★★★

10. Changed

3 years later

Currently 15 years old

No one's POV

The entire Everhart residence is in silence, each maid, butler and servant is careful not to make a single sound that may disturb the duchess

After the young master kaito-sama died because of an unknown illness, the young miss iris-sama started to be cold but she still have a gentle temperament and kind character, but her smile that everyone love slowly disappeared, her soft and sweet voice became cold, soft yet soothing

No words about kaito-sama's death leaked out of the mansion until a months past----three Months after his death then they announced his death, only the people in the mansion and iris-sama and her mother knew the exact date of his death

A year after that The smile of Iris-sama completely disappeared, her face became stone cold, The atmosphere around her became heavy and cold, First kaito-sama died then the next that caused all this and caused Iris-sama to be left all alone

"Good after noon, Duchess Everhart iris-sama" all of them greeted the new duchess, duchess Iris natasha Everhart

After kaito-sama died a year after that Madame Everhart or iris-sama and kaito-sama's mother followed her son, leaving iris-sama all alone

At the age of 14, iris-sama inherited the title of Duchess, many of the other official saw this as an opportunity to get their hands at the Everhart family fortune, they send in their sons for marriage thinking that the new duchess is very young to make a right decision and too young to enter the social circle--but duchess iris proved them wrong

By the time the new duchess sat on her throne the money of the Everhart family expanded in less than a month, she provided knowledge for the king's and his problems, created new trading routes, swept away those pest that only stink up the kingdom, build shelters for the poor, invested in tons of building such as churches, orphanage, hospitals, schools for both commoners and nobles, news also spread that the duchess have extraordinary knowledge when it comes to medicine, so some Nobles and commoners ask for her help with their sickness but duchess Everhart is very picky when it comes to treating her patient, she treated both commoners and nobles but she only treated those who really deserve it, after that the kingdom became more prosperous therefore the king of the magnolia kingdom value her the most than any of his officials, but never did  she appeared in public, she only sent letter to the king for her suggestions and other political matter she have with the King, she let her servant do her bidding outside the mansion

At the age of 15 she became one of the most talented, and richest person in the kingdom,

However after all that glory

She never smiled or shown any expression into the matter

No one ever saw her smiled again

"En, arise" she softly said, she walked with Elegance, grace, dignity and poise it's like it was carved on her bones

A loud crash startled everyone, a maid's hand slipped causing the tray with the flowered tea set the king gifted to iris-sama dropped to the ground and shattered in peicess, the maid dropped to her knees and tears formed at her eyes thinking that the duchess will kill her for breaking the tea set the king gifted to Iris-sama

But Iris just stared at her coldly and dully waved her hands and said "get up, butler han please clean that up" the maid was in daze of what her young miss said, it simply means that it's alright, she won't get punished and the young miss easily let her off the hook, from the bottom of her heart, she thanked her young miss for her mercy and kindness

3 years after kaito-sama died
2 years after former duchess Everhart died

And that simple pain of losing the people you love and cherish the most instantly changed her...

★★★

11. Invitation

"Iris-sama, the king had sent a messenger for you" while reading the daily update from my officials for my big project on building a town under my name, butler han knocked on the door and bowed his head, the king? I wonder what's the message about..

"Alright, butler han please Lead the guest to our Hall" I gestured the maid to make the for me and the king's messenger

"Yes my lady" after Arranging myself to look presentable I walked toward the guest hall

"Duchess Everhart is here!"

The man with formal clothing with his hair gelled back neatly, he stood up holding a scroll with the king's gold emblem at the side of it, he bowed his head

"Greetings lady Everhart I apologized for coming without being announced" I bowed my head to replay

"No worries at all, My lordy, it's an honour having you in my humble abode" he nodded and then opened the scroll

"Duchess iris natasha Everhart, you are here by invited to the castle as the king's special guest for the Queen's birthday that is being held in the next 2 days, he hope you good health and wish for your safety" every year the king always sends an invite to me during special occasion, but I turned it all down but I can't avoid this forever, I sighed and accepted the scroll

"Very well, I have to trouble you to thank his majesty for me"

----

After seeing him off butler han worriedly asked

"Are you really going iris-sama?" I turned to him and handed him the scroll for safe keeping

"Yes, I can't just avoid it forever"

"Then I will prepare a dress for you" I nodded and returned to my study room

★★★

12. The azalea family

No one's POV

"Have you heard, the new duchess Everhart is attending this year"

"I heard rumours that the duchess's face became ghostly because of depression since her mother and brother died"

"That's probably the reason why no one saw her"

"Announcing, Duke Edmond azalea and his wife lady Seirra inoki and their daughter lady Charlotte Evelyn azalea" three beautiful groups of people entered the hall,
the Duke of azalea that contribute a lot but not that lot and not that small either,
in the past other envy him for marrying someone like former duchess Everhart--the number one beauty of the kingdom
but after the divorcement they distance themselves from him for letting a precious diamond like Rose ayame Everhart slip from his hand and marry a lowly maid like Seirra inoki,
even though Duke azalea married her no other noble wife of other official ever treated her as their equal since she was just a maid that climbed to the Duke's bed,
And lady Charlotte Evelyn azalea dark purple hair and indigo eyes that she inherited from her father, a rare beauty indeed, she may look shy, tender and cheerful but her thoughts and schemes are venomous as the most deadliest snake ever, other boys are smitten by her cuteness and friendly aura that made them feel fine..

Years ago, news about the Duke shamelessly barging his way to the Everhart residence and try to claim his right to the prodigy twin that have been renowned as the most talented and beautifuliest children's in the kingdom at the early age if 3, but everyone clearly remember the day when duchess Everhart announced her pregnancy but the Duke just gave a blind eye and announced to the world that he had no connection or ties to the children, and now after that he shamelessly claim his self as the twin prodigy's father after all that, the nerve!

"This will be the perfect chance to choose a perfect wife candidate for the crown prince, don't you think so dear?" The queen said to the king--her husband while not removing her eye on the door, waiting for someone

"Yes, I think so too" the agreed

"Looks like we have the same girl in mind" the queen smirked at the king

"Yes, we have"

★★★

13. Cold yet enchanting

Like Swarming flies---boys surronded the daughter of Duke Azalea, Charlotte Evelyn azalea

Charlotte just pretended to be shy and kind even though she isn't, the hall fell quite when the carriage of The Everhart residence arrived at the gate

"Duchess Everhart have arrived!" Everyone glued their eyes at the door wanting to see if the new duchess Is really as hideous as the rumours said her to be..

"I can't believe she really showed up, I thought she won't dare step out of her house after I spread those rumours" --- Charlotte thought as her hand grip tightly at her dress

Silky Pink hair that have curves at the end, Cold indigo eyes that hold nothing but void
Snow white skin
Beautiful body curves that completed her goddess look,

Everyone was in daze in the sight of the most beautiful creature they have ever saw, even the Duke Azalea's daughter could not be compared to her

Yet the goddess appearance, her face is expressionless, no smile could be seen on her beautiful face, only coldness, and she had the aura full of authority and coldness---yet there is something in her that made her enchanting

Cold yet enchanting

No sound could be heard, only the heels of the goddess walking to the king, she walked with Elegance, how could she be so elegant, as if she was born with it---everyone thought

Her goddess image was completed with her soft, gentle, and otherworldly voice--that she used to speak with the king, she bowed--everyone followed her every movement

"Greeting to your majesties, I am duchess iris natasha Everhart, here to thank you for inviting me today, hope that her majesty will accept this lowly once gift, may the heaven bless you with all it's might, my queen" a butler came over with a small box in his hand and passed it to the Queen's maid, the queen opened the door, a ring with the most rarest and beautifuliest gem on top of the ring, the queen personally slipped it in her finger and happily said

"Thank you for your gift, lady Everhart, please enjoy the banquet"

With that everyone was pulled back from their thought...

The music continued, Iris just walked to her assigned table, since she Is the only Everhart family member, she's the only one sitting on the Everhart family table

"May we offer something to you my lady?" The maid Said with her face full of red color and shyly asked iris

"A cup of tea will just be fine, thanks you" duchess Everhart Politely said

Everyone resumed to what they were doing but time to time they would steal a glance at iris

Little by little They began to go closer to her

"Nice to finally meet you duchess Everhart"

"You look lovely lady Everhart"

"As expected of the kingdom's most talented lady and youngest duchess of the kingdom"

In the last minute, Charlotte was the one who's being surrounded by people but now They all pointed their attention to the new duchess lady Everhart as if she(Charlotte) doesn't exist anymore, that enraged her to the bone as she look at her half sister full of hatred and jealousy

★★★

14. Cain Jameson

Iris's POV

They finally let me go! Talking to those nobles are not an easy job!

Oh no, please no (sarcasm)

Is this the scene where the heroine got jealous of the villainess and that whole crying scene? Where she will accidentally slip and splash her juice at the villainess and then pretended to cry and get everyone to see the villainess as a bad person?

What a waste of time, well why don't turn the table around *smirk

I grabbed a glass of juice and walked toward the heroine which is my dear half sister Charlotte Evelyn azalea, I can tell what she was about to do

I purposely bumped her and made the juice in my hand spill on my dress and I intentionally fell to the ground, a loud gasp of the crowd could be heard

"Oh my god, I am so sorry lady Everhart, I wasn't looking where I was going" good that's it, let those tears fall

As expected, Duke Azalea came to his daughter's aid, he got a handkerchief and wipe Charlotte's tears away, with that the daughter and father pair dug their own grave

Giving the handkerchief and ordering the servant to get a new dress to Charlotte instead of the one who truly needed it (me) the crowd looked at the two in disgust

"Allow me to help you up, my lady" Someone wearing a dark green coat with a white polo offered his hand to me, I accepted it and he then supported me to stand up

"My lady are you alright?" Kana-nee and my other maids rushed to help

"Yes, I'm fine it's only an accident" I turned to one of the palace maids and Politely requested a room to change into,

"Certainly, my lady, this way please" I didn't mind the other's sympathetic looks at me or their disgusted look at the Duke and his daughter--instead I elegantly walked and followed the maid..

--------

No one's POV

Everyone followed the elegant duchess as she follow the maid to the room she asked for

"Duke Azalea.." The man wearing a dark green coat, black pants, white polo under his coat, and black ash hair with Diamond blue eyes---the same man who offered the duchess a hand spoke while eyeing the Duke with his annoying daughter that Is still crying

"I believe you owe us all an explanation" only an idiot won't understand the meaning behind those words the young man spoke of

"What do you, young Duke jameson?" Duke azalea asked---He didn't realized that everyone is looking at him with disgust

"Duke Azalea all of us saw what Happened, lady Everhart was the one who truly needed help and yet you choose to help your daughter..." Everyone then agreed with the young Duke's word

"Of course, she is my daughter" Duke azalea said with pride that only made everyone furious

"Duke Azalea your are one of the most talented official in the court and yet you can't difference the right and the wrong?" The young Duke spoke in a disappointed voice

"And lady Azalea, isn't the one who supposed to be crying Is the duchess---you spilled juice into her dress and yet she did not blame you instead she accepted it----but you on the other hand, acted as if you were wronged" all the Girls, boys who used to admired Charlotte is full of disappointment

"What do you mean, we all saw that she spilled the juice into her own dress--my daughter has nothing to do with it!" shameless!! They all thought

"Then are you saying that I'm lying?" Duke Azalea instantly shutted his mouth

Cain Jameson--like iris, he is also one of the most talented and obviously-- beautiful person in the kingdom

When Cain was 11, he show his determination and strength to his father by solving some problems for him like---lack of food, poverty in the kingdom, getting evidence and etc.

With that the king granted him the title of young Duke jameson at the age of 12---but unlike iris who was forced to inherit the duchess title due to the sudden death of her mother, Cain still have his family

The Jameson residence couldn't be more happier for having two Duke jameson in the family

The king himself hold great value to Someone like Cain Jameson and iris natasha Everhart, the two contributed a lot to the kingdom---someone like Duke azalea who only inherited the title from his father--the former Duke azalea, Edmond azalea didn't contributed that much to the kingdom not like the two prodigy

Anyone who dares offend the two young official will no doubt receive the king's wrath

"That's enough" An enchanting voice of a young man spoke at the same Time the grand door opened

Everyone bowed their heads in the sight of the kingdom's crown prince

The prince then walked to the direction toward the young Duke--the prince childhood best friend

"Your highness" Duke Azalea immediately ordered the maids to take her daughter to help her freshen up