The Binding Debt

"I lost my father and now my mother is selling me out like a common sheep. What do you make out of this? I do not want this, but my mother's obsession with the Windsor family comes with an insatiable desire, even if it means selling off her only child like a common animal.

"If only my father was alive, this marriage wouldn't have happened."

Eleanor said, looking at herself in the mirror while Mrs. Cleef took her measurements for her wedding dress. Mrs. Cleef looked at Eleanor like a tender little puppy and said

"Oh my dear girl, mothers will always do what is best for their daughters and the family. Your mother loves you and she is simply securing your future and that of your unborn children. Accept it with honor and gratitude."

Lady Eleanor Tulip, the only daughter of the late Lord James Tulip and Lady Elena Tulip. Lady Eleanor is like a wild flower that blooms in the most unexpected places, spreading joy everywhere she goes.

She had the eyes of a dew-kissed petal. Her hair is as rich as the tapestry of curls, dark as midnight going down her back like a waterfall. Her smile was a radiant beam of sunshine that could light up even the darkest corners of a room.

Lady Eleanor Tulip is a force of nature with a heart full of passion and a mind full of wonder. She's a dreamer and a believer who leaves a trail of magic to those around her. Lady Eleanor's biggest dream is to loved and be loved, to live happily ever after just like she read in her books.

But, unknown to her, she was already betrothed to the heir of the Windsor family, Daemon Windsor. The news of her marriage to Daemon shattered her heart into pieces, and she became a shadow of herself.

"You owe this to your mother, and to yourself. Madam Windsor agreed to this union with great difficulty. She had no other choice; her debt can only be repaid this way. The Tulips will have a royal legacy through this marriage and you will abide, you will not refuse".

Lady Elena said, holding Lady Eleanor's chin up with a tight grip. Lady Eleanor looked up to her mother and said

"Do you consider me your daughter or a sheep to be sold out to reclaim what is owed to you? The Windsor family are not honourable, i will not find love there, i will not be loved, i will suffer everyday of my life until i my soul joins my father's. Is that what you want for your daughter? You do not love me at all, mother."

Lady Elena looked at her daughter, held her shoulder softly and smiled saying

"my damsel. To love is to suffer, security is more important than love. Forget about love and look at the bigger picture. You will be the Madam of the Windsor Estate, the lady of the house, mother to the heir of the Windsor legacy. My daughter, this is a gift and all it requires is a small sacrifice.

You shall pray to the Lord to give you the love you desire in your next life as long as i will not be your mother. This life is for you to fulfill your duty. Your duty to the family, to your late father and your bloodline. Be a gem and do as you are told."

She kissed Eleanor's forehead and instructed her to prepare to become the next Madam Windsor in two weeks.

Lord Daemon Windsor; The heir to the Windsor fortune with a sense of entitlement as palpable as the air he breathes. His perpetual mask of superiority is as significant as his sculpted features. The mere notion of being challenged is beneath him. He was born with blue eyes and honey-brown hair.

His hair was always impeccably styled to detail – or perhaps it was a hint at his obsession with control. His smile was calculating and rare that one would wonder what he was really thinking behind his mask of sophistication. The weight of his family's legacy was a burden he bears with reluctant acceptance.

His words were covered with disdain. Evidence that he was perpetually bored by his soon-to-be wife, Lady Eleanor Tulip. But, to Lord Daemon, duty trumps desire, passion and love. He always weighed the benefits and drawbacks of every action, every glance and every word.

His heart was like a locked vault, accessible only to his beloved mother – and even then, he keeps the key. Lord Daemon Windsor is a man so convinced of his own superiority that he has forgotten what it means to be human, to love and to have desires.

"I cannot believe I am to be married to that commoner. I bet our sheep are prettier and more desirable." He said to his mother while handing her a glass of wine.

"Why her? Why the Tulips? Mother, you have a good relationship with the Harcourts, the Pembertons, even the Catwrights amongst others but you chose a Tulip to be the future Madam Windsor. Your taste in women is as terrible as mine." He said with a scoff.

Madam Emily Windsor smiled and took a sip from her glass of wine.

"We owe the Tulips a great debt. There was a time your father fell from grace flat on his face, our family went bankrupt and the Tulips came to our rescue. Lord James Tulip offered his help in exchange for this union with his darling Eleanor. Although Lord Tulip is no more but this agreement cannot be breached. You were raised to put duty above everything else. My dear boy, this is duty. Your wedding is in two weeks, I strongly suggest you be in your best behavior for your bride, keep your whores in a box and stay sober. I want to hear the good news of conception as soon as possible, do not dare disappoint me".

Lord Daemon looked at his mother with so much disdain but he could not rebel against her wished, he could only accept the reality of what is required of him. Duty to the Windsor family as the heir is an honor. Lord Daemon and Lady Eleanor were not happy about their union.

They felt like they were being sent to a cage with no guarantee of freedom. A week before their wedding, Lord Daemon informed his mother that he would like to see Lady Eleanor before the wedding.

"Are you that impatient?" asked Madam Emily.

"Mother, it is not a matter of impatience, I simply wish to see her to practice tolerance. Let me see her just once before the wedding." He responded. Madam Emily agreed to his request and sent a letter to Lady Elena informing her of Lord Daemon's request to see Lady Eleanor before the wedding.

Upon receiving the letter, Lady Elena was over the moon and she quickly prepared a fashionable dress for Lady Eleanor.

"My dear daughter, my damsel, my sweet little girl, your husband must really adore you. He is so impatient and wishes to see you before the wedding. I never got a chance to see your father before our marriage, i feel so jealous. My dear, be ready, be happy, smile, he must leave here impressed and perhaps you will get the love you desire." Said Lady Elena.

Lady Eleanor looked at her mother with disappointment and sadness in her eyes

"Lord Daemon Windsor is a man incapable of love. He is a whoremonger and a drunk, i have never heard any pleasant tale about him." She spoke.

"Silence Eleanor Tulip!" Lady Elena yelled with anger. She grabbed Lady Eleanor's hair tightly and said "How dare you speak about your husband that way? You will speak about your husband with respect. You belong to Lord Daemon Windsor and in two weeks, you shall become his wife, so you better start acting like it."

She left the blue dress on Lady Eleanor's bed and walked away mumbling.

Lord Daemon Windsor's carriage wheel crunched the gravel driveway, announcing his arrival to the Tulips. Lady Elena Tulip welcomes him with a hug and a heart full of excitement.

"Where is she? I thought she would be at the door to welcome her dear husband." Lord Daemon said while flirting with Lady Elena's handmaid with his eyes.

"Oh, my dear boy, you have grown so much. But today is not for us to catch up on old times, today is for you and my sweet Eleanor. Your wife awaits in her chambers. My handmaid, Lilian, will lead you to her." Lady Elena said, pointing at her handmaid.

The sound of Lord Daemon's footsteps echoed in the hallway, and Lady Eleanor's heart skipped a beat.

"You have to leave now, that is not a familiar footstep, i believe it is Lord Daemon. Go quickly." Lady Eleanor said to Richard while holding his hand. Richard responded

"you look scared. If you don't want this marriage, you do not have to go through with it." He holds her hands together trying to keep her calm and Lilian opened the door with Lord Daemon standing behind her.

Lord Daemon looked at the way Richard held Lady Eleanor's hands with disbelief and anger. Richard quickly picked up his hat, and left after a bow of respect to Lord Daemon.

"How often do men visit your chambers, my lady?" asked Lord Daemon in a condescending tone.

"And you must be Lord Daemon Windsor. Welcome to my home, is there anything i can offer you, my Lord?" Lady Eleanor responded. Lord Daemon walked into her chambers with pride looking down on her and taking note of the décor. He looked at her again and said with a mischievous smile

"I simply wanted to see you and not hear you speak, did my mother not mention that in her letter? Indeed, the sheep is prettier and you look like a poor return of investment.

"You should consider marrying the sheep but i doubt the sheep would want you. A sheep would never lay with a poorly raised goat." She said with a smirk.

Lord Daemon scoffed and left hurriedly. Lady Elena tried to offer him some wine but he turned it down and hurried back to the Windsor Estate.

"You never told me she was a loud mouth and a promiscuous with no respect for her husband. Was this an element of surprise?" Lord Daemon said to his mother while pacing back and forth. She looked at him in disbelief and said

"Eleanor is chaste, she is decent, what are you talking about? What did you do? What did you say to her? Did you have a fight with her?" Lord Daemon told his mother he had seen Lady Eleanor with a man in her chambers, he was holding her hand and the position was inappropriate.

"Mother, i do not want another man's leftovers, i do not want this marriage, this duty. The girl is undesirable and she has no dignity. I am Lord Daemon Windsor, men eat my leftovers and that cannot change." He said with anger in his eyes and a closed fist.

Madam Emily responded assertively

"My dear Daemon, i am your mother and not one of your whores, you will speak to me with respect. I do not know what you saw and i do not wish to know. A deal is a deal, duty is duty and you cannot change it. You will be married to Lady Eleanor Tulip in less than two weeks and that is final."

Lady Elena throws a glass at the wall almost hitting Eleanor and she yelled

"Silly girl! What have you done? Do you not have any limits? What was that wretched boy doing in your chambers on the day Lord Daemon chose to see you? Why are you trying to make my life difficult? Do you not care about your mother?"

Lady Eleanor stood up from her chair and walked to her mother.

"Richard is my childhood friend, he is my only friend, he can come to my chambers whenever he wants. What Lord Daemon saw doesn't matter and it won't change anything, i do not understand why you are trying to play checkers with your blood pressure. Lord Daemon will become my husband in less than two weeks, allow me spend time with my only friend before i leave."

Lady Elena looked at her with suspicion, considering how agreeable she has suddenly become.

"Do not glare at me like that my sweet mother, I understand my duty to my family and I am ready to do it." Lady Eleanor said with a smile on her face and she hugged her mother.

"Daemon Windsor, i will become your wife and you will become my husband but for what you have done today, your life will become chaotic in my hands. I will make you wish for death." Said Lady Eleanor before she blew out her candle.