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.
65. Matchmaking
Matchmaking
~
Fresh Dish Cafeteria,
The Town of Crimsonton,
Kingdom of Velicia,
The Dawn of Day,
The Ninth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
Erion leaned close to Roden and asked, "What do you think of Amelia Luna-dynn?"
"The new maiden at the Reading Association yesterday?" the olive haired knight asked, seeming confused at the random rise of the topic.
The Head knight nodded, in response, as he watched his subordinate ruffle his already dishevelled hair pensively.
"Well, I didn't give it much thought yesterday, but she seems fine. I guess she likes to write tales in her spare time?" he rambled his thoughts.
Erion nodded, "yes she does. I believe she will have an interest in you if you try pursuing her seriously. After all, she is working at the Hildeth Boutique with decent earnings, she's gorgeous to the eyes and possibly the same as a wife, if not more; she's talented, holds on to morals, is demure and has been untouched by any other men and finally, she is part of the Reading Association, giving you sufficient space to flirt with her and gain her interests. So why not give it a shot?"
The man watched as Roden's ears took colour as he thought more on the things he was saying. Then, the olive haired knight chuckled, before leaning back in his chair and saying, "I doubt she will love me back though…"
"Well, I do believe she will. You're a knight, and she is from Drift-Combe, which falls within our span even after the Kingdom's Partition will happen. What more could a common young maiden ask for?" Erion took a sip of the cider in a mug, after he spoke.
Roden looked like he was imagining a variety of things, his cheeks slowly growing ruddy and his expression soft and dreamy. "Well, alright. I'll give it thought", the man nodded, seeming elated within.
"Great", the Head Knight nodded.
Just then, there was a disruption in the calm expression Roden had on his face, before he turned to Erion and asked "Wait, how come you aren't claiming her for yourself, if you've so meticulously obtained these details about her?"
"Well, observing beautiful details about people is no new affair to me. I imbibe that of everybody silently, whether or not I hold an interest in pursuing them. As for Amelia, no, I don't intend to ever desire her, since my heart is set on Miss Charlene", Erion replied, with an uncontrollable smile taking over his lips.
"What do you mean? The Crown Prince literally met her yesterday! She would be bound to fall in love with the prospect", Roden's words spilt out like his concern preceded his manners.
The blue eyed head knight shook his head 'no' with an expression of bliss like he was in a trance, before he held an empty, folded envelop out of his pocket and said, "She wrote to me stating that she missed me and thought of the last night. After the meeting with the Prince. When she gives her heart to a man, she is frightfully loyal."
Roden gave a low whistle like he was impressed. Then, shaking his head with a smile on his face, he commended, "How do you always get the girls like that?"
Erion chuckled in response, saying, "Well, it's only this one."
The olive haired knight turned to fix him with a stare. "Uh huh?" he asked sarcastically.
"Alright, so maybe I've been in relationships in the past, but none of them were serious", the Head Knight chuckled. "Anyway, I am heading to the Walterus Estate to meet Char before I head to the Imperial Castle", he announced to the table, before rising to his feet.
"What? Why the Castle?" Cylass asked, voicing the general doubt all the men sustained.
Erion shrugged in response. "I don't know yet. But I can't say it will be good news, since we had the interrogation yesterday and I must have received this summon only hours after it."
"I hope it goes well"
"Take care, Erion"
"Hold your head high"
The men collectively wished as he left to the door. "You men make sure to be at the training grounds in time! Don't be tardy", the Head Knight called back, before leaning towards his horse, who seemed well fed.
Soon, he was on his way to the Walterus Mansion, flashing his pass, although the guards were far too familiar with him and allowed him entry without having to check his card. After all, Miss Charlene had granted due permit that he could enter at any time he visited with no ado.
Leaving his horse at the edge of the courtyard, under the shed, the Head Knight sauntered into the place, looking for the beautiful young lady who had written to him the previous night.
He made his way to the Estate though the main doors and not the spiral stairs at the back that led to the chambers of the Reading Association. The dark haired knight asked one of the hand maidens walking past if Miss Charlene was still in her bed room, and the woman replied, "Nay, Sir, her Ladyship is getting dressed for she is going out today."
Erion nodded and said, "Kindly let her know that I will be waiting in the lounge", before walking past the maid and making his way to where he had mentioned. Charlene's dressing chamber was adjacent to the lounge and that was where they oft did meet, before spending time together in the vast and flower decked balconies.
After a few moments of waiting, he heard the door open and he leaned over to see the golden haired beauty dressed in a purple gown of velvet, lips as dark as her dress, walking into the lounge, looking like a dream come true.
Erion let out a low whistle, purely mesmerised by her charm, and rising to his feet, as the smell of roses captivated his senses.
~