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.
14. Old Friends in New Places
OLD FRIENDS IN NEW PLACES
~
The Estate of Duke Walterus,
The Town of Crimsonton,
Kingdom of Velicia,
Early hours of the morning,
The Eighth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
The doors opened, and Amelia Luna-dynn looked over to see Knight Erion walk out of Miss Charlene's chambers, with a pleasant expression in his eyes and a blush hanging about his ears.
She felt her heart die a little, as the man she had been fantasising about walked past her, seeming content after a personal meeting with a fair lady. He had hardly noticed that she was there in that very hall, but calmly walked past, like he had business.
The damsel of long, curly, auburn hair held the book in her hand tight against her chest and waited till he left the room. It seemed nearly like he was so dazed from the meeting that he hardly needed to spare any of his surroundings a glance.
She knew that there was no official courtship between the two, but there certainly were sparks. Of course, Amelia hadn't believed entirely that he would have fallen in love with the daughter of the Duke, but it seemed greatly likely, given his disposition.
She silently sat down upon the long, exquisite couches of the hall and placed the novel on her lap, intending to hopefully distract herself with the reading.
The doors of the chamber opened yet again, to allow the exit of one of the hand maidens. And at that moment, the damsel from the dressmakers was allowed a brief glimpse of Lady Charlene Walterus:
She was most elegant and comely in every way, with not a single blemish upon her face. Her skin was dazzling and her hair was fair golden coloured, sashaying down to beneath her slender hips like a waterfall of honey, no tendrils out of place in their dance. Her cheeks were rosy, with some splashes of freckles written over her nose in constellations. Her eyes were ocean blue and glassy, enough to look innocent, yet to captivate the onlooker and to keep them seduced.
The glassy, wine coloured garment that Amelia had brought was being draped over the young lady's slim body, making her look like a feast to the beholder.
Yet, all the sight of beauty that captivated the Luna-dynn damsel's senses had not enticed her enough to be mesmerised, but had left a sad feeling of longing and defeat in her heart.
Then, a young hand-maid, who had stepped out, closed the door behind her and scurried over, saying to Amelia, "Please do make yourself comfortable here; I will have the chef serve you some delicacies whilst you wait."
In response, dame of long curling hair nodded, and bowed, holding her skirts in hand, and said, "Thank you for the service."
She stayed there, seated on the couch, reading the novel that seemed to be about a couple with an unhappy marriage and great deals of misunderstanding betwixt them. She twisted a lock of her curly brown hair with a finger as her senses dived into the book in hand.
The story she was writing on her own accord was a love story in itself, but the current read was one bearing a completely contrary perspective, yet was contemporary romance. The damsel wondered if she could incorporate such heartbreaks into her own writing to spice the storyline.
She looked up and gazed at the shelves of books lining the walls of the place. There were many decked in the cupboards, preserved by glass doors, from varied genre, sorted by authors and tropes. There were mostly non-fictions.
It was natural to have such assorted variety and collection, since the Duke was invested in the business of publications. Although it was mostly the broadcasting of news and decrees of the King and bringing the affairs of the land to the people, owning tides of other books, scribing the copies of books and lending to libraries was also consisted in the duties of the Walterus entity.
As Amelia sat in her place and mused over how she would one day have a novel of her own published in like array, there was the sound of nearing footsteps. She turned around to see who had entered the hall, and found that it was the approaching shadow of a young lad bearing treats.
"Lia?" his familiar voice sounded and the damsel perked up in response.
"Daren?" asked she, excited that there was native acquaintance in exquisite environment. The damsel of deep coloured eyes had always known that her friend and neighbour from Drift-combe village had moved to Crimsonton city after finding a job at the Duke's estate. But crossing paths with him in the great area had not been something she had envisioned, for she had earlier assumed that he was appointed as one of the scribes or reporters at the Hall of Publications, and not a man servant with the chefs, posted at the manor itself.
"Yes!" Daren replied, pushing the trolley carrying trays of delicacies. "I didn't realise you were a guest here."
Amelia let out of soft giggle, feeling the heavy weights of emotions lifting off her chest, even slightly, upon making company with a familiar friend. "I am indeed", she admitted. "I was appointed to come by and deliver a dress made for Miss Charlene today. It was an urgent request and the other ladies at the boutique are engaged with duties. So I was to come by."
Daren nodded, "I see." He cast a gaze towards the door behind which the daughter of the wealthy duke was getting dressed and then back to the guest and said, "I believe the Prince is coming today, to meet the Duke and make discussions and arrangements. It is a very frequent affair, but also highly private. It is practice that Duke Walterus pays visits to the Imperial Castle for these communions, but he is visiting our estate today instead."
~