The Rose Of The South
Chapter 21: Le Duc Francois et sa Duchesse

Duke Francis's residence was very crowded that morning. Nicholas Francis is known as the most generous and popular nobleman in all of Schiereiland. All Duchy Francis citizens were invited to celebrate Nicholas' wedding to Rumelle, now Duchess Francis. Free food and wine is available to all residents. Music filled the room. Everyone danced freely.

There was no fragrance of fancy perfume, no expensive gowns and jewels glittering on the dance floor, no political chatter. The feast of the day was a special feast for ordinary people. Even so, they still wore neat clothes, clothes that were quite decent to wear at the happy event. Some residents who did not have enough money to buy decent clothes, came wearing robes that covered patched dresses. Among them was a young man and a young woman who had just arrived. They wore long robes that covered their clothes as well as their faces. They approached Duke Francis who was chatting with one of his guests.

"During the meeting, Nick." Greet the young man.

Nicholas frowned. The greeting is not commonly used by its citizens. They all used to refer to him as His Majesty or Duke Francis. No one called it by his little name. Nothing, except...

The young man unfolded the hood of his robe and revealed his shiny black hair and emerald eyes. Nicholas almost dropped his wine glass so surprised to see his friend who was rumored to be dead. He hurriedly apologized to the guest he had spoken to and said he had a bit of urgent business that could not be left behind. He then gestured for Xavier to follow him towards his study.

After they entered his study, Nicholas asked his guards to guard the door so that no one would enter.

"You-you... What—Why are you here?" He asked, still so surprised. He played down the volume, "Everyone says you're dead. What the hell is going on?"

"You must be so happy to hear the news of my death that you're having a wedding so festive." Xavier. "I want to congratulate you on your marriage, of course. May you be happy."

"Tell me what you want and leave before anyone sees you. I don't want any bloodshed here. I have to protect my people." Nicholas. His voice sounded scared.

"Let's calm. No need to be tense like that. No one knows I'm here."

"Then who is he?" Nicholas pointed to another figure wearing a robe next to Xavier whose face was not visible because it was covered in a hood and had since kept his head down without speaking.

Xavier smiled, "I'm glad you asked. Please introduce yourself, Your Highness the Princess." Xavier said very formally.

"P-Daughter?"

Just as Nicholas was about to open his mouth again to ask what he meant, the person next to Xavier opened his hood, revealing his short red hair and golden brown eyes. She was not wearing the expensive dress nor the thousands of gems that a Princess should have, but Nicholas still recognized her. Anyone who had seen it firsthand, it was impossible to mistakenly recognize that rare red hair.

Now that Anna had no need to hide her face anymore under the hood of her robe, she could clearly see the face of her former fiance. Anna did not really remember the last time they faced each other like this. Since her engagement was annulled, Anna has never met Nicholas again. Although several times Nicholas had come to the Palace for political affairs, Anna as much as possible did not meet him and did not allow Nicholas to see him.

Nicholas looked somewhat different, he was thinner than Anna remembered, perhaps the current state of the kingdom affected his health. Francis's family has dark brown hair, but Nicholas has golden blond hair that he inherited from his mother. He was handsome, Anna admitted it from the first time she saw him. Nicholas at a young age had already become a Duke after the death of his father, ruling the Duchy of Francis very well. He was also intelligent and generous, and treated Anna very politely. Nicholas was familiar with the late King Edward, and they often talked about various things together ranging from political affairs to hunting parties held by the palace once a month. Even Queen Isabella often praised him. There was no reason for Anna to reject the idea when her father first came up with the plan. Nothing, until Anna finally finds out that the man has actually had a lover since before they were engaged. And Nicholas did not plan to let go of his lover despite being engaged to Anna at the time.

Nicholas' blue-gray eyes looked at Anna with a surprised expression.

"Congratulations on your marriage, Duke." Anna said with a smile as soft as possible.

Nicholas's pupils widened. "Daughter Anastasia?" He almost fell to his knees so surprised to see the presence of his former fiancee. "Y-Your Highness the Princess..." Nicholas looked closely at Anna, looking for signs of torture. He threw a sharp glare towards Xavier and looked back at Anna with a guilty look. "Are you hurt, Your Majesty? What did he do to you? Did he take you captive? He threatened you? Where's General Leon?"

"As you can see, Duke. I'm fine." Anna answered calmly, ignoring the latter's question because she could not answer it. Anna couldn't help but think of Leon as Nicholas watched him just as Leon observed him, figuring out if he was hurt. Anna knows Nicholas is not a bad man. Nicholas is a really good guy. But not the right person for him.

Nicholas returns to face Xavier, as if accusing him. "I warned you not to look for him and not to bother him, Xavier! I've begged you. Why are you doing this? Why is Her Highness the Princess with you? What are you planning?"

"I'm not bothering him, Nick." His tone was calm and cold. "I'm bothering you." Xavier then turned to Anna, in a very formal princely manner to a princess he said, "Please sit down, Your Majesty. You must be tired after a long trip here. Nick will have his servant prepare tea and sweet snacks while you wait."

Anna followed those instructions. Xavier says she must behave like the Princess of Schiereiland who never knew what it was like to live with nightmares, who was never his personal bodyguard, who never nearly died many times. So he followed the charade. Become like her old self. The royal princess who only knew of living happily within the palace.

"You remember my favorite tea, don't you, Duke Francis? Or do I need to remind you again?" Anna asked before sitting on one of the sofas in the room.

"I remember, Your Majesty. Concentrated earl grey tea with a little milk. I'll have the waiter prepare it immediately."

"thank you. And I want macarons as his snack." He then added, "The taste of vanilla and strawberries."

Nicholas hurriedly asked his subordinates who were waiting at his door to have the waiter prepare the tea and snacks that Anna requested.

"I didn't know you liked macarons." Xavier whispered to Anna after sitting next to her. "And earl grey tea? I mean, I remember you like sweet snacks and concentrated tea. It turns out your taste is still the same."

What Xavier meant was the taste of Zhera a thousand years ago. But Anna understood what that meant.

Anna shrugged lightly, "I like all sweet snacks, but a thousand years ago macarons were not yet created. And I still love all kinds of tea that are brewed. But it was earl grey tea that was commonly served at my palace in Schiereiland. I miss the taste of that tea. Someone made me no longer be able to enjoy that tea in my palace after attacking my kingdom and killing my father."

Regret and guilt were again seen from the look on Xavier's face. "I'm sorry..."

"That's it." Anna tries not to talk about it anymore because it turns out that she does not want to completely blame Xavier for whatever happened that night. "If I don't miscalculate you've said it dozens of times today. Just so you know, I don't really blame you, Xavier. Now, let's get back to our roles."

"What do you want, Xavier?" Nicholas asked again after giving orders to his subordinates.

"Daughter of Anastasia is 'Your Majesty', but I'm only 'Xavier'? I'm offended." Xavier said as he clucked. "First of all, please sit down, Nick."

...****************...

"Residence, new clothes, servants, and troops. Good food too." Xavier mentions what he wants from Nicholas after sipping his tea. Anna beside him was devouring her second pink macaron. Strawberry flavor. Xavier couldn't help but smile as he saw Anna being able to return to eating voraciously after Leon's departure. He added to Nicholas, "And a chef who can make macarons as well as a myriad of earl grey tea."

The version of the story that Xavier told Nicholas was not one hundred percent true and had been seasoned with various lies: The Crown Prince of Nordhalbinsel who was pronounced dead was washed away in the river. The daughter of Schiereiland who was somehow separated from her personal bodyguard found her and saved her life. Feeling indebted to his life, the Crown Prince of Nordhalbinsel decided to help the Princess to return to his kingdom and reclaim her power. And for that, they need help from Nicholas Francis who still holds power as Duke.

"What?" Ask Nicholas.

"Oh, shall I repeat? Resting place, clothes—“

"I know, Xavier. I-i heard. But why do you need an army too? You want to go to war?"

"I told you already. I owe my life to Princess Anastasia so I decided to help her take her power away from the kingdom that already considered myself dead. Who knows who has planned my death in my own kingdom. I can't take any chances by returning to my current Palace."

"For that, we need my palace." Anna said, complementing Xavier's words as they had planned before.

"Stana?" Rework Nicholas.

"The resting place mentioned by His Highness the Crown Prince earlier. Palaces. You gave me the Palace as our engagement gift. The palace is mine. Even if the engagement was annulled, the rightful owner of the Palace was still me. The palace was the only place that the Nordhalbinsel party didn't know about, so it must be safe there."

"I think it's gonna be hard, Your Majesty." Nicholas.

"Why?"

"My wife and I were planning on going there right after the show here was over." At first glance there is guilt on the look on Nicholas' face when he mentions Rumelle as 'my wife' in front of Anna. But when he saw Anna not react at all, he continued, "The citizens will also be on the streets welcoming us. It's gonna be hard for you to go there."

Xavier seemed to think for a moment. He looked at Anna and Nicholas in turn. Then suddenly the sound of the door being knocked.

"Nicholas, what's wrong? Can I come in?"

Anna has never met Rumelle Rochelle, who is now the wife of her former fiance. But Anna was sure it was her voice.

Nicholas looked tense. He was just about to say something but Xavier hinted him to be quiet. "I want to meet the bride. Let him in. But don't tell him who we are. Let me tell him."

Nicholas looked at him as if he had no other choice. She opened the door and led in a girl of Anna's age wearing a white wedding dress. Anna had already hurriedly put back on the hood of her robe, covering her red hair. She and Rumelle may have never met each other and not known each other's faces, but some noble princesses in Schiereiland usually knew that their Royal Princess had a very rare red hair color.

Rumelle has an amazing manners. Although she did not know who the guest of her husband was, she first conveyed a respectful greeting. Anna knows the reason. Nicholas won't invite just anyone into his study. Only nobles, or members of the royal family.

Anna turned to look at Xavier who seemed to be judging Rumelle. Then Xavier turned to look at Anna. Saw dress. Then look at Rumelle's wedding dress. Suddenly Anna realized what Xavier was planning.

Xavier replied to her greeting, "It's nice to meet you, Duchess. Nicholas may not have told us, but we are good friends. And as you guessed from my accent, I'm from the north." Anna realizes Xavier's speaking style sounds more haughty. More noble than usual. It really sounded like the famous arrogant northerners. His smile was full of tact as he turned towards Nicholas beside the tense-looking Rumelle. "The intelligent Nicholas, must have had an extraordinarily intelligent wife as well. I guess you can guess who I am."

Rumelle nodded while still looking down, not daring to look at Xavier as if she really knew who Xavier was just from those few sentences. "It is a great honor for us to welcome you to this house, Your Majesty King Nordhalbinsel."

Anna was surprised to hear that. He wondered how Rumelle could have known that. Rumelle called Xavier King. No longer the Crown Prince.

"Not yet." But Xavier smiled with satisfaction. "I have not yet gone through the coronation process. For that, I must return first to my kingdom. And I need your help, Duchess."

"I'll help you, Your Majesty. Whatever it is."

"Rumelle—“ New Nicholas will interrupt, but Rumelle clasped her hand tightly as if to be a gesture for Nicholas to entrust this to Rumelle.

Rumelle looked up at Xavier in front of her. Anna saw the strong determination from her fiery gaze. Anna understood what Nicholas liked about the girl. "I will do anything as long as our citizens stay safe." There was not the slightest bit of fear in Rumelle's tone of voice as she said it.

"Of course." Xavier said, still with that level of arrogance. "Do you have another wedding dress, Duchess?"

...****************...