The next morning three knocks on the door dared to wake Anne up from her beautiful dream. She was teasing her Samoyed dog, Gandalf the White, with a big bone toy. They were so happy running on the grass of the nearby park, but someone dared to return her to the land of the unsleeping.

'This person will suffer the ire of the Evil Queen!'​​

"Who dares?!"

"Your Highness, it's morning and the Duke of Mills is here to request an audience with you."

"…"

'That damn Duke, can't he let me sleep for a minute? Goodness, I will show him my most powerful evil smile today.'

"Help me dress, Tia."

"Yes, Your Highness, also the breakfast is ready."

The little maid looked at the Queen for a few seconds, then bowed her head. She knew very well the strangeness of the Queen, all the servants knew it but no one dared to show any signs for fear of being fired or worse. They had to train themselves on maintaining a poker face or a scared face even though they wanted to laugh and smile in appreciation.

"Yes… what is for today?"

'Please, let it be fruit tart… come on, fruit tart, fruit tart!' Her eyes couldn't hide the eagerness as she didn't look anywhere else but the little maid in front. She looked like a cute puppy waiting for a treat.

"It is fruit tart, Your Highness." The little maid only looked once at the Queen and then bow her head holding a little smile.

"What a lousy breakfast… the chef should be reprimanded for his incompetence." 'Great! Fruit tart!' Her eyes sparkled for a second and a strange smile crept on her beautiful face, although she tried to suppress it.

"Don't let that damn Duke have any of my breakfast."

"Yes, Your Highness."

'All of it must be for me, hehe.'

When she was completely dressed in a beautiful golden dress and some bright jewelry to finish the magnificent attire, she made her way quickly to the table where her dear breakfast was waiting for her and, of course, the damn Duke.

"Your Highness."

The man bowed at her sight, but she didn't respond, she only spared him a little glance.

"…"

The man was a sight to see, his dark soft hair was something she wanted so much to touch and ċȧrėss as some kind of treasure, his eyes were like two green gems filled with mystery and uniqueness, and those dimples were even more beautiful than hers. 'Goodness, how dare he smile in front of me? Is he competing?'

"Duke of Mills, what brings you here?"

"Your Highness, the three farmers from yesterday escaped, it is said that someone helped them broke from the prison, even their families are nowhere."

"What incompetent guards! Who dares go against me?!"

"We don't know, Your Majesty, but the guards said it was a group of masked men and their tracks are covered very well. We should investigate the matter more."

"Punish the guards for their incompetence and make a complete research on these masked men, this is the highest priority. Also, tell the Minister of Justice to come here, if this is happening to one of his prisons, then the others are lacking in quality too. I should give him some reminders."

"What about the farmers?"

"For now this is a high priority, those low lives are not worth my thoughts."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

'Finally!' She couldn't stop eyeing the fruit tart from the beginning, but the damn Duke couldn't stop talking. She was even starting to drool.

"…"

"Is there something else?"

"Anne, aren't you going to invite me to eat?"

"How dare you?!"

'This man, how can he call my name in public like that?' He was her childhood friend and the one that was arranged to marry her but the coup d'état came before the engagement could take place. However, he came to her side and declared his alliance. It was a decisive move as his house was the most powerful one in the kingdom.

"Anne?"

His eyes were pleading and sending her into a spiral of bashfulness. Her cheeks were now bright red, but she covered it with a cough.

"Seat!"

He sat on the chair next to her and begin eating, she even gave him a piece of the fruit tart.

"Anne? This…"

"I don't like this, you eat."

He let out a little chuckle but ate the whole tart with adoring eyes. However, her eyes couldn't stop stealing glances at him. He ate very slowly and with such elegance that she was drowned to his fingers and lips for a few seconds.

When they finished eating the Duke waited for her to do what she usually did when she couldn't take it anymore. He knew her so well and so he waited.

"Everyone out!"

She ordered and the bunch of servants bowed their heads and went out closing the doors. If one were to see them clearly, some young ones were trying to conceal a smile and a blush.

"Don't move, Henry!"

The Duke was about to stand up and go to the door but stopped lowering slightly his head to hide the slight grin on his face.

"Sit!"

She ordered, and she moved to sit on his ŀȧp. She traced his face with her fingers.

"You are mine, Henry, never forget it."

"I… I…"

"Now, stay still."

"Yes, my Queen."

She lowered her face and kissed him on the cheek. After a few seconds, she let him go, and her face was completely blushed when she came out of the room escaping from her deeds.

'Kyaaa! What did I do?! I kissed him! I totally harassed him!