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.
45. Favours always come at a Price
Favours always come at a Price
~
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
Just as Amelia Luna-dynn 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's already 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.
Feeling her heart take a stab of fright, the damsel hurried down the streets towards the Boutique. Fear was gripping her senses, for she knew that the man was cunning and could cause her to lose her employment should he wish for it.
The Boutique was only a turn of the avenue away and the dame was not sure if Sir Grendin would follow close and tell Lady Hildeth of Amelia right away or would confront her with the matter first. She greatly preferred the latter so she could try her hand at convincing with an excuse.
She could feel tears of fright and anxiety pricking at the back of her eyes, for this was the very first instance in her whole career when she had slipped away from work, and it seemed to be the only time when the man closest Lady Hildeth had to spot her.
Just as she approached the establishment, she felt a man's fast approaching footsteps behind her. His large shadow against the after-noon sun fell over her and she turned around to see his old face grinning.
"Well, well, well, Miss Amelia. A pleasure crossing paths with you while running errands. I had no idea you would be about your own business during work hours", the man said, taking long strides to get by her side, the regular sly smile hanging on his lips.
"Of course not, Sir Grendin; I wouldn't dare to. I was merely completing my lunch hour there at Madame Mirie's before I could return to the Boutique", the damsel said.
"Is that so?" the man's face forged into a suspicious expression, one thick brow rising and his mouth twisting to a side.
Amelia stopped walking and looked up at him, worried.
"That doesn't quite sound the way I heard it", Sir Grendin looked at her with mock disappointment.
"W-what did you mean?" the damsel could feel her fear winning the greater part of her senses.
"Joining Miss Charlene's Reading Association and receiving a novel from our client during duty is ill to your employment, do you not think so?" he chuckled, folding his arms and inclining his head to one side.
Amelia gasped, "Where did you hear that?"
"A little damsel was saying it herself to the florist while I was close by for reason of business itself", Sir Grendin shrugged, before turning his gaze towards the Boutique, which was across the street.
The dame realised that he must have been lingering close by during her conversations with Madame Mirie. "I-I believe none of this has anything to do with you, Sir Grendin", she tried to fervently stand her ground, although she was terrified.
In response, the middle aged man threw his head back at chuckled. "You do realise your life's source of money and support is at stake, don't you? One word to Lady Hildeth is all it will take", he tipped his hat.
"Y-you wouldn't tell her, would you? Please?" her eyes began to burn at the verge of coming tears and she blinked several times to try and keep them at bay.
Sir Grendin clicked his tongue as he looked down at her, a sort of sly look in his eyes. "I may consider holding the news back from her ladyship…" he began. "But of course, all favours are conditional."
"What do you intend to have from me?" she asked, a part of her concerns swept in relief and another part fearing his request may be unattainable.
The man rubbed his broad chin pensively, giving her a once over. Then, he cleared his throat and said, "I will have you know what you must do for me when I have the need. As long as you would succumb, I shall withhold from Lady Hildeth's knowledge. But if you slip, then you may as well prepare for the consequences." The smile on his face hardly faltered.
Amelia nodded slowly and softly said, "Alright."
"I must be off to visit a few clients now. Good day to you, Miss Amelia", the man said, but she did not reply.
The damsel simply turned around and began making her way towards the Boutique. She felt like screaming and wailing, for it seemed like she had run into a trap on the very first time she did something for herself.
It hurt to imagine how desperate her family would be if she lost the job and was left to repay Lady Hildeth a lofty debt with no income. As she pushed the doors and walked into the Boutique, all the ladies who seemed to be gathered around chattering silenced and looked up to see who had come.
When they realised it was her, they returned to their respective conversations. Amelia could not shake off her mind what Sir Grendin had told her. It seemed like she would stay ever indebted to his favours until either he or she had left the job for good.
She put the money received from the Walterus Estate into the Boutique's treasury, where an ill-tempered woman, Miss Fiona, was seated.
"Where is Lady Hildeth?" Amelia asked.
"She was requested to visit the Imperial Castle for a specific order from the Regent Queen. It will be far too late by the time she returns, so you may report whatever it is to her tomorrow", the woman replied, without removing her eyes from the fabric she was hemming.
The damsel of chestnut hair nodded and walked over to one of the circles of women, in order to see what they were conversing, hoping to distract her mind from her troubles.
They seemed to be speaking of how Prince Rayzenn had visited the Walterus', in order to meet Miss Charlene.
Something about the news consoled the young dame, allowing her to know that the woman Knight Erion liked would soon become the wife of another, leaving the man she suspected to be the vigilante free for her own heart.
~