The Duchesses

Chapter 17 : Run As Fast As You Can

Princess Isis thought the date was going well. So they continue their journey until they reach the lake, where they can hear voices from the side, which appear to be men conversing.

"It's funny that the Crassore will choose between Medea and Natalie," a man laughs so loudly that Medea and Isis come to a halt.

His other accompanies chuckles at his remark, but the other shows a blank face, trying to understand it.

"Why would it be funny?" one man on his left asks why he said that.

He proudly responds, "They are both chosen solely because the Crown Prince rejected them. Medea, his ex-fiancée, is humiliated by being dumped and enters the Crown Princess competition, only to see Countess Hera, her supposedly loyal friend, engage with the Crown Princess. Their ceremony is even happening right in front of her eyes!"

The man wipes his eyes and rolls down the floor, trying to hold his stomach.

"These peasants!" the anger poured down on Medea.

"Natalie, on the other hand, is well-known for her obsession with the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince never looked her in the eyes, never saw her as a woman. As a Duchess, how could she be so stupid? Natalie always follows him around like a good dog. I'm sure she'll look great on all fours like a dog for me. That face would squint in delight," both women could hear his howling laughter afterwards, as Medea's guts twisted in disgust for him to see Natalie that way.

The Duchess closes her eyes, attempting to restrain herself before striking them and finding a plausible reason to drag them to her prison, where they will most likely be tortured.

"If the Crassore rejects them, they will likely wag their tails at us, the commoners!" another man enters the scene, grinning madly while his hands grip the beer bottle tightly.

"Wait a minute. That's not how we should talk about the Duchesses!" one of the men disapproves of how they talked about them.

"What are you scared of? Are you afraid of women? Be a man!" the other man encourages him.

Meanwhile, the man keeps saying, "No! It's sickening that you regard the Duchesses in this manner! We could be executed simply for saying that!" he panics, looking around, and then freezes as the amethyst and red eyes burn through his eyes.

He could not utter any words anymore as his silence surrounded him. The man's words are being ignored, as he couldn't hear them coming from their mouths. He is petrified over their fate.

"It's the truth, Phillips; we didn't even get it wrong, did we? Similarly, the Crassores will select one of these discards," Isis punches him in the face before he can finish his sentence, alarming all men.

"Who the hell are you, bitch?" the veins on his neck and head are visible, pulsating so much that his face is red from the anger.

He had no idea Duchess Valimos was standing next to the woman who punched him. The others are already aware of her presence, sweating coldly and waiting for her to move. He doesn't even greet her, and the woman beside her does not appear to be a regular woman. Also, her presence seems noble.

The man was oblivious to it, blinded by his rage. He steps forward, swinging his arms, attempting to punch Isis but failing as his arms twist in a split second. The man struggled like a fish trying to find air on land, turning his head to look for a familiar face before turning pale. That's Duchess Medea, trying to remain calm over his insulting remarks.

"Allow me to teach a lesson to the Angelos' people, Your Highness. There's no reason to taint your reputation as the Crown Princess of the Crassore Empire with these filthy creatures," when he heard the words, Crown Princess, the man became even more terrified.