Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Trisya walked into her residence in such a hurry that even Layla was overwhelmed by her pursuit. That girl looked so messed up. And now, there was only one place she wanted to visit as soon as possible - Duke's study.

"Lady, please calm yourself down first, Lady! Please don't be like this!" Layla said while half-running after Trisya.

"How can I calm down, Layla? How can I calm down after what I heard earlier? I have to hear Dad's explanation right now," Trisya replied.

She had almost arrived in front of her father's room. However, two of Duke Gerald's bodyguards immediately blocked her.

"What's wrong? My father is inside, right? Please tell him I'm coming! I want to see my father right now!" pleaded Trisya.

"Lady, shouldn't you rest first? Aren't you tired after traveling so far? We can meet the Duke after you've rested and cleaned yourself up, Lady," Layla said.

"I can't. I have to see my father right now!" said Trisya.

"I'm sorry, Lady. But Duke Gerald has a guest now," said one of the Duke's bodyguards.

"Guests? Again? Who is it this time? Is it such an important guest that I can't see my father?"

"I apologize, Lady. But the guest is Viscount Evan. And the Duke has also ordered not to allow anyone to enter."

Trisya let out a long breath. She felt unfamiliar with the name she had just heard. perhaps, the man was not an important character in the novel "Lady Rania and The Crown Prince" so Trisya did not remember him.

"Just tell my father that I'm waiting for him to discuss something very important and urgent with him!" Trisya pleaded.

"But, Lady-"

"Tell my father or I'll break in right now!" threatened Trisya.

The two guards looked at each other, then nodded. "F- fine, Lady. I will inform the Duke of your arrival."

After that, one of them went inside and returned some time later.

"How was it? What did my father say?" asked Trisya.

"The Lord Duke asks that you wait. You can see the Duke again and talk as much as you want after dinner," he said.

"What?" annoyed Trisya.

"Lady, you should return to your room first! I've instructed the other maids to prepare warm water for you take a bath," Layla said, but Trisya refused to heed.

"I will wait for my father until the Viscount leaves, and I must discuss this matter with my father as soon as possible," Trisya broke off. After that, she turned to the nearest chair and sat there.

"Does Lady need anything? Is she thirsty?" asked Layla.

"No, Layla. I just need an explanation from my father right now," Trisya replied with a flat look in her eyes that made Layla even more worried.

"You haven't had a drink since noon. The last time she drank was during lunch at the palace with His Highness the Crown Prince and Lord Darian," Layla said. However, Trisya no longer replied.

After waiting for almost half an hour, the door to the Duke's office finally opened, making Trisya immediately stand up and walk quickly to it. Seeing an unfamiliar guest come out, Trisya bowed in a brief salute until her eyes caught sight of her father.

"Trisya, so you're still waiting here? I thought the bodyguards told you that we should talk after dinner," Duke said with a worried look, seeing the tired face of his daughter who had just returned.

"No, Dad. I wanted to discuss this with you right away. So I decided to wait here," Trisya replied. she didn't care about the young man beside her father.

"Good afternoon, Lady. Just like the news, you have such a beautiful face," the young man praised.

"Thank you for the compliment. But- wow!" Trisya almost screamed hysterically when she saw the face of the man who had just complimented her. He was so... handsome.

Prince Terry, Prince Avery, Darian and Aston were all handsome. However, somehow when looking at the face of the man beside her father, Trisya felt like it had its own vibe and charm that was too good to miss.

"Is there something wrong with my face, Lady? Why are you-"

"No! There is nothing wrong at all. In fact, everything looks perfect and- oh my, forgive me, Sir. I didn't mean to be rude," Trisya said. Cursing her carelessness, Trisya immediately beat herself on the head with her face already red with shame.

'Remember, Trisya! You are now the daughter of a high-class nobleman who must maintain your dignity! You are no longer Milla, an ordinary clerk in a small office!' Trisya screamed inwardly.

Trisya continued to beat her head, until a hand caught her wrist, and made Trisya suddenly see who it was. Trisya was nervous again when she saw who the culprit was. And slowly, she pulled her hand away to save her heart that increasingly felt not okay.

"Please don't hurt yourself!" he said softly.

"O- oh that's... sorry," Trisya whispered.

For a moment, Trisya felt that she had started to lose focus, and this was not a good thing for her. But that beautiful face was really driving her crazy. How could there be a being who really fit Trisya's criteria when she was Milla? And what's more, now he seemed so real - standing right in front of her.

"So, my daughter, what do you want to tell Daddy?" asked Duke Gerald, bringing Trisya's mind back to her original intention of coming here.

"It's about something I just heard, Dad." Trisya looked at the handsome man for a moment before continuing her sentence. "But, we should only talk about this matter together."

"Very well. After all, Viscount Evan also said goodbye a moment ago. Thank you for your visit, Sir. Hopefully next time we can continue our conversation today if circumstances permit," said the Duke.

The handsome Viscount nodded. "Perhaps after this I will come here more often to discuss it with you, Duke. I will see you again soon if I receive any important information."

Trisya had no idea what they were discussing. However, after bowing in salute, the handsome Viscount finally left her presence.

Evan

It seemed that from today on, Trisya would continue to remember that name, even though in the novel she read, he never appeared and Trisya did not know what his role would be in the future.

'I hope you're just an extra who doesn't have an important role in the world of this novel. Because it would be a shame if a man with your looks was also kept away from me. It's enough that the two princes are the ones I have to avoid. Not you,' Trisya thought, lamenting Viscount Evan's departure.

"Trisya, come on in!" said Duke Gerald, preceding Trisya into his study.

"Layla, you can come back first if you want," Trisya said.

"No, Lady. I will still wait for you here," Layla replied.

Trisya nodded. Then, she quickly followed her father into his room, and let the guard close the door again.

The Duke invited Trisya to sit opposite him, with a wooden table as a barrier between them.

"So, what would you like to discuss with me, my princess?" the Duke asked gently.

"Wait a minute! Dad, why didn't you introduce me to your guest earlier, when we had already met and even greeted each other?" Trisya was confused. Trisya just realized that it felt so strange because Duke seemed not to want Trisya to know the man. In fact, Trisya was quite interested in the man in their first meeting today.

"Oh, he's Viscount Evan, if you want to know. He's just here to report on some matters of state security, so I thought maybe you didn't need to know each other, since you won't be related," Duke replied.Trisya understood. However, she still regretted it.

"He's so great. She still looks so young. Maybe he's not that far from you. Yet he's already a Viscount?"

"Yep. That's the title His Majesty gave him directly. He is His Majesty's nephew - the only son of His Majesty's youngest sister," explained the Duke.

Trisya nodded her head. As Trisya recalled, the King's youngest sister was a princess. That meant that her descendants did not always have a title, unless the King wanted them to. Seeing that the young Viscount had the title even though he was the son of a princess, it seemed that he was not someone to be underestimated.

"He must be so great that His Majesty directly gave him the title," Trisya muttered subconsciously.

Duke cleared his throat, making Trisya blink and refocus on her father.

"So, what made you rush to see me, hm? I heard you just returned from the palace at the Prince's invitation, and you were supposed to spend the whole day with them. Oh look, it looks like you came straight here as soon as you arrived, and haven't even cleaned yourself up yet even though it's already dinnertime!" the Duke exclaimed.

"Dad," called Trisya. Now, the look on the face of the girl who was about to celebrate her debut turned serious. It was as if she had just been pulled back from the imaginary world of her admiration for Viscount Evan.

"Yes?"

"His Royal Highness Prince Terry mentioned earlier that I was his fiancée. What did he mean by that, Daddy?" asked Trisya, straight to the point. She could not delay any longer. She needed to hear from the Duke, as her father and guardian.

The Duke let out a long sigh. His wrinkled face looked so tired - too tired to give an explanation to the questions asked by his beloved daughter. But how else could he dodge it, when his daughter had even heard it directly from Prince Terry's mouth?

"I don't know why the Prince would say that to you at such an inopportune time. But-"

"So, it was just a misunderstanding, right, Daddy? I knew it. The prince must have been just talking and wanted to upset me," said Trisya. Instantly, her mood turned good.

"It's not like that, my daughter," said the Duke.

"What then? Daddy, it's actually fine if you can't get His Highness for me. I don't really want it anymore. If there's anything I've said in the past that says I want it badly and it's a burden to you, then forget it! I'm fine with my current life. Besides, is he the only handsome man in this country? No, he's not. I was just so blind that in my eyes he was the only man who looked perfect. But now, I've gotten to know the outside world. And I'll be fine without him," Trisya said with a smile on her lips.

'You must know that I no longer want him. That way, maybe you'll stop trying to bring me closer to Prince, and I can avoid that damn fate,' Trisya thought.

"Actually, I have no intention of offering you to the royal family either. I believe that my very smart daughter can find her own happiness someday. Moreover, you have the full support of your father, mother and brother," said the Duke. Trisya nodded in affirmation.

"Yes. For me, you guys are more than enough."

"But, the truth is that they want you. And as a noble who is on their side and has served them for decades, you cannot refuse, my daughter. After all, wouldn't it be a great boon if the royal family wanted to appoint you directly as the Crown Princess in the future?"

Trisya was silent for an instant. Was there still another meaning to her father's previous words? Was it a sign that Trisya was still unable to feel at ease now?

"Then, what did you mean? About the engagement... that can't be right, Daddy?"

Duke chuckled before answering. "I actually saved this information for your birthday present. To be honest, you guys have been engaged for a long time. And your engagement was supposed to be announced to coincide with your debut party in a few months. But, it looks like I'm ahead of the Prince. That's fine. That means I'll have to find another present for your birthday."

Trisya froze in place, trying to digest the Duke's explanation as best she could. However, no matter how hard she thought, it seemed that the Duke's explanation had indeed clearly confirmed the Prince's words.

So, did that mean Trisya was already trapped in a relationship with Prince Terry? Does that mean it's too late for Trisya to escape the Antagonist's destiny?