The Duke's Slave Daughter

Chapter 14

Upon arriving at the imperial palace, the Grand Duchess made a direct path towards the office of the crown prince. The scene that greeted her was one of opulence and grandeur—an office designed fit for royalty. Ornate walls adorned with marble and precious stones, fixtures of gold and diamond, from chairs to tables, and even the intricate window and candle holders. A round, expansive table held a map, utilized for various strategic deliberations. A lavish and extravagant space, but void of the one person she sought.

She couldn't fathom that her cousin would be neglecting his responsibilities while she toiled to complete her own tasks. Laying down the papers she held upon the already cluttered table, she took a seat in one of the plush chairs. She cast a disdainful glance over the table stacked with unfinished business and waited for her cousin's return. Closing her eyes for a moment, she felt the fatigue that had kept her from sleep these past few nights, exhaustion borne from the relentless work her cousin had assigned her. The persistent headache from the unsolved mystery of the missing lady cases only exacerbated her fatigue, further adding to her frustration.

A cool breeze swept across her face and through her hair, accompanied by the soft sound of approaching footsteps. "Did you have a pleasurable time?" she inquired, her eyes reopening to find her cousin settled in his own chair.

Though their familial connection lay in their shared parentage of siblings, the differences between them were stark. The Duchess possessed a cascade of blonde locks and eyes of pure gold—a legacy from her mother. On the other hand, the Crown Prince boasted dark, raven-black hair and azure eyes inherited from his own mother.

The Crown Prince appeared to continue his work, seemingly unburdened by his absence or her reproach. Merissa, the Duchess, let out a disparaging sigh at his nonchalance. It was quite clear that his recent absence was due to some strenuous activity, given the perspiration visible on his brow. She shook her head; her cousin was well-versed in maintaining his facade, even when evidence stood right before her eyes.

She rose from her seat, her path leading her towards him. She gestured towards the papers she had brought with her, and he accepted them, engrossed in reading.

"Presented here are the most recent reports. We've managed to apprehend two suspects who were spotted on site. Regrettably, they remain in the dark about their ringleader. According to their accounts, their role was confined to delivering the women to a designated location. Payment was arranged beforehand, their shares readily available upon each rendezvous. Curiously, they've had just one encounter with the principal orchestrator during their recruitment," Marissa elucidated, detailing the information gathered from the captured individuals. Her reports included a particular location—an abandoned house deep within the forest—mentioned by the suspects. A venture to this place had yielded naught; the site was immaculate, devoid of any trace.

A shadow darkened the features of the crown prince as he digested the report's contents. The ongoing case had been an ordeal, with the enigmatic puppeteer remaining elusive. The tally of abducted women was mounting, stretching weeks into months. He continued to read, his expression growing more somber, while Merissa remained observant. A memory suddenly resurfaced in her mind—the girl she had encountered the day prior. After commissioning an investigation into her background, the findings had been intriguing. Though originally assumed to be the daughter of Duke Hugonin, her true story emerged—ensnared by slave traders, her falsehood exposed for monetary gain. As a form of punishment, she was cast out of the Winter Forest. However, to her astonishment, news reached her of the girl's survival and her rescue by the duke.

"Hey, Nikolai! I stumbled upon something rather intriguing. Would you care to listen?" Merissa's voice broke the silence, her words cutting through his focus on the papers before him.

Pausing slightly, he looked up from the documents. "What have you discovered?"

Merissa leaned in, her excitement palpable even in her tone. "During my interrogation of those wretches yesterday, I encountered an extraordinary beauty. Remember the whispers about the commotion in the Hugonin duchy? Well, that exquisite being was at the center of it. But believe me, her allure was anything but ordinary. I would actually entertain the notion that she might outshine even me."

Merissa's voice carried a hint of admiration, an unexpected sentiment from the Grand Duchess. Her interest in Urania was more of curiosity than camaraderie, a desire to discern the path Urania would tread.

In their earlier years, Merissa hadn't crossed paths with Urania. Thus, she remained unaware that Urania had been posed as Duke Hugonin's daughter. The revelation of Daeva as his daughter had come later, coinciding with Daeva's debut into society. With her duties as the Grand Duchess, Merissa's interactions at tea parties and gatherings had been greatly reduced.

"Hmm. And how would you describe this beauty? I suppose the girl would need to be exceptionally stunning if she's to eclipse your own radiance," Nikolai remarked, his tone retaining its customary seriousness.

Merissa felt a flush creeping up her neck at his words. Throughout their childhood, they'd often traded good-natured barbs, though she always found herself on the losing end of their banter. Her cheeks took on a tomato hue as she scoffed, directing a playful glare at her cousin.

"Really? This face, you're saying it lacks beauty? Allow me to remind you that these features are inherited from your father's lineage. Are you implying your father is unattractive?"

Annoyance coursed through her voice as she lashed out, her frustration plain. Meanwhile, Nikolai remained composed in his seat, seemingly unperturbed by the exchange.

With a calm demeanor, he set his papers aside and looked at Merissa. Her angry expression only seemed to amuse him further, evident in the smirk he sported. "Exactly. The problem lies therein—the exquisite bloodline from my father's side was squandered when it was passed down to you. Can you not see? It's diminishing."

His casual words pricked at her irritation, provoking an even stronger reaction. "Really? This coming from you? Did you ever consider that your mother's beauty might have taken a nosedive when she bore you?"

A wry grin played on Nikolai's lips as he shook his head, finding entertainment in Merissa's vexation. Turning his attention back to his work, he dismissed her retorts, chuckling softly. Merissa regained her composure, not wanting to be caught in such a petty dispute by any onlookers.

Resting a document on Nikolai's desk, she shifted to a more serious topic—the preparation for this year's hunting competition. Each year, the location changed in accordance with the shifting habitats of beasts and monsters. The competition served to eradicate these threats before they could sow chaos in the empire.

"So, you've discovered the lair of this creature, yes? It's rather close to the empire this time. Something seemed amiss. Why would such a beast venture nearer to us?"

Merissa inquired, her concern for the safety of the realm evident.

"I cannot say. That's why I intend to partake in this year's competition—to uncover their intentions firsthand."