Temporary Crown

5 | An Attempt to Cut a Heir

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“My lady, everything has been prepared, is there anything you would like to add?” The maid bowed full of respect towards Nesta. She turned and grabbed a book about strategies in war and tactics on politics and power. This book was recommended by the duke long before in her previous life and she had learned many important things in this book especially when she was navigating her life in the sense of power and honor.

Giving a nod, her gaze landed on the maid. She then said, “That is all. If there’s something I need I would call you. Rest well.” Hearing her command, the maid bowed once again and left her room closing the door gently.

Now that she was alone, she can finally rest her body and perhaps, spend her time reading. It’s been few days since her talk with the duke regarding about Lucien and all of those days, she spent most of the time studying and learning.

Duke Charles had been strict to her just like her previous life however, comparing to what she thought before, this was a way to be with the duke, her savior, a little longer. Furthermore, she was learning more and more each day. With her knowledge back in her previous life and what she has now, she can conclude that she was smarter and more sly than before.

However, Nesta was still worrying about Lucien and his suspicious gaze lingering on her every time they meet. He had been suspicious of her. She can't blame him. If their positions were changed she felt like she would even act a little aggressive compared to what Lucien was doing now. Still, Sooner or later, she needed to make him realize that she was not a threat but an ally.

Just as Nesta was thinking this, she went to her bed and laid down covering herself with thick blankets as the snow fall from the sky. She glanced at the fire place before smiling happily and flipping her book.

Her eyes traveled in every word and sentences she was reading hoping to retain more of the knowledge in her mind. Although the duke just recommend this book, Nesta was reading it religiously for this book contains strategies in war and tactics on politics and power, Nesta who knew the future was planning her steps well in hope that she can fill the holes and parts where she was lacking.

Soon enough, as time ticked slowly and the lights inside her bedroom gradually dimmed, Nesta felt the sleepiness crawling inside of her. Her body felt like she was melting on the blankets for the warmth had been just the right to lull her to sleep.

However, despite of that, her hands kept turning the pages and stubborn enough to finish what she had started although her consciousness was drifting.

Time ticked again. It was past midnight and Nesta was now comfortable in her sleep when she felt a rise of temperature in her room. Her sleepiness suddenly flew out of the window as her guard started rising feeling as though someone was monitoring her from a distance.

Her left hand that was on the sheets crawled under the pillows feeling a cold metal against her finger tips. It was a dagger she specifically had prepared in secret.

Although she knew that she was safe in this household, she died before and with the memories of her past life flooding in to her, she knew that death was always waiting on her door.

She sat up straight to the bed still holding the dagger. Her eyes moved through the whole room looking and inspecting every places where the darkness seemed to spread. And as if she moved with her instinct, like a lighting striking a tree unaware, she swung her dagger in the air, full force with the intention of killing anyone who caught her by surprise.

“Arghh!”

Although Nesta did not expect it, she felt it in her palms that her dagger had sliced into something causing a red liquid flow into her hands and arms staining the white sleeves of her sleep wear. Nesta did not even wait for a second to see a cold corpse on her floor and the blood stained the floor forming a pool of blood.

She looked down. This time, her eyes full of gentle expression were gone instead, her eyes held no remorse looking at the corpse of the man who had attempted to kill her. He was holding a dagger himself and his face was covered.

Nesta moved leaving the warm comfort of her bed and stood up to unveil the face of her killer. Her hazel eyes moved inspecting the corpse in order to see and gain understanding who the master mind that plotted this.

Nesta rummage his pockets down to every corners of his body only to find nothing but the dagger he was holding. Frustrated as she was, she tried to calm down and think of the matter in a different perspective. Her hands that was stained in blood brushed off her white sleep dress. However, regardless of what they look now, Nesta doesn’t care as she paced through the whole room with a worried and anxious expression.

She had lived her life twice now and she was no naïve princess. There was only one person who can do this and had been in the edge the moment she arrived.

As her thoughts fall in to their rightful places, she can only chuckle as though someone told her a joke that caused her to lost her composure.

Right.

Lucien Anderson Von Stein.

Her dear little brother was the only one who could have send this as a form of warning.

Looking at it now, Nesta realized that the assassin was an armature. He held no resistance to a woman whose hands and wrist were weak and even lose his life.

Nesta had trained herself to wield a sword long after she was given a second chance but she was still an amateur and her strength can only be compare to a monkey. Realizing who had sent this present, Nesta smiled gently as though she understood where Lucien was coming from.

“Oh, dear little brother,” She said like a crazy woman who had been woe by her lover. “You have done this before and you’re doing this again. I guess your sister should really give you a fair warning.”

Just as she said that, turned and left the room letting the corpse lie there cold and pale. Nesta kept walking without any intention of stopping. Her hand was still holding the dagger and her dress were stained with blood making her appear too sinister and crazy.

But Nesta doesn’t really care. She only had one destination, and that was Lucien’s room.

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