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.
49. Torn between Choices
Torn between Choices
~
Chambers of the Miss Charlene's Book Association,
The Estate of Duke Walterus,
The Town of Crimsonton,
Kingdom of Velicia,
Darkling hours of Nightfall,
The Eighth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
There were footsteps that sounded and Charlene turned around to see who was approaching.
It was her Head Maid, Lady Christy, who seemed to come behind her and bowed. "You must be indoors, Miss Charlene. The night will be mercilessly cold and we do not wish for you to catch a cold", the woman said.
"Yes, Christy, I will be there. Collect the opinions from the bulletin board and place them into the official copy of last week's novel in my bed chamber", the damsel instructed, before making her way in through the Balcony's large doors.
"Yes, my Lady", the maid bowed, before going over to fulfil her due work. Then, she asked, "And how about the reports of today's meeting? Shall I have them assembled per the regular agenda?"
"Yes, please. I will be taking them to the Imperial Castle personally tomorrow", Charlene said, thinking of how she would be able to meet the Prince.
"Of course, my lady. I shall have them assembled right away", the Head Maid nodded, before swiftly collecting the posts from the bulletin and arranging them in order.
The damsel of long golden hair sat there, thinking on various things. Then she asked her Head Maid, "Christy, do you remember that purple dress from Lady Hildeth's that we had bought for a ball last month?"
"The one that you have not used yet, my Lady? It is kept away for some special occasion in your dressing Chambers", the woman said.
"Perfect! I would like you to set it apart tonight and shine it up, Christy. I shall be using it for tomorrow, when I visit the Imperial Castle", the damsel said, feeling satisfied that she had a flattering outfit. If she met the Prince, there was no way he would not be smitten out of his senses seeing her wearing it.
"Of course, my Lady", the maid bowed. "I shall have it done immediately."
Charlene nodded, before sighing and staring out at the night sky. A part of her deep within felt guilty. She knew that she should not be pursuing Erion and keeping him wrapped with her when she would never marry him.
After all, her heart was set on marrying the Prince and becoming his queen. However, Charlene had always made sure that Erion knew his place despite the special attention she gave him. He had always known that with her being as wealthy and beautiful, he as fortunate that she was as close to him as she was, but her marrying a man of lowly status would be scandalous.
Charlene told herself that she was not the one leading the man on, but that he was endlessly coming to her solely because he could not help himself. And in her heart, all her love was to the Prince despite how many men were endlessly pursuing her.
Just then, another young maid scuttled into the room and said, "Miss Charlene, supper is ready."
"Yes, thank you. I will be there", the heir of the household called out, rising to her feet and making her way to the Dining Room.
~
Head Knight Erion was tired out of his mind by the time his training for the day was over. Night had fallen and he needed to return to his house before it was too late. The following day would be full of duties and he would require his due rest.
His mind could not stop pondering over all the fantasies that the day had brought. The tensions of the morning were frightful, for the confrontation with the Prince had been dreadful. He was unsure of how his knighthood would go, for the man had seemed more displeased.
But Erion knew that he would not have lost his calm had Charlene not been there. It was unnerving how much the royal heir had been slandering him left and right with questions about the beastly hounds and the vigilantism.
There had been further frustrations, because he knew that Charlene was most inclined to marry the man. Erion could not stand the thought, for she was the most attractive type of person and he had fallen desperately in love with her for months, for the ways he made her feel.
After the meeting with the Prince, the Walterus damsel had made no special move to him and he could not bear to imagine her dreaming of marrying the prince and becoming his queen. A part of him had already admitted defeat, despite knowing how much Charlene had loved him too.
And so, to soothe his senses, he had made close affiliation with the new girl, Amelia Luna-dynn. She seemed cheerful, well read, and cute, and he could not tear his eyes off of her body. She also seemed fairly shy around him, which made him feel like he was sought for: something he had failed to feel from Charlene for a week.
He had even posted his opinion on the Bulletin for her after the week of scantly meeting, but she had not seemed to even pay attention thereto.
He purposed to pursue Amelia in front of Charlene's eyes just to make a point that he was fine without her.
With a sigh, the Head Knight neared his cottage, dismounted his horse and tied it under the shed outside. His abode was situated at the edge of the Town of Crimsonton, near the Village of Drift-Combe, making him easily a part of both places.
As he made his way to the door of his cottage, he smelt a whiff of the rose perfume that always reminded him of Miss Charlene.
His heart skipped a beat and he hurried over to the rustic post box at his porch, to find that there was a letter there. However, it had not been from the Walterus House, but was an official letter from the Imperial Castle itself.
Erion slowly gulped as he tore the envelope open to find the letter inside signed by Prince Rayzenn personally, seeking to meet him early the following morning. The knight was frustrated, running a hand through his curly dark hair as he read the words over.
Just then, he felt a tug at his cape behind him and he turned around to see a young hooded lad. Erion's heart flipped again, for he knew the boy to be the one Charlene oft sent to deliver secret letters.
As expected, the young envoy held out an envelope that smelt like an exotic rose garden. Thought of Charlene writing to his flashed in his mind, sending his heart in a frenzy.
~
The fact that she's based off of someone ik irk is chilling sometimes. but okay. Maybe at the end of the story, i'll let you guys in on what actually happened irl >.< please vote and support this book