Chapter 5 Coronation ball

The day before the coronation ball...

Pablo was astonished and definitely could not believe that the duke was awake all night just so he could torture those men. He always looked at the duke with the ought most respect and respected his ways to a great deal. Of course, Pablo had no objection to the fact that he tortured the men to that point, but it was still scary that people could no longer be called people anymore, they were like rodents boiled in water, if Pablo were to be asked. Pablo was under the instruction to bathe them with cold chilled water, and by bath. Elijah meant to fetch a bucket of water and divide it amongst the men by just bailing it on their wounded bodies.

As Pablo did it, they begged for mercy but there was nothing that he could do, he just ignored them and did his job.

When he was done he locked the door and was off to the duke, like a good little attendant.

He had already gotten to the sitting room where the duke was. He was about to knock at the door when he heard the master Matthew, Elijah's former attendant very long ago, about 5 years ago to be precise, he was also Elijah's former caretaker when Elijah was still a child. They seemed to be talking about something since the master Matthew's voice seemed to be louder. Pablo put his ears on the door so that he could hear what was happening.

Matthew was not a resident of the barvoté manor but he would come once in a while, sometimes to visit and check in on (take care of) Elijah and his doings. He occasionally got worried about him.

"You have no plans to get married?!"

"Quiet down Matt ". Elijah said as he sat down horizontally with his legs stretched out on the long couch fiddling with an ornament from the center table. Matthew was twelve years older than Elijah and was tasked with the duty of taking care of him when he was just four years of age.

"I have just not found any interests in doing so... Who knows maybe I would just wait until I'm about fifty years of age then marry Bianca", Bianca was Matthew's newborn baby girl.

"Poor choice of a joke wasn't it "

"Very poor," Matthew said with an irritated look on his face.

"At least the room is silent " Elijah muttered under his breath using a cough to conceal it but still making it loud enough for Matthew to hear.

Elijah had always had respect for Matthew, although it wasn't like he initially did, it was but a gradual process but after a few moments of some emotional and heartfelt breakthrough Elijah had seen a fatherly figure in Matthew, and Elijah was like a son more than a brother to him. And as shocking as it might be Elijah feared and especially hated it when Matthew got mad.

"I would find suitable women and send the list to you," he said walking towards the door.

"Don't bother, you would not find anyone"

"Pablo! Do make sure that you are no longer leaning against the door" he said as he continued fiddling with the ornament.

"Yes your grace!" Pablo had stupidly answered from the other side of the door. Matthew was surprised and looked at Elijah like he had something to do with it.

"I did tell you to quiet down didn't I?," Elijah said with a smirk on his face. It got Matthew angrier as he stormed out. Pablo excused him like he was a dangerous person.

"Your reports my grace" Pablo said as he was coming towards the duke.

THE GARHEÉ MANOR...

There had been so much pressure everywhere about Emily's s marriage to George. It was irritating to Emily, she began to despise being wed to him even more.

George's coronation was the next day and it was going to be her first time in a very long time to visit the Malyah manor, and of course she had no interest in going.

She'd rather spend the rest of her life thinking about her dark knight than wed to him.

"Argggh!! George this and George that. I am really tired and it's not even the wedding for christ sake"

"Hahaha! Very true" Anna laughed. They were in Emily's chambers, and Anna lay on Emily's bed while she complained about her marriage.

"Just imagine you meeting your dark knight at the ball"

Emily had a shy grin on her face immediately.

"Come on we both know that it is impossible"

"Well I did say imaging"

"Oh be quiet," Emily said still smiling as she joined Anna on the bed.

"But do tell me how you fell in love again... It sounds so unreal and enchanting". Anna said looking at Emily.

"It was really enchanting honestly..."

On the night before the coronation...

The baron just came back from a long meeting. It was already so very late. He came to his wife's chamber to see his wife, lady Natalia sitting in front of her dressing mirror.

"Evening my wife". He said as he walked towards her kissing her on her forehead. "what are you doing still awake at this hour" he said playing with her hair.

"I just could not sleep".

"Well try to get some sleep, I'm tired," he said as he was headed out of her chamber.

"Darling" Natalia called out as she turned around to look at him.

"Yes, my love?"

"I am still concerned about Natasha"

"What for? " he said as he went to sit on her bed.

"She isn't much younger than Emily and does not have a betrothed or even a suitor and you have given her fiance to Emily, I wouldn't want her getting married late".

"Do not worry, I already have some compatible suitors. I just need to be finished with this... " Natalia cut him off with a kiss.

"I am sorry my love but my chambers have been quite lonely for a very very long time".

"Then let me be of service to you and keep you company," the baron said as he began taking off his clothes.

...

They had just finished making love and the baron got up so that he could get dressed.

"Please stay," Natalia said as she got up.

The baron couldn't resist his lovely wife and laid down beside her again. As he came to lie next to her Natalia laid back on her bed.

"So what would you have me do, if I may ask my lovely wife"

"If you could please cancel the engagement between George and Emi..."

"No!" The baron immediately replied.

"But why?!" Natalia got up again, she sounded angry.

"The younger one cannot get married before the older"

"But surely there are other suitors who are ready to take Emily's hand at any time"

"The same goes for Natasha "

"Why are you so against it"

"I have no choice Emily is but a fragile girl and..."

"And Natasha is not!? Do not look at her size Carmelious she is Emily's younger sister and rumors have begun spreading around Natasha " Natalia said as she began to burst into tears. The baron had been shocked that she called him by his name but he was shocked to see her cry too.

"It's alright please calm down... I will see what I can do about it" he said pulling her in for a hug.

As he hugged her Natalia had seemed to put on a different face behind his back.

Who knows what this mother and her daughter have been plotting all this while.

When it seemed that Natalia had calmed down the baron released his grip on her and tucked her to bed.

"Alright go to bed now, I have some more paperwork to handle before I go to bed"

"Okay, good night my love".

The coronation day...

"Mother, please I would rather not be in the same carriage as Emily," Natasha said. Emily had just rolled her eyes as Natasha said that.

"Why not? Is she not your sister"

"Fatherrrr!!!" Natasha whined.

"Alright, no need to whine anymore, I would share a carriage with Emily instead, it has been a while since we've had a talk" Madame Natalia had already looked at him with so many questions in her one look as if asked him why.

"Thank you father"

"No problem dear"

"You spoil this girl too much," Natalia said as she walked towards one of the carriages.

"I am not actually, but it is nice to see that they are close enough to fight and still have little arguments". He said as he laughed, while madame Natalia rolled her eyes and entered one of the carriages.

"Come, my dear, let us be on our way. We have a festive evening today". He said taking Emily's hand and was headed to the carriage.

The baron seemed to have high expectations for this night, hopefully it would go well for his family.