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.
44. Of Books and Flowers
Of Books and Flowers
~
Madame Mirie's Flower Shop,
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
"Aw, come now, madame, should you not be grateful for those that bring money to the establishment", Amelia gave Madame Mirie a condescending look.
"Not these hooligans, no! There are no more young men coming in like butterflies to buy flowers for their ladies! There are only old men buzzing in like bees and wanting to take my beautiful blooms for their mistresses! I despise them! And to some men, I do not give them good flowers! It breaks my heart!" the woman was rambling her everyday sorrows.
Something about that thought left a sad feeling gripping Amelia's chest. She did not know what to say.
Then, when Mirie had finished speaking her heart out, she looked up to Amelia and asked, "What is the matter of your visit? Do you not need to be at the Boutique by now, love?"
"Yes, Madame, I had some errands at the Estate and decided to drop by here before I returned to work", she said.
"Well in that case, I am glad I fed you your lunch, so you won't be left starving for the rest of the day", the florist huffed, blowing a flaming strand of coiling hair off her forehead.
Amelia chuckled in response, "Indeed." Then, straightening her posture, she asked, "I also have a favour to ask of you."
The Lady of short apricot hair perked up at that mention. "What is it, my love? What is bothering you? Tell me how I must help."
As the woman was speaking, her eyes moved to glimpse beyond the doors where there seemed to be people at the Flower Shop's porch. Amelia, in response, curiously turned around to take a look.
Madame Mirie rose to her feel, pressed the creases off her apron and cast the wreath of blood roses on a large timber table behind her. "There seem to be customers looking at the porch flowers. Come, my dear, let us go outdoors and you can tell me what it is", the woman said.
"Yes, Madame", the young dame nodded, following the dark skinned lady out to the porch.
Once they were out, beneath the rustic, flower clad awning, Madame Mirie was maintaining a watch on the many people who were inspecting her blossoms, while Amelia began pouring the contents of her day that far:
"There was quite an unexpected circumstance today. I had been sent to deliver a gown that was tailor made for Miss Charlene Walterus at their Estate and wait there until I had received payment. As you may know already, their household was quite engaged since the Prince had visited them."
Madame Mirie nodded quietly to everything the damsel was saying, to show that she was listening intently.
The young damsel went on:
"So I had to take a very long wait before receiving the payment. In the meantime, I joined Miss Charlene's Reading Association, thanks to the efforts of a few friends I had there, since it would provide a better footing for my writing."
In response thereto, the florist's brows shot up her forehead and she stared at Amelia, in shock. "My dear girl! The Reading Association? You are an official member there now?"
"Well yes", Amelia nodded, abashed by the grand attention.
"That is most commendable! It would do amazing to your book writing", the woman of vermillion coiling hair went on.
"It was purely not my doing. I was blessed with the opportunity. But now I fear Lady Hildeth will be furious if she finds out that I was up to affairs beyond merely the tendering of her business there", the damsel of brown long hair said, biting her lower lip.
"Ahhh I see", Madame Mirie nodded. "Why not simply cover it up? Do not let the woman know until she eventually finds out. Then, she would not suspect you joined during work hours" the lady suggested.
"Yes, but I have a copy of a book they gave me there. I was hoping I could leave the Novel here with you while I go to the Boutique. I can pick it up after work when I'm returning home", Amelia said.
"Well of course!" the woman of the flower shop heaved. "By all means! Leave your book here and be off now. I will see you this eve. I will be very glad if I can see little Jasper with you", she said.
"Yes, Madame. And thank you so very much for the help!" Amelia said, cheerfully, before scuttling into the Florist's shop and placing the novel there. She was careful to take solely the pouch of money and make her way outside.
Just as she was about to wave good bye to Madame Mirie before leaving, she heard a rather familiar male voice speaking with the dark skinned woman, saying, "I would like to place an order for a dozen decanters of rose essence perfume, delivered to Lady Hildeth's by tomorrow."
It was Sir Grendin, a man working at the Boutique, in closest affiliation with Lady Hildeth. He was infamous for telling the faults of the staff to the proprietress. With Amelia already bearing an ill reputation, the last thing she needed was a man as Grendin spotting her beyond work.
Before Amelia could depart therefrom completely unseen by the man making conversation with Madame Mirie, Sir Grendin saw her, his sly eyes refusing to depart.
~