Villains also get Second chance

Cassius pov

I smiled the whole way until I reached the duke's palace. It was the best night of my life. Only I knew how I controlled myself and let her go easily. If only I could have more time. I wanted to have one more time before she goes.

I just sighed at my luck. She was with me for a whole year yet nothing happened. And now that she is not here..

"Your highness, we are here" said the guard.

Instead of walking to the main entrance we were standing in front of the back garden. I stood in front of the wall with a mixed feeling. It had been years since I jumped the wall, and now I had to jump the wall to enter my own chamber!!

I looked at the wall and closed my eyes. Using the trees I climbed slowly and then jumped on the other side. Then I took the secret passage that would connect me from my chamber. I swear I had not done this much hard work even in my love marriage.

Ian was already standing there, his whole face was filled with sweat. He looked at my direction when he heard the voice and finally took a breath of relief. 

"My lord, you are finally here." he said, and i was sure he was never this happy looking at me.

"Why are you so worried?" i asked as i walked towards the table and took the glass of water and drank it,

"Your highness. There is a meeting with the officer of the palace regarding the expected famine. And marquees Wiltshire has sent a letter that he wanted to meet you if you have time today. And I did not know what to reply to him. Even maids have knocked the door for cleaning many times." he replied in a single breath.

"It is fine. Call all the other officers and other nobles in the meeting hall in half an hour. Open the doors for cleaning and reply to marquees that he can come anytime he wants. Is there anything else?" I asked with a calm mind and he nodded and passed me a letter which had a roaring lion embedded on it.

I just kept the letter without even opening it as I knew it was from Charles.

"Lady Isabella is also here, your highness" said Francis as he came in.

"Send her in then" He bowed and left.

Soon Isabella walked in. She looked just like her sister with that golden hair curled and that dimpled face, yet i never liked her. There was something eerie about her that always gave me an unnerving feeling. Even standing close to her makes me feel nauseous. There was a big smile on her face as if she had finally won the battle.

"Your highness, I have thought that we would never meet again after the incident ," she said, as she lowered her face as if she was still shocked by that incident. 

"Even I thought that you would be conscious enough to not come back. But look at you, you are standing here without even wasting one day! But still i am not surprised looking at your past record" i replied and the smile she was giving me turned stiff on her face.

"I am very persistent when it comes to what I want, your highness." she replied after a pause and i nodded.

"So what do you want this time, lady Isabella?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"Well, since her highness has left the palace, I was thinking of serving the palace for dutchess duties. If only you allow me to help, your highness" she blinked her eyes faking innocence and I wondered who she was even trying to fool when we both knew each other's reality very well.

"Of course, you can do that, Lady Isabella. Since you are the one who has been handling them since the start. i am sure you would handle the responsibility well" i replied bringing a smile back on her face. "But i did not want to tire you much. So Ian would help you in handling everything, since he is rather free. Francis is enough to handle my matters efficiently." 

She nodded with the same lovable smile that looked nothing but creepy in my eyes. "I am sure lord Ian would be of a great help" she replied looking at him this time.

"Then I will go and take over everything. It is the end of the month and budgets are needed to be prepared.'' She replied and I was sure she was looking for a way to manipulate the numbers.

"Oh, you do not have to worry about that. Marianne had already made them. She had even sent a detailed report of comparison between last month and this month. She had revised the due promotions and dismissal of the staff too." I replied with a proud face as she looked at me surprised.

"Then about the requirement of new staff.."

"Oh, that is also done. So as the revising of the allowance of lord Killian and duchess of the empire" i replied again. 

"Then.."

"You just need to look at the daily matter and if there is any emergency. But then again Ian would handle everything for you. So that you did not tire yourself out" did she think i would give her the post of Marianne once again that easily? Marianne would kill me if I let that happen. And I still want to repeat the events of last night. Who knows we have a little Marianne in our arms next year.

I chuckled as I realized what I was thinking. Even in the midst of all the crisis, all I could think about was a little cute daughter that had the same dark hair and green eyes. 

"I knew that you would be happy after seeing me again." she replied with a bright smile breaking my reverie and i did not even know how to respond to that. She didn't even have any limit of being delusional.