13 The Betrothal (2)

Two days passed since my meeting with my father and the Marquees, and his family was due to arrive in the afternoon and stay until after dinner, and I was expected to propose to his daughter. Elizabeth Rosewen.

In the game, she was the protagonist's childhood friend and that was the extent of her background. She was supposed to be an easy character for the player to obtain, mainly to help learn the ropes about character affection and all that fun stuff. Ultimately though she was killed while protecting the player from a mortal wound caused by yours truly.

Thinking about the events that led to this situation made me more convinced, that something or someone was guiding me towards my inevitable outcome. Which made me worry about the future events that are going to happen.

"I need to get stronger." I mumbled to myself.

Distracting myself, it wasn't until the last second, I saw a first coming towards my face. Unable to dodge in time, it connected with my face. Losing balance, I fell to the ground, and looking up I saw Axton towering over me.

"Getting distracted is a one-way ticket to the afterlife young lord." He said as he held out his hand.

Taking it, I slowly got up and dusted myself off.

"Of course, Mr. Lambert I won't let that happen again." I said as I wiped some blood off my lip.

"We will cut today's lesson short." He said as a smile cracked his face "I hear today is a special day for the young lord." He finished teasingly

"It's nothing more than a duty, that my father had bestowed upon me." I replied as I grabbed a towel to dry off my sweat.

"Marriage is not a duty young lord." Axton said as he walked off.

Not wanting to comment on that, I began walking toward my room as I needed to get ready to meet my future fiancé and her parents.

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"Father, why did you have to promise me to him?" A girl asked her father as she rode in the carriage

"Because my sweetheart this will help our house." The father replied to the daughter

"But father, just ask Leo and he will help us." The girl complained

"Elizabeth, sweetheart, it's a little more complicated than just asking your friend for help." The mother answered her daughter.

Elizabeth knew what was going on, she wasn't stupid. She was being used as a political tool to help her house rise in power. Her parents may love her but when offered great power they quickly offered her up.

She had heard the rumors about Ciaran Maxamus, and his… desires. Apparently, he had gone through a few aids and maids. Never satisfied always wanting more, there were also rumors that he was into…. disturbing hobbies.

Even bringing everything she had learned about the young lord to her parents, they just denied everything saying she shouldn't be listening to rumors.

Sighing to herself, she began to daydream about what her life would have been if she was promised her childhood friend.

After arriving at the duke's estate, the marquees and his family were escorted to the grand hall where there was a feast laid out for them.

Duke Maxamus was sitting at the head of the table when the marquees and his family walked in. Upon noticing the duke, they immediately bowed their heads and greeted him in unison.

Elizabeth's mood was getting worse as time moved on. Not only was she forced to marry someone she loathed, but he didn't even show up, only his father the duke was there.

The duke and her father were chatting amongst themselves.

The fiendish young lord had headed out to pick up some betrothal gifts for her and would return within the hour.

Gifts for her? Elizabeth thought with a laugh. He is probably out enjoying his last moments of freedom before being stuck with her.

If he so much as lays a hand on me. She thought as she clenched her fist under the table. I will stab his eyes out with the dullest spoon I can find.

While Elizabeth was fantasizing about stabbing her future fiancé's eyes out, in the next moment she gasped with shock as a young boy and his aide walked through the doors of the grand hall.

The young boy was of average height and had an athletic build, but what stood out the most were those grey eyes and as they looked upon her, the world seems to disappear, and it was just the two of them.

Everything will be ok. That is what those eyes told her, and she subconsciously relaxed her whole body. This was not a fiendish young boy, who had a disturbing taste. No those eyes were too soft for that.

When the young lord looked away from her, she felt something stir in her heart. Unsure of what it was she look down at her food in confusion.

"Marquees Rosewen." She heard the young lord say.

She looked up from her food and saw that the young lord was standing in front of her father.

"I know that this is an arranged marriage between my father and you, but I still want to hold to the traditions of asking the father for his blessings so that I may marry his daughter." The young lord said looking her father directly in the eyes.

Her world started to shatter, the young lord was asking her father for his blessing. Just like in the books she had read where the prince charming does the same thing.

Feeling her face starting to heat up and her heart starting to beat faster, she could only stare at the interaction between her father and her fiancé.

The marquees nearly jumped when he felt a jab in his ribs. Turning to his wife he saw her slowly nodding toward the young lord.

Clearing his throat, the marquees responded. "While I know that this is not the most ideal situation for the both of you." He began as he looked at his daughter. "I have faith that you will both grow to love each other in the future." He paused as a small smile broke his lip. "So, my answer is yes. Young lord Maxamus you do have my blessing to marry my daughter."