Christina sat next to a window, slowly sipping the fragrant tea she was served, while Claire sat in front of her with a frown on her elegant face. It had been a few hours since they had been led here, and they had since adapted to their new environment. They were granted an entire wing for their own use, yet Claire could only scoff at this extravagance.

While most may think this was the respect shown by the Western Duke to a distinguished guest, Claire knew better. In her opinion, it was only done so they could distance them from the main hall where the Duke’s family resided.

Christina shrugged at the thought. So what if they had things to hide? All would be revealed in time. Instead, she was pretty happy with the arrangement as it meant she wouldn't have to deal with them on a daily basis. She could calmly wait for the Duke to return in peace. Although the peace would be short-lived, it was dearly welcomed. It had been too long since she could sit back and relax.

As for her prisoner, the family insisted he be released to them, to which Christina acquiesced. She saw no reason to detain him further; he would still be in her hands even if he were free. Trying to renege on these negotiations would only be an admission of guilt, which Christina could use to rally the other Dukes to her side. Those old bastards were always on the prowl for any signs of weakness from the others. She could make use of this.

In the meantime, Christina immensely enjoyed her free time. The view outside the large window was picturesque, as if from a fairy tale. She still couldn't wrap her brain around the fact that the White Tiger Clan made such a sight possible. She could only shake her head, as reality was stranger than fiction. Still, her reverie was cut short when Claire couldn't bear the peaceful silence any longer.

"What urgent matter is keeping the Duke, do you think?" she asked, perplexed.

Christina could only close her eyes and chuckle slightly at her naive thoughts, which further deepened Claire's puzzlement.

“It’s just a lie,” Christina finally said. “I’m sure the Duke was always here. He’s just waiting for the right moment.”

Claire's eyes were now wide open. Although she knew the Princess was privy to so much more information than she was, she still couldn't see how she knew the Duke's whereabouts. As if knowing her doubts, Christina smiled slightly while looking at the naive girl much older than she was. While Claire's thought pattern remained somewhat childish, Christina couldn't say it was a bad thing. So many times, she had been saved by her optimistic view on life.

"It's easy to guess," Christina replied, answering her doubts. "What could be more important than my visit here? At least, I haven't heard anything from my mother's spies. I'm sure it's just an attempt at buying time until his preparations are completed."

“Why aren’t you worried, then? Shouldn’t you be trying to come up with counter-measures instead of sipping on that damn tea?”

Christina quite liked that side of Claire, which was one of the reasons she chose to keep her by her side. Her concern and care for her were genuine, and her frankness was adorable, unlike most noble ladies she had met when she exercised her duties. Still, she would benefit from being less impulsive and thinking more thoroughly. Nevertheless, Christina chose to patiently explain things to her.

“You should always have a clear goal in mind when doing things,” Christina said.

“What are you trying to say,” Claire replied, unsure where she was going with this.

“What do you think we can achieve here with just a prisoner?

Claire frowned. She thought the goal was to corner the Duke and extract some benefits from these negotiations. Yet, it seemed the Princess had something else in mind. Christina shook her head as if she knew what went through Claire's mind from the look on her face.

"Your thoughts are much too naive. Can someone who has reigned over a large clan like the White Tigers be made to bow over just one son? Especially when he has enough spares to replace him a dozen times over? It seems the Southern Duke has sheltered you quite a bit."

Claire's expression was ugly. Although she knew Christina's words were the truth, they still felt overly harsh. Christina also thought so, but Claire needed to learn.

"The same could be said for my own mother," Christina added with a slightly melancholic expression. "I am her only heir, but no queen can be weak, or the nation will crumble. That's why she is so harsh and doesn't seem to care about my well-being. If I am to fall before my enthronement, it only meant I wasn't worthy."

“Don’t you resent her for it?” Claire couldn’t help but ask in a soft voice.

“No,” Christina replied in a tone of steel. “The Crown is much more important than mere familial love. Too many people rely on it. Still, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t love me. I can still feel it through it all. Take your appointment as my guard, for one.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“What do you mean?” Claire couldn’t see the link between the two. She had always thought her request to be the Princess’s bodyguard was granted because she was fit for the job.

"Do you think your father wouldn't oppose your decision? A duke's daughter isn't supposed to be a bodyguard, no matter how much you want to. Who do you think went to persuade him?"

“Why would she?” Claire exclaimed while her eyebrows slowly rose as if light dawned on her.

“Because I asked her, why else?” Christina replied with a radiant smile.

Claire was silent; she had always felt that this matter went much too easy over her father. She had some doubts at the time but never put much thought behind them as the result was what mattered. It seemed she must pay more attention to the process in the future. She shook her head and went back to the matter at hand.

“So... what do you intend to gain in coming here? What’s your goal?”

Before she could answer, a gentle knock was heard on the door opposite of the window, then a soft voice echoed in the room.

“Your Highness, the young lady of the household is here to see you,” it said respectfully.

“Oh? It seemed Leila is here,” Christina mused with a slight smile before addressing the voice outside the closed door. “Just in time. Do let her in.”

Claire rose from her seat and positioned herself between the Princess and the doorway. Although Christina seemed sure in her assessment that the clan was harmless, Claire wouldn’t take any chances.

Moments later, the door opened slowly without sound, denoting its sublime construction. Although it was just an ordinary door, the clan wouldn't spare any expense when entertaining their guests. Failure to do so would only reflect badly on their prestige.

Once fully opened, the doorway revealed a graceful and neat woman in a pale yellow dress. Her long auburn hair was weaved in a braid, held in place at the end with a dark blue ribbon. Her eyes were a deep brown with a slight hint of green, which only helped to enrapture people to their depths. Although she possessed a certain charm, she wasn't much more beautiful than the average noblewoman. Christina pondered whether it had anything to do with the thinness of her blood.

One had to know that being blessed with a bloodline inheritance came with many perks other than pure power, such as beauty. Indeed, the nation had noticed a correlation between beauty and bloodline purity. It was no wonder, as most demons who could transform into humans were breathtaking. Altherans had simply inherited those traits along with their bloodlines.

In Leila's case, her auburn hair, which differed significantly from the rest of her siblings, was proof of her impure bloodline. Some even questioned the veracity of her pedigree, yet the Duke never gave acquiescent to those rumours. Despite her shallow heritage, she was still valued by the Duke, no doubt due to her relationship with Christina.

Leila was perfectly aware of her situation and made the most of it, doing anything in her power to get close to the Princess. Christina was also aware of it, as Leila never hid her wants from her. This straightforward attitude made her interested in this young lady in the first place. Unlike other noble ladies vying for Christina's attention, she knew precisely Leila's stance on the matter, which meant dealing with her was hassle-free. There was no use in pretending between the two.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Christina said with a slightly mocking smile.

Leila could only sigh when she looked at the calm, relaxed Princess slowly sipping her tea.

“Please, don’t patronize me. You know I can’t afford it,” Leila said as she returned her smile with a helpless one.

Leila was one of the few allowed to be informal with the Princess, yet even she wouldn’t go too far. Hierarchy was almost everything in the Kingdom. Christina could only shrug helplessly at the thought of always being kept at a distance. Although she could call Claire her confidant, they were still far from true friends. Their identities would always hang over their relationship like indelible ink on a page.

Even Maria, whom she was closest to, couldn't be called a friend as they were family. Although Christina longed for friendship, she wouldn't put it over her responsibilities. She always knew her path was a lonely one. One only had to look at her mother. Even if she had the world in her hands, she had no one to share it with.

Sometimes, Christina wondered how such a cold woman could give birth to her. Was she only conceived because the country needed an heir, or was there a man somewhere able to move her heart? She had never known her father or his identity, but she sometimes hoped her parents were in love. At least, it would prove her mother could show human emotions.

Christina shook her head, leaving these depressing thoughts behind.

“What can I do for you?” she asked Leila gently. Although the Duke wished to play games, there was no need to antagonize this woman who was only a pawn in his schemes.

“That should be what I ask...” she replied, not finding the words to continue.

“There’s no need to force yourself,” Christina said, comforting the poor woman. “I know you have good intentions, but it’s unnecessary. I’m quite content with this small vacation.”

Leila laughed awkwardly. She knew she couldn't hide anything from Christina; even when she wished to be honest, it was futile. She could only hang her head, slightly dejected.

This won’t do, Christina thought. I can't have her show that face when she leaves the room. What would they think of me? What can I do... I got it!

“It’s a nice day outside. It’d be a shame to spend it here only drinking tea,” Christina said with a mischievous smile.

Leila raised her head, slightly stunned. Going outside wouldn't pose a problem in regular circumstances, but this was anything but. If something were to happen to the Princess while in the Mansion, they could somehow deal with it, but the rest of the clan was another story.

Leila was conflicted. On the one hand, it was her duty to acquiesce to any of the Princess's demands, yet she must also ensure her well-being. Even more, her father had left her a list of strict instructions. She couldn't choose the best course of action.

As if knowing her inner turmoil, Christina was the first to rise from her seat and approached the door, intending to leave. Claire followed soon after. Although Claire was less than thrilled to leave the security of this room, at worst, she would lay down her life for the Princess. Her stern expression only made Christina laugh out loud.

"Relax," she said, amused. "I'm just bored and need a change of pace from this stuffy room. Come, let's enjoy ourselves a little. We are in the prime of our lives. It wouldn't do to live as corpses stuck in a crypt."

"That's quite the imagery," Leila said as she shook her head. She knew she couldn't go against Her Highness's wishes. If her father were to question her about their departure, well... she could only put the blame on the Princess. With slight relief in her heart, Leila rose and left the room after the duo, mentioning to the surrounding servants they were going out.

If the ending is the same, no matter your choice, you should learn to enjoy it. With those thoughts in mind, Christina left with a spring in her step.