"Princess Delaney!" I slowly open my eyes, and Lady Criseta was here with me, holding a towel looked worried.
"Finally, I thought you won't wake up." She hugged my chest and when I look around, there's a unfamiliar man. I wasn't wearing eye silk!
But too late, he already look at my eyes, and he still normal, and didn't affected by my curse.
"The doctor gave you medicines, but it's been two days that you're sleeping, your engagement party will start tomorrow." I automatically went up, but I feel the pain at my back.
"Your highness, it's over fatigue, after you got beaten too much. I already request for the healing of the Great Sage because the medicines that I gave is not effective anymore, is there a chance that you have too much exposure to the drugs or any medicine?" I creased my forehead and nod.
"I always test the medicinal drugs to myself, before I sell it to the merchant." I said and holding my wrist.
That is one of my income lately, I didn't believe that it will become life threatening. Building a resistance from the medicine, means the dosage might be higher because of my exposure.
"I see, is it okay to check the drugs and medicines?" I nod and he nod too.
"The great sage is on his way, just let me know when you're available, your highness." He kneel and I nod.
"Thank you," I said plainly before closing my eyes.
I didn't tell them that I am earning too, not because I badly need money. But that is also my talent, making some medicines that I think is bad for my health.
I don't want to use other people to test my medicine.
I'm poisoning myself slowly, I have to slow down and take care of myself for a while, overwork is not good for my health, and the Duke has no idea that I am selling some medicine that I tried to myself.
Actually, those drugs are good for his army. Because it can help them a lot, while there is no mage with them.
"Great Sage Azriel," Lady Criseta said and Azriel look at me. Slowly placed his fingers to my wrist.
"Princess Delaney, your recovery is taking too much time, what does the doctor said?" He asked and look at the doctor.
"I am the palace doctor, Glendin. I tried some medicines but it's not working, the princess said that she has some exposure at drug testing, from the medicines that she's selling." Azriel looked at me and stood up.
"Where is Sir William, I want to ask him some questions. Can you summon him?" Duke Theron is at the door. And Sir William was with him already.
Why there's a lot of big guys here at my room?
"Sir William, may I know if there is any poison exposure at the time that the princess is getting punished at the basement?" All of them looked shocked, even the palace doctor.
"Take a look at the aura of princess." Azriel show some projection to us, pointing the brown color.
"This brown aura is from what Sir Glendin said. The medicine tolerance and exposure, but this, the red one." He pointed out the half part of the aura.
"It's like a poison-curse exposure, where is the whip leather that they used for the punishment, we can use that as a proof that princess Delaney's punishment is like an attempt to kill her." I was shocked too on the revelation of the Sage.
"If the princess has no tolerance and exposure to the drugs, she might be dead now, and that's the reason why her body is not accepting the drugs that you prescribed, because her resistance to poison is fighting, and the curse is spreading slowly," Azriel explained and sir William went closer.
"How can we find the punisher, they are missing since the day that the punishment is done." Duke Theron look fuming mad now.
"It explains why there's an assassin last day when the punishment is done, they are checking if the princess is dying, or kill her on the spot, but the assassin was terrified by the princess." I also shocked now.
So all this time, I am poisoned, and I unconsciously build a resistance when I am testing the medicine that I made. What the?
"For the mean time, I will try to used some divine healing, if this isn't effective, all I can give is a healing magic, but it can last for a week. You need to visit the holy land, and get blessed by the holy priest." Duke Theron nod and took a deep breath.
"You all are dismissed, except the Sage. Thank you so much for your effort." I looked at Sir William and he smiled at me before leaving.
"Azriel, this is a serious case. Can you find who is the culprit?" Duke Theron asked Sage Azriel and actually helping me to heal now.
"Sure, I can make that possible. Sir William will also take care of it, because there's some part that I can't meddle with, but I will do my best and my might to find what we need to be find." My breath become steady and my bruises healed.
"For the mean time, make sure that she will get checked by the highest priest as soon as possible, and her guard must be strong like Sir William. I sense that this magic is from the dark curse. It's unnoticeable at the beginning, it's a great help that I taught the Princess how to control her mana." I nod and gently close my eyes.
My fatigue is gone now, unlike the last time. I feel so tired, and my body feels like it will collapse anytime.
"After my engagement party, I will come with the Princess at the holy land, but if I can't be with her. Can you at least assist Delaney at the Itumg?" I smile bitterly and took a deep breath.
"Sir William is enough, Duke Theron. My father might think that Sir Azriel is at my side, we can't let that happen," I explained and he nod, even he seemed unsatisfied on my suggestions.
"I want to assist you, but if that is the best for your plan, I will do what you wish, your highness." Azriel bowed his head and I looked at the Duke.
"Don't worry, I can manage." I joked before I closed my eyes.
I need to rest, for my engagement party tomorrow.
"Take care, once I am done recovering, I will crush them all, definitely."
...
When I woke up from the rest, it's the day of my engagement. I exercise and make sure that my body is perfectly fine.
"The gown is great. Thank you so much, Gemma." I thanked the designer, and hugged the gown. It's mesmerizing and I can't believe that she manage to make it look like it's new.
"Anything for the princess of the empire." She bowed her head and they helped me to removed my dress and bathe me.
Putting some make up after I take a bath until the last process is wearing the gown.
All of my servants are busy at assisting Lady Criseta, until the last process is the tiara and my eye silk.
"Oh my god. You're like a goddess from heavens, princess Delaney." Lady Critesa said and I look at my reflection at the mirror, what a lovely gown, it's perfect at every part, and it's like this gown is made for me.
"I love everything about the dress." I move around, and smile sweetly.
"Your highness, the carriage is here." They helped me to walk until I reached the carriage. The butler is beside the coach man.
"Eat something delicious and cook something nice for your dinner, make sure that all of the servants will have a delicious and delightful night while I am away." The butler bowed his head.
"As you wish your highness, thank you for your kindness." He keep his head down and I waved when I am inside the carriage.
"Enjoy the night, eat more!" I said while my carriage is getting farther.
I was sitting there and trying to calm down myself, this is the night that my family hated the most.
But they can't stop me, I will be the fiance of the duke and there's nothing they can do about it.
I'm unstoppable this time.
The carriage stopped at the stairs, and Lady Criseta is helping me to walk, until we reached the big doors.
They are all looking at me. The guards, but Sir William is standing at the door, he will be the one who will walk with me until I reached the Duke.
The door finally opened, and I am holding the arms of Sir William, and all eyes on me. Duke Theron was staring at me, he looked excited to held me, and reach the end of the corridor.
Their eyes, they are looking at my whole body. My whole figure is not exposed, but it really suit well on me.
"My beautiful fiance," Duke Theron hold my hand and kissed it.
The door opened again, and this time, it's my father who is walking at the grand entrance. We all bowed our heads and the gentlemen kneel.
My father was walking, chin up and looking at me. He looked surprised, even the empress. She looks like a tomato.
I bet there's a lot of flashbacks from his mind, as well as the empress. How threatened she is when the Emperor got home with the concubine.
And that is my mother.
The empress went closer to me, I feel how her nails slowly hurting my arms.
"How dare you to disrespect me and your father at your engagement?" I am about to talk, when Duke Theron talk first.
"I'm so sorry, empress. But Princess Delaney can wear anything she want at her own engagement at my own palace," Duke Theron said and didn't hesitate to tell that to my step mother.
"That gown is a sign of disrespect at my motherhood!" She hissed and the emperor, my father walk to my direction.
"How it can become a disrespect, if the gown is being worn by the princess, who will become the duchess of my lands?"
"My queen, don't make a scene. This isn't our place to act like that." The emeperor said, and looking at me, like glaring at me.
"Looks like you finally recover that fast huh, let's see how you can become a good leader at the land that is not yours from the beginning." They left and it's just me and the Duke who was standing at the side of dance floor.
The emperor raised his glass wine, and call the attention of all the audience here at the ball.
"As you can see, my daughter and the Duke of Windsor become a couple. But now, I am announcing their engagement and giving my blessing as a father, not just a paternal father, but as a sun of the empire. You, Duke Dyrk Theron Theronez and my daughter. Princess Delaney Irvine Rebirity is officially engaged, and looking forward for the day of your marriage."
They clapped and the Duke gave me the ring, and I also gave him the ring. We exchange it and when we are done, we face the people at the ball and smile.
My eyes are looking at Hannah, she's crying at the side and run away.
What a pity, the man that she loves the most doesn't want her, even she has the favor of the emperor.
"This is the beginning, are you ready?" The Duke helped me to walk and we started to dance at the dance floor.
As a newly engaged couple, we are the first one who will dance and will finish the first song.
Today, all of my lesson is being applied, and I won't let them down.
"I'm so thankful that you're my fiance, I don't need to worry, because it's you."