A Crown Princess No Longer

6

Time for a change in pov~

•••••

"Princess Penelope, your movements are slightly dulled. Pay attention to the music and move with the flow of the instruments."

I nodded at her while looking concentrated. The servants which came to observe me looked towards me in awe and it boosted my heart.

As the music stopped claps resounded around the room. I shot a tired smile at Madame Bleu and she smiled back at me. "Well done Princess Penelope. Your movements have improved greatly."

I frowned slightly when I heard that and she noticed. I saw her tense but luckily no one else noticed. How stupid was she to let her guard down if front of all these people.

"That's good to hear Madame. I hope that my dancing shall meet your expectations soon enough."

Everyone looked pleased with my answer and I scoffed on the inside. Afterwards I asked the servants as politely as I could to go back to their work, therefore leaving me and Madame Bleu alone.

"Madame, thank you for today's lesson. I hope to enjoy another one with you once again." She smiled at me but I could see it was forced.

"Teaching you is a pleasure Princess Penelope. Until our next lesson." With that she left.

•••••

I was currently standing on the balcony of my bedroom looking over the garden. Servants were moving up and around doing their work and it was fairly quiet.

I couldn't help but giggle as I watched them. People who work for my father. People who are supposed to be used to the schemes of the palace along with the dirt of those who own it and yet they follow me so blindly.

All because I act naive and foolish around them. Maybe if my pitiful sister did that, she may have more support here.

Pfft. As if. My influence was already bigger than her's and her reputation amongst them was terrible. All of that due to me. Either way, she was a threat. Along with Lucas.

With them alive and well, I would never rule this Empire.

Neither would I be able to fulfill that annoying woman's wishes.

"You're my greatest creation. For you to fall short just because you're lacking is not acceptable!"

"This is my dying wish. Become a ruler no matter what you have to do..."

I shook my head slightly. The thoughts of that woman made my head hurt. Either way, I could get rid of them.

Even after death you torment me so...

Mother.

×××××××

"What's wrong Anne?" I asked as I looked to her.

She sat across me in the carriage with a funny look on her face. I had decided to bring her with me to the Duke's residence.

"It's just that you've never really gone out of your way to make new friends."

Ah, was that what it was about. Well, it wasn't necessarily a lie. Before I returned, I thought of companionship as something taxing. Besides the threat of being backstabbed drove me to ignore playing with others and focusing solely on maintaining my own safety.

It was a foolish move since I ended up with no support in the end. If my plans with Duke Magnus went well then I would be able to build those relationships and gain power against Penelope.

"I guess there's always a chance to try something new."

Afterwards we sat in silence as the carriage kept moving until we got to our destination. I'm front of the mansion was a butler. He must be the head butler of the family, Alfred.

I got out followed by Anne and he greeted me.

"Greetings to Princess Raeliana, it is a pleasure to welcome you here." I smiled at him. "As it is a pleasure to be here."

He made us follow him until we reached a large greenhouse. "Miss Celia is waiting for you inside." I thanked him and then asked Anne to wait outside.

I went inside and looked in awe. The plants in here were beautiful. Maybe I should invest in a greenhouse. I followed the stone trail while admiring the plants until I came across a table where two people were currently seated.

Both Duke and Duchess Magnus. The Duchess regarded me with cold eyes but I could see the faint but of interest in them while the Duke smiled at me.

"Welcome princess to our humble abode." I almost snorted. This place practically screamed wealth. I curtsied. "Greetings to Duke and Duchess Magnus of Magnus."

The Duchess greeted me back as did the duke, while he smiled but something about his smile made me shiver. Then I sat down. "So what did you want to propose?" asked the duke. Straight to the point, I'm not surprised.

"Please adopt me."