Chapter 3

Currently at the Duke's study:

"So who is going to explain all this?" asked Elios fiercely.

"Grand Duke, I'm pretty sure Princess has her reasons. She has never behaved in such way before. There must be a reason," said Arthur hastily.

"Yes, Your Grace. We've always been together. There's definitely a reason why the Princess behaved in such manner. Everyone knows our Princess is the most dignified women anyone can find," cried Lilly.

"And that Princess of yours tried to take her own life infront of our eyes," Elios screamed at us.

Arthur looked at me at once and asked, "Princess, is someone threatening you? Please tell me if that is the case."

I know what he means. He is asking me if I'm doing this out of the Duke's fear.

"Princess started acting this way after the wedding night. She was with me before and she was perfectly fine. Is it possible someone casted spell on her?" said Lilly suspiciously.

She is also trying to say the Duke has done something and that's why I'm behaving in a peculiar way. I need to stop them. "You both leave," I said.

"No Princess we can't leave you alone," said Arthur.

"We'll stay with you," said Lilly.

"As the master of both of you I'm not asking you but ordering you both to leave me and my husband right now," both of them looked at me with fear in their eyes. But they are worrying about me rather than doing it for themselves. But in the end both of them left.

"So now you remember that you are their master and I am your husband! Wonderful!!! Because a few days ago you claimed that you don't know any of us," said Elios sarcastically.

I at once sat on the ground and kneel down in front of him. "I'm extremely sorry for causing all these commotion, Grand Duke Elios. Please forgive me and both Arthur and Lilly. I promise you that I will never behaved in such disgraceful way again. Please ignore everything Arthur and Lilly said. They only said those things out of their concern. Please show us your kindness this time, your Grace." I said as I was looking down at the mat on the floor. I don't know why but I couldn't bring myself to look at him in the eye.

"They say things to save you, you say things to save them. You people are definitely interesting. So what you are saying is nobody forced you to behave in this way neither anyone cast a spell, is that right?"

"You are right your Grace."

"Then why did you behaved in such way?"

"I'm not sure but I think I had lost my my mind, your Grace. Maybe because I'm staying away from my home. I'm not trying to cover anything. If you want to punish me you can your Grace. But please spare those two. They are innocent." I said as I kept staring at the floor.

Suddenly he came towards me, I still couldn't look at him. He kneeled down and lift my face. I saw his eyes but I don't know if it's anger or pity, "Have you forgotten everything Bella?"

"No your Grace. I remember. I remember everything. I know I have given you words of taking all the responsibilities as the Grand Duchess. But I don't think currently I'm in a position of doing so. After all a mad woman isn't capable of being the Grand Duchess."

His gaze looked confused.

He stood up. "I don't care about your reasons. Take some time and then start your appointments as the Grand Duchess," he said as he left the room.

Does this mean he won't punish me? Is he willing to forgive me and both Lilly and Arthur? I feel somewhat relieved. But why? Why am I worried about them? Right now I'm in no position to help someone! Then why am I worried about those two? And what is all this memory? They are not my memory!!! Then why do I remember all this!!! How is this even possible? Have I really gone mad?

"Princess!!! Why are you sitting on the floor?" Lilly hurriedly ran towards me.

And Arthur stood beside me like a shadow. "Is something wrong, Princess?" asked Arthur.

"No! Everything is alright. Can you help me to go to my room Lilly?"

After few days:
I didn't left my room for nextfew days. Lilly brought me food and other necessities. Arthur kept asking me if I needed anything or want to go out.
It's like a dream. Where I don't have to do anything, I wish this dream soon comes to an end.

I haven't seen the Grand Duke since that day. In one way it's good. But the problem is what he said, no that's not even the problem! The problem is what I said.

That night after the wedding. I was with Lilly. She was holding my hands firmly. Some other women were dressing me up for the first night. All of them left one by one. I was wearing a white night gown, my hair was braided. Lilly stayed with me untill there was a knock at the door.

"Princess, everything will be alright," she said as she left the room.

The Duke was standing beside the door. He came inside after Lilly left and closed the door. He stood beside the door for sometime. Then he started walking towards me, "Bella, it's been so long," he said as he lean towards my face and just when his lips were about to touch mine I pushed him. "What do you think you are doing? Both of us know this is a political marriage. So there is no need for you to act like you like me. I will perform all my duties as the Grand Duchess and take care of the matters you will assign me and in return you need to make sure nothing happens to my country and my people," I said as I walked towards the bed and slept.

WHY?!?!?! WHY DID I DO THAT. No that wasn't me who did that. It was the Princess who behaved in such way. You should had accepted him while he was being nice with you! But now he thinks it was me who said that. And most importantly why do I have the Princess's memory. Just how did I possessed her body? Do I really have to live in this body now? I started banging my head against the wall in disbelief. What the hell am I supposed to do?

"Princess why are you banging your pretty face in the wall?" asked Lilly as she calmly came towards me.

Yeah, the Princess does look very beautiful! I myself looked pretty good in my previous world but it can't be compared to her. Her thick wavy black hair, eyes that resemble peridot, even her lips are plumpy. No doubt the Duke must have fallen in love with her in first sight.

"Lilly, do you think I'm pretty?"

"Of course Princess! You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life. You were just as beautiful as now when you were a baby! I still remember the first time I saw you I thought you were a doll. People around the world would come to just get a glance of you, Princess."

Now she is over exaggerating. She herself is quite a beauty. Her silver hair and sea blue eyes are something people would die for to get.

"Do you think I have ever met the Duke before our marriage?"

"I don't think you have. Why do you ask so?"

"No! Nothing...."

"Lilly could you come out for a sec." Arthur said suddenly as he was standing outside the bedroom. When did he came?

"Yes I'm coming." Arthur closed the door as Lilly walked out of the room. Why is he closing the door? I want to know what they are talking about.I slowly approached to the door and lean towards it.

"What!!! Who would spout such nonsense!?!?! Our Princess is perfectly fine!" I heard Lilly shouting.

"Keep your voice low. I think it's because of that day."

"But didn't the Duke warned them already. How dare they still talk about it?"

"He did. But they are still talking about it. I am afraid if words get outside the Ducal Palace things will get tough for Princess. There are more enemies outside the Palace."

"You are right, Sir Arthur. But for now don't you think we should tell the Duke to make sure that words don't go out?"

"I'm not sure if we should talk to him about anything."

"Do you doubt the Duke even now?"

"Lilly think about it, it was a political marriage and Duke Elios was the only person who received no benefit out of this marriage! Do you really think he is our ally?"