Feud of Desires.

"What do you think, Lord William?" Seraphina's gaze went towards Lord William who now smiled at her.

He answered, "I think your suggestion would be quite effective, Lady Seraphina."

"Don't tell me you're going to take this suggestion, My Lord." Lady Annora's voice squealed out. She shifted in her seat with a perplexed look on her face.

"Oh, dear," Lord William turned to the side to stare at his wife who didn't bother to hide her displeasure. He replied to her, "The suggestion would be quite effective, don't you think so too, son?"

"Of course," Lancelot agreed, knowing he was the son Lord William was referring to. "Hard punishments are always easy and effective to pass the desired information."

"Oh," Lady Annora dramatically pinched her forehead. "What would the higher class say? You cannot defang an average vampire and also an elite vampire. The society will not approve of it, especially the pureblooded vampires."

"The society has never approved of anything, Lady Annora," Seraphina interjected. She further said, "You bring what you feel is right or wrong, and wait for them to adapt to it."

"Usually there will be a fight before they adapt to it. What we look forward to at the end of it all, is that change which is bound to happen when they see nothing more can be done to change the rule." She added and raised her glass as if toasting to what she had said.

Lancelot grinned in his seat and also raised his wine glass and took a sip while watching Seraphina's with a mischievous smile. He remarked, "I believe Lady Seraphina's suggestion would work quite effectively, Father."

"Mm," Lord William nodded. "We will see how it goes."

The rest of the dinner ended in peace with the exception of Lady Annora whose face was marred with a scowl.

The maids immediately came and cleared the table and replaced the plates and half-eaten dishes with a medium-sized cake placed at the center of the table, serving as the dessert.

While they enjoyed the sweet taste of cake, Lord William cleared his throat to gain their attention as he began to speak, "I am glad you and your family honored our invitation because of the soon-to-be union between our families, Mr. Castiel."

"The pleasure is all ours, Lord William." Mr. Castiel replied with a small nod and a smile on his face.

Lord William nodded and continued to speak, "Since we are on the topic now, I believe it is time we discuss the marriage between my son and your daughter."

On hearing where the conversation had swirled to, Seraphina's back straightened and her ears were now wide and alert to pick up every word that was going to be discussed. She heard her father respond to Lord William.

"Yes," Mr. Castiel agreed. "I think it is the best time too."

"Mm," Lord William hummed. He turned to look at his wife and then everyone else seated at the long table before he began to speak, "Given the state or the reason why our families have decided to join as one, I want to announce to every one of us that my son—" He paused and stared at everyone again, his eyes staying longer in the direction of Seraphina.

Meanwhile, Seraphina held her breath as she waited for Lord William to announce which of his sons she was going to marry. Was it the calm and easygoing Richard she met some minutes ago or was it the sly and mysterious silver-haired Lancelot?

Lord William's voice caught through Seraphina's thoughts when he finally announced, "My son who will be taking the role of uniting our families through the legal process of marriage is my first son, Lancelot William."

Seraphina felt the weight of Lord William's words travel from her ears to every part of her body before registering into her brain in confirmation of what she heard.

Wait...It was Lancelot. She was going to marry Lancelot the first son of Lord William. The man who had been nothing but a thorn in her flesh.

Likewise Seraphina, Lady Lydia was not happy with the news she just heard. Not only has Lord Williams' son not indirectly looked down on them, but he has also proved to be dangerously annoying.

Seraphina opened her mouth to speak but for the few five seconds, nothing came out of her mouth because not only did the news surprise her, it had also made her momentarily dumb.

"Hope there is no problem?" Lord William questioned, noticing how the dining room became quiet because of his declaration. "Lancelot?"

Being called upon, Lancelot adjusted in his sitting position, taking a sip from his drink before he replied, "There is no problem, Father. The sole purpose of this marriage is to make peace, and what best way to do that than to accept the proposal of marrying the beautiful daughter of Mr. Castiel and Lady Lydia."

Lord William smiled at Lancelot's reply, his eye subtly narrowing at him when no one was looking at him and in response, Lancelot grinned at his Father.

"Isn't this marriage too sudden, My Lord?" Lady Annora interjected even before Seraphina could form any intelligible sentence in her head.

Her eyes sparkled with a newfound confidence on hearing what Lady Annora said. 'So there was another person against this marriage. Maybe if she played her cards right, together with Lady Annora, she could stop the marriage.' She thought with an internal smile which fell when her eyes fell on the narrowed ones of Lancelot even though she couldn't see his face, she could detect the subtle folding of his eyes behind his silver mask.

Lady Annora softly harrumphed in her seat and continued to speak in her pride-filled tone, "It isn't as if there are no other ways to bring peace and settle the debt they owe you, My Lord."

Lord William quietly ignored Lady Annora's words and turned to look at Mr. Castiel. He quizzed, "Are there any objections to the proposal, Mr. Castiel?"

"Of course not, Lord William. This is what we have agreed on and the marriage is bound to happen." Mr. Castiel let out a low chuckle at the end of his speech.

"Mm," Lord William nodded with a hum. He went on to speak, this time turning to look at Seraphina. He said, "I would still like to hear from you, Lady Seraphina. Do you wish to go ahead with the proposal to marry my son, Lancelot?"

Being put in the spotlight, Seraphina slightly shifted in her seat, her hands turning clammy which she discreetly wiped on her dress. She wetted her lips, an action that didn't go unnoticed by Lancelot. He caught the action of her tongue peeking out to wet her lips before disappearing inside her mouth.

Seraphina subtly turned to see her mother's expression and at the same time avoided looking at her Father, knowing the expression on his face would be for her to go ahead with the marriage and not do anything stupid.

Seraphina cleared her throat, took a deep breath, and with a small smile etched on her lips, she said, "I think I am still overwhelmed by the sudden marriage proposal, My Lord. Why don't we halt the process for the meantime so I can fully grasp my life that's trying to be on a rollercoaster?"

'And also give me time to plan my escape from this marriage!' Seraphina added in her mind while waiting for what was to come and the final decision of Lord William, after all, her family were the debtor.