Villains also get Second chance

"Oh my goodness, how arrogant you are! I hear every political faction is supporting your family. It looks like you are holding your head high because of them." 

"How could that be, my queen. You are higher than me even if the nobles like me better and I have more connections in society."

"And I would have wished you definitely, if you would have entered after proper permission and announcement like a queen should enter in the empress chamber. I didn't even see you coming until you talked. You must be the most stealthily person I have ever met."

"Duchess Marianne."

"Oh, yes, the greetings" I said , completely ignoring her charred face and raging eyes.

"Hail to the glory of the empire, my queen" I greeted ceremoniously only then did she turn away her gaze from me. She looked back at Katherine who  was looking at the files as if she just didn't see her.

"I see that you are ready to go out, her majesty. I pleaded Charles to go and accompany you since it would be your first outing from the palace. But he said he had a lot of work, so i came here to personally apologise. As a wife, it should be my duty to convince him to give company to you."

Wow! it was a line worth applause!! And here I thought I was good at acting. 

Rosamund clearly tells her that she was the wife of Charles, while Katherine is only the empress.

"Oh, have you? Thank you, Rosamund. You are too kind to me." replied Katherine and my face fell.

Huh!! That's it! Call me a villain but i was hoping to see a lot of drama. Or at least a good comeback but no, Katherine said nothing after that.

"Sister, you do not need to thank me, after all Charles did not listen to me these days. Even in the morning, i was so busy yet he called me in his office to wish him good morning. See, how much time I have consumed there, that I am late to assist you. I apologise for being late, sister."

Her voice was so sweet and smile was so enchanting that even as a female, I was having a hard time looking away from her face. I must say that she knew how to taunt Katherine. 

She was stabbing her weak point again and again, yet there was not a single word, which could be called an insult.

If Katherine tried to complain she would only be called jealous of their strong relationship and nobles would treat her further miserably.

Katherine looked at me, and I tilted my head, her eyes telling me it was the first time she was going to give a reply to Rosamund.

I encouraged her through my eyes and she nodded and then looked back at Rosamund with a pitiful smile.

"You don't need to apologise, Rosamund. I understand that most of your time is spent on fulfilling the physical requirement of the emperor. As his first wife, I should be a bit considerate towards his lover. After all, i am not from the jealous and crazy wives who torture the lover and kill her in the darkness of night." 

Rosamund's eyes widened and she looked at her with utter shock. I took the cup of tea and took a sip, finally enjoying the show.

"Anyways since you are here now, handle the work properly. I will be leaving now. Shall we duchess Marianne?" she looked at me and I nodded and stood up. Though I wanted to see more drama, I did not have any say in it.

"That was an incredible resurgence" 

"She deserved it." there was still hesitation in her voice, so i nodded to give her the confirmation

"She does"

"You are cruel, Marianne. Do you not feel that as nobles we should not fall for these provocations and insults. Otherwise what is the difference between us and the commoners who fight for a man over streets." she said as if she felt nauseous and I sighed.

"The difference is they fight for man, and we fight for respect. And we do that with class too.

Like the reply you have given, I am sure Rosemund would not sleep tonight, afraid that the darkness would nibble her.`` I laughed and she just smiled, shaking her head.

"So, we are not waiting for his royal highness, anymore?" 

"No, it was his mistake. I do not want to ruin my outing because of him." 

She was looking just like Killian excited to go out and soon my smile faded. God knows what he would be doing?

I had promised him before to bring him with me, but looking at his present behaviour, I did not.

He should realise that he was making mistakes, and I was not that kind hearted to forgive him every time. We walked towards the carriage and were about to enter when a carriage came towards us with great speed.

It stopped abruptly, and Philip came out. He looked at us and smiled.

"Ah, Marianne, sister. I thought I would miss the chance to spend time with both of you" said the man as he walked towards us. I wished that would have happened, but we could only nod at this time.

"Yes, I also felt that you will not come anymore."

"Ah, there was some miscommunication problem. So i became late, i apologise to keep the two most beautiful ladies of the empire waiting."

He said as he kissed the hand of Katherine and I had to give him mine too. He looked into my eyes and smiled as he kissed the back of my hand.

"What kind of miscommunication, brother?" asked Katherine furrowed her brows.

"Ah, i have sent the message to the duchess chamber that we will leave for the royal palace together and the servant came back with an affirmative reply, so i was waiting with the carriage in front of my chamber for lady Marianne.

But when she did not arrive till late, i sent a maid to confirm, and only that did i come to know that she had left two hours ago"