The Duchesses

Chapter 100 : Our Final Point of View

Six months have passed since Natalie made comeback, which shows just how quickly time can pass. But this week, Medea seems cold and distant toward her, opting to spend time with Duchess Smith and avoid meeting with her. However, since the Empress is likely annoyed by her work, Duchess Natalie maintains an upbeat attitude at first. But then, Natalie can't keep up her optimism forever, so she decides to approach Medea about it.

She stops by the Empress's office and then her chamber, but Medea isn't there to greet her. She has tried calling upon Valienth but to no avail.

"Where is everyone?" Natalie asks herself, peering here and there.

After she loses her temper, she decides to return home and teleports herself back to the neighbourhood, specifically in front of the Smiths' house. But then Valienth appears above her, and her rage shifts to irritation as her ruby eyes watch him with annoyance.

"Master, there is a place I want to show you," Valienth said, but Natalie obliged anyway, thinking it would be nice to breathe fresh air at night.

Natalie rides her dragon to where Valienth wants to take her, but she still refuses to speak to him the whole way there. Valienth anticipates her anger and prepares himself physically for a blow from his Master because of this. So, he flies as quickly as possible to get there and prays fervently.

The poor dragon has been holding his breath, but as soon as they arrive, he lets out a massive sigh of relief for his life, which Natalie cannot help but notice. While her ruby gaze finds a beautiful red carpet laid out for her with a scattering of rose petals. She still can't see anyone, though. After Natalie dismounts from Valienth, they descend to the ground to observe a letter presented on the carpets.

"You always take my breath away, with your grace, intelligence and most importantly, with being the real yourself alone with me. So follow the red carpet until the end, my love."

Natalie's heart felt like it would burst through her ribcage because she had high hopes and a vague concept of what this would entail. She takes a deep breath and nervously moves forward, expecting to run into Medea at the end of the red carpet. Instead, she is greeted by Eryx and Hera's two sweet children along the way. They grab her hands and start walking behind her, further bewildering Natalie.

At the end of the red carpet, one of the kids suddenly speaks, "Your Grace, please light up this with your magic."

Another kid then presents her with a gemstone-adorned object with an average-sized rope. She is still unsure of how to handle such situations, so she fortifies them with magical barriers in case of an emergency before lighting the string on fire.

Suddenly, Valienth, who is no longer present, roars above them while he breathes a shower of cold petals that resembles snow falling on Natalie. Medea, the lady she's looking for, hides behind his back. Then, jumping impatiently, Medea lands with both feet in front of the Duchess without waiting for Valienth to properly land beside Natalie.

"Natalie," Medea breathes out.

"Medea?" Natalie tilts her head, looking at the Empress.

"I am not good with romantic words, but I'll try to make this work for you. From the moment we won the war, I've vision my future with you, but we know how it went after that. Therefore, since you are again in my arms, I shall take things slowly and steadily to ensure our comfort and the maintenance of your status as the Duchess of Light.

However, I wake up every day for fear of losing you again. So if we end up in that way again, let us create a memory to be cherished together. Even if we don't, I'll do it again until the last of my breath. So, Natalie Wilson Smith, will you take the honour of being my wife for the rest of our life?" Medea opens the box, shining a ring with a mix of purple and red diamonds that sits tightly on top.