Villains also get Second chance

Marianne pov

"Would you stop staring at me?"

"Tell me about the kiss?"

"First you tell me about Sir Edward. Why did he want to know about the wound on your knees?"

Her brows furrowed as she looked at me with confusion,

"How would I know that? Mari, don't try to divert my attention from the subject!! I want to know all the details of the kiss."

"For the umpteenth time, it was not a kiss!! It was just an accident,`` I added as I waited for the journey to end. I looked out of the window as the vehicle walked further and further away from the palace and a nagging feeling filled my heart that she would not be fine there.

I shook my head to get rid of the gloomy thoughts. She was an empress, the emperor could not reject her.

"Is there something wrong, Mari?" asked Roselia, getting serious but my mouth felt dry, the fear of her getting beheaded was crawling making me further uneasy.

"Sir Roselia"

"We have reached the palace, your highness"

Just as Roselia walked out and I moved, I heard the sound of a sword clashing.

"You could not do that, Sir James" came the pleading voice of many knights and my eyes widened.

"James!!"

"Brother!!" I almost jumped out of the carriage when I looked at him.

"So you do remember me, huh!!" His sharp voice fell on my ears and before I knew my eyes were already wet.

"Brother i.."

"Mother told me that she wrote a letter to you a week ago. She asked you to come and meet me! Mari!!" His voice was sharp and cutting and I gulped.

A lot of things have happened since then. My stealing in Cassius office, then my horse riding event, then I promised to meet the empress. But I knew all this would sound only like excuses to his ears.

"I apologise brother. I.."

"Even when I came to meet you, you were not here. You did not even send a letter back Mari!" he yelled as he took out his sword.

It was a clear indication that he was pissed off.

"Brother, first listen to me"

"And that coward husband of yours!! When I went to meet him in a civil way, he sent that kid out telling he was already asleep. Could you believe that!!"

He almost stood in front of me with his sword and we both were surrounded by more than 50 knights armed with swords, yet each of them were afraid. Their stance was getting weak and sweat was dripping from the foreheads. And why wouldn't that be. My brother was known for his eccentricity.

He could handle more than 20 knights together in fencing and every time he disarmed a knight, he would cut his main hand in case he would attack again.

That was why none of the knights wanted to attack him. It was no less than a suicide mission.

"Sir James, you can not attack a duke or duchess, you will lose your post" threaten the head of the security knights in a trembling voice and I just wanted to beat him myself.

Had he ever heard of controlling a ruler by threats! They could only be charmed by love and care.

"Ha, they dare!! I am not on duty, sir Rowan. I am on leave, and I am standing here as the heir of Marquess Essendson and brother of your duchess. So only she had the right to control me. Would you do that sister." though he was talking to the head of security his eyes were settled on my face trying to find the lines of fear crawling on my face.

"Now would you take out your sword or you are also going to hide like your husband" he snapped and I forwarded my hand towards Roselia who visibly gulped but forwarded her sword to me.

"Do you even remember how to use it or have forgotten everything. Like you have forgotten me" oh lord! Why was he so aggrieved?

"Brother, neither I have forgotten fencing nor I have forgotten you. Why are you so annoyed at me?"

"Ha!! From the past three months, when mother mentioned that you have contacted her after marriage, I was so escalated that like a fool I waited for a letter too.! Was that too much to ask, as there was no one.

Then I have two huge maybe.. Just maybe you could not write letter to border due to your political position in the empire, so i applied for leave,

Only i knew how much hard work i had to do to get this 6 month leave, but it had been a week to me yet you did not even get time to come and meet me once Marianne De Luca, you have really left Essendson's behind"

The more he spoke the guiltier i felt. I was really at mistake here.

"Brother at least, let me hug you once."

"You have to earn that chance now, Marianne"

"But brother James, no one can defeat you," said Roselia in a weak voice but James just harrumphed!

"Uncle James let me wield the sword with you in place of mother, she is exhausted because of the journey." shouted Killian as he ran out, his voice was fast, it was clear that he came running here, because his knights were following him. But I did not see Cassius behind. Was he really asleep?

"Would you stop looking around and take out your sword or do you also want me to spar with a kid instead of you?"

"Did i say that, brother you are being unreasonable now, you are now an adult not a kid to throw tantrums and fight rather than talking in a civil manner" i added though my hands were already on the hilt of the sword as i took it out from the sheath.

He smirked as he saw me taking the position and stood in the attacking position.

'Oh lord, please protect my hands!'

[Don't stop voting and comments, i don't know why but these days there is heavy downfall in comments and voting. I hope you will leave a comment and i promise i will try to improve. PS unlock the chapter with coins if you can]