Villains also get Second chance

"Since you were here to apologise to me, it's only right that you would do it now," I added as if this was the most obvious thing to do.

Both mother and daughter looked at me as if I was crazy, but everyone's serious faces changed their thoughts. They looked at Baroness Veronica who was standing silent now. She was afraid of Cassius too, as her power was in front of only women. Tch.. and where did the other one go. I looked around but I was not able to see her.

"I apologise, your highness, I should have cleared the misunderstanding before blaming you, I hope you will forgive me," she said bending her knees giving me a courtesy bow and I nodded.

"I will forgive you, lady Isabella but I will never forget it, so I hope it will not repeat in the future or else the way to prison would always be open." I threatened openly, this was this high time I showed them who was the owner here.

"Yes your highness." she bowed again and decided to walk when I looked at her mother,

"Monique, Adelia," my voice made her flinch and Isabella nudged her towards me.

"I apologise, your highness, my motherly love sometimes collide with my rationality. It would not happen again." she apologised with the same bow and I nodded.

Though I still wish to send them into prison, I know it would be of no use as there were many who would take them out in a second.

The one was standing in front of me, her lover and my husband Cassius, so they were even sleeping together, just great! I would not let this matter go, Cassius, I would take my revenge from you too, this slap was only the first instalment from both of you.

"I apologise to everyone for the inconvenience, Monique Adelia was too lost in her motherly love that she had started hallucinating, I hope we can still continue the party," I added with a slight bow and they all nodded and scattered back, the sound of chatting and gossiping started again.

I walked towards Killian and held his hand, "do you want to ask something to me," if he asked, I would tell him a few things, poor boy, he had to choose between his mother and grandmother's family.

But surprisingly he shook his head, "they were the ones who blamed you first." he added and I smiled, at least he had the wisdom to see the truth, not like his father.

I held his hand and went out without even turning back. When I saw Katherine was standing there at the door.

"Sorry for the inconvenience, your majesty," I said and she shook her head.

"That was a spectacular performance, Marianne. If possible, I would have clapped for you," she added and I smirked.

"Well sometimes you have to teach lessons otherwise they kept on pesting you" I added and she nodded her head.

"Well," I stopped as I looked around, "if you want I can teach you a few tricks." I offered but she shook her head.

"That's very tiring work, Marianne, I can not spend my whole day thinking of which tricks she would use and how I would counterattack them," she added and I felt pity for her naivety.

"You are in a swamp, your majesty, you can't keep your hands clean no matter how much you try,'' I advised but the girl just looked at herself and then at the distance where Charles was talking to Cassius.

"Then I would rather leave this swamp." though her voice was blank like always barred with no emotions, I could still feel a strong determination in it,

"Hope you know what you are doing, leaving swamps has never been easy." 

"Are you alright, your highness?" Many noble ladies approached us and my conversation with her left in the middle, but soon I had to find a way to warn her, as her thoughts could ruin her and she may be beheaded too.

"Oh, I apologise, I hope you enjoyed the competition, just look at the dilemma. I was the one to organise it, yet I was not able to see it," I sighed, it would have been a good chance to flaunt the new gifts more.

"It's alright, but you will be surprised to see the result.' added Meredith and I shook my head.

"If you want to say that both your husband and brother in law had won the game, then I won't be surprised at all,'' I replied with a smile and she chuckled but I could see the pride in her eyes.

"They did, but they were not the only ones who did, you have to give a lot more love bands than you have thought," she said I chuckled. I had already expected 6 to 7 winners since many men here are good in archery.

"Who else won."

"My lords and ladies, the game was much better than we had expected and I am proud to announce that we have so many winners in the game" started Ian, oh he was my saviour.

"The winners are his majesty, the sun of the empire, his highness, the archduke of the empire, duke Carl Stanford, earl Milton Richmond, viscount Alvin Hester, sir Edward Stanford and sir Roselia " he announced and my eyes instinctively felt on Killian, did he not win!

As if reading my mind, "I had scored more than the earl but less than my father, and you had set the rule that only the highest one on that board would win." he said in a weak tone and I smiled.

Bending a little I looked into his eyes, "honey, you know the strongest bond is not a love band, but the bond of care and love for the other person before you, that you share with me." I announced but he was still looking sad.

"Are you still upset about it?" I asked, running a hand in his hair and he sighed.

"Father robbed the band from me, he could have chosen other competitor or would have taken the separate target, yet he competes with me, he knew that I am not better than him," he complained and I furrowed my brows, he was right, Cassius very well knew that no matter how much better Killian was he wouldn't be able to defeat him.

"It is because I want you to show how hard a competition could be."