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.
19. Charlene's Company
CHARLENE'S COMPANY
~
Banquet Hall,
The Imperial Castle,
Capital City of Tronder,
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
Prince Rayzenn Crestings strode into the Banquet Hall of the Imperial Castle, paying attention to the fact that his brother had withdrawn to his duties by the hour he was there.
Butler Weston and the maidens were the only ones scuttling about, preparing the late breakfast table for him, before they could clear the halls and make ready for the hours of lunch.
The only other person present there was the Regent Queen, Aunt Eliza. She was a poised and prim looking woman with a heart made of gold, but a mind solid with business and purpose. The young Prince walked over to where she stood, bowed, took her hand and placed a soft kiss on her knuckle, saying, "Good morning."
Her smile was most feigned, like she hadn't much reason to be truly delighted by his greeting, for her concerns scaled a much farther part of his future than he was bothered to care for.
"Your father wishes to meet you today", she said.
That was enough to leave an unsettling feeling within. Ever since his mother's demise, King Jesse's health had seen no true improvement, despite heavy medication.
This only warranted for a quicker arrangement of events such as the Kingdom's division and the Princes' inheritance and coronations.
Such, in turn, required Rayzenn's marriage. A one that he expected would be most estranged, for he did not believe that a maiden could love him for his soul, past all the wealth and status his prospect would offer her.
Overall, the nightmare of being wedded would need to precede all else. And Rayzenn was not prepared for the commitment. It was most probable that that was what his father would be wishing to speak to him of.
"I will meet him before I leave", the Prince said, receiving a slow, unsatisfied nod from his aunt.
As he took a seat for breakfast, she sat beside him and began to unfold the subject of her concerns:
"Regarding last night, you will need to visit the Duke Walterus in person at his manor this morning"
The young man of straight long hair looked up, disoriented. "Does he not visit me at my palace? What is the difference today?"
The woman shrugged, like she had no reason to instigate it. "I had told him that you would come by for a change. After all, the town of Crimsonton falls within the province of your domain, and it would be pleasant if you could pay visits and get familiar with the people that would soon be yours", said she, sweeping an imaginary lock of hair off her forehead, as though something could have dared escape her tight grey bun.
From the fact that her eyes were not meeting his and her constant demeanour of bringing hands towards her face, Rayzenn could discern that there was more to it than just what she was relaying to his heed.
The young man of black hair nodded, dabbing a napkin of linen against the crumbs near his mouth and taking the fork back in hand. "And?" he asked, raising a brow.
"What do you mean? Is that not sufficient a reason as it is?" his aunt asked, eyes fluttering about the hall, before she asked Butler Weston to fill his already brimming goblet with water.
"I will visit Duke Walterus without ado, of course, but is that all the business you have for me to meet him? Would it not be odd that I pay a grand visit for a matter as trivial as this?" Rayzenn asked. "I have the matter of expecting Knight Erion of the Western Wing, in confrontation of last night's beast rampage or vigilantism and how his knights have fared during the event. He must be arriving at the castle this morning with any reports on what he has found or failed to find and any casualties."
"Ah, about that", the regent queen nodded, "I have arranged for the Knight to meet you there as well, at the Duke's Manor. Duke Walterus had mentioned that Head Knight Erion would be a guest at his place this afternoon and I had him know that you will have your presence there, in attendance, for a sweet change of events" was the answer.
The young prince of green eyes stared at her contemplatively. He would not hesitate to commit to any of her wishes in all honesty, but if she was hiding her intentions, it worked his every nerve. "I see you have taken my plans for the day into your own hands", he sighed.
"All in good intentions, son", the woman smiled, tapping her fingers on the table.
There was a long and strained pause, before Aunt Eliza wet her lips and began to speak of something, with great hesitation, like her mind had decided that it would no more be burdening her in her silence and would be spoken: "So the Duke has a lovely daughter, who is presently not betrothed to any man. She is most pleasant to the eyes and a woman of noble heart and disposition."
"I am aware of Miss Charlene Walterus", Rayzenn responded, knowing fully well that this woman was the subject wherefore his schedules that day were spinning the way they were.
"Yes, then you would know that she is unrivalled in all things a man would expect of a wife. She is of your province and would make a greatly desired queen", the aunt said, eyes momentarily falling into his gaze and then scuttling away to the table, pretending like the conversation wasn't the sole principal of her senses.
"Good upbringing", the young prince nodded, wiping his hands, for he had finished breakfast and was inclined to leave the Banquet Hall, but was solely kept for reason of his Aunt's society.
"Would you not consider marrying her just for the sake of this old hag, Rayzenn, my dear?", she asked, her voice sounding earnest.
Something about her desperation drew his eyes to look at her. After a moment of contemplation, the young man sighed and broke a tired smile, "Alright, I will consider it", he resiled.
~
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