Villains also get Second chance

"It was not a friendly match," he replied, shooting daggers at me through his eyes, "she tried to attack.." he stopped looking at Charles' eyes.

Though Charles looked like a lazy and laid back emperor most of the time, he had that strong deathly aura. When released even men like Cassius feel pressured.

He turned towards me, when he was sure, Cassius would not open his mouth anymore, "are you, okay duchess"

I nodded, though I knew I was not, the blood was still leaking from my neck, I was sure he had left no efforts in making it a deadly attack, just a minute more, and I could have been dead.

I could see the concern in Charles' eyes, but I knew it was not for me. It was for his image, in front of his guests.

"I am fine, your majesty. Thank you for asking. Welcome to our humble abode. I apologise, I was not able to welcome you in a proper manner.'' Just when I finished greeting him I saw a handkerchief in front of me.

I raised a brow, and the man with golden eyes smiled.

"You should use this and put some pressure on your neck, my lady. The blood has still not stopped." so, someone still cares to notice.

I should not have taken his handkerchief when my husband was already there, but I did not know how to deny it, because the blood was still leaking and Cassius made no efforts even after hearing him.

"Mother, are you okay?" asked Killian, trying to put his handkerchief on my neck. Though he was still shorter to me, he was trying his best to nurse my wound. A big smile bloomed on my face as I took his handkerchief and pressed it against my wound. 

I winced once I did, though I tried my best not to.

I could see the worry filling his eyes, and I tried to smile to assure him, just when he pressed my hands, and once again my face contorted and I closed my eyes.

"You should go to the royal physician my lady, you are not looking okay." said the man again, and I wonder why did he care.

Then I shook my head, have I become like Cassius, doubting every hand raised to help? He must be concerned like a bystander.

"Philip is right, duchess. You should take care, come let me escort you to the royal physician." offered Charles, he must be sure that Cassius would not. Philip, so that was the name of this man.

"Oh, thank you for your concern, your majesty, but I have my attendants to escort me, you don't need to waste your precious time over this small wound,'' I replied, trying my best to sound normal.

"Royal physician is already here, mother," spoke Killian who was silent all this while.

I furrowed my brows, how did the physician know.

"I called him once I saw the wound on father's hand, but when I returned you were the one who was wounded badly," he explained looking at my confused face, and I nodded. So that was the reason he came late.

The physician came towards me and I sat on the bench nearby. He examined my wounds and put some medicine over them, and it burned like hell.

"The wound is small but a bit deeper, your highness. You should not put pressure on the hands for a few days. Avoid holding heavy things too, and no more sword-wielding till it improves." he instructed and I bit my lip. 

Here goes the chance of my winning against Killian and making him my partner.

"The wound on the neck is not much deeper, but you should still avoid bending and moving your neck too much for a week, your highness" he did the final bandage and moved towards Cassius.

"We did not know that you could wield the sword so well," stated his majesty, instead of going to check his friend's wound. Even Philip's eyes were settled on me all the time.

"I learnt it for fun, your majesty," I replied, as I did not want to drag Roselia into it.

"Your level is higher than a normal knight, duchess. I was amazed to see you, holding your ground against Cassius for such a long time, you were even able to wound him," he spoke as if it was a compliment, but I knew this was something not supported, a wife hurting her husband and that also publicly.

I smiled, completely ignoring his underlying meaning. 

"Even I was not expecting his highness to participate in our practice session with so much vigour. If I did not know any better, I would have thought, he was trying to kill me.'' In the end, I chuckled looking at his eyes.

His majesty was surely not expecting me to point out that, apologize! In your dreams!

"But you did wonder there, my lady." I looked above to see the genuine praise in Philip's eyes and I smiled.

"Thank you, your royal highness. I apologise for not welcoming you properly.'' I bowed my head a bit.

"Oh, you should not do that, my lady. The physician had denied you to bend your neck. Leave, the formalities for a few days." he replied in a concerned voice.

'So it means I did not need to bow in front of Cassius too.' Well, at least this wound brought some benefits too.

"Thank you, for understanding, your royal highness."

"It's alright, since I am going to live here, it would be good that we familiarise ourselves."

Why would we live together! I furrowed my brows and looked at both men.

"Oh, I think you didn't know about this. My name is Philip, and I have joined the post of a foreign ambassador. Archduke would guide me about the rules and other details of this empire, so I am going to stay with him for the next three months. So I am sure we would be able to meet a few more times." he replied, understanding my confusion.

And only then it clicked me who Philip was!