Villains also get Second chance

I turned and walked back, without waiting for their reply, these jewelry had started to hurt now.

As I entered my chamber, I walked straight into my bedroom.

"Daisy"

"Yes, your highness"

"Bring a soft dress for me, with hardly any jewels or handiwork, my wound of hand and neck are itching now."

"Yes, your highness"

"Kate, take out these jewels"

"Yes, your highness" Kate started taking out my jewels while Daisy walked out to bring a light dress for me.

Soon, I changed into a light yellow summer dress which was soft and simple, with no jewels, with just half of my hair held by a pin and the rest left open. For a change, I was looking like a young maiden.

"Your highness"

"Hmmm"

"Lord Killian is here, and the lunch is served." 

"Alright, let's go"

"Your highness, you are looking beautiful," said Lina, hesitating, as if she was calling me ugly and I made my face cold.

"Why! don't I look beautiful every day?" I asked in a sharp voice and she flinched.

"No, no, your highness, I mean you are looking young and innocent and…" she stopped as she looked at my face and I could not control my laughter anymore.

She finally felt relieved once she saw me laughing.

"I apologise, your highness," she said with a shy smile and I shook my head.

"It's alright, I liked your compliment" though I did not deserve it anymore.

We walked towards the dining room and I sat there comfortably, even Killian's eyes stayed on me as he said, "you are looking beautiful mother" I wonder did I look like a witch with all the makeup, dresses and jewels. They all were looking at me like they had seen me for the first time.

I would go and look at the mirror again after lunch. I decided as I took a bite of the steak.

"How is your study going son?" I asked and he smiled.

"It is going well, mother, I am going to start with the history lesson this week," he replied.

"Oh, I would come and ask a few questions to you then whenever I face trouble in remembering anything." I joked but he seriously nodded and I did not know what to say now.

"How was your day mother?" he asked and I smiled.

"Ah, since I am already having lunch, and I don't need anything else, you all can go and have lunch too, it's already very late," I said with a bright smile and the maids looked happy, as they all bowed with a big smile and left the room, then I looked at Killian again with some hesitation.

"I had a good day son, I want to tell you a secret, would you keep it to yourself?" I did not know why, but I wanted to share it with him. So that there would be someone with whom I can celebrate my future winnings.

"I promise, mother, I would not tell anyone," he said as if he was taking a solemn pledge.

"Not even to your father," I added and he nodded.

"Good, I am going to start a business, son. And soon I would start many, I want to do everything, from selling jewels to antiques, from dresses to paintings.'' I told him and he looked at me tilting his head.

"Why?" he asked and I furrowed my brows.

"So that I can be the richest person of the empire," I replied and he again gave me the same look.

"Then?"

"Then we could live happily together," I added but still he did not smile.

"But we can live happily together without that too," he replied and I bit my lips.

"Are you not happy, Killian?" I asked and he shook his head.

"It's not about me, it's about you mother. You are trying to find happiness in money.'' His words stunned me and I did not know how to retort. 

"It's not like that" I started but he shook his head again.

"If you want to do business, please do... Want to do other things then do them too, but the reason should be different. Though I learn many things because I have to, you can be different." he added, and I wanted to deny, I could not be different, I had to do a few things too. 

I needed business, power, strength and connections. Because somewhere I still had a doubt that my past could be repeated, though Killian was at my side. Cassius and Isabella could not be taken lightly. What if my past death was a trick of theirs. A trap in which I fell! I was not imposing my fault on others, I knew that I was at mistake, but there were many things that did not add up well.

"I have you, Killian. We would stay happy together," I added and this time he finally smiled.

"I wish father also behaved like before." I patted his shoulder, I too missed old Cassius, but he died a long time ago...…

*****************

Cassius pov

"Philip" I called the man who was still looking in the direction where Marianne went as if the path had fairies roaming there.

"Yes, Cassius," he finally turned, looking confused at me.

"In our empire, married women are not called by her first name, if you do not like to use the obligatory title, call her duchess" I explained and he raised a brow

"Isn't duchess an obligatory title too, and I am calling you cassius too," he added and it took all my energy to remain patient there.

"If that's so, call her Mrs. cassius'' I said, and he laughed.

"You are too hilarious, cassius. She was looking fine with taking names, thogh" he replied and I wondered which word sounded funny to him.

"I am not fine with it. Now shall we continue the practice ``I said, ''Killian, you can go and have lunch" I offered and he smiled brightly and almost ran from there. Was he so hungry or excited to meet the woman who only invited him, like we were not even standing here, but the good thing was she avoided this new calamity too, who was shining like a proud peacock here.

He walked and took his sword in his hand but it did not take even a second for me to disarm him. He was looking stunned and then chuckled.

"Maybe I was not prepared enough" he made an excuse but I just smirked.

He picked up the sword again and this time I did not only disarm him but my sword slashed his shirt.

"You are good at disarming Cassius, I wonder why you didn't do that when you wielded a sword with Marianne."