Wars of the Heart
Amelia Luna-dynn is a young damsel of unassuming character. However, there is a deadly secret she harbors: that she is the daughter of a forbidden race, a tribe despised by the royals of the Kingdom. She is the sole survivor, discreetly living an unseen life as a commoner. But there are scars on her back that betray her origin, requiring her to cleanse herself in order to stay alive and unrecognised. With such reins attached to her race, it is impossible to find someone who would love her despite the dangers of her origin. But one night, when at the verge of being eaten by beasts, she is saved by a mysterious man from the grasp of death. Curiosity drives the damsel to chase love. Despite being downtrodden, she stumbles upon the opportunity meeting with high society by joining a Book Club run by the beautiful daughter of the Duke, Charlene Walterus. Amelia makes friendships with nobles and soon comes close to a romance with a man she suspects to be her secret rescuer, but is hopeless that his heart is far gone in the arms of the duke’s daughter. Will she win a wedding with the man of her dreams? But most importantly, will her fantasies of a perfect marriage come true? Or will she suffer a strained marital relationship, with unrequited feelings, far from the heart of the one she loves? Excerpt: That night, he was exhilarated to have married the woman of his desires. But Charlene had told him a bothersome fact about the origin of his newly wedded wife that he could not shake off his mind, for he knew she would have told him, had it been true. The tall man stepped into Amelia’s chamber and found her seated at the rim of the bed, blushing. The very sight of her innocent disposition had always brought him the insane urge to sweep her up in his arms and protect her. But before they would make love, there was an important question blaring at the edge of his mind. “Y-you’re here”, her soft voice was almost breathless. She rose to her feet, but rested against the wall, shy and nervous. “Amelia”, he tasted her name, drawing close to her. Tenderly placing a finger under her chin and lifting her face to meet his, he gazed into her eyes and asked, “Is it true that you are of the Celeste Clan?” There was silence in response and fear in her eyes. She did not deny it. A strong feeling of hurt enveloped his chest, when he realised that she was no different. Charlene’s words about her were not simply contemptuous lies of jealousy planted to his attention, but the raw truth. ~ Amelia gasped when he rammed his fist against the wall in the absolute pangs of frustration. It was like it burnt his senses to think that she would deliberately hold something as significant as her origin from him, regardless of all things of his secrets that he had shared with her, while they were yet secret lovers. She knew the fault was hers, but she had been too scared to relay, for she had loved him far too much to lose him. “Why did you hide this from me?” he breathed, voice cold and low and deadly, colored by his unpronounced rage. His face was dangerously close to hers, such that she could hear his very breath, seething. Tears began to pierce her eyes, threatening to fall. She had never meant to deceive him. But in that moment, she was afraid. Heart throbbing loud enough to be heard, her lips were quivering and she shivered. When his gaze swept down at her frightened disposition, there was a flicker of tenderness in his eyes. But it lasted not even as long as a moment’s worth. He was cold. He did not confront her for the secrets she was keeping, but silently withdrew himself. There were many things she wished to say in apology, but she could not find her voice. And by the time she could speak, he had left her chambers. Tears flurried down her face. She could not believe that her fears had ruined the very first day of her marriage. It was the day she had wished to divulge her secret to him, but it seemed like it had already been out.
15. Is She what Her Words Claim?
IS SHE WHAT HER WORDS CLAIM SHE IS?
~
The Estate of Duke Walterus,
The Town of Crimsonton,
Kingdom of Velicia,
Early hours of the morning,
The Eighth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
Daren cast a gaze towards the door behind which the daughter of the wealthy duke was getting dressed and then back to the guest and said, "I believe the Prince is coming today, to meet the Duke and make discussions and arrangements. It is a very frequent affair, but also highly private. It is practice that Duke Walterus pays visits to the Imperial Castle for these communions, but he is visiting our estate today instead."
"Is that why they wish for Miss Charlene to be dressed most richly today?" Amelia Luna-dynn asked, wondering what the situation was. For all the opulence and power that the House of Walterus possessed, it was highly befitting for the Prince to tie a marriage with the daughter of the Duke.
In the Kingdom of Velicia, the royal family had two sons, both destined to be crown princes. It was customary for the first Prince, Francis, to marry a princess of a foreign land and thereby form an alliance with a new nation though marital bonds and secure larger territory. He would be granted to inherit two thirds of the nation as per his birth right.
The second Prince, Rayzenn, would soon betroth some wealthy woman of the kingdom, preferably one from the portion granted to his inheritance, and would be crowned to reign over what would be his. The Kingdom would be parted after his expected marriage and would be bound to each other by chords of treaties.
Presently, however, the concerns of every available damsel and her parents in the land was that the second heir of King Jesse Crestings was the key to make her a queen. Thus, proposals and expectations towards his ring were steaming profusely. There were even girls much younger in his generation that were debuted to high society early, in order to be presented towards the chance.
Those that were not in the elegant companionship of nobles would be left to daydream of missed opportunities that could have been different had they been born in powerful households, or hope to even endeavour as advanced as to serve in the King's courtroom as maidens, in order to catch the Prince's eye and elevate their standards of living by a chance marriage.
After all, there was no particular law that the Prince was forbidden from marrying a commoner and siring heirs to his throne by her grace. In all honestly, Amelia herself had conceived a fair share of fantasies regarding a prospective marriage with the crown heir.
However, it was most absurd a notion. Besides, essentially considering, hers was an origin that had murdered his mother for power and there would be no means of forgiveness she could dare expect from him. His royal family's contempt towards her race was the reason she had to live a secret life and cover her scars.
However, such was also the means whereby she had paid unseen visits to the River of Pristin and brushed shoulders with the vigilante. Her heart saddened at the remembrance of Knight Erion walking out of Miss Charlene's chambers with a pleasant smile.
"Yes, so I believe she would want to find grace in the eyes of Prince Rayzenn. But who knows? We can never be certain. I do know that Miss Charlene had a personal interest in looking most attractive when he paid a visit, for she had made the arrangement for the new garments out of her own engrossment. But there are several men flocking for her hand whom she does also does entertain, though she could very much turn them away", Daren seemed to be saying, and Amelia snapped out of her thoughts in order to pay heed.
"If she manages to captivate the Prince's gaze, per-haps, she will no longer treat the other men in such ways?" the damsel of auburn hair asked, curiously.
To her, it would be a means of hopefully growing friendships with Knight Erion, in case Miss Charlene was no longer interested in what sparks they had betwixt them. After all, the prospect of a mere knight marrying the wealthy heir of the Duke, beyond the proposals of nobles would be unbecoming among high society for someone of aristocratic birth as the young lady herself, with adequate chances of marrying a crown prince and inheriting queenship.
"Of course. And young Lady Walterus is the most worthy amongst the King's subjects from within the kingdom to be married to the Prince. But you know how difficult things can be", the lad gave an uneasy chuckle as he set a tray of sweets upon the tea table placed before her.
"What do you mean?" the damsel of dark eyes asked, as she helped herself to the delicacies.
"Well", the young man raked his hair to a side, before bowing to speak, "the Prince doesn't particularly seem very inclined to the prospect of marriage yet. True as it is that it is inevitable, he seems to be procrastinating the idea and deferring the conversations of it as much as possible. It isn't a public expectation though, that he is uninterested. The royal family is wooing him, but it is my personal speculation that the Prince does not interest in the idea of taking a wife to himself."
Amelia nodded slowly as she stuffed a little piece of cake into her mouth. "So do you believe that the Prince may not marry Miss Charlene?" her words were muffled by overflowing breadcrumbs.
"Well, not in certainty. But she naturally wishes to be as beautiful as possible and cause his ill ideas of marriage to be reverted by her charm", Daren shrugged, lending a hand towel.
The damsel of long brown hair nodded, receiving his offer and dabbing it over her mouth, "I believe she has fairer chances to fulfil this motivation. Her countenance is most pleasing", she admitted.
"While that is true, I don't believe she will necessarily send away the men that admire her beauty, simply because she will marry the Prince", the young lad chuckled.
"What makes you imagine something so outrageous?" Amelia asked, feeling her chest constrict.
Daren cast a careful glance around him for listening ears, before saying, "Her previous betrothal was failing because of her endless male company. She is truly a person of very chaste character and boasts how pure she is, that despite several men admiring her beauty, she does not partake in their fantasies and remains untouched and secure towards the sole man she will marry.
That is what had attracted me to her in the beginning. But I find that far too deceptive. She does enjoy the attention of all her male company, but does neither grow closer to them, nor dispends them. She merely just keeps them constantly by her side as though they are her toys for advantage, and the men are always sold to her grasp"
~
The fact that Charlene is based off someone i know is appalling ): do you guys know someone like that who's different from what they say they are?