The Duchesses

Chapter 76 : Where Are They?

Someone is tapping his fingers on the table for no apparent reason as their mind is racing with thoughts of punishing the next woman who has the audacity to betray him. Now that Medea is presumably dead, Hera has become a loner. Unfortunately, no one could provide her with any assistance with it. But, on the other hand, the more he looks for her, the more elusive she becomes.

As he spins around in his chair, he surveys the Valimos' estate and wonders, "Where would Medea hide her?"

On the day of Medea's funeral, he rushed there to pay his respects in front of everyone. Then, later that night, he returns, this time standing on her grave in a fit of rage for her defiance despite all he had done to assist Medea. Not long after, he killed the assassin he ordered to wipe out any evidence or witnesses over such an incident at the same place.

Only one of them escapes his clutches, though.

A knock comes from the door, revealing the same face, Julius.

"Your Majesty, Duchess Smith, has dispatched some of the Smith's knights to the Southeast this dusk," he immediately reports about it to the Emperor.

"Did you tell our shadow knights to follow them?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Julius nods, waiting for Ares's follow orders.

"How is the Hera search going? Still, there is no evidence of her?" the sapphire eyes glow, cowering Julius in fear.

Cold perspiration stung his brow, and he had to say "no" to the inquiry. To which Ares eagerly awaits a response. Yet, he must once more examine the search paths. So he sends for Julius to fetch the map and fill him in on the courses and any properties owned by Medea or Valimos.

"Hera might be closer than I think if I look at it from Medea's perspective. That woman continues to be a problem even though she is dead," Ares clicks on his tongue.

Lord Apollo is getting better now, but he can't wield swords for such a period. Apollo would be recuperated from the explosion would take at least three months. The Duchess of Light has some basic tasks, and he's helping her out by reading documents and providing assistance. However, when he sees Natalie struggling to maintain her sanity despite the plan, her work, and her swordsmanship training, he can't help but feel a great deal of anguish in his heart.

Since she had no other teachers, she enlisted Hector and, on occasion, Lord Eli to instruct her in the finer points of close quarters and long-range battle. That will serve to hold her in place.

As the Winter season set in and the Duchess spent more and more time outside practising, Apollo became concerned.

"Apollo," Natalie calls him when he stares too long in space.

"Yes, my Lady," he smiles at the blonde woman after composing himself from his thoughts.

"Where did you put the four dogs on the Holy Day after we used them to spread the rumours on the engagement that day?" Natalie's question makes Apollo feels clueless, especially about the terms she used.

Dogs? Holy Day?

The ruby eyes continue to stare at the grey eyes dilating to think about her question. It is not that, but she can't mention that name for now. That bastard Emperor.

"The knights we caught on the Holy Day. Four of them," Natalie explains again about her question.

The realisation hits on Apollo, causing him to look down in shame for not getting the simple question.

"I am sorry, Your Grace, for being absent-minded. The men are still under the Marquess now," Lord Apollo states.

Duchess Smith reverts to her previous silence as she mulls over what she could do to counter their threat. She might use them to launch an attack against Ares. Or would they be completely useless, doomed to meet their end at her hands? If only Medea were here, everything would be much more ideal. To put it simply, she is the brains behind all they do.