Temporary Crown

13 | Contract after breakfast

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After their conversation, the breakfast was rather peaceful without anymore dispute that happened between the duke and Lucien. Nesta was happy with this outcome. She was thinking that no matter what the future holds for them, what was important now was to resolve every conflict that they encounter. Furthermore, now that Lucien begun to trust her, whether she wanted to upgrade herself as his true sister or just become a contract partner, there will be plenty opportunity in the future.

She was rather proud of herself that she had made improvements with both father and son’s relationship.

After breakfast, Lucien and the duke headed to the duke’s office as they have matters to talk about while Nesta went to her room to clean the ashes of the corpse she just burned earlier. In there, her maids were already cleaning her room. She immediately panicked and looked at the fireplace. The ashes was already cleaned and it looked cleaned.

She run towards it with an anxious expression. The servants inside wasn’t able to greet her and they glanced each other as the lady’s actions were odd.

“My lady, is there something?” one maid took a step forward. She was wearing a dark blue maid uniform in which signifies her rank among the maids. In their system, their hierarchy can be seen though colors. It was arrange to White, light blue, dark blue, gray, and black. As the color darkens, the higher the maid was.

Hearing the maid ask, Nesta pursed her lips and tried to act as though she doesn’t care and was just curious why the fireplace was so spotless clean.

“Who cleaned the fireplace?” She asked gently. The maid bowed and glanced the remaining maid inside the room before answering.

“It was I, my lady. Is there something I have done wrong?” The servant asked quite curiously but Nesta can also sense in her voice that she was afraid.

“No,” Nesta chuckled nervously and tried brushing it off. She felt sweat coming from her forehead even though it was winter and it was currently snowing.

“I just want to ask if there had been things you have seen that was not supposed to be in the fireplace?”

“Things? My lady?” the maid wearing a dark blue uniform drifted as her eyes looked at the remaining maids inside. They all the same odd expression as though they do not understand their master.

Nesta nervously studied their expression as though a rope was holding her neck tightly. However, as time passed seeing they looked all clueless, the invisible rope seemed to disappear.

“There was nothing my lady,” the maid answered. “Was there something we should have not taken or cleaned?”

Nesta shook her head with a clear sign of relief in her face. She smiled widely. “No. I am just thankful for you all are working hard. Perhaps, I should tell the butler to give you all a paid vacation. Would you like that?” Nesta said as she went to the chaise and sat there grabbing her book.

Hearing their master tell them about the paid vacation, the maid squealed in delight. They all clasped their hands expressing their happiness.

“My lady, is that really true?” they all asked. Nesta chuckled as she looked at them. They looked like children after they were given the permission to play.

“I do not break my promise. All you have to do is do well.”

Delighted by such promise, all the maids smiled widely as they were enthusiastically cleaned the room leaving no spot of dirt after they were done. They were even excited to brag such news to the other servants hoping that it will make them even more envious! They were given such a reward!

--

Nesta spent her remaining hours in her room writing in a paper. She wrote the letters with carefulness and preciseness hoping not to mess up. Earlier the maid gave her some tea and snacks to eat while working and as time passed, she heard a knock coming from her door.

“Come in!” she said not looking to the door and just continue writing. As the door opened, she finished writing and just put down the quill.

“Are you busy sister?” Lucien asked looking at her smiling while holding the paper. His eyes can’t read the content of the paper because of their distance.

“I was before, but I just finished,” Nesta answered. She gaze up at Lucien. His eyes were still the same, tired and cold. His hair almost cover most of his eyes. He heaved his breath before taking a seat adjacent to Nesta. He sat there quite comfortably as though he had been coming in this room over and over again that he memorized everything that was inside.

“What are you writing?” he asked eyes landed on the paper that Nesta was using. Nesta smiled even widely. He then glanced at the fireplace seeing how spotless and clean was it. He can’t help but ask, “Did you clean the fireplace?”

“No, the maids cleaned it but they told me that they have found nothing not even a corpse there.” Her voice sounded rather happy as though she had been able to get away from a punishment. Lucien nodded a little.

“Is that the reason why you are this happy?”

“Half and the second half is that I just finished a contract between us." Nesta waved the paper. It looked like it was dancing between her palms. "I have written it like what you told me and as just we agreed last night.” She handed the paper to Lucien. He grabbed it and begun to read. “Read it and ask if there are any clause you wanted to add.”

Lucien fell silent as he begun reading. His eyes were even careful in reading. In his thoughts both of their lives will be dictated by this paper and he doesn't want to make any mistakes regarding this. Nesta just let Lucien read through the whole four pages of contract for she had nothing to hide. She was grinning from ear to ear happily whistling to herself.

She just let the time passed as she drank a mouthful of tea and used her fork to get some cake stuffing it inside her mouth. After a good thirty minutes, Lucien broke the silence.

“I have one specific clause to add sister,” Lucien drifted putting down the paper for Nesta to see.

“What is it?” Nesta did not hesitate to ask.

A smile appeared on Lucien’s lips. He said in a rather heavy voice. “Betrayal will be punishable by death.”

Nesta gave a nod confidently as she grabbed the ink and the quill. She was not faze by such clause instead, she was rather thankful for this clause will only strength the trust Lucien have on her. it was a win to win situation to her. so she did not hesitate to write the last clause down.

"If that's my brother wanted, a sister should fulfill it right?"

Lucien stared at her quite oddly before agreeing.

"Pretty much so, sister. thank you."