"Mother, how is father doing?" Ariana asked her mother who had was suddenly startled as she stepped out of the duke and her shared chamber, closing the door quietly behind as if Alice was afraid, she would wake the whole mansion if she had closed it with a loud shut.

The light rays of the moonlight shone down from the sky and through the window, creating long shadows across the large corridor of the mansion.

Ariana worriedly stared at her mother whose emerald eyes had become dull from over stressing and worry and by the light of the moon, the young lady could make out how pale her the duchess' face had gotten.

"Dear what are you doing out of your room so late at night? You should be in bed and getting lots of rest"

"I couldn't sleep" Ariana mumbled but it was clear enough for her mother to hear.

The duchess smiled at her adorable young daughter.

"I had finally managed to calm your father down for a while" Alice answered her daughter previous question from before, she looked nervous and startled and it brought a weary feeling down Ariana's stomach. "Bringing him his usual black tea to ease his mind has finally began working again" Alice said, her eyes darting to the door as she placed a hand on the wooden carvings.

"Mother..." Ariana softly spoke, her resembling green eyes gazed down at her bare feet that revealed a little from under her long silky nightgown. The young lady fisted the material of her night dress and bit back a cry "Do you think father has forgotten about us" she said with a trembling voice.

Alice face softened and she pulled her only daughter into her embrace. "Your father loves us dearly but sometimes work can get a huge hold on him, and he needs to stay focused" her mother cooed, stroking down her daughters lovely brown hair that smelled of sweet candy.

Releasing her hold, Alice held her daughter's hand and with a warm smile the duchess said, "Let's get you to bed, shall we?"

Ariana didn't refuse and followed her mother, but a certain question could not be kept inside, and she wondered if there was something wrong with her mother. "Mother why are you dressed up as if your going out?"

Alice stiffened by a little and her hand grabbed firmly onto Ariana soft hands. Her eyes widened and her lips twisted to form a guilt look that crossed her face "I'm going to meet up with a few friends of mine to help me with your father's problem. Just to get some things off his grace's shoulders" Alice had forced a smile that fooled her only daughter into believing her.

Ariana nodded her head foolishly and continued towards her own room that was located not so far from her mothers and fathers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The crescent of the moon shone like a silvery claw in the night sky, hanging above the blankets of twinkling diamonds that covered the terrestrial dark sky.

Not a single creature stirred in dead of the night, not a sound was heard except for the gentle sound of the dancing leaves against the cool breeze.

As the crystal light shone down the lands, bringing in a beautiful glow to the blooming night flowers that rowed the Glacies estate a single figure dashed through the dark parts of the mansion as they made their way to a secret back entrance where a carriage awaited for them.

The carriage itself was sent by the person yet it's unsightly sight made the person cringe. It's dark henges came down the carriage edges and the horses that was chosen to drag the dark carriage that seemed like a coffin for the dead were dark pitch-black horses.

With a displeasing face the cloaked figure walked towards the awaited coachman who had been waiting patiently for them.

Quickly getting in when the coachman had respectfully opened the carriage door and placed down the three-step stool for them to get up, the mysterious person in cloak had scanned the forest grounds as their piercing eyes darted around for any sign of human life but when non could be spotted, they stepped inside and sat on the cushioned seats then waited for the coachman to whip the horses to a move.

When the horses huffed the carriage began to move, rocking slightly as the wheels circled the bumpy road.

The cloaked figure swiped the curtains to a close so no one would see who was residing in the carriage in the middle of the night where all the creatures and people were fast asleep. When not even a speck of moonlight could make its way through the closed curtains, the cloaked person sighed in relief and brought down their hood, letting their long wavy brown hair down to their shoulders.

Her heart was thumping loudly into her ears, she was terrified that she may get caught by one of those pesky maids that were normally on and about or maybe the guards who searched the perimeter at night. It was a nerve breaking move she had pulled but Alice had did it, sneaking out from the mansion again without getting seen.

When it was all over, Alice had leaned against the cushioned backrest of the carriage and subconsciously waved around her silky brown hair, fixing it to make it look appealing to the eyes.

As the carriage rocked side to side and the horses neighed, Alice waited nervously for their sudden meeting, she had bitten all her perfect almond nails into chipped squares and when Alice realised what she did to ruin her perfect nail, she cussed to herself. It was such a bad habit she had thought she learnt to control when she became duchy of Isvand.

It would make her seem so un-lady like and she shivered at the thought of the other nobles seeing her disgusting habit of biting her nails to disfiguring when getting nervous.

The duchy scrunched her hands to a fist to prevent herself from biting down her nails any lower and bit her lip to a bleed.

Alice didn't know how long she had waited for the arrival but when the carriage rocking had came to a stop, she quickly straightened and her attention suddenly shifting away from the nervous thoughts she had been gathering during the whole carriage trip and to the business in hand.

Putting her hood over her head, she waited.

Alice heard as the coachman scrabble of his perch, rocking the carriage as he and landed with a thump of his heels against the ground.

A moment later the door opened, and the coachman had folded down the three-step stool for the lady. The coachman lifted a hand to help the lady down and she had accepted his slight gesture of courtesy, her gaze sweeping the dark forest that sent a shiver up her spine.

Of course, it was her to blame to suddenly send a magic letter to the person, demanding a meeting face to face in the middle of the night but she had expected for closed village or cottage that they could have their meeting not this creepy forest.

She looked back at the carriage and nodded her head in which the coachman responded back with the same nod.

The wind howled and Alice shivered slightly under her chosen outfit that consisted of a dark dress to hide her in the shadows, a cloak to wrap herself with ankle-skimming wool pelisse.

Movement had drew her eyes.

A dark figure emerged through the dark outlines of the trees and stayed where he was, not moving any closer to the duchy.

They stood face to face, staring into the dark until the mysterious cloaked figure had brought their hand from out of the cloak and rose to their eye level. Palms wide open when a blast of purple light illuminated from their hand. It was a purple flame that brought in a little light.

But his face was still not visible, and the only thing Alice could make out was his uncurved lips.

"It has been a while -" the voice was toned and sickening, "Alice" he finished his sentence with sinister grin that curled from his lips as the purple light shone up at it.

Alice scowled bitterly, fisting her hands beside her and her chipped nails dug deep. "Lady Alice. It's Lady Alice to you" she corrected with a sneer.

The man only smiled and chuckled mockingly "My apologies, lady Alice" he said deeply.

"But It seems that she, Lady Alice have lived far to comfortably in that luxurious household that she have forgotten who had brought her there in the first place"

Alice stiffen, and the feeling of the air clogging her very air way made it audible for the heartbeat in her ears.

The man cackled softly, already amused by the reaction of the duchy's face that formed at the mention of her bad deeds she had committed to get the title of Duchess from being a low born prostitute.

"Already feeling guilty for your crimes?" The man questioned with an amusing smirk that continues to stay glued on his face as if it was his favourite expression and only expression he could pull.

"Enough." She said so suddenly. "I have already done my part of the agreement; I don't need anyone reminding of my doings. Especially coming from you" she hissed.

"Gotten cocky, have we?" He titled his head, that same devilish grin hadn't left him "Is this what happens to people when power wraps itself in their hands?"

Alice clenched her teeth shut, glaring eyes that suddenly shook when a demonic feeling past her. She took a step back, hearing a twig snap beneath.

"Ease yourself, Lady Alice. I have not come to take anything away; it is you who had summoned me so suddenly in the night not I"

Alice flustered from anger, biting her lip so hard that it may have started to bleed.

"What is it that you need of us?" he questioned.

"It is Marcus" she started.

"Oh, is it now?"

Alice was already fed up with his mocking tone that the man spoke, but she couldn't lash out to him or else what she fears the most would be undone. So, the Duchy held back and continued on her reasoning.

"Marcus has been sleeping restlessly these nights that Diana had ran away" she spoke, her voice became shaken, and she held back a tearful gaze. Grasping her trembling hands as the remaining colour of her face drained completely leaving nothing but pale face like a blank piece of paper.

The man watching in amusement at Alice's shaken gaze and the way she held herself so terrifyingly brought a shimmer of delight, how entertaining it was for him to see people so scared.

He already knew the reason to why Alice had summoned him so suddenly after 10 years without any explanation. It was so easy to read her expression to know what was going through her mind.

"He has been calling his dead wife's name in his sleep, hasn't he?" he said watching the bewildered eyes that glanced at him, her pupils diluting instantly as she stared with terror in her emerald eyes.

Her mouth trembled to speak.

He began to laugh, chuckling like a maniac as Alice watched in a terrified shock. Confused on how this was all funny.

"Lady Alice, do you not remember what I had told you when I had laid upon the curse on the Glacies estate"

Alice choked back her words and stared at the smiling maniac. Her heart was so loud in her ears, and she swore she could hear something screaming behind. A screaming of death. Alice stiffened like a statue, unable to move as he spoke once again.

"Then let me refresh your mind" he said, gesturing his free hand. "No matter how many curses you lay upon the duke, how many love potions you feed him. His heart will always belong to Mariana."

"N-no, his heart belongs to me" she mumbled, refusing to believe it. "He loves me" she to had became insane as her eyes teared up. An open smile forming on her lips as she repeated those same words.

The man's smile faded, and it turned into an annoyed frown. How foolish is this woman going to get? He had thought as he watched her become lovesick over a guy that never had loved her in the beginning. He only did what his master ordered him to do but it bothered to him why they needed such woman to get into the kingdom when there was so many other ways to do so and to get their hands on the one thing that has been sent their master to the dark abyss.

The key to their escape and domination of the world.

"Marcus has always loved Mariana that's why the curse was not complete. The Goddess of love is strong, she lays protection to the people who hold true love towards one another. No darkness can fall upon it" he explained. "That is why it was difficult to complete the curse when their love is strong even after you poisoned Mariana. His physically state may be trapped but his inner soul is desperately trying to escape"

"That is why Diana has always been in the estate instead of being banished. He may not know why he has his daughter that you cursed him to hate forever living in his home, but the soul mind has been intact and prevented his body from chasing away the only thing that remains of Mariana. It's a belief that laid upon him that if he had chased Diana away, she would bring trouble to him and his family and that there would be war between the two kingdoms of Aureum and Isvand yet that was never the case"

The world had crumbled on her, burying the duchy in a state of frenzy, the only thing she could hear now is her loud ragged breathing. She felt dizzy and her heart sank.

"Did you believe that killing Mariana would complete the curse. Your truly mistake, Lady Alice." He hissed; the flaming purple glowed vibrantly at his annoyance. "Do not keep drowning yourself in these sweet foolish tears, Lady Alice. You will never receive the love he had given to Lady Mariana not even the most powerful potions can erase his love for the true duchess of Aureum" He had said with brute honesty.

"N-No, he had looked at me that day and I knew he loved me" she said with a believing smile.

"Do you remember the title they gave him that day, 17 years ago? The Tyrant Duke." The man said harshly, his tone getting darker. "They called him that after he ravage through the village like a mad man and stormed into the Aureum's palace, destroying everything until he found Mariana. She had gone missing for one day. One day was enough to get the duke in that state."

"Yet you had left without a word and hadn't returned for a couple of days, and what had he done? Nothing but sent a search party. His heart only belongs to Mariana, and nothing can change that not even master's curse"

The man clicked his tongue in complete annoyance, mumbling to himself "Women are so delusional when it comes to love"

However, the quiet night made it clear for Alice to hear and lashed out "Delusional? We women would go all lengths for the man we love" she corrected, a crooked smile crossing her lips as she stared like a hungry pray at the man who only twitched with disgust.

"That's what makes you all weak and useless. Relying on men for everything" he hissed with disgust. "Listen closely, you foolish hag." The man sneered, pointing his bony finger "I have may cursed the rest of the Glacies estate to hate on Mariana and her daughter, but the duke would love Mariana until the creation of their love is killed in which you have failed to do so"

Alice came to a realisation, her emerald eyes that have been soaked with her own drooling make up gazed at the man, mouth wide open. "I will kill her" she mumbled, a sinister crossing her disordered face.

The cloaked figure hissed in annoyance again, fed up with this woman foolish beliefs. "You're such a fool, I cannot stand you" he pinched the bridge of his nose with his slender fingers.

Alice gazed him confusingly, eyes wide open.

"The only reason why you failed to kill Diana in the beginning because something ancient has grasped a hold of her fate. It had protected her from the very day she was born. An ancient power that has believed to be lost."

An ancient power that has been said to rival the Gods, a power so powerful that was handed down to the Great Kings decedent who had disappeared from Alphyria with the power and never to be seen again. Ye now she was the key they needed to release them, but the ancient power was to strong for them to come near her, so they had stayed back waiting for the right moment, yet it never came.

Alice stood still, her body trembled at the mention of power, and she could only stand in utter horror and confusion. Neither could she take in what she was hearing from this man she had never seen his face before. Not even once.

"W-what w-what are you saying?"

"I'm saying don't go trying to kill someone you can't lay your hands on. You will be succumbed by the power and death would be your only way out" he hissed venomously at her. His dark tone which warned her, sent a shiver down her spine, and made her tremble in fear.

Before Alice could muster to say anything else, the purple flame had dispersed, and the light vanished.

So did the man.

She was left all alone in the forest, listening to the howls of the wind as it blew past her like howling wolves.

Alice knees weakened and they couldn't hold her up. She plopped to the floor while tears streamed down her face. A bitter frown formed on her face, emerald eyes sending hatred glares at nothing while she clenched her fist tightly making.

'Mariana, I will fucking kill your daughter right on your grave'

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✨✨HAPPY 100 CHAPTER EVERYONE!!!🥳🥳🤩🤩✨✨

I wanted to write this scene in like forever but I wanted to write it when I reached chapter 100 so that everything we have known of Marcus was all a lie and that there is more then what is been read and I liked how everyone were fooled to believe he hated her. heheheh.

I needed it to because the story wouldn't have gotten anywhere if everyone knew that Marcus actually loves Diana and Mariana and despises Alice to the core.

I'm planning to write a whole other book of Mariana and Marcus' love story. Just like how an anime has an ova and book has a side story like right after this book ends and before Fashion Reset is released.

But I know I would literally cry and get depressed because her ending is not happy and the relationship between her and Marcus was full of misunderstanding but they loved each other as well as Marcus was never good at showing how much he cherished Mariana yet whenever he did something for her it always came like he was just doing it deliberately.

And I wanted to write how the whole estate would smack their foreheads when Marcus would do something to get her attention yet it comes out cold and harsh. Oh god their reaction is all in my head. I could just imagine how everyone would be biting their handkerchiefs trying so hard to help Marcus win Mariana over but fail miserably because Marcus is just to stupid.

He was like one of those cold and aloof dukes whose way of showing of love was acts of service but it never ended the way they wanted.

either way I hope you loved this chapter and stay tuned for the next one.

Bye bye