"My sword is one inch away from slicing your neck. My victory is one inch away, yet why can't I do it, Althea? What kind of spell have you cast on me to have me thinking about you all day?!"
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Byeol meets a tragic death at age nineteen...
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"Althea!" Atlas's voice filled my ears the moment I stepped inside the estate.
"I'm back..!" My voice came out less excited than I intended for it to be. I wasn't exactly happy to be back. Not because I dreaded coming here; I am just worried. Worried that, despite Aias's words, at anytime, one of the people closest to me body could be possesed.
Atlas hugged me, and I returned it, wrapping my arms around him and ruffling his hair.
"Your grace, it's been chaos without you here." One of the servants exclaimed.
"Yeah, I've thought about that, and I'm only sixteen. I cannot manage a duchy by myself. So don't call me your grace - atleast, until I find a solution..." This truly was a big problem. No matter what, a sixteen year old - or in my case, a nineteen year old, if we count how old I was in my last life, could never manage something as big and important as a dukedom.
"I see, your g- Lady Althea. What would you like to do then?"
"Ugh, give me a break, I just got here after a five hours trip," And that was with countless stops in the palaces spread throughout the empire. "I'll figure something out. Now, I need a relaxing bath - urgently."
Harriet nodded, before gathering up some maids and heading upstairs. I focused on Atlas again, who began to speak immediately.
"Sis, it's been so lonely without you. I don't know why you left with that man... I don't trust him." I laughed nervously at his suspicions. He wasn't wrong; I didn't trust Aias completely either.
"I had to take care of some personal matters. But I'm back now, and that's what counts. So, after I take a bath," which I urgently am in need of, I am pretty much exhausted, "let's eat dinner and we'll discuss whatever you want." I need to get my head straight. Now that I'm back, I actually have to focus on the duchy's problems, and the most important problem right now is finding someone to handle the Asten duchy until I'm of age to take over officially.
"Right! You do that. I'll wait." And with that, he ran back up to his room, a smile on his face.
~~~
I shut Althea's diary at the sound of a knock on my door. Quickly shoving it at the back of the drawer of my nightstand. I called out, "come in."
"Lady Althea. I know this isn't the best time to ask, but this is very urgent. We need to find someone who can take over the duchy and quickly. They'll need to fill paperwork, and after becoming head of the dukedom until you're of age, they are to attend each gathering in the imperial palace and do the work your father did, excellently. You need to find someone capable and willing."
