Prince Isn't Always The Prince

Chapter 6

 Chapter 6

Juliet Point of View

"Your Majesty," he said hesitantly, casting a pitying glance in my direction.

"The Duke should not act so shocked or even attempt to resent me. I know that you truly know who I am, am I right, Duke?" I asked, addressing him directly. Just then, Hannah entered the room, and I stood up to acknowledge her presence. "Kindly give it to the Duke," I instructed Hannah, and she nodded in understanding. From the Duke's reaction, it was evident that he knew something.

"After you serve the tea, Hannah, would you mind guiding the chef on preparing lunch for two people? It appears that the Duke and I have a lot to talk about," I said to her. She had a puzzled look on her face, but she bowed respectfully, replying, "Understood, Your Highness." As Hannah quietly prepared the tea, I moved to the table and took a seat in front of the Duke.

Hannah finished setting the table and bowed again, saying, "I shall leave His Grace and Majesty." "Thank you," I acknowledged her departure.

Once Hannah left the room, I turned my attention back to the Duke, ready to delve into the matters that needed discussion.

The Duke took the tea, but his actions betrayed his surprise. Perhaps he didn't initially know who I was, but my revelation had exposed my identity, and I feared the consequences. He carefully placed the teacup back on the table.

"I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but what do you mean by 'I know who you are'?" he inquired, studying me with a shrewd gaze, as if he were calculating his moves in a game of chess. Oh, he was trying to prove that he knew what I knew.

"Your Grace, there is a spy within our castle, and it is not unreasonable for you to be concerned when a member of the royal family goes missing, especially when the crown prince is involved," I stated firmly while holding the cup of tea, trying to maintain my composure.

"You assume too much, Your Highness. How dare I, the Duke, even think of placing spies within the royal family's matters?" he responded confidently, still attempting to maintain his facade.

"Duke, I know your true desire is not for power, but to remove His Majesty the King from the throne," I revealed, causing his eyes to widen in astonishment. I had hit the mark. "Don't ask how I know, Duke, but what matters is that you acknowledge that I know who you truly are, right?" I asserted once again with confidence, and he placed the tea down, no longer pretending.

"I didn't expect Her Highness, the princess, to be this intelligent and straightforward," he admitted in a deliberate tone. Finally, he conceded that he knew my true identity. I smilled.

"However, what will His Highness gain after revealing the truth to me? Can you trust me?" he asked, attempting to negotiate immediately. This guy, this is the reason why the king hated him; he had guts. I took a sip of the tea, pondering my response.

"As I mentioned earlier, the Duke and I share the same goal of removing the tyrant. Therefore, our collision means working together to dethrone the king," I replied.

"Our goals may be aligned, but our intentions will differ. My intentions could have far-reaching consequences for everyone," he said, hinting at the possibility of war.

"Are you suggesting war?" I inquired, and once again, he stared at me for a moment. "I am also inclined towards pursuing war instead of seeking peaceful negotiations," I confessed, placing the tea back on the table.

"Do you understand the consequences of going to war, Your Highness?" he questioned me. "Yes, I do, but isn't it better than losing my head and having a worse king on the throne?" I retorted. Both our kingdoms, including this one, were rife with betrayal, so it didn't matter who advocated for peace; they would all betray one another eventually. As I expressed my thoughts, the Duke burst into laughter, leaving me bewildered. Was he insane?