I Choose The Villain Duke

The King's funeral parade wasn't held the next day as said by the royal advisor. There were too much things to be prepared because the queen never started the preparation beforehand at all. It was like she never intended for a funeral to happen. But because the royal advisor told her to get on with her husband's funeral, she was forced to organize it and after a week, it was finally going to happen. 

"Mother, will you please tell me who that royal advisor really is? You've told me nothing about me and you've avoided me for a week! Why did you just let him order us around?!" Vincent asked.

Celestinia's long black dress dragged on the floor as she whirled around to see if anyone else was listening.

"Shush yourself. You're too loud. This is your Father's funeral, Vincent," Celestinia said sternly.

"So, are you going to answer me Mother dear?" Vincent asked. "You can't avoid me now. You're going to be stuck with me all throughout the ceremony."

The prince was dressed in a black top and pants mixed with purple embroideries. His scar had almost healed but it was still obvious like a crack on a painting.

Celestinia looked like the part of a mourning queen. She was wearing a black gown with black lace flowers and small dark purple gems, lacy black long sleeves, a beautiful necklace with black gems, and a three-pointed tiara with huge black gems.

"Help me with the veil," Celestinia said.

Vincent sighed but proceeded in putting on a beautiful black veil on top of his mother's head.

"Mother dear, please tell me who that royal advisor is before he arrives and makes a fool out of us again," Vincent said in a pleading tone.

Celestinia looked at her son with a weary expression but Vincent didn't notice because the veil was covering her face.

"Fine, but let us not speak of this again," Celestinia said.

Vincent nodded. "As you wish."

"I have met him even before you were born. Your father introduced him as Aderlan's royal advisor. I didn't think much of him then as he would usually not be in the palace for months. But then I started noticing. Your father's accomplishments were heavily influenced by Sir Jade. Conquering a kingdom, defending the kingdom. All those things I suspect were achieved through Sir Jade's advices," Celestinia said.

"That's good then! He can help me in establishing my reputation as king of the empire," Vincent said eagerly.

"Yes, I suppose that's the good part but he has a strange power that I could feel. I am certain you felt it too yesterday. I think he has magic inside him," Celestinia said.

"Magic? He's a mage? Perhaps he's from Feylantis," Vincent said.

"No, it's different. He's different. He . . .," Celestinia trailed off.

"Yes, Mother?" Vincent prompted.

"He . . . doesn't age," Celestinia said in a whisper.

Vincent looked confused.

"That's the way he has been ever since I've seen him even before you were born. He has not aged at all, Vincent. I think he's . . . immortal," Celestinia said sounding terrified at her own words.

Vincent looked disturbed now.

"Why do we have an immortal royal advisor?! What the hell does he want?!" Vincent asked.

"I do not know, Vincent. He did not harm your father and only helped him in making the kingdom prosper but I do wish for you to be careful and never to cross him. We do not know what he is truly capable to do. Let's just take whatever help he has to offer and stay out of his way," Celestinia said.

"You said that he helped Father with the kingdom but he only wished to help the new Saintess and be her tutor. Shouldn't he be helping the new king?" Vincent said with an irritated expression.

"You're not yet the king, son."

Celestinia whirled around and off she went to the funeral ceremony leaving her son with a stunned expression.

*

*

*

"Euphee, you look so beautiful!"

Euphemia was wearing a black v-neck off-shoulder long sleeve dress that was only below her knees. It was a dress she usually saw in Korean dramas and she tried her best to draw it to have it made. It was simple. No flowers, no frills, and no ruffles. But it emphasized her figure - her slim wrists, her slender waist, and her exposed collarbones. She looked elegant and different. Like a modern girl from another world.

Euphemia grinned at Lucien.

"You look nice too, Luci," Euphemia said.

Euphemia had helped design Lucien's attire.

No tie. Just a black buttoned top, black blazer, and tight black pants. No frills. No embroideries. But only elegance. There was something seductive about him in a modern suit.

"Shall we?" Lucien asked, offering his hand.

Euphemia nodded and they held hands as they walked out of the room.

The mansion was owned by the family of Lucien's mother years ago. After Lady Cathryn died, her family just left Aderlan and never came back. The king had the mansion taken care of in case Lady Cathryn's parents would come back to Aderlan but they never did and now Lucien was the one living in it.

Lucien had never been inside his mother's childhood home. His mother had never talked about her parents, which was quite strange now that he thought about it, thus he had never been curious about them.

The mansion was smaller than the Ashburn residence but it was still grand in its own way. They walked along the corridor, passing by several paintings.

Lucien stopped when he saw his mother's painting. It was from the time when she still had black hair. She was an ethereal beauty with emerald green eyes. She was smiling in the painting.

Lucien smiled softly.

"I'm going now, Mother," Lucien said to his mother's painting.

Euphemia squeezed Lucien hand in a comforting gesture.

The two exited the mansion. Hansel was waiting for them in front of the carriage. They still had no other servants but Hansel had already started the interviews and surprisingly, there were lots of people who wanted to be servants of the Duke. Most of them were people who were related to the members of Euphemia's play or people who Euphemia have healed in the past. 

"Ready to depart, Your Grace?" Hansel asked.

"Yes, to the Imperial Palace, Hans," Lucien said.

"Need a hand, Lady Euphemia?" Hansel asked.

"No need. I can help her," Lucien said and helped Euphemia get on the carriage.

"Thanks," Euphemia said.

The two sat across from each other. Euphemia had not yet given a reply to Lucien's request back when they were still at the inn. He had asked her to stay even after their agreement to part ways after a year.

"Luci, when the first snow falls, we have to go somewhere," Euphemia said.

"Are you proposing a vacation, Euphee?" Lucien asked, looking mildly surprised. 

Euphemia smiled. "Well, not really. More of an exploration. When the first snow falls, I know where Sylvia would be and I know that you wish to meet her again."

"Then we should travel even before the first snow falls," Lucien said excitedly. 

"You're right. I am unfamiliar with your seasons though. Do you know when the first snow will fall this year?" Euphemia asked.

"It is a month away, Euphee. We still have time to prepare for our journey," Lucien grinned.

"What does she like? I think I should prepare a gift for her," Euphemia said.

"Just bring yourself. I have a feeling she will like you," Lucien said.

"Nonsense. A woman would always be delighted with a gift," Euphemia said.

"Well . . ." Lucien said with a bit of hesitation in his tone.

"My father, he would always bring several pastries with him when he went on his journey to look for her. I think she likes sweet stuff. I remember that she would eat a whole cake for lunch and it would just make me sick looking at her," Lucien said.

Euphemia laughed.

"I see. There's a problem though. I don't know how to cook but I suppose I would just have to learn within a month. I would just have to be careful not to burn our new home," Euphemia said.

"Our new home," Lucien repeated softly.

Euphemia blushed.

"Anyway, I was trying to look for the emerald necklace you gave me but I think it got burned down with the old house," Euphemia said.

"I'll give you a new one. Something more beautiful," Lucien said.

"I wasn't asking for a new one. It's just a pity that it got burned down. It matched your.. . eyes. If I had worn it with me that day, it wouldn't have been destroyed. I am so sorry," Euphemia said.

"No need to apologize, Euphee. The fire was not your fault. If anyone is in fault, it would be me because I started the fire," Lucien said.

"No, it's not your fault. It was the queen's fault. Sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up," Euphemia said.

"No, it's okay. I'll shower you with gifts and you'll forget that one measly necklace," Lucien said.

Euphemia rolled her eyes but smiled. "I didn't ask for gifts."

"Well, you're the one who said that a woman would always be delighted with a gift and I just wish to make my woman happy," Lucien said.

Euphemia's eyebrows shot up.

Lucien's ears reddened but he maintained a serious face.

"If that's okay with you," Lucien said with a hint of nervousness in his voice.

Euphemia chuckled. Her heart was beating so fast, she hoped Lucien would not hear it.

"What exactly are you asking, Luci?" Euphemia asked.

"I'm asking if you would be my . . ."