13 Chapter 14. Mine

The shocking events had yet to down into the minds of the crowd when the Duke's voice echoed again.

"Now, I announce my engagement with Princess Lauren Jin," Kian said with a beautiful smile as he kneeled before her to give her a kiss in her hand. "My lovely girl, will you marry me?"

The King was pale and furious, however, he didn't say a word. It would only get him another humiliation.

"Wait, Your Grace," the voice of Prince Owen was the one to answer before Lara could even open her mouth, "I apologize for my interruption but I must inform you that my little sister has yet to go through her coming of age ceremony, therefore, she cannot marry," he looked at Lara with a frown.

He was shocked when he saw her entering with that beautiful dress, but he regained his composure quickly. Later he will have a talk with her to remind her of her status and to not cause trouble, afte all, he had known for so long of her appearance and the awful condition of her palace. He didn't care. However, that didn't mean his father didn't. Now, he only had to detain the engagement at any cost.

"Yes, that it's true. It is a must."

"Every girl of marriage age should go through it."

"It would be a shame if a princess of our Kingdom doesn't respect the custom."

The crowd nodded, it was a custom for a sixteen years old girl to be introduced to high society and given a gift from her parents. Then she will be able to marry.

The Crown Prince was right; however, the ceremony was only done once a year for all the noble ladies, on one specific date and that day had already passed. The Duke will have to wait for a year if he wants to marry the princess.

"I understand," Kian said, "but it seems that the age had already passed for my beautiful princess."

Lara was already seventeen years old and she was not invited to the Kingdom ball at that time. The Queen made up a stupid excuse to let her out from the ceremony.

"I will make this time her ceremony, the Life Spirits are already blessing this day as I asked the High Temple priest and now it is the best day to pray to them for a fortunate marriage. Don't you think, my king?"

Lara contained a small smile, it seemed the Duke had come prepared. The Crown Prince frowned as it seemed that the Duke had ignored him on purpose as if they didn't have the same level of authority.

"I guess... it is alright," the King had to swallow his fury as he saw how the Duke was enjoying humiliating him in his own house.

"Then," the Duke turned around and bowed towards Lara. "I shall ask for the first dance of the lady."

"Where is the gift?"

Mina was still looking at the couple with a frown in her eyes.

"There must be a gift for the lady, doesn't it? We can let the ceremony without it or it won't ever be considered valid."

Her eyes seemed to challenge the Duke, to test him and see if he was worthy of Lara. Though, many believed that it was a way to create conflict as she was resentful.

"In that case," the King was about to order for a present, as he was the father of the princess, though he had nothing prepared. Just a small jewel will do, for now, he thought.

However, the Duke didn't let him continue. Again, the Duke had proven his eagerness to have the beautiful lady. Then a man with a beautiful golden box embedded with many jewels approached the couple after giving a respectful bow. At the sign of the Duke he opened the box and from inside a beautiful silver ring with an emerald stone appeared to marvel the curious eyes.

It was the emblem of the Eylos Dukedom. The green stone on a silver canvas.

"My lady," the Duke lowered his body as he asked Lara for her hand. "Will you allow me?"

Lara smiled nervously and bit her lip. Then she watched her father, the King for a moment as if asking for permission.

The King was stunned. Those pretty eyes, the same as her mother's, the ones that he never forgot, not even after many years and many women passing his bed.

He saw the innocence brimming inside those beautiful eyes, and he nodded. Even if he didn't want to give his consent without taking advantage of the Duke's infatuation first, he didn't have a choice when the Duke was also looking at him with a threat beneath his gaze.

Lara smiled brightly at the King and then gave her hand to the handsome man in front of her.

"I... I do," she said shyly. Her gorgeous face and her sweet voice melt the hearts of most of the guests. It was as if they were hearing a lovely song that only fairies were able to let out.

The sound of the orchestra suddenly resonated in the hall, and a beautiful melody sounded. The song was special, the ones playing it were musicians hired by the Duke's people. Soft, gentle, and filled with sentiment, and also with a strange and nostalgic feeling embedded in every note.

The Duke put the ring in her finger and kissed her hand for a few seconds. Lara felt as if he wasn't ready to let go of her skin, and those eyes... those eyes were telling her to prepare herself.

Then he proceeded to take her to the dance floor. His hand on her waist, her hand on his shoulder and they moved following the gentle melody.

Lara knew the shameless Duke was pulling her to his chest as he lifted her many times on purpose.

"Don't..." she whispered as his hand was caressing her back, "stop it."

"I won't..." he said with a voice filled with joy. "you are mine now."

She sighed in helplessness, "I am not anyone's."

"No..." he whispered, "you are mine as I am yours."

She raised a brow, but deep inside she felt a danger. Her heart had already made up her mind. She will let him have her, even take her to bed as she planned her revenge while using him. However, she never thought that the dangerous and vicious man will be so head over heels for her, the desire was evident, but it was not her body that he wanted. She could feel it.

"Lara?"

She blushed and didn't look at his eyes. "Your Highness is too much for me. I can't accept to have you for my own."

"No... it's too late, my dear, even if we go back in time, even if you try to make me hate you, I am already yours..." he whispered. "And... I will wait for your heart to be ready for me..."

The music continued but they had stopped moving. He was holding her tightly in his embrace and she could only lower her head to hear the pounding of his heart.

'This is wrong,' she thought, 'this shouldn't happen.'