Yeah... Real loving Family

Olivia greeted their guests politely, the way she had read it in the novel. Thank God that was in the novel. Lord knows it contained no history or pop culture references. People never change no matter the era or place. She just knew there was a lot she was missing as far as knowledge goes, but she had no choice but to try and learn as quickly as possible. This was still going on in the back of her mind as she went to the withdrawing room. This was where the host would withdraw with a guest for a more private conversation. There were four withdrawing rooms used for guests in the main part of the house. The one Duke Caliban, Oscar and another gentleman were led to was the best one.

Olivia's stomach was in knots. She was so nervous and scared. She really hoped she wouldn't faint. 'I don't feel dizzy yet. This is a good sign. Oh wait. I am Olivia Praxis right now. She doesn't have anemia. Ok, I can do this... I can do this. Confident. I am confident and I can do this.'

Once they were seated, Olivia did not wait for the elders to speak first. She spoke because she knew Graciella would be downstairs soon. She couldn't let Graciella interfere in this. "I want to cancel the engagement." She sat straight and elegant in her gaudy hard to move in dress. She said it!

"What. Are. You . Saying. Olivia?" Marquis Praxis asked, enunciating his words. He needed the choice to be Duke Caliban's not Olivia's. If Duke Caliban decided it then it was a good thing, but who knew what was going through this trouble maker's mind?

"I don't want to marry Oscar," Olivia said. "That's why I tried to seduce the King. I never expected he'd accept though. I didn't think that because he was drunk he would accept me and my body so easily." She smiled. She said such crass words with amazing grace and poise. It was a startling difference.

"..." Oscar was speechless. He was the one who didn't want to marry her alright! She was not good enough for the Caliban name. He said nothing. He couldn't ruin this. She was finally insane enough to ask for the engagement to be cancelled. His father had said that if Olivia had asked for the cancellation, it would happen. But Olivia herself had to ask for it. The Duke had only agreed to have Olivia marry Oscar, because he saw her strong character. He knew she could hold the Ducal household together against the political storm. He admired the little lady since she was small. The Duke assumed she would never ask for the engagement to be canceled, as she could be carrying a child.

But Olivia did it? She asked for it on her own. Her father had obviously not expected her to ask for it. He had also monitored Oscar and not allowed any letters or messages to be sent out. So he knew Oscar didn't put the idea in her head. The Duke had no choice.

"Excuse me a moment, your Grace," I need to talk to my daughter.

"No," Olivia said, looking so much more confident than she felt. She squeezed her hands together so they couldn't see them shaking. "I won't change my mind. I don't want to marry Oscar."

Olivia looked at the Duke in the eye, smiled serenely and asked, "You don't want some wild child who does as she pleases to marry into your noble family, do you?"

The Duke remained silent. He would not make her marry into their family if it was not her wish. Though she never knew he was on her side. He would die soon, making Oscar the head of the Ducal household. It was a natural death that took place in his sleep. This death would happen in two and a half months after the ball. He died the night after Olivia and Oscar's marriage in the original novel.

"Then," came the soft voice of the gentleman who walked in with the Duke and Oscar, "shall I mark the end of the Engagement my Lords?" The man they had brought with them was an Officiator. They used a magic pen. The pen also engraved on the sacred walls beneath the city the names of people engaged, the date of the wedding, and their children's names. But if the engagement was broken. Or the marriage resulted in divorce, their names were stricken from the sacred rock. Resulting in an ugly line on the otherwise beautiful surface. This was why breaking engagements and marriages was looked down upon. Once the Officiator wrote down that the engagement was cancelled, it would be permanent.

"Yes," agreed the Duke. He was upset with this outcome. Olivia was obviously smart. How did this stupid series of events unfold? He was told over and over again that Olivia was a schemer, and that she was not a good person. He was told by others of the awful rumors that had circulated regarding Olivia.

However he also knew about the rumors surrounding himself. That he was responsible for the death of his brother, the previous king. It was also said that he was responsible for the death of Adarian's wife. And he was supposedly responsible for many assassination attempts. None of these rumors were true. So why should he believe the rumors surrounding such a young girl?

Unfortunately the marriage between his son and this young lady was not meant to be. Neither party wanted the marriage. He knew the Caliban name could have protected her from many of the rumors, and he often wondered in his heart how the Marquis could allow so many rumors to come out about his daughter. It really was a pity.

The Officiator wrote down the cancellation agreement. "Then, it appears I am done here," the Officiator stood to leave. The Duke and Oscar also stood up to leave as well. "Wait you Grace," Marquis Praxis said as he blocked all three from the door. "If you still want to join our family, I have another daughter."

Oscar's face lit up. Gabriella!

"No need," Duke Caliban said. He didn't trust that there were only bad rumors about Olivia, and none about Graciella.

The Duke dragged Oscar out and left with the Officiator. Once they left, Olivia was prepared this time. She knew he would hit her, she closed her eyes. She tried to prepare her body and waited for it, but the hit didn't come.

She peeked out of one of her eyes and saw Marquis Praxis had turned red in anger, but still had not hit her.

"You," he growled. "What. Did. You. Just. Do?"

Olivia looked at him with as little trepidation as she could muster. "Will you let me explain?"

"...Speak," He really didn't want to let her explain. But there was still the possibility of her being pregnant. If it was just any bastard he wouldn't care and be done with her already. She's caused so much trouble already. But this would be the bastard of the king. He couldn't risk harm to this child.

"I know you won't believe me, but I didn't take whatever drug was in my system by choice. I think it was in my wine. I refuse to explain anything else that I did that night, because my memory of it is not clear. I couldn't tell you what I was thinking." She saw him opening his mouth to argue. "Please let me finish. I also don't want to marry Oscar, and now it isn't an option anymore. So in order to repent for ruining the family reputation I will go to the convent in the south."

Olivia finished speaking. She didn't know anything about the convent in the south, but she remembered it being mentioned in the story. At that time her adopted mother told her that if she hadn't married Oscar, she would have been sent to the convent. Graciella who had been sitting obediently next to her mother had said, "Don't worry sister. I would never have let father send you away." This line from Graciella was a small ray of hope.

Perhaps Graciella's reach didn't go quite as far as the convent. And if she didn't like it there she could always run away further south. This body was strong. She knew she could survive on her own. She could even change her name and learn so much more out there than stuck in this nightmare.

'[Loving family.] [They spoiled Olivia so much and bought her everything she could ever want. Olivia was a brat who just wanted to take over the place of the original.] How many times did I read comments like these in the novel? I'm pretty sure I wrote some myself. But why was it not written anywhere that the Marquis liked to take his anger out on Olivia by smacking her at least once. Why was it not mentioned that Oscar also abused this girl. How is it that no-one in the family, or the court noticed the type of person Graciella was? I know the maids know, but with the hold Graciella has over their lives, there's no way ANY of them were going to clear up this mess.' She thought to herself sarcastically 'Yeah...Real loving family.'