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.
28. Chaessy’s Opinions
Chaessy's Opinions
Chambers of the Reading Association,
The Estate of Duke Walterus,
The Town of Crimsonton,
Kingdom of Velicia,
About an hour before noon,
The Eighth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
It felt exhilarating to know that despite saying no words or invoking any action, Amelia Luna-dynn seemed to have Erion's eyes constantly scuttling towards her. Twice, just during the meeting. That fact, for some unknown reason, made her confidence rise.
And further, she was unsure of whether he gave her such attention because she was new or if it was because he was potentially the vigilante that had saved her the previous night. The damsel dearly wished it was the latter, but she could not tell for certain.
She stayed for the meeting that lasted about twenty minutes. It was wonderful, for the nobles gathered there were each expressing their views on a given subject.
"The Woes of war" was the book that had been assigned to their reading for the previous occasion. It was one that the damsel of auburn hair had already read, about a few years ago. Thus, she deemed it would be worthy to partake in the conversation.
It was a novel about the sorrows of a group of women that had lost their husbands who were warriors in the battlefield against a vicious dragon. The mighty beast continues to force the people of the nation to serve him and the women participate in the gallows of the dragon as its maidens. Soon, they poison the monstrous salamander, by pretending to be faithful, and avenge the death of their husbands.
There was a romance, however, betwixt one of the widows and a guard at the Dragon's ravine. That was the woman that Head Knight Erion had written his opinion on.
However, the details were not present in her mind and she was far too shy to put forth her voice to the nobles. Thus, she held back and merely listened to their various opinions and observed the dynamics of the table gathering.
The youngest was a damsel named Lady Chaessy, who was still a youth of about seventeen years in age. She had a long face, pleading large eyes, long black hair that was parted up the middle and a very high forehead bearing thick brows. Her cheeks were as pink as her lips and she looked soft and beautiful.
It seemed like the damsel had not been debuted into the higher society, but as a daughter of the nobles, it was inevitable that her presentation into the culture of marital adults would soon come. After all, many young ladies were being debuted to society when they were still far too younger that season, since the second crown Prince's hand to marriage would be available.
Chaessy was loud with all that she had to say and oft did interrupt others that were speaking. Those that were cut off simply silenced and watched, waiting impatiently for her to make her statements.
"I believe the concept of revenge holds the greatest interest in this novel", Sean began.
"But it is sorted into the romance genre and that is the reason we do read it", the youngest of the gathering stated. "I love the chemistry that the two share, it is heart warming and almost feels thrilling for it is amidst much danger, don't you agree?"
"Those are matters found in all books alike, Chae. But the unique tendency of this story is its revolution around the fact that they are all widows with vengeance in their hearts", Knight Roden said, raking a hand through his shabby olive hair.
"I know what you are saying, but that is only a circumstance that brings a sense of danger to the romance of these two!" Chaessy held on to her point.
"Alright then", Sean clasped his hands. "But I do beg to differ from your opinion. It is not the couple that the story revolves around, but their being an added part to the story as a whole."
Amelia looked over to see Erion seated at the edge of the room, expressionless, like he did not agree or disagree. He was just observing.
Roden imposed, "Sean is right; the full extent of the story bears maximally the war and the hurt and the longing. The romance could very well pass as a rebound, since she had hardly recovered from her mourning for her deceased husband."
"How long does one take to get over the dead? It has been a year at least since then!" Chae said, her voice with tremors. It was evident that she was beginning to feel attacked, for she was the single one holding her opinion and none of the others supported it.
"Well", Amelia began, attempting to soothe the situation. "Per-haps, since it is a story, it is healthy to consider all affairs in entirety. While it is true that some might interpret the romance as the female lead's attempt to gain access into the privacy of the dragon's chamber to poison him, it is also quite strong to pay note that the love sparked between the two did not even regard circumstance.
The female lead charged against the dragon to avenge her deceased husband, so the fact that she was in love with another person whilst doing it is scandalous. But despite all of that, the book still ended with their marriage, imposing that love is not constrained by situation to become whole. So I believe that love and war bear equal consequence in the matter and it is up to the reader to pick their perceptions."
"That is exactly what I'm saying!" Chae cried, making the damsel of dark brown hair to feel like she had just supported the spoilt young noble.
Amelia hesitated, hoping the others would not think she was siding with her, for all she had intended to do was soothe the tensions. She looked around to see that all the others at the table held their heads low, like their eyes didn't wish to meet each other's.
She wondered if she had spoken out of turn, creating a marred impression on her very first engagement with them.
~