come?"

"I- - I don't know, just don't read it again without my permission."

"But I was going to give you tips and a few outputs to your story that could help as a possible future reader of your book."

"Wait?" I was intrigued. I asked him a few questions about my story then he answered them all correctly. I was convinced. He read it carefully and understood what I was portraying.

"Then, what do you think of my story?"

"You need a few revisions on these chapters and also the trend of books these days is in the romantic genre. I think you're book needs more romantic plot so that you can gain more readers."

"How do you know all of that?"

"You don't remember? You introduced me to reading novels."

"I did?"

"I was fond of political, military, philosophy, and economics books before. But then, you introduced me to these trendy novels as entertainment. To my surprise, I was entertained. Because of that, I found myself reading some of it during my free time. It's often unrealistic but it's entertaining. A good read"

"Really?"

A few moments later, we found ourselves reading my manuscript and there he stated some plot holes in my stories. I immediately revised it and it took us hours to finish Mary delivered our dinner to his tent. We were immersed in our conversation and I feel quite enjoying his company. He was a very perspective person and he knew what to say when he criticized my work. He was kind of nice in telling me how to correct it. He was a good critic. It took us a few hours until I realized it was past bedtime. We were finished but our conversation continued as he shared stories about the novels he read. Of course, I couldn't share mine for he would know that I'm not Sophie since the stories I've read are from the genre in this world. I just nodded and smiled at his stories.

"The bath is ready for you, Your Grace," Mary said.

"Oh, I think I should go now, Your Grace. Thank you for your time helping me." I said with a bow.

He gave me a slight smile and said; "Your story is beautiful, it will do well."

I gave him a smile and curtsy at him before leaving. It gave me hope and I felt some kind of relief when he said that. I didn't imagine that we would have a decent conversation. Knowing him from Sophie's journal is slightly different and I misjudged him too soon.

"Your Grace, it seems like your relationship with the Grand Duke is slightly mending," Mary said as we were walking back to my tent.

"I couldn't say that it's slowly mending. You could say that I'm still at the part where I'm hesitant to trust him since I've lost my memories."

Mary gave me a confused look and said, "Why wouldn't you trust your husband, Your Grace?"

"Because, recently I've remembered some of my memories and all I can see is that he neglected me and left me alone in the castle," I explained to her.

"Your Grace, the Grand Duke may seem distant and cold but since you were in a coma he slowly changed and was constantly worrying about you. I know it may sound like I'm taking sides with the Grand Duke, but could it be that losing your memory is a blessing for both of you? Perhaps it's a gift from god for both of you to start over and forgive one another, all you need is communication and time together." 

I was slightly taken aback for I didn't know that Mary is quite perspective when it comes to marriage. But I wanted to tell her, 'No, Mary. It's not a blessing, it's a curse.', but I hold myself up. I just sighed and hugged her.

"Thank you, Mary. I know you're worried about me too, but I will consider what you said." I said.

After taking a bath and prepping myself, I saw a letter lying on my desk. It wasn't her before when Mary was present in my tent, but now that she's gone it suddenly appeared. I opened the letter and I was happy but also excited when I read who's it from. I slowly read the letter.

I gasped when I read the closing line. Reagan is Sophie's biological father?!

When I was about to read the letter again, it suddenly burst into flames and then to ashes. It was gone. I was astonished for I haven't even sink the thought of the things he said. But I think he did it so no one would see it. I paced back and forth and was thinking hard. His letter is too vague and short, he knew I was in a coma but he never wrote about some of my past. And also, about this library. Does finding it will help me answer all of my questions? Or would it just give me more questions?

"You look terrible, did something happen?" 

I nearly jumped out of fright when the Grand Duke suddenly stood behind my back. I nearly kicked him in the balls but luckily I didn't.

"Don't go popping out of nowhere, Your Grace! You nearly gave me a heart attack." I exclaimed.

"Did something happen? You look like you saw a ghost," he asked with concern.

I looked at him and said, "You're the ghost. What are you doing here?"

"There's something we need to talk about." he looked at me seriously and his golden eyes glistened as he gazed at me.