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.
41. The Reality of Beauty Standards
The Reality of Beauty Standards
~
The Estate of Duke Walterus,
The Town of Crimsonton,
Kingdom of Velicia,
The hours after Noon,
The Eighth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
Amelia Luna-dynn looked up, phasing out of her thoughts and realised that Knight Erion was smiling at her curiously. "Do you want to sit on it?" he tapped his lap, jocundly and she realised that she had been staring at his lap.
"N-no no!" she leaned away from him, blushing, for the thought of what suggested flashed across her mind.
The man laughed in response to her abashed repulse, before saying, "Well I wouldn't mind."
"I would be uncomfortable. And besides, I'm a lot heavier than the average woman you are accustomed to seeing in society", Amelia said, her eyes trained on the floor as she brushed invisible tendrils of hair off her forehead. She berated herself for staring at him so awkwardly, but also did not understand why he was being as flirtatious with her when he was clearly in some sort of relationship with Miss Charlene Walterus.
"I don't think you are as full sized as you belittle yourself to be. Your shape is most flattering to the eye. And besides, what man wouldn't appreciate such a voluptuous lady as yourself?" he winked.
"Any man, I assume? It is not entertained by higher society that a woman should measure beyond the assigned counts. And I outweigh such ideal shape and am, therefore, not beautiful in the eyes of this kingdom", the damsel of curling brown hair shrugged.
"That does not mean I cannot carry you with ease. You are still quite small. And besides, these are standards set by women for other women; not particularly what each man would find attractive", the Knight said.
Amelia felt her heart skip a beat for everything he was saying, like he was pursuing her most admiringly. A part of her heart's musings wondered if he considered himself strong enough to carry her due to his potentially being the vigilante who had saved her, gallantly sweeping her up in his arms. Although she wasn't certain if he was the mysterious rescuer, her feelings were brimming with hope.
However, she felt the cautious need to set some distance between themselves, for she knew he had interests in Miss Charlene.
"As you would well know, Erion", she interposed softly, "you must have seen many attractive noble women who meet the imposed beauty standards, and surely must have taken a liking to them."
Through all her conversations, she made no contact with his eyes that were intensely upon her shy disposition.
"I am not a man who holds many fancies for ladies of high society. I have always preferred to see more natural women from the villages who are about their own work. Their ideal sizes have never quite appealed to me, I have always only admired a woman for personality and loyalty. But high society, as you suspect, has no place for me", said the man.
Amelia looked up to stare at him, fairly shocked. She had not anticipated that he would say such a thing, given the fact that he was as close as he was to Charlene. "I had no idea you had been feeling this way in high society; I had always assumed your associates were part thereof", the damsel said, looking down at her lap.
Erion chuckled in response. "No, no, it is not where I was born. And besides, I could never actually marry a woman of high society and be a part of that world for the rest of my life. I am not of aristocratic blood", he shrugged.
"Ah, but I assumed you had eyes for someone who was of the nobles", Amelia blurted, speaking without thinking.
He gazed down at her with something of a smile hanging lopsided on his lips, and said, "I did not think you had such a detailed outlook of my relationship. But to say one thing, I am very close friends only very few; and there truly is someone I mildly fancy, but she is far beyond my league and I am sure she will soon marry another man she is seeing. So I will stay alone for the rest of my life." He finished with a chuckle and half a shrug.
The damsel of long brown hair nodded, suspecting that the one he fancied should have been Charlene. But it was apparent that they were bearing no serious relationship between themselves; it was merely just a friendship where they meant an extra dose to each other. And so, she said, "Aw I don't believe there is anyone that is beyond your league. And I do know that there would be countless women out there who would love to marry you! You have every wonderful quality that any lady would desire in a husband, so there is no reason for you to feel that way." With a wink, she gave his arm a playful tug.
The Head Knight laughed in response, before saying, "Perhaps there are maidens as such, but I'm not much into company. It is solely the people from the Book Association I've enjoyed being with. And even there, I do not talk to everyone. Only a select few of choice. So finding myself a lovely bride who would meet all my expectations would be difficult, for most the members are high society here, unwilling to marry a commoner. But until then, I will wait for her." As his last words left him, he took a long gaze at her and his eyes slowly went down her whole body.
Feeling conscious, Amelia smiled and hugged herself. "I see", she nodded, awkwardness overcoming her, for the conversation had cut off.
Just then, Head Knight Erion perked up and then she heard the sound of scurrying footsteps. He removed his hand from behind her and leaned a little away from her side, until a maid hurried into the lounge, nearly breathless.
"Miss, you must be from Lady Hildeth's Boutique?" the woman asked.
"Yes, I am", Amelia responded, feeling Erion relax at her side. She rose to her feet and approached the maid.
"Here is the payment for the dress from this morning", the woman handed her a leather pouch.
"Yes, thank you", the damsel of brown curly hair nodded, taking the settled price. Then, turning to Knight Erion, she said, "Alright, I will be taking my leave now."
The man, in response, rose to his full height, till she only reached to his neck, looked down at her and smirked, "I will be on my way out as well. Would you like me to escort you?"
~