NICOLE'S POV

          "I'll be right back." Rina smiles at both Veronica and me before she goes outside to take a phone call of hers.

          I sigh, and that makes Veronica chuckle. "What made you sighing that way? It's normal for her to take her calls outside. She's a Duchess.  She has a country to govern after all."

          That peeks my interest. "What? She governs Astor? I thought that's a job for the king."

          Veronica chuckles again. "You really need to know the scope of her job. A Duchess has public and auxiliary duties that support the royal family. In this case, she's married to my sister, the daughter of a princess." Veronica explains. "She travels to places on behalf of the king representing the royal family of Astor. Sometimes, Rina does her own research for any charities that she chooses to attend and helps behind the scenes.

Her work doesn't need the media exposure as much as Ava's work. But her duty as a duchess exceeds her spouse."

          I never knew she had that many duties.

          "If Ava decided to run for the throne, both you and Ava could be queens." Veronica winks. "By the way, did Rina or Ava asked you to attend any classes? You're a Duchess after all. In the eyes of the nobles in Astor, you're their superior. I was forced to attend those classes when I was 7-10 years old. It was hell for me."

          Does she intend to scare me or something?

          "No classes that I know of."

          Right at this moment, Rina walks in again and smiles at us both. She tells us that Ava has just arrived in Japan. After she tells us that, Rina goes to the couch and sits there as I talk to Veronica even more.

          "Just look at her. On the phone again." I whisper.

          "She probably has a lot of work put on hold just to be here. But, I am confused though. Why didn't she let you do any duties of a Duchess yet? Did you request to be put on hold of duties?"

          What? I don't even understand whatever Veronica's saying.

          "Nicole has to focus on her studies first. After she's graduated if she wishes to continue, she'll continue. If she wants to work, either she uses her degree for a good cause or be a duchess." Rina suddenly explains to us both. "Is that okay with you?" She finally looks up at us both. She never fails to smile at me. "I don't want to be a control freak. You have the will to choose whatever you want to do with your life. I'm just a wife, the person you'll be spending your lifetime with. Ava will agree with anything we suggest anyway."

          She will? I remember something that Mary told me before.

          "Hey, does Ava have a fan base?" My question shocks them both. What's so shocking about that?

          "You don't know? Ava has over 40 million followers on her social media' alone. Especially her Instagram." Rina informs me.

          Dear mother of god! That's a lot! Even my instagram doesn't have that many followers... only a few hundreds of people.

          "Her Twitter has over 50 million followers across the globe. Yes, I have to say she's quite famous in the eyes of the world." Veronica adds.

          My eyes widen! 50 million?!

          "She's a world class model after all. She even has a fan base named the Avalonics. Those fans are loyal." Rina chuckles.

          The Avalonics?!

          "Haven't you checked your social media? I'm sure you gained quite a few followers now."

          I have? I haven't checked my social media in ages since I don't have any need to post stuff.

          "I have a million followers on Instagram." Rina shows her social media that I didn't even know existed. "I followed you, you know." She told me.

          I give her my toothy smile because I haven't follow her yet. "I'll follow you back now." I reach for my phone and go on my social media. To my surprise, my followers count went up. The power of being married to a famous model and a Duchess. Rina was right, she did follow me. And, she liked every picture I posted. Stalker much. I go to her account and stalk her as well. This woman has a lot of selfies on her account and pictures of her trips to several countries. Jesus! Just how beautiful can she be? My eyes widen when I see a selfie of her together with Ava in front of the Eiffel Tower.

          "That was our third anniversary. We went to Paris because Ava had a show there, and I had a meeting to attend. It was a business trip, but we treated it as our anniversary trip."

          I didn't even know she was behind me. I don't know why, but I kind of like her selfies on here. There's a picture of her in her office, in her bathroom, on the bed... probably naked but covered herself with the sheets. There's even a picture of .... ME SLEEPING! I look up at her with a shocked expression. "How did ... when did .... just .... when did you take this? Oh my God it's so embarrassing!"

          Rina laughs at my reaction.

"That was so cute! It was when you passed out while Ava was eating you out. Just how you even passed out while being pleasured is beyond me."

          They both laugh at me.

          We hear knocks on the door before Rina goes to the door and opens it. Kelly walks in with files for Rina. "I know you told me not to bring work here but this is an emergency." Kelly says to her.

          I remember when Rina told me about Kelly's position before I came into the picture. She was their mistress. Just how does she expect me to stay calm when she could just fall for her again like before? I know it's strictly business with her now, but still, they have history together.

          "Lady Nicole, are you okay?" Kelly asks.

          I nod my answer, but I'm sure Rina notices how uncomfortable I am.

          Rina says something in some foreign language, and that makes Kelly turn her attention to me with a shocked expression.

She, too, replies in the same foreign language and apologises to me for everything in return. I feel bad now.

***

          I am walking by when I hear Ava's voice inside one of the rooms. Is it just me, or am I starting to hear things now? I turn the knob and am surprised that I see Ava's face on a huge screen looking straight at me. I have to squint my eyes just to see properly.

          "Nicole? I thought you were asleep." Rina goes to my side.

          "I was. But I needed some water. How are you, Ava?"

          Ava begins to talk about her day to us. It sounds so interesting until we both hear another female voice not far from where she's at.

          "Who's that?" Rina asks.

          "Just Fara."

          Fara? Who the hell is Fara?

          "Fara? The Fara?"

          Ava nods her head before this so call Fara wraps her arms around Ava and says her greetings in the video as well. I really don't like how her arms are wrapped themselves  around her shoulders like that. It makes me sick to my stomach! Ava seems to enjoy it, but I don't!

"You two seem close." I cross my hands while glaring at the screen.

          Ava notices how hostile I became and removes her hands around from her. "Who? Us? Nah. She's just someone who works under me."

          I raise my eyebrows. "Under you, Huh?" I question her reply.

          "Not under, under me. What I mean to say is  she's working as one of the models."

          I turned to Rina when Ava finishes explaining herself. "I'm going back to sleep. I'll be waiting for you on the bed naked."

          I don't know why I told her that I'll be waiting like that. But, she's thousands of miles away from us, and we don't know what she's doing really. Ava's probably cheating on us both, and I don't like the fact that I'm beginning to feel like she's been doing such a thing behind our backs.

          "Okay?" Rina is confused, but I turn on my heels and walk away.

          I'm not even thirsty anymore, so I decide to go back to the room instead of the kitchen. After closing the door behind me, I go to bed and lie on my front.

          It doesn't take Rina long when I hear the door being opened and closed again.

"You're not naked." Rina mocks.

          I turn my body around and look at myself in the ceiling mirror. "Am I that ugly?" I ask the Duchess? "Am I not enough for her? Why does she have to find somebody else to filled in when she's away?" I ask before I get up to a sitting position.

          Rina is looking at me with such a confused look. "What are you talking about?" She asks as she sits on the edge of the bed. I can almost see her breasts trying to escape her lingerie. "If you think Ava's cheating on us, you're wrong. Fara is not someone who Ava would cheat on us with. Trust me. I've been with Ava for long enough to know that fact." She smiles to assure me.She sounds so confident,. And now, I feel like shit because I just left without saying goodbye!

"I looked like a fool in front of them. They're probably laughing at my action."

          Rina chuckles. "Actually, Ava was worried sick that you were angry at her. You should call her and tell her you're sorry. If she keeps on worrying like that, her work will never be the way she had plan. This fashion week is important for her career since it will be her first show as a designer and not as a runway model." Rina explains.

          A designer? She's not going as a model? As the owner of her parents' line? She's creating her own line?

I reach for my phone, and I am about to cry when I wait for her to pick it up.

          When she does pick up, she is apologising to me like her life depends on it.

          I notice Rina pat my thigh before she goes to the walk in closet. Ava and I talk for a while before I realise Rina hasn't come out from the closet. After making sure that Ava and I are on good terms, I tell her that I need to sleep because tomorrow is one of those days that I need to wake up early.

          I put my phone down and go inside the closet just to find Rina sitting on the floor, as if she's searching for something. "What are you doing on the floor?" I ask.

          "My medicine. It fell. I'm sorry I took so long. I'll be out in a minute or two."

          Yeah right.

          I, too, sit on the floor and search for this medicine she's looking for.

          "Sorry for that."

          I wave it off and help her search. After a few minutes, I finally give up. "Why not take another pill from the bottle?"

          She shows me an empty bottle and chuckles. "I'm supposed to take this medicine tomorrow from the hospital."

          There's no doubt we need to search for this one pill now.

          "Maybe I should call for Alice to bring me the medicine."

          Alice? The former mistress?

          She realises something and apologises for her own suggestion.

          "If she can help you, just make the call. I'm not jealous or anything." I lie.

          "Really?"

          I nod with my fake smile on.

          She smiles back and reaches for her phone to  send Alice a text. Not long after, Alice replies, and Rina sighs in relief. "She's on duty tonight. She will come here as a house call

          " I smile as my response before my eyes land on a small bag filled with medicines and shots. "Why do you need this many medicines? I don't think it requires this many medicines to have a baby, right?"

          She smiles. "Do you recall when I told you how weak my body was? I need these shots every once a week just to get by. Even if I skip my medicine for a day or two, I would end up in a hospital bed with every kind of tubes and wires on my body."

          That sound so horrible.

          "And yet you slave yourself in tons of work. That's not healthy you know."

          She suddenly lays her head on my thigh and looks up at me as I look down at her. "It's the only thing that can keep my thoughts away from being sorry for myself. I am the useless wife after all. We've been married for years, and I can't even give Ava the joy of being a parent. It hurts me so much that I can't be the perfect wife in front of her eyes." Are those tears that just escaped her eyes?

          "Don't say that. You're the most perfect human being I've ever met. Honestly at first, when we met in Astor, I thought you were a queen. With the way you are yourself in public and  the way you handle things, I couldn't help the feelings to admire your work."I smile.

          She smiles back.

I lean down and kiss her on the lips. It is long enough for me to notice that she was lonely all this time. She was in need of attention, but I was too excited for my trip and busy being jealous to even see her needs for my attention. I'm the bad wife here, not her

***

          "That class was ... informative." Mary says when we walk down the stairs.

          "I know right. I thought it was just an art class. But, when did it become porn just like that?!" I snap my fingers, and that gains everyone's attention. They probably heard the word 'porn'.

          "Nicole, you should control your volume." Mary makes fun of me as we both stop in front of our lockers and put away the books we don't need. It's our last class of the day, and we actually plan to watch a movie after it's over.

          "Rina's supposed to be here right? Where is she?" Mary asks.

          I shrug my answer since I know she's probably busy and forgot about our little promise this morning.

          "By the way, Nicole. Just how the hell did she manage to make us both out of the dormitory since it's compulsory for the first years to be in it?"

          Honestly, I have no idea myself.

          "No idea. All I did was tell her what I wanted her to do, and the next thing, it's being done for me."

          Mary scoffs. "It must be nice to have such a dependable wife."

          Mary shuts her locker, and so do  I. We are talking animatedly as we walk out of the academic building through the parking lot. I am about to unlock my car when I hear someone honking at us.

          "Do you know who drives that car?" Mary asks.

          I shrug my shoulders as my answer. Maybe I know whoever's behind the wheel. But, who? To my surprise, it's the last person I want to see now. Here I thought she's probably busy working with Ava in Japan.

          "Hey Nicole." She is waving at me while gaining a lot of attention from the surrounding area.

          "Isn't that Fara, that famous model!"

          "Oh my God it's Fara!"

          What is she doing here of all places?!

          She shuts her car door and walks towards me with that runway walk of hers. "Remember me? I'm Fara... from the video call two days ago. Ring any bells?"

          Oh God her thick Russian accent just gets to me so badly! "Yes. Of course, I remember you. The snake." I am being harsh in front of her, but she just chuckles from my remark.

          "A snake? That's a first. Usually people would called me a whore or a slut." She shrugs.

          "Oh well, when in Rome, do what the Romans do I guess."

          What?

          "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in Japan and walk for Ava!" I half yell.

          "Anyway ..." she completely ignores me. "Let's go for a drive shall we? I promise I won't bite much." She winks before she offers her hand to me.

          Does she think I'm that stupid?

          "Your friend can drive your car back home. We'll use my car." She is shaking her hand telling me to reach for it.

          "And why would I agree to follow you to probably my death?" I ask with such an attitude. I just can't handle this any longer.

          "Well, I'm sure you will follow me since I know a lot about Ava and Rina's secret." She winks.

          I hate to admit it. She does know how to reel me in. I turn to Mary and tell her my decision using my eyes. She nods and mouthes 'be careful' at me.

          Without a doubt, I take Fara's hand and let her lead me to the passenger's side of her car. She shuts the door for me and waves at the surrounding people before she goes in and starts to drive. She turns on the radio and acts as if we're in a car pool karaoke for some reason.

          "Can you turn off the radio please. It's bugging me."

          She seems sad when I say that. "Radio, off." She says ,and the radio miraculously turns off by itself. It is surprising. "It's a voice recognition car. It was my present from Rina."

          I feel like I've been shot in the heart when I hear her say that.

          "I wished for a car that can talk back to me and hear my commands, and she gave me what I wanted just like that. She's such a kind woman, right?" She chuckles and that makes me want to kill her for some reason.

          "Where are we going?" I ask just to keep myself sane.

          "Somewhere." She replies.

          "Are you going to kill me?" I ask, actually fearing for my own safety at this point.

          "And let myself be beheaded? No way. I don't think I can win against both Ava and Rina. You are married to them. You should know how powerful they are."

          Honestly I don't know anything about that.

          "Wait, you don't know? Every Nobleman in Astor knows about their secret, and you, their wife, don't know about it?" She actually laughs. "Oh honey, you're married to Katharina, you should know what her late father did for a living!"

          What the hell was she talking about?!

          We finally arrived at someone's home. This is where she probably kill me or something.

          "Where was I? Oh yes, the truth. Honey. You should know this. Katharina inherited ...."

          We are both surprised when someone's palms are on her side of the windows. It is a loud bang.

          "What are you planning to do with my wife?! I hear a voice before the person bends down, showing her face. It's Rina!

          I immediately get out and run towards her side.

          "Did she do something to you? Mary called me, and I'm sorry. I asked Kelly to hack into your phone's GPS system."

          Fara suddenly laughs. "Oh wow! Still the overly protective Katharina we all know and love."

          This is the first time I've seen Rina glare at someone like she was about to kill her.

          "Oh sister, I'm sorry. Honestly, I came to Maestropolitan just to meet this famous Nicole everyone loves and cares about. I mean even my mother likes her."

          Sister?

          "Nicole, meet Fara, she's one of my half sisters."

          Oh, now I get it!

          Fara smiles and waves at me.

          "You should be in Japan, not here." Rina is pinching the bridge of her nose.

          Fara waves it off.

          "Ava will kill you for this. You know. Why are you here anyway? I know you lied when you said you wanted to meet Nicole."

          She takes her phone out and shows us both. "Look at the date please. I'm here for that."

          I hear Rina sigh. "Oh yes, her birthday." Rina turns to me. "Every year on her birthday, she always finds