Paupers' Heirloom

Evelyn froze hearing the news, she didn't want anything to go wrong, and here it was wrecking hell. All blood drained out from her, as her face ashened.That ring was something that had belonged to the Faunoa household for ages, even before they separated from the Magnolia House. A pure sapphire couple ring, something which had been designed by the Queen Dowager, for the Duke and the Duchess, whose marriage was arranged by her. But, every noble household had such epic heirlooms. Manila Langton wasn't someone who would runaway with a ring, that would be even presumtious to even think about. But, where did she go?

"Heavens" Irene suddered

"Did... did you check properly Ms.Mctosh?" Brea nodded in an apologetic manner.

Even though Anastasio couldn't hear what Brea reported, however, Evelyn's palor didn't go unnoticed by him. He appeared right in front of her, it took a moment for him to realise what was happening. It was impossible for someone to break in while both the Faunoa and Magnolia security team were at here. So those snakes are lured indeed.

"I got this Sio, it's impossible to get out of the mansion. I am afraid, she is in danger. They are simply trying to provoke the nobility against us, by directly harming a Langton.But, right now the engagement ceremony should start now.Everyone's too curious here."

Sweeping his glance around Sio noticed that every eyes were glued on the platform, they were still clue less, but were trying to figure out what's wrong. If they would even get the slightest hint, the public opinion would sweep against then and that would be antithetical to their plans.

With the most vivacious smile on his face, Anastasio announced, "Although it is a custom for the lady-in-waiting to escort the Lady, but I don't like my fiancée to be escorted by anyone else, "My Lady" He extended his hand towards her, which Evelyn grabbed with terrified, trembling fingers.

Sio could hear the gasping and

Her eyes were red, from fighting back her tears. Why of all days something like had to happen today!

"Keep calm Eve, I got you. We must do this right, so that they wouldn't know"

Evelyn knew it too, but her emotions were trying to get better off her, she grabbed his hands hard, that almost her nails dug into his flesh.

'Calm down Eve' she inhaled deeply, to silence her screaming mind.

Aiden Faunoa took the cue, he was impressed and proud of his grandson, "Let the ceremony begin" He announced.

Although he said that, but bringing a replacement ring might take sometime, "Irene when will Brea come with..."

To everyone's surprise Rosalie mounted the ceremonial platform, despite the face that she wasn't invited there, "How can a mother not come to her own son's engagement platform." Her eyes glinted, with a sharp dagger like smile, and hugged Anastasio who stiffened like an unmoving log. His jaws clenched, only in times like this she imposed her position. "Sio my baby, congratulations on becoming the Duke honey. You are wonderful my son."

"And you are as usual fake Mrs.Magnolia." He whispered exasperated by her outrageous action, although not casting aside his smile for once. Her bright smile wilted away.

"I think you are forgetting I am your mother." She regained her smile, "You can't dust me off in front of the entire aristocracy. Unless you wish to create a scene." She pulled his hand away from Evelyn and held both his palms and kissed them in a gesture of blessing.

Anastasio was putting up with everything till now, but her rudeness towards Evelyn made put him off.

"Although you are uncalled for here, but, that's what you have a skill of doing everytime. Most importantly, you keep forgetting you aren't a Faunoa anymore, you ceased to be that years back. I don't remember having a mother at all.So, now if you are done with your act can we start the ceremony?"

Anastasio took picked up the Sapphire studded ring from the tray of rose petals, and glided it smoothly down her slender ring finger, smiling from ear to ear, although they were married now but this felt different. The proclamation to the world that, "We are taken by each other"

The replacement ring had already arrived, a platinum Darcy ring. It was Eve's turn to do her part.

Rosalie laughed out loud, drawing everyone's attention.

Anastasio glared at her, his eyes not trying to hide his anger anymore.

"Ha... Ha... Don't mind me. To be honest I have never witnessed such an engagement anywhere, a noble lady without a lady in waiting getting her ring fetched by a servant" She waved her arms in her fit of fake laughter.

"Oh my! I suppose even the ring should have been bought by the Faunoas. Of course, it's impossible for the Betrices to afford something like that.Expecting a family heirloom was even ridiculous.Paupers can't have such things, you should have thoughtfully chosen the girl for my son Lady Faunoa." Rosalie deliberately did this to humiliate Evelyn. Irene looked furious, she could have given her a bit of her mind had this place not been the ceremonial platform.

"Mother..." Anastasio was about to retaliate when Evelyn squeezed his arms.

She smiled at Rosalie with a calm demeanor, not even flinching at her words for once.

"Honourable Lady of Magnolia has pointed out correctly, this ring is definitely purchased from the Faunoa tab, however, that's just symbolic. Although the Betrice are impoverished,fallen house of nobility we are still part of this old outdated system whose value isn't a cent to the rest of the world. Anyhow, no matter how small we are still a House of nobility, hence this" She gracefully gestured her arm to Sylvia who was standing prepared with a beautiful wooden box. The moment this chaos began she had asked Sylvia to bring the box which she always carried as a memory of her mother which her father had sent before disappearing. Fortunately it saved their face, her parents had wanted to give this as a wedding gift, now that she was actually married there was no reason for her not to give it to Anastasio.

"Grandpa, Grandma"

Emanuel and Patricia, stepped in at her call, taking out the rare ruby brooch which was the first of a child's fist. They looked at it with moist eyes a family heirloom, probably the only one that was saved something that was given to Merlin as a wedding gift, 'Unlike our son that child was far more capable, she deserved far better. Are you watching this Merlin? Your baby is in safe hands now.'

"Go ahead Sweetheart" Patricia kissed after giving Evelyn the brooch which she immediately put on his lapel. But his gaze was fixed on this young lady who bewitched him once again with her firm bold actions. His devil was swooned at it's mate, screaming, 'I wanna taste this woman now and mark her to be mine forever.Or should I leash myself and become her pet.' Getting on all four limbs gesticulating a dog it barked twice.

Evelyn was disarrayed to watch this devil of a man slightly flustered, it was so cute that she was irked to kiss him,but held back.

Rosalie's face had turned blue, she was about to pass some demeaning comment at Eve, but her voice was silenced by someone else.

"I tell you, you are several steps behind me in this matter big brother.Right Susan?" Nathenel chirped to lighten up the mood, there was no way he would let this event fail, these three days had to succeed for people to forget about the firework factory incident. "But better late than never. Congratulations to the couple, the Duke and the future Duchess of Faunoa." He began applauding.

Rosalie had no choice but to step down, but before leaving she hugged Evelyn, who was thwarted by this bizzare action, "I am not going to let this slide. You have no idea whom you rubbed the wrong way bitch." Evelyn retained her smile though this didn't feel like a dry threat at all, 'Hold it in Eve.' she kept telling herself while smiling.