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.
46. She does not give up what she does not possess
She does not give up what she does not possess
~
Charlene's Personal Bed Chambers,
The Estate of Duke Walterus,
The Town of Crimsonton,
Kingdom of Velicia,
Eventide,
The Eighth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
Charlene Walterus rested upon the railings of her vast balcony and cast her gaze down the beautiful gardens. She watched Alessia Heartrim leaving the gates of her Estate with the two books in hand.
Just before she passed, the young noble woman turned around and looked up to the balcony, smiled and waved at Charlene. The daughter of the Mansion returned the gesture merrily, and watched on until the dame boarded a humble looking carriage and rode off beyond eyeshot.
They had shared a great deal of conversation, where Charlene had indulged in much gossip regarding the people in her life, how hard working she was for the sake of the Hall of Publications and her absolute dedication.
With all of that, she had won the young girl's sympathies. Charlene had then invited her and her sister to come by any time and enjoy a meal or tea with her.
As she watched the roses in full bloom and the sun descending slowly down the skies, the sound of clinking teacups reached Charlene's ears and she stole a glimpse over her shoulder to see that her Head Maid, Lady Christy, was putting the evening snack she had shared with Alessia away and clearing the ceramics. She turned her eyes back to the scene of the gardens ahead of her.
"Christy", the heir of the household said, feeling the cool breeze of the evening fan her face and sweep her fair, honey hair off of her shoulders, as the word parted from her lips.
"Yes, my lady? What can I do for you?", the woman's old voice came, and the sound of putting cups and dishes away ceased instantly.
"After the meeting at the Reading Association, I did not see Head Knight Erion. He did not bid me good bye. Did he leave in a rush towards some urgent business?" Charlene asked, turning slightly to see the elderly maid who was her closest attendant.
"Well, no, my lady. He was lingering about the corridor while you were at the master's office and then he was in the lounge. I believe he simply departed from here, shortly after, when you were here with Lady Heartrim', the woman replied.
"Did he leave alone?" she asked, running her hands through her golden hair, that looked shimmering yet darker in the lack of light.
"No, my lady. He left with the new young damsel who joined the club this morning, on his horse", the maid reported.
Charlene felt a stab of betrayal when she heard the words. It felt unfair that a new comer of lowly origin and no wealth or beauty was holding the attention of the men that only she held the eyes of.
"You mean the peasant girl who brought this gown from Lady Hildeth's?" the aristocratic damsel asked, feeling frustrated that he was spending his company with Amelia while she was free. And he had not even bid her good bye.
"Yes, my lady", the Head Maid replied, with a bow.
"Alright, Christy. Thank you very much", the golden haired girl replied, before walking into her bedchamber and lying down on the mattress.
Pangs of anxiety and jealousy enveloped her at the thought of Knight Erion giving his attention to her. A sort of fear went through her heart like an arrow, when she imagined his actually liking Amelia.
Charlene knew that it was a good decision on her part to spread ill affairs about Amelia to Alessia Heartrim, for word thereof could spread like a wild fire. Gossip was always far more useful in the heed of the women of society, rather than the men, for they only talked about sports or hunting or news. But the ladies were swift to spread word regarding other people's lives.
If the concept of Amelia being a treacherous person spread to Knight Erion from Alessia, Charlene could confirm it in passive conversation and the men could sustain a bad opinion of her.
After all, she knew that loyalty was the sole trait Erion found most attractive and that was precisely the one Charlene had portrayed Amelia to lack.
In turn, the Walterus daughter would be considered kind for being accommodative of even a peasant girl of spiteful nature.
She knew it would play out as planned, but in order to maintain such, Charlene needed to recapture Erion's attention. She could get him jealous if she grew closer to Baron Sean, and that would get the knight to pursue her further and know that she disliked that he was growing close to another woman.
It was fairly easy for the beautiful Charlene to win any man's attention with just even her looks. Her personality was an added bonus that made the men feel like they were fortunate to have her company.
But then, a sad feeling enveloped her when she remembered the conversation she had held with her father where she had realised that the crown Prince did not hold the same interest in her person. He had been more devoted to the business at hand and paid nearly no attention to her despite how spectacular she had looked that day.
It revved up the urge to somehow win him. But presently, it made her fear the man had his heart in the hands of someone else, and she needed a sense of validation that she was better. It was always something she could find in the conversations she had with Knight Erion.
She missed the dark curly haired knight. The fact that he could be enjoying Amelia's presence brought a single tear drop to roll down her cheek and on to the soft sheets beneath her.
How could he leave without even wishing her good bye, when she had been nothing but kind to him?
And that was when Charlene remembered that there had been a rather unpleasant talk with the Prince that morning.
She recollected that Erion had been so uncomfortable and even lost his calm when Prince Rayzenn had held the most critical and disagreeable interrogation against him for being slack at the face of the vigilantism.
However, she had not paid attention thereto, for she had been watching the Prince's majestic disposition and daydreaming of how wondrous it would be to win a marriage with him.
It was obvious that Erion was avoiding meeting her, because he was irked by the fact that she was there when the Royal gentleman was calling out on his incompetency and lashing out. So his behaviour wasn't a means of outright ignoring her.
Charlene decided that she would win his heart back, the way she always did.
~