Teivel woke up early in the morning. She saw Akiara was sleeping facing towards her. She stared at her innocent face. She smiled and kissed her forehead.

"KYYAAAHHHH!!" She heard a scream right beside the room. Akiara opened her eyes.

"What happened?" She asked rubbing her eyes.

"Don't know. Let's go check it out."

She nodded. They got down the bed and walked out of the room. They saw Cordelia standing at the doorway of the kitchen. Arrow looked different. He grew up taller like in his teens and wearing a new butler's suit. He looked quite handsome and his hair grew few inches. Cordelia and Teivel's jaw dropped seeing him.

"You look handsome." Akiara said quietly breaking the silence. Both looked at her quite amazed.

"Big sis you don't hate me right?" He asked looking down. His voice sounded anxious and sad.

She smiled and ruffled his hair, "Not at all. After all you are my little brother."

He hugged her. "Thanks big sis!"

Teivel pushes them away objecting, "At what angle does he look little brother to you? H-he is exactly at same height as yours."

She ruffled his hair, "Since I couldn't watch my little sister grow up, I am happy that you are growing up healthy and well."

He smirked at Teivel which made her frown and turned her face away. Later he got a new haircut.

________

Imperial Palace,
Vasilindro empire

Crown Prince, Orson came back from Verde with dissatisfied look on his eyes. He went back to his bedroom. He did not come out of his room for one whole week. Drake went to visit him as he neglected his duties. Wine bottles were scattered around the room, several women sleeping on his bed with sheets covering them and he was standing beside the window naked, drinking wine from wine glass.

Drake covered his eyes, "Ahh my eyes! Your Highness, please cover yourself with something!" he almost got heart attack.

Orson snapped out of his thoughts, "Oh sorry. I almost killed you." He pulled down the curtain and wrapped it around his waist. "Any news from assassins?"

"Yes. His corpse was found near the forest."

"Which means he failed." He sighed throwing the wine glass to the wall. It broke into million pieces and stained the wall.

"But I got some news from Verlice estate. Grand Duke is going to Verde to pay a visit to his youngest daughter."

"Well that's a good news. When is he going?" He sat on the couch.

"Tomorrow."

"That means I can pay her a visit by surprising her that I am the Crown Prince. She will regret it for humiliating me." He smiled showing his smug face, "Then arrange a magic carriage so that I can catch up with him and travel with him to surprise her."

"Yes, Your Highness, I shall arrange it. But you have to complete one week's worth of papers."

"But can't you finish it?"

"But I already completed half of the papers."

He huffed, "Fine. I'll do it."

Next day, Orson wore imperial vestment and left the palace. He met the Grand Duke at the restaurant as he predicted. He was having lunch.

"Yo, Your Grace. What a coincidence!" Orson waved his hand walking towards him.

Duke Verlice bowed, "Greetings to the shining star of the empire, His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Raise your head." he sat down at the other end of the table, "Anyways where are you heading to?"

"To Verde."

"What a coincidence! I am also heading there to see the situation of farming. You won't mind if I tag along?"

"Not at all, Your Highness. It will be a huge honor for me."

"Thanks. We should eat before the food gets cold." He took the cutleries and started eating food.

____________

Everyone in the house were busy. Arrow was changing flowers in the vases, Cordelia was doing laundry, Akiara and Teivel were sparring. Suddenly two guards opens the main door. James entered and gestures his hand for Duke Verlice and Orson to enter.

Arrow approached towards them and bowed. He politely said, "I apologize but we are not receiving any unwelcomed guests."

"You have got it wrong. He is Grand Duke Ziv Verlice, owner of this mansion and His Highness the Crown Prince."

He raised his eyebrows and bowed harder, "I apologize, Your Grace for not recognizing you. And greetings to the shining star of the empire, His Highness the Crown Prince. Please wait in the reception room." He showed them the way to reception room.

Arrow immediately headed to training ground. He informed them that the Grand Duke and Crown Prince arrived unexpectedly. They headed back inside to get Teivel changed. After Teivel got changed to casual gown, Akiara followed her to reception room. She opened the door and stepped back. Teivel entered and bowed along with Akiara. Duke stood up as he was seeing splitting image of his deceased wife. He shook his head realizing, "For a moment I saw Brianna from that monster."

"Greetings to the shining star of the empire, His Highness the Crown Prince." Teivel smirked as she recognized Orson immediately. She realized that he came to take Akiara away. Then she glanced at Duke, "It's been a while Your Grace. How long has it been? Eighteen years?" she sneered.

Akiara glanced at Orson to see who was Crown Prince. She flinched losing her composure for a moment. He winked at her but she looked down in disgust.

"Is this the way you talk to your father?" Duke said coldly but his voice sounded angry.

"Well, I don't remember His Grace teaching me mannerism of speaking." she replied. Then she glanced at Akiara, "Akiara, arrange afternoon tea in the garden."

"Yes M'lady." she walked out of the room to prepare afternoon tea.

Duke was amazed to see the garden in full bloom of different colors of roses, dahlias and daisies. They sat under pavilion. Akiara and Arrow served tea and snacks. It was awkward silence as they silently sip on tea.

"These cakes are quite delicious." Orson spoke trying to get into topic.

"Thank you." Teivel replied. It was quiet again.

"So what brings you here, Your Grace?" Teivel asked keeping her teacup down.

"I just came to visit my daughter. Can't I do that?" Duke replied.

"No its nothing like that. It's just that..... Your Grace never visited me after leaving the main estate for eighteen years." she sneered as she took a bite on checkered cookie.

"I apologize but due to work I didn't get time to visit you."

As she was about say something Akiara touched her shoulder and shook her head. She touched her hand to reassure her. She stood up from her seat, "Since you all have arrived from capital, please do stay till dinner." she bowed and walked away. Akiara also bowed and followed her.

_____________

Later at night, Duke was sitting on the couch working with papers. He stopped as he remembered Teivel's face. He clenched his jaw. Then he stood up and walked out of his room. He walked to her bedroom. He knocked it three times but she didn't answer. Then he noticed Cordelia walking on the corridor.

He called her, "Excuse me, can you tell me where is Teivel?"

"She must be with Akiara in servant quarters." Cordelia replied.

"I see." She bowed and walked away.

Akiara went back to her room. She closed the door behind. She didn't turn on the light as she didn't bother to. She unbuttoned one button of her uniform. Someone opened the door and closed it behind. "Teivel wait outside. I am still changing clothes."

"Wrong. I am not Teivel." Orson replied.

She flinched and turned around. It was Orson. He was smirking. She took steps back as he stepped forward. He pushed her to the bed and pinned her down.

"Do you know what happened to those girls who rejected me?" He asked.

"What?" She was struggling to get off of him. His fingers gently traced her jawline.

"Each of those girls lives got destroyed resulting to suicides. But you are so beautiful than the girls I spend my night, so first I will defile you then I will strangle you to death." He grabbed her hands and holds it above her head with left hand, while unbuttoning his vestment. He tore all her uniform's button revealing her undergarments.

"I can't use the god given strength to protect myself but its really important." Her eyes gave off a faint glow. She bent her legs and kicked his stomach hitting him on the ceiling and then fall down. She coughed up blood. She was panting.

He stood up groggily wiping off the blood, "You little b*tch." suddenly he felt pain behind him. Someone pulled back the knife. He turned around and saw it was Teivel. Her scarlet eyes were glowing filled with anger and worry. She stabbed him on his heart, "How dare you lay filthy hands of yours on my love?" she stabbed him few more times until he was dead.

Teivel wanted past the lifeless body. She took a blanket and wrapped it around her body. She was still trembling after what she went through.

Akiara finally gathered words and asked, "Why did you do this? Why did you dirty your hands with blood?"

"I will anything for you. So killing is also nothing for me." she smiled reassuring her.

"But do you realize what you did? You could get executed for killing a royal!" she replied as tears streamed down her eyes, "It's my fault......"

She leaned her forehead against Akiara's forehead intertwining their fingers, "I told you I don't care as long as you are safe."

"But-!?" She kissed her making her quiet, "Don't worry about it."

"What did you do?!" Someone at the doorway shouted.

They turned towards the source of sound. Duke was staring at Teivel angrily. "As expected nothing less from monster. You killed his highness!" He shouted.

"Well, he tried to assault my maid so I killed him." She replied bluntly.

Drake and James were astonished by her straightforward answer. They looked at each other and shrugged. Duke ordered, "Arrest her and take her to Capital. She will be judged by His Majesty the Emperor."

"Yes, Your Grace." They walked towards her. They grabbed both her arms, taking her away. She smiled one last time at her.

Duke cleared his throat, "I apologize what happened earlier. I would like you and the other servants to leave this place. I will pay gratuity so that it lasts until you find a new job."

"....." She couldn't answer his question as everything escalated so fast.

"You have to leave by dawn or else you will end up in trouble with imperial soldiers. So leave as soon as you can." with that he walked out heading outside as he is leaving for Capital.

She was thinking what to do. Cordelia and Arrow also arrived at the scene.

"What just happened?" Arrow asked.

"Pack everything.... we are leaving this place." Akiara spoke silently.

"But where are we going?" Cordelia asked looking confused.

Akiara raised her head. Her voice sounded serious, "To Capital to save Teivel."