I Will Be Duchess Devland

"Is there something you need from me, Princess Valerie?"

The atmosphere of the resting chamber was chilly. The Duke's expression was tinged with annoyance, his tone impatient and he poised the question as soon as she sat across from him. His intentions were loud and clear - she was not welcome.

"Hmph, you should really train those inept dogs of yours better. Where on Earth did they get the gall to stop me in my own home?"

"Princess Valerie," the Duke spoke again, a frown donning his lips, "This private lounging area was granted to me by the Emperor and even he himself cannot come and go as he pleases. Do you hold yourself in a higher regard than that of Emperor William?"

Valerie rolled her eyes, crossing her arms and leaning further back into the plushness of the couch. It was as if she did not that his words seriously, despite the fact that it could be seen as contempt by anyone else.

Her eyes trailed along the room, landing on a teapot with steam still escaping its top. The chocolate aroma of the tea from earlier lingered in the air and tickled her nose.

She scoffed softly. He actually dared to have tea with that bastard child? It was as if he were hellbent on making her jealous.

"Still as mannerless as ever I see, Azriel. Aren't you going to offer me some tea before you attempt to lecture me?"

"I would, Your Highness, but I doubt you'll be here long enough to enjoy it."

Whenever she was with the Duke, her fiery temperament would curb but the arrogance in her demeanor would remain unchanged. Had it been anyone else to speak so rashly to her, their days would surely be numbered.

Fine, whatever. If she were to be his bride soon she would not waste her breath fighting over his lack of etiquette. She was used to this prickly attitude of his anyways.

Valerie leaned forward and reached for the teapot herself. Azriel did not stop her. It was not until she finished savoring the first sip that she spoke again.

"My brother will officially announce our engagement at tonight's ball. Starting from tonight, I will be your bride and the new Duchess Devland. On account of our history, I felt it only right to inform you lest you be blindsided later."

Azriel chuckled without mirth, "Did you think I would remain unaware of this fact when your favorite pastime is running your mouth?"

Of course, he knew of the Emperor's plans to grant him a marriage to his sister, Princess Valerie. How could he not? What the Princess loved most was showing off her rare processions that others were unable to have - and in this case, it was him.

What he detested the most in this world was being plotted against.

Princess Valerie pursed her lips and did not mind his sharp words. Her arrogance remained unchanged, "It is good that you know. In case you have any thoughts of defying it later on, you should also know that our union will be directly blessed by the Holy Church. Not even you, Azriel, can challenge the words of the Gods."

Valerie assumed that the Duke would lash out. After all, a marriage blessed by the Holy Church was basically a marriage contract upheld by the Gods themselves. In the history of the Salian Empire, it was a privilege only obtained by those of the royal family and nobles who had done extraordinary deeds for the nation.

A sacred marriage contract was just that - extremely sacred. It was an oath of marriage to the Gods that could bring many blessings to the couple but also a reality too harsh to bear if broken - punishment by death, the Gods' wrath.

It was extremely common for nobles, especially those of the royal family, to marry as a transaction and without love. For this reason, martial affairs were not rare and as time progressed, no one would seek out a sacred marriage union.

It was clear that Valerie wished to make use of the Holy Church to force Duke Devland into marrying her and ultimately making it so that he could only have her for the rest of their lives.

"Is that all you wished to tell me, Your Highness?" Unlike expected, Azriel did not lash out. He was calm and met her gaze evenly with no hints of anger or panic.

"When I'm Duchess Devland, the first thing I'll do is fix that impolite attitude of yours." Valerie snorted softly, "I assume that answer means you will no longer outrun your fate?"

"What fate is there to outrun? As far as I'm concerned, Your Highness, even the Holy Church cannot force one to marry another."

"So what? There has never been a single thing that I cannot have." The Princess took another sip of tea, arrogance and elegance flooding her features. "Let me tell you something, Azriel. In this world, money and power can buy everything. Even those fools in the church that everyone worships can be brought - it is only a matter of if one can name a sufficient price or not."

She was extremely confident in the plan her brother, William, had let her in on. It was bound to work, even on the infamous Heartless Duke. Regardless of his power, there was no one that could go against the Holy Church.

Azriel laughed, a deep hollow laugh that was tinged with mockery and ridicule. "Even Saintess Naraina?"

Valerie frowned. Her eyes swept over the man in front of her, "Does it matter? Saintess Naraina has not been seen since her appointment to the Holy Church. Have you become so desperate that you believe she will come forth and stop this? Even if she did, what can she do? It is quite clear that she holds no power there, else why would those fools be so easily swayed by worldly possessions?"

"Is that so?" The Duke smiled without mirth, his eyes dark. Valerie felt a sudden premonition, as if his words held a deeper meaning but she lost her opportunity to dig further when a soft tapping on the door interrupted them.

Caleb entered the room, giving a formal greeting. "Emperor William's meeting has ended early and he is now on his way to the ballroom. It is best that we are there when he is, My Lord."

Azriel nodded and then turned his attention back to Valerie. "Princess Valerie, I hope that after tonight, you realize that there are some things that cannot be brought with money. Myself included."

He left without looking back, leaving the Princess in deep thought.

He could not have possibly found a way to escape the sacred marriage contract, could he? There was absolutely no way, her brother had made sure of it. He just wanted to knock her confidence, that was all.

Still, she could not shake the off feeling she felt in her heart that was telling her nothing would go to plan tonight.