Ashleah blinked her eyes for almost the 100th time as soon as her feet left the Imperial Carriage and she was now right in front of Nash's mansion. Yes, she was at the Deoncan's state.
"Her Imperial Highness, Princess of Genry. Greetings!" She finally stepped in inside the marvelous mansion of the known Duke, a red carpet with big and beautifully made chandeliers on the high and large painted ceilings with angels and clouds.
Plain white wall, with a massive white marble staircase, stair railings were gold. She was amazed really, even though Nash was very busy with different things and being a Duke is indeed stressful; He still had the time to keep his Mansion- or should she say Palace in a very good condition.
"Your highness, the Duke himself took care of your chambers. He also gave you two personal maids who will be in your service while staying inside the Deoncan's Mansion." Theo, Nash's butler started to explain where this and that was. But, Ashleah's mind was in somewhere else to be honest.
"Where is he?" Those words left her pinkish and lavish lips, but as soon as Ashleah realized what she said, her eyes widened. Quickly glancing at Theo, the butler had this meaningful smile. The Princess was about to open her mouth and explain that it was all a misunderstanding but Theo was too fast to do so.
"Duke Deoncan is quite busy for sometime because there's a lot happening and the fact that the Emperor also gave him new orders everyone's busy for now." He smiled in a friendly way. "Oh, Your Highness, these are the two maids-"
The girls who she thought was maybe in her 18's widened their eyes and quickly greeted her in sync. "Her Imperial Highness, Princess of Genry. Greetings!" They looked down but Ashleah saw how their hands were trembling making her tilt her head.
"Please do not be scared." She said, the two ladies slowly looked up and she smiled warmly at them. "I am now in your care- your names please." Still looking at them with this comforting expression for she knew that everyone inside the Deoncan's Mansion was nervous since the Princess herself will be living with them.
The woman with a ponytailed beige hair, her majestic and gorgeous green eyes looked at Ashleah's brown eyes. "You can c-call me Ava, Your Highness." Ava smiled awkwardly at Ashleah making the Princess giggle with her right hand softly covering her mouth.
"Well then Ava, I do hope that we do get along. How about this beautiful lady right here?" She then looked at the woman who still had her head hang low. Slowly, the woman with Cinnamon hair and- Oh! The same green colored eyes as Ava looked at her.
"A-Addilyn at your service, Your Highness." She shyly blurts out. Ashleah on the other hand felt overwhelmed due to the cuteness that these two bring to her!
"My, if it's alright, I do wish to ask a question for the two of you." She asked in a very friendly and kind way for she does not wish to create such misunderstandings that will probably end with rumors that can ruin her image as the next heir.
"Sure!" Ava exclaimed with her eyes holding this some kind of excitement.
"I noticed that you and Addilyn has the same eye color. Are you perhaps blood related? My, if I my conclusion is wrong I am so-"
"No! Please do not be sorry, and her Highness is indeed right. Ava and I are sisters that was brought here by the Duke Deoncan himself. We are very thankful that he helped us and gave us food, shelter when we thought that it'll be the end, that this is the end." Addilyn said, Ashleah was speechless, but soon then a small smile appeared on her face.
"That's great, please do tour me around-" She glanced at Theo and nodded her head once. Good thing was that Theo quickly got what she was telling him. The butler smiled and quickly walked off to his Master's office where the Duke would probably be writing his life off!
While on his way to the Duke's office, his feet stopped at some certain point. Looking by his shoulders, he saw how Princess Izel was doing her best to make Ava and Addilyn that they should not be scared of her, making the butler a chuckle a little.
They were right, she will be a great Empress in the near future. With that, Theo continued walking with a bright smile plastered on his face.
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Ashleah with her tired knees sat down at the comfy soft chair that she thinks was personally picked by Nash. Her chambers was not that kind of a royalty, yet it feels like it was modern making her chuckle. 'He sure does know what I want.'
Jumping up and down on her bouncy yet soft queen size bed, she felt like she was a kid all over again, not until she heard a knock outside her door. Eyes widening with her brows raised due to shock, Ashleah quickly stood up properly and tried to fix her hair. "Y-You can come in!"
"Ash-" Nash stopped from talking when he saw Ashleah trying to fix her hair, his eyes then landed on her bed that was a mess. The Duke chuckled. "Jumped up and down on the bed like a kid on the bed?"
"Uhhhh, no." She blurts out without hesitation making Nash chuckle while pointing at the bed behind Ashleah. The Princess quickly looked back and saw how messy her bed was because of what she was doing earlier.
Her palm touched her forehead, Ashleah shaking her head soon then smiling at Nash awkwardly. "Shut up, Nash." She said before sitting down.
"You okay with your maids?" Nash said while walking closer to Ashleah, he was close yet he still kept distance since they have to be careful if anyone sees them.
Pulling the nearest chair he could find, Nash quickly sat back and exhaled a long sigh. Slowly closing his eyes, his breathing went up and down. He finally felt relaxed after those stressful days.
"You okay?" Opening his eyes, he was welcomed by Ashleah who was almost inches away from him. Making the Duke widen his eyes and clear his throat, for some reasons his heart beat went from normal to this chaotic one.
"Yes, I a-am okay. What are you doing literally inches away from me?" He asked, with that Ashleah slowly took a step back and chuckled.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I mean, I do think that you are very handsome when you feel relaxed or asleep." Nash felt like Ashleah did not know what words came out from her mouth.
"You think I am what now?" He teasingly said, Ashleah came back to reality and laughed. Nash had to admit it, he really missed her laughing like this, like the old times.
Ever since Ashleah found out that she has powers and she has the biggest responsibilities inside the Empire, it felt like there was this heavy burden on her shoulders that she does not want anyone to see it.
"You can always tell me when you are tired and you cannot help but cry or even throw a tantrum, you do know that Ashleah right?" He said when he saw Ashleah turning her back to him.
The Princess stopped, it felt like her breath got snatched away. The reason was because what Nash said. Not moving or stuttering a single word, she can hear that Nash was now standing up and he was slowly walking his way to her.
Nash was now right in front of her, he smiled and looked at her like he was asking for consent. Ashleah hugged him, as a single tear drop escaped her eyes.
"You can cry now, baby. I'm here for you. Do not worry, I will never let them hurt you nor those people who are close to your heart." He said, kissing her forehead while hugging Ashleah tightly.
"I-I really never knew I needed this so much."