Life Becomes Duke's Beloved
The Delayed Truth

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The Expeditionary Group has returned with bad rumors. Some are convinced that this expedition was not entirely successful. 'If only the madam did not follow' .. that was the first sentence spoken by the people when talking about the expedition.

Abela knew that her participation in the expedition this time was not like the time to the east. He also realized that he made it all heavier by allowing himself to be abducted easily. Still, didn't they find out about the existence of the figure who possessed Ghotel's body.

Abela sighed, she wanted to go home soon but Armand insisted on her staying in the palace. Abela heard the sound of people knocking on her door.

"Come in," replied Abela who was sitting comfortably on the soft sofa.

"Mom, it's me." Bastian showed his face in the crack of the door he opened slightly.

"Yes, come in." Abela smiled at him.

"How's mom feeling?"

"It's very uncomfortable, I want to go home soon" Abela replied honestly.

"To your residence?" ask Bastian.

"Where do you get out of here." Abela gave a tired facial expression to Bastian.

"What makes you uncomfortable. I can get rid of it for mom."

"That's a very terrible sentence, Bastian." Abela smiled proudly as she said that. Bastian was more suited to be his son than the gentle Orlando. Of course the two were not his flesh blood, why should he compare?

"Where's your dad? It's been four days since I met him." Abela knows that Armand has been avoiding her lately.

"Have the waiter deliver your message if you miss him and he'll run here as fast as he can." Bastian laughed before continuing, "Actually he's very busy."

"Thank God if he's busy, I guess he's avoiding me" Abela replied.

"Why did he avoid you, mother?"

"There's something we have to discuss, but he said he doesn't want to hear it now." Abela looked at her tea cup with a blank expression.

"Don't she usually?" Bastian looked at Abela seriously. "What is it ... Something bad? What are you going to discuss?"

"No ... Yes ... I guess ...." Abela smiled awkwardly.

Of course what he was going to tell Armand was bad news. What Armand would do if he knew his girlfriend had left him for good. Moreover, being possessed by the person he had killed. What's worse than that. Abela was not surprised that Armand's anger might get him killed again.

"I think you just need time ... Just be patient in a minute, ma'am." Bastian published his rare smile.

"Seeing you smile makes me feel better" Abela said sincerely. Makes Bastian's face blush a little.

"I'll smile more then," said Bastian, hiding his shy face behind a teacup.

Abela chuckled at the gesture. This woman is lucky, she is loved by many.

Calix sighed by the window. Today his mentor Armand tells him that he saw Ghotel's body inside the castle where Abela was kidnapped. And his people in the east made sure of that. Ghotel's body is no longer in his grave.

What should Calix do now? He did not think there was a witch who would perform that forbidden magic. Who is that man who dares to do it. Calix felt guilty. He insisted that the body of his ancestors not be destroyed.

"You're still thinking about your ancestral body?" asked Armand, who had seen Calix's unrest since.

"You think, who? Who did that?" calix asked, still looking out the window.

"Content ... No one can really guess." Armand answered.

"As for that witch, is she really still alive?" Calix says it carefully.

Armand fell silent, inexplicably not wanting to answer that question. He felt something bad was going to happen to him. His gut was never wrong about that.

Armand still shies away from Abela, always looking for an excuse to avoid listening to her lover's explanation. Armand smiled smirkingly. Laughing at his unusual cowardly side.

"You know Calix ... Lately I've been feeling a bad feeling." Armand suddenly sounded like he wanted Calix to have a discussion.

"Yes?" Calix was a little surprised by that tone. Never before had Armand been heard to let out such a tone.

Armand fell silent, glanced at Calix with the corner of his eyes and then commented on the smile.

"Forget it" said Armand. Before turning around left the stunned Calix alone.

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"Your Majesty," Calix bowed respectfully.

"I'm so ashamed that my fiancee behaved that way towards me." Lyra opened her fan and hid part of her face.

"I hear you're not feeling well" Calix said softly.

"Yes .. I didn't leave my room at all. Just some waitress I trust can come in."

"Are you okay now?" ask Calix again.

"As you can see, I can walk again. But Duke ... when are you going to relinquish your formalities to me?"

"I think I'm more comfortable like this, your majesty. I hope you don't mind." Calix clearly sets a line between them and Lyra realizes it. Lyra hid her uncomfortable face behind the fan.

The rose garden was headed for the fountain. The palace is filled with roses. Like the name of this country. Rhodesian. Lyra does not like it very much, the smell of roses is very striking and stinging. Can beat the fragrance of other flowers. Like the winner in every party.

Lyra could see Calix stopping his steps with the corner of his eye. Mata Lyra follows the directors where Calix's eyes are. What made him stop stepping. The first thing Lyra saw was a strand of golden hair carried by the wind. The sound of light laughter filled the garden. Lyra closed her eyes.

"Thus ... What is it that stupefied Duke? Prince Bastian who is rarely seen laughing or ... Madam Abela who looks beautiful today?"

Lyra's question made Calix widen his eyes. He didn't realize he was stopping where he was standing right now.

"Master Duke need not be surprised, I am also very stunned by the sight I see now. Prince Bastian was so cold that he could laugh like that. And Madam Abela ... She is indeed very charming."

Lyra's remarks somehow made Calix wary. There was a cold tone that could not escape his hearing. Calix glanced at Lyra with the corner of his eye. Unfortunately he could not see clearly the expression of the fan-covered girl.

"I, of course, saw Prince Bastian," Calix replied calmly. "I've known him since he was very young. He's grown up well. He'll be as good as his father."

"Is that so? Okay, Duke." Lyra walked back to where Abela dna Bastian was. Calix gulped before following him from behind.

"Madam ..." call Lyra softly but heard by Abela.

Abela smilingly greeted the princess and bowed respectfully to Lyra and Calix. Making Bastian's smile disappear and his face turn stiff again. The four of them sat at a round table under the gazebo.

"Armand's? What are you looking at?" The king approached where Armand was standing. And look where his sister's eyes are.

"Madam Abela? Is she okay?" ask King.

"Yes ... That's ...." Armand answered softly.

"All the noisy nobles have been talking about Madam lately, I hope she's okay."

"Your majesty need not worry about that ..." said Armand.

"You're right ... You don't look okay. That's what I'm worried about."

"I just feel a bad feeling. Since ...." Armand stopped his words.

"Since?"

"Since he said he wanted to say something ... A truth?" Armand ended his words with a questioning tone. Makes the King frown.

"So? What is truth?" ask the King again.

"I don't know yet, I don't want to hear it yet" Armand replied honestly.

"Belg ... Didn't he? So your anxiety will only disappear after hearing it. It's simple like that, right? But you don't want to hear it? I don't know if my tough sister turns out to have fears, too?" The smiling king looked out the window.

"I'm just a human being too, if you forget about it. Sis ...."

"just do? What you think is right. After you hear the truth."

"Everytime you speak in that tone. I don't know why it always makes me think you know everything." Armand smiled as he closed his eyes.

"Content ... Could yes ... It can't be either ...." The king finally looked at Armand, there was a strange flash in his eyes that stunned Armand.

"You'll hear it tonight ... The truth is," said Armand.

"Hn ... Faster is better."

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