Quite some time had passed after the incident and with the date of the Imperial wedding coming closer, the whole Isidor duchy and the palace were bustling with the preparations. Meanwhile, the relationship between Artemisia and Valentina had become better as well.

While visiting the Vaspertine duchy :

Both Valentina and Artemisia were sitting together and enjoying a good time as friends but suddenly Artemisia had to leave the conversation due to some work.

Artemisia - Ina I'll be back in a few minutes. Is that fine with you?

Valentina - Go ahead. I'll be here. You don't need to always be so formal Sia...atleast not when only we two are together. ( *Smiled* )

Artemisia smiled back at her and went away. Valentina slumped back on the couch and rested her head against it.

Valentina - ( *Sighed* ) There isn't much time left in the marriage. The date's approaching... it's going to be exhausting...

Right then, someone knocked on the door and Alexis entered through it.

Alexis - Misi...

He was going to say something but stopped on his tracks on seeing Valentina there.

Alexis - Uh...uhh...great to see you again lady Isidor. Have you seen Misi?

Valentina - Greetings to the duke. Lady Artemisia has gone for work. I think she'll be back in a few minutes.

Alexis - ( *Scratching the back of his neck* ) Oh has she? Um...how are you lady? I couldn't send you a letter or ask if you injured at that time...and then with all the investigation and all I couldn't seem to get any time.

Valentina - It's fine duke. By god's grace I wasn't injured that day. Thankfully, you and the marchioness entered at the right time so everything went smoothly.

Alexis - I'm glad to hear that. Lady uh...I was wondering if you could call me by my first name.

Valentina - ( *Shocked* ) hmm?

Alexis - ( *Flustered* ) N-No I didn't mean it in any other way. I-I just it's just awkward for me to hear a friend calling with my title instead of my name.

Valentina - Oh? Are we friends?

Alexis - ( *Droop* ) Are we not? I mean you helped us capture them, so I was wondering if we could stay as friends and help each other for a long time. But only if you are comfortable.

Valentina - Oh is that so? I would love it if we could become friends. ( *Blushing* ) D-do all your friends call you by your first name?

Alexis - ( *Blushing* ) Well ( *Clearing his throat* ) I barely have any friends so yeah they do.

Just as they were talking, suddenly a voice interrupted them.

"Oh my what's this?~ "

Both of them turned to spot Marchioness Athena leaning against the door.

Athena - And who might this be? ( *Looking at Valentina* )

Valentina - ( *Thinking* ) Isn't she marchioness Athena? She is Alexis' best friend...will she try to keep me on check? I hope she doesn't create trouble for me.

But contrary to her expections, it looked it Athena and Alexis were not a least bit romantically interested in each other.

Athena - What is a lady this beautiful doing with this fool? ( *Smirked looking at her* )

Alexis - ( *Rolling his eyes* ) Atleast I've more sense than you ever will have.

Athena - ( *Grazing her hand lightly against Valentina's face* ) Don't listen to that fool my lady. I can treat you better than him. ( *Wink* )

Alexis - Athena you really want to get beheaded don't you? ( *Shaking his head* )

Athena - ( *Furrowed her eyebrows* ) What do you mean? Why would I wish for something like that?

Alexis - Well anyone who dares to flirt with the future empress of the country must have a deathwish.

Athena - ( *Mumbled* ) Future empress? ( *Widening her eyes* ) Is this lady Isidor?

Alexis - Yes!

Athena - ( *Gasped and got away from her* ) Oh my- I didn't realize it was you my lady. I thought Alex was finally interested in someone.

Alexis - So you tried to steal them?

Athena - ( *Smug smile* ) Are you so confident about my looks and skills?

Both of them were bickering while Valentina was just standing there silently.

Athena - Anyways, I-I apologise, I really hope I didn't offend the lady!

As soon as Athena apologised, Valentina put on a smiling face and instantly looked up.

Valentina - ( *Smiled* ) No-no infact I am honoured to finally meet the marchioness.

Valentina - ( *Graceful* ) Let me introduce myself first. I am Valentina Isidor. The only lady of Isidor duchy. I greet the marchioness.

Valentina - ( *Thinking* ) Dammit!Dammit! Code red! She's totally my type! What do I do?! What do I do?! Ah! I would've proposed her if I didn't have to marry that wretched emperor! Shit!Shit!Shit! ( *Internal screaming* )

Athena - This is Marchioness Athena from Rometio house. It's an honour to meet my lady.

Athena bowed and left a small kiss on Valentina's hand.

Athena - Thank you helping us to catch Elois Kartena, my lady. ( *Smiled at her* )

Valentina - It was my duty as the future empress consort and Lady Artemisia's friend. ( *Smiled* )

They all talked for a while more before Valentina had to go back.

Athena - ( *Crossed arms* ) I can't believe such a sweet lady is marrying the emperor. What a pity!

Alexis - That's what I thought...but I think it's for the better. The lady looks like she is planning for something. Maybe the empire will have to go through some power struggle in the future.

Athena - ( *Serious* ) Why do you think so?

Alexis - Lady Isidor has the right to succession to the throne. And why would she marry the emperor if she didn't want power? From the looks of it, it doesn't look like she's in love and Isidor duchy is powerful enough to hold their ground against the emperor if the lady didn't wish to get married.

Athena - ( *Doubting* ) She isn't in love with the emperor?

Alexis - Think about it. Excluding us, the only people who knew about the marriage proposal were, Lady Isidor, the emperor and Elois Kartena. She knew that the wedding would have benefitted the emperor but still she helped us and messed his majesty's plan of trying to control the duchy. So why would she create trouble for someone she loves?

Alexis - Initially even I believed the rumours about the lady approving the marriage out of love but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

Athena - ( *Chuckle* ) Seems like we may get a new master soon.

•__________•.•.•.•.•.•.•__________•

Valentina - ( *Lying on her bed* ) I can't believe I am getting married already. ( *Sighed* )

Valentina - Yeah right I also have to do that ( *Scrunches eyes* ).

Valentina groggily pulled herself up and contacted the guild leader for a plan.

Valentina - ( *Says him the materials required and outline of her plan* ) Prepare the life-sized homunculus before the imperial wedding. There are still two months remaining, so do it as soon as possible.

Guild leader - ( *Sighed* ) Princess ( *Face palming* )

Valentina - ( *Confused* ) What? Is the time or money not enough for you?

Guild leader - No that's not it.

Valentina - Then?

Guild leader - Princess...do you perhaps have a kink of getting yourself assassinated?

Valentina - ( *Disgust* ) What?!

Guild leader - Well because you sure act like it.

Valentina - Do you wanna die?

Guild leader - ( *coughing* ) I'm not the one with such a kink.

Valentina - You'll be my first target after I became the empress.

Guild leader - Oh my if I die who'll provide you with the information you want princess~ ( *Fake hurt* )

Valentina - ( *pissed* ) This beach...

Guild leader - Anyways, whatever you've ordered will be ready by the required time. And don't do anything too risky...I don't wanna loose a precious customer~

Valentina - Ofcourse am gonna take care of that guild leader. ( *Chuckle* )

Guild leader - ( *Narrowing his eyes* ) Aschen

Valentina - What?

Guild leader - Aschen...it's my name. Call me that instead of guild leader.

Valentina - Is it fine to give me your name like that?

Guild leader - Well, we are working together and know each other's secret...so it's fine probably.

Valentina - Secret? How can you be so sure that I won't ditch you?

Guild leader - I am too useful for you to do that ( *Shrugging* )

Valentina - How very confident of you. ( *Shaking her head* ).

The connection was cut off and both the sides for engaged with their assigned work.

•__________•.•.•.•.•.•.•__________•

15 days remaining for the imperial wedding :

Valentina - ( *Looking at the homunculus* )Hmm...you did a pretty good job.

Aschen - No one's going to know her real identity and you can make her vanish at your own will.

Valentina - This is exactly what I needed. Now, apply for the position of a maid in the Imperial palace under her name. The head maid is involved in embezzlement, so bribe her up and get the job.

Aschen - How do you know about that? ( *Confused* )

Valentina - ( *Smirked* ) I know a lot of things honey.

Aschen - I'll do it. Just keep in mind to make it look like she escaped just in time, because if I get found out that I was behind all this, then I'll most definitely be sentenced to death.

Valentina - Do you think I don't know it. ( *Sighed* )

Aschen - ( *Chuckled* ) Ofcourse you do.

•__________•.•.•.•.•.•.•__________•

7 days to the Imperial wedding :

After completing her morning training, Valentina had entered the kitchen to make something delicious for Vercil. He had a sweet tooth and she knew that he wouldn't not love anything sweet in the morning.
Valentina knocked on the door and entered with a maid pushing a small cart with a cake and a few toffees and macarons tailing her.

Valentina - Vercil I baked a cake- ( *looked at at him* )

Valentina - ( *Freaked out and concerned* ) Just how many days have you not taken any rest from?

Vercil - ( *Tired* ) Ah sister! You are here ( *Happy* )

Valentina - You haven't answered my question yet. ( *Face palming* ) No wait no need to answer. Set your work aside for some time and come here.

Vercil - ( *Unsure* ) Umm...I still have got a little left.

Valentina - You've got a little left right? Lovely them take a little rest first then you can go back to work.

And before Vercil could argue any further, Valentina pulled him and making him sit on the sofa shoved a piece of the cake into his mouth gently.

Valentina - ( *Smiling* ) How is it?

Vercil - ( *Sparkling eyes* ) ( *nodding happily* )

Valentina - Great!
Now eat up and sleep, I'll wake you up in a while.

Valentina said sternly, giving no room to Vercil to protest.
After he finished eating, Valentina made him lie down on the sofa in his office since he was reluctant to leave the office. And keeping his head on her lap started patting him gently.

Valentina - I am going to miss you a lot in the imperial palace.

Vercil - Should I shift into the palace?

Valentina - No I don't you to face his majesty everyday. He'll be sure to meddle in your affairs otherwise.

Vercil - You don't need to be concerned about that. I can handle it. ( *Looking up at her* )

Valentina - ( *Chuckled lightly* ) Oh my~ my baby brother cares about me so much~ I am so happy.
But nevertheless, I'll also miss the duchy, so I guess I'll make trips as much as possible.

Vercil - ( *defeated* ) Fine if that's what you want.

Vercil - But don't forget to inform me about even the slightest of inconveniences you face in the palace. I'll make sure that his majesty pays for it.

Valentina - ( *sfx : loom* ) That's not funny when you say it. ( *Unsure smile* )

Vercil - ( *smiling happily* ) I am serious though.

Valentina - ( *gape* ) Please don't go out of your way and put yourself in trouble.

Vercil - Sister you don't need to worry about me but those who'll cause problems for you.

Valentina - ( *defeated* ) Ha! Fine I'll inform you whenever required. Now ( *closing his eyes* ) sleep. Didn't you say you've got work to do?

Valentina started patting him and sang a small lullaby as a result of which Vercil dozed off quite fast.

Valentina - Indeed he was really exhausted.

Valentina - My chest feels heavy today. ( *Looking around* ) I guess I really don't want to leave this place.

Valentina set his head down on a pillow carefully and leaving a light kiss on his forehead, left the room.

Valentina - ( *leaving a light kiss on his forehead* ) Stay safe Vercil.

•__________•.•.•.•.•.•.•__________•

Everything was going pretty well and before they knew it the day of the imperial wedding had arrived already.

Athena had come to the Vaspertine duchy upon Artemisia's request since she wanted to go to the wedding venue together with her. While waiting for her to finish getting ready, Athena came to Alexis' room to check up on him and found him sitting on the sofa, completely dressed up but in some sort of turmoil.

Athena - Oiii. You don't look so well.

Alexis - ( *weakly* ) Oh do I?

Athena - ( *worried* ) What's wrong?

Alexis - Hmm? I don't know.

Athena - Huh? Umm...are you maybe...feeling sad?

Alexis - ( *Looked up at her* ) Huh?! How do you know?

Athena - Tell me however you are feeling right now.

Alexis - Well for some reason I am feeling sad. Like I don't want to go the wedding, even though I don't want Valentina to marry the emperor, I am happy that she'll be closer to whatever she wants to achieve after today. I know the wedding is essential for her and I know that I am happy for her, but I don't know what's making me sad then...

Athena - ( *Looking at him intently* ) ( *Sighed* ) You probably don't want to loose a precious friend...but don't worry even if she does get married, you can still remain as friends. I maybe know what you are feeling like, but sometimes things don't go the way you want them to in life. ( *Patting on his shoulder* ) Get up, she'll be sad is you don't attend.

Alexis - You are right. I guess I shouldn't be sulking around today. I'll go check if misi is ready.

Alexis left the room to check up on Artemisia, leaving Athena all alone in the dark room.

Athena - ( *leaning against the sofa handle* ) It's quite unfortunate that both of them got ripped apart even before they could get together. Loosing each other even before realizing? I feel sad for both of them.
( *Looking up* ) Oh goddess, please let them both be happy.

Athena - I pray for her happiness and I shouldn't be saying this on her wedding day, but please let them be together someday if that'd what makes them happy. ( *Sighed and left the room* )

•__________•.•.•.•.•.•.•__________•

Hey everyone, I really hope you liked this chapter and if you did then don't forget to leave a few words of encouragement or constructive critisism. Love you all<3

Then I'll be back with another chapter, till then byeee~.