CHAPTER 7: OBLIGATIONS AND ALLIGATIONS

"I will do anything, your highness." Dhara looked at Shreya Wallace as she smiled. She is holding her crystal scepter beside her throne. She narrowed her gaze at Dhara who is properly following how to show proper reverence to the queen.

"I want you to observe Bellezza Scyther whenever you have the chance."

"I always do it, your highness. She's always busy doing things and her potions in Withermoor.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, dear. Don't worry. I always make sure Bellezza is following the rules of Fayvallea."

"We should always be vigilant and responsible to our every action. Remember, every actions that we make can be a good or bad thing for us."

"I will always bear that in mind, your highness." Dhara agreed as she bows down in front of the queen again.

"I am always observing. Please don't disappoint me my dear. I am always aware of what's happening to Fayvallea. I hope you're all taking responsibility for all of the places assigned to each one of you to rule."

"We are not forgetting it, you're highness."

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"Lina...where's Adeline?" Venus's shouting voice is almost echoing the room. She can see one of her maids rushing towards her looking really nervous.

Her voice alone is like thunder for them to appear in front of her. Whenever she will shout, her echoing voice fills the whole house that all the maids stop from what they are doing at the moment. It is only to attend the useless concerns of their boss Venus. Nobody could ever be so slow, she fires anyone that she thinks of only wasting her precious time.

"Madam...uh, Adeline went home already but she left your homework on your bedside table."

"Oh my gosh, really?" She said, her irritated tone changed from being someone who is in a good mood. She instantly felt satisfied with what she heard from one of her personal maids.

"Y-Yes, madam." Her maid answered, avoiding her gaze so she will not appear disrespectful in front of her.

"Okay. It's done, then. I thought she didn't accomplish it on time." The maids nodded as they saw her flashed a victorious smile.

"By the way, I will go shopping tonight. Tell Mr. Alison to get the car ready."

"Yes, madam." Another maid that's in charge of what she's talking about answered in a humble tone.

"I should be returning here from the mall by 8 P.M." She said as she goes back and forth to get her fancy dresses ready.

The maids hurriedly told one of Venus's driver to prepare what she demands. She also took a quick bath and put on her desired outfit of the day. She's very picky when it comes to everything. There are times that she usually match her clothes to one of the cars that her driver will drive for her in going somewhere she would want to go.

She wore a black, sexy racer-back shirt with white wing as a design and loose, ripped jeans. To add her looks, she wore a limited edition Christian Louboutin stilettos customized with Swarovski crystals. As soon as she's done with everything, she's able to check herself on her full-body vanity mirror. She even turned around. Even if her limited-edition heels were too high, she was able to handle it with confidence. As you look at her wearing it, you will think that pair of heels are looking very comfortable to wear because Venus is gracefully nailing it.

"Hmm...I am happy that I am not getting fat. Pilates and yoga are doing the trick." She said to herself as she looks at her reflection from head to toe. When she thinks she's ready, she carefully headed her way downstairs. Their wide staircase at the center of their mansion is the center of attention, for it is like fit for a queen.

The house is designed exclusively for Venus's taste. The staircase's design is a solid maple double curve. It has open rise treads to let light through curved glass panel railing. The mirrored curved stairs create circular lines to frame the entry. When you look at the ceiling, you will be greeted with the elegance of the moon-shaped spiral wave raindrop crystal chandelier. It is hanging brightly as if emphasizing its uniqueness like no other.

She's descending the stairs as if she owns the night. She puts on her signature fashion eyeglasses and walked in to her wide parking lot.

"Madam, the car of your choice tonight is ready."

"Good. We'll be going to the mall. You have to wait for me."

Her driver just nodded as soon as he heard her instructions. She sits on the backseat while her driver is in the front, starting the engine at its maximum speed and off it goes.

She loved it fast. She loves it whenever the wind will touch her skin as she opens the window of her car. She wanted to feel that she's the queen of the road. Because she has a lot of connections, there's always some special lanes for her to drive without being caught. She removed her eyeglasses and let the rushing wind play with her hair as she peeks her head outside.

"Careful, madam."

She frowned as she went back to sitting comfortably on the backseat, cross-legged, folding her arms as he glanced at her driver with wearing that impatient look.

"I know what I am doing."

"That's just a reminder."

"Well, that's not a part of your job. Mind your own business."

"Sorry madam. I will." Venus's driver said, never speaking a word from then on. They have reached the mall in a span of less than ten minutes because of the kind of speed that she wanted.

She walked along the aisle of dresses and skirts. The glamorous pairs are catching her attention the most. She stopped to look at the model mannequin wearing the trendy floral dress that's popular for the weekly specials of the mall.

"I remembered wearing you last month. I never knew it will become this popular after that." She said softly to herself as she touches the hem of that floral dress. She grinned proudly as she noticed most girls are coming near her. When they realized that it is indeed "Venus Hughes", they started to flock towards her. She admit, she instantly felt uncomfortable because she expected that the mall is almost empty by now.

It's the first time a mob of fans flocked around her like crazy, she felt dizzy all of a sudden.

"Venus...can we please ask an autograph from you?" She just smile at them but she is already pissed from insomuch attention she's receiving from the people she didn't even personally know. Aside from that, the smell of the different fans that surrounds her were already stinky because of the sweat that they had for that day.

"Sure." She hurriedly grabbed their notebooks and signed at them one by one until her bodyguards are stopping the mob from getting closer to her.

She smiled and waved at her fans as her guards surrounded her. They guided her until she reached her car.

"Why are you not around me while I am shopping? You guys are so ridiculous!" She sad, fuming mad as she scolded them one by one. Her four bodyguards are looking down, feeling bad about themselves as well.

"We're so sorry ma'am. Our negligence caused you so much trouble. It will not happen again."

"It will really never happen again if I will decide to fire all of you! You're not even doing your job very well."

"We deeply apologize, madam."

"I should be your top priority, right? Do all this again and you're all done! Get out of my sight! All of you!" She hissed, however keeping her cool and poise as much as possible.

She noticed that her other bodyguards went to the other van that's following her car most of the time. Her guards are not the typical one. They are all black-belters and they are ready to kill for Venus Hughes. She doesn't want her guards to wear a suit uniform.

She wanted them to wear some casual wear for them to not became too obvious or center of attraction if they will follow Venus wherever she goes.

She knew that in one wrong action that she'll do, she'll be triple dead. She'll be the star of the headlines. How she hated thinking about it. For her, it is much better to star to a lot of magazine covers and photoshoots but a big no-no for news headlines. She's not buying that one for her to rise to stardom. She will be Venus Hughes who became popular for her looks, glam, poise and most importantly, her personality that's "loved" by many, not appear in the headlines as bad news that will ruin someone's day.

"You have to be vigilant at all times. My safety should be your priority. All of you!"

"Yes, ma'am."

Wearing a face full of disgust, she had lost her appetite in shopping. She hurriedly got in her car, shut the side door and went home straight right away.

Her whole day was almost ruined, thanks to her guards and everyone around her. Venus, being used to be independent, doesn't rely much to her parents. She usually earns her money by herself. Although both of her parents are wealthy already, she wanted to depend only to herself and no one else. She takes pride and pleasure in spending her own money, especially that she is earning it the hard way most of the time.

She swallowed and cleared her throat in a classy, poised manner as she opened the entrance door as she wents in her mansion. Raising her eyebrows, she hovered her eyes around. Three maids came rushing towards her, wearing their complete black traditional maid uniform.

"I want my bubble milk bath ready with scented candles being lit around. Don't forget to spread red petals around my bathtub, especially on my bed.

"Yes, madam." One of her maids said as she nodded. She moved fast and disappeared on her sight right away, heading towards her room on the second floor.

She slowly headed towards her room and immersed herself in her bathtub. With a white towel wrapped around her damp hair, she tried soaking her body for about five minutes or more until she got bored. She wrapped her body with a white cotton towel. She faced the window with a gloomy face. The sight of the trees and plants that surrounded their house.

She slowly looked at what she all have right now. She bitterly smiled. Many people think that she has this perfect life. She's a spotlight thief. She's always the queen of the night whenever she wanted. However, there's something in her that yearns for more. A discontentment in her heart she could never fathom. Questions that needed answers.

"Madam, he is now waiting for you in the guestroom."

She froze when her maid went inside after knocking twice. Upon hearing those words, it made her knees tremble. She became nervous. She started this one few months ago and yet whenever she realizes what she had done, she can't help but to feel scared.

"Okay. Please tell him I will go there after taking a quick shower." She said and the maid nodded and went away.

She moved as fast as she could. She knew that he didn't liked waiting for so long. As soon as she's done from what she's doing, she wrapped her body with her signature pink silk robe. With her hair still dripping, she went inside and smiled.

"Hello, gorgeous." He said. She felt goosebumps all over her body. A man of his 60s with a wrinkled face and fat belly grinned at her as if she's his most delicious prey for the night. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she kissed him on the lips, savoring his tongue. She deepened the kiss with her moans.

"That's what I like from you. You always do what I only imagine from other girls."

"Stop imagining, honey. Just enjoy everything. I got you." She said as soon as she parted her lips from his.