Tying the Knot

"Father, you called?" I could see Alexavier in front of me with my father.

"Yes, I have so many things to talk about with you," he said, motioning for me to sit with him.

The duke went outside as I came inside. I'm not sure why, but now this is getting more serious than what I thought when I entered the room.

"Bernice,"

"Yes, Father!" I looked at him.

"You have to marry Duke Alexavier Agnes." he said the same thing again, which made me stand up in anger.

"Father, if this is why you called me here, then I will leave."

"I already told you about my decision, so it will not change no matter what the reason is!" I said and walked toward the door when he said, "We are bankrupt now."

My feet stopped.

"We've lost everything. I no longer even have any assets to save this mansion."

"That is why the duke has extended his hand to help me."

What? Bankrupt? How? No, no, it should be why? Where did it go wrong again? I thought the bankrupt part would never come again, then why again?

"So you have to marry him." he said.

I slowly turned toward him.

"Father, are you selling me off?" I didn't realize how the sentence left my mouth, but it has already left.

"Bernice, it's not what you think." He tried to stop me from thinking, but this time I already made up my mind. In my previous life, I thought my father prepared this marriage according to my wish, but when I died, I was all alone. There is not a single person who can see my bloody body lying across a place where no one can be found no matter how you search unless it is morning.

Just like how Cinderella transformed but she returned to her usual get-up when twelve bells rang. But for me, it is a bit different, but the reference is different.

"Father, I believe you had gone bankrupt."

Yes, because I already saw this once.

"But did you really have no option other than selling me off to a person who is only after finding his parent's killer? Do you think I will be okay there?" As I said, he looked down.

I lost all my hope. I had never seen Father lowering his hand, and now when he did, he doesn't look like my father anymore but someone so different who I no longer can recognize. But this time is different. This time I'm not shedding any tears but...

"Okay, fine."

"I will do it." I said.

"What?" he asked.

"The marriage, I will do it."

"There is no need for any preparation as well. I'm all good with a simple wedding too." I said and opened the main door, walking toward my room. But as I opened it, I saw the Duke standing outside of the room.

"Lady Bernice, you are done?" He sounded so innocent, but I don't believe it.

"Yes, you can talk about the other things with Father." I spoke.

"Other things?"

"Yeah, I have agreed to marry you." I said and walked out of there.

I no longer want to see what kind of expression he is having because I don't care. All I know is I'm going to marry in a week, with the person who killed me once. Even though I'm not sure if those attacks were always used to come into his place, that is why they ended up abandoning me, or the duke has sent them to kill me just because I have interfered with his work related to his parent's death.

***

"Lady, you look really pretty today." Nanny said, placing kajal on the back of my ear.

"I'm sure the duke won't be able to take his eyes off you when you walk down the aisle, and he will hold your hand walking near the priest to take your vows." she said.

Vows? Yeah, I too once already took the vows, and I tried to fulfill it also. But... did he ever? Did he?

"Lady, the marquis is waiting for you." another maid came to call me. I followed her and walked downstairs when I found Father was wearing an old suit which I saw him wearing in the painting with Mother.

"Why are you wearing this suit?" I ended up asking.

"Why, does it look bad?" he asked, looking at his suit.

"Father, you know that is not what I mean, but I'm asking you why you are wearing your marriage suit for this." I asked.

He stayed silent for a while again, but when I was trying to pressure again all of a sudden, the announcement started, and my hands were holding Father's arm, walking down the aisle. I can see there are not many people but the people from the Marquis mansion and the Duke's few subordinates. That's it.

"Bernice, give him your hand!" Dad snapped me out of my thoughts.

Ah yeah.

I placed my hand on his palm, which gave me an electric shock running down my spine.

"Bernice Balliol, are you willing to take Alexavier Agnes as your husband?" the priest asked.

"I do." I answered.

"Alexavier Agnes, are you willing to take Bernice Balliol as your wife?"

"Yes, I do." he answered.

"Now you may kiss the bride!!!" he said. I already started sweating.

I can see the Duke too, barely touching my cheek as if he is disgusted by me. So, I decided to say, "Duke, if you can't, then you can simply press a peck on my cheek or the forehead. It will be ok." I said because it is embarrassing to me as well even though it has already happened once.

He didn't say anything but kissed my forehead the way I said. Still, my heartbeat raced like crazy. It is beating so loud that it is scaring me.

Can I really change my life?

Can I really stop making those times which I already faced once?