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.
39. Sharing Troubles over Tea
Sharing Troubles over Tea
~
Charlene's Personal Bed Chambers,
The Estate of Duke Walterus,
The Town of Crimsonton,
Kingdom of Velicia,
The hours after Noon,
The Eighth Day of the Month of November,
Thirty Third Year of the Reign of King Jesse Crestings
"If either of us gets a chance to win the favours of the Crown Prince and maybe settle in marriage with him, it would erase all of our fears. There is really no others means of winning this battle", Alessia Heartrim said, decidedly.
"I understand", Charlene nodded.
The heir of the Hall of Publications considered the true impact of things around her. She knew that Alessia would win some opportunity to dance with the prince during the balls to come. Every woman would seek that at least once. Of course, she was an ambitious person.
And if she ever continued to bear an association with the man, such that he may have eyes for her, Charlene could use the dame's broken family as a means of causing the Prince's disinterest upon her. After all, she knew that the Crown would hesitate to marry the future King to a woman whose parent has been infidel in marriage.
However, there was another aspect that begged for Charlene's concerns:
Some women, especially those driven by an inevitable motive like the Heartrim sisters trying to save their failing family, may go to terrible extents of venging to win the Prince's love even after he is betrothed or perhaps even married and may try to be his mistress.
Of course it was not legally allowed, and was completely forbidden by the Velician Church as well. But every queen feared a situation of the crowned King being so blinded by lust that he may resort to abolishing the enactment of law that stipulated the King to be a man of one wife and no mistress, in order to accommodate women.
Thus, Charlene needed to stay wary of the other maidens regardless of everything. After all, the Heartrims were bound to have the blood of their father's, bearing a relationship beyond the precincts of marriage.
"It will put my papa and that witch in their places", Alessia said, resolve thick in her voice.
"I wish I could help you in some way, but I do not know how", Charlene said, sadness evident from the strain of her voice.
"No, thank you so very much for listening to me. I am very comforted, resting in the thought that you know", the young girl sniffed, with a faint hint of a smile playing with the side of her slender, pink lips.
Charlene could not help thinking of how heart breaking it must be for the sisters, and how frightful she must be of returning to their mansion.
"Would you like me to perhaps post an article on the paper regarding his ill behaviour so he and that other woman feel humiliated and repulse from the act of it?" the damsel asked, feeling heated.
"No! Please no!" Alessia turned to her, eyes wide and alarmed.
Charlene instantly regretted what she had suggested, for she had mentioned that the secret of her family's affairs would be safe with her and that her lips were sealed.
"Please forget that I even told you any of this", the young noble started scrambling for words to set right her perilous situation.
"No, no, I'm so sorry; I never meant that I would tell anyone. I simply wanted to help, but I will never reveal that this is ongoing", the Walterus damsel was swift apologise repeatedly.
Then, Alessia calmed down from her hysterics and explained, "If the news of it becomes public, he will find it much easier to continue with the affairs and might even make it official, pushing my momma, my sister and I to the streets. But as long as it is maintained under wraps, he will fear the news spreading. Further, such scandalous events could mar the reputation Ana and I hold in high society and obstruct our chances of marrying well."
"I understand, I am so sorry. I never meant to put you in harm. After all, there are many secrets that I do safely hold even to this day. Secrets that concern troubles I have undergone", Charlene said, her face forging into a melancholic expression.
In truth, it was not a secret that she was about to divulge to the dame, for she had already spilt the matter to Knight Erion and her maids and nearly all her acquaintances, but it was certainly something she wished to share with Alessia as well, in order to win her sympathies.
"Oh no! I hope you are okay, Char. Is it severe?" Alessia asked, careful not to force Charlene into saying it.
The damsel of the Estate drew a lacy handkerchief from a table nearby and sniffed softly into it, before saying, "Well, it is not a story I am comfortable sharing, but since you are like a sister to me and you have poured you heart to me, it is only fair that I tell you a secret of mine."
"My heed is inclined to your words", Alessia replied, straightening out the creases of her skirt and leaning forward, resting folded arms upon her lap.
"Alright", Charlene nodded, before looking around at her bed chamber. "Shall we go to the balcony and continue this conversation with tea and some fresh air?" she suggested.
"Yes, yes, of course", her young guest nodded, rising to her feet swiftly.
The two lovely damsels made their way to the balcony and took seats at the chairs. The railings were decked with ivies and beautiful blooms that brought wonderful fragrance to their ambience. The courtyard was beneath them, providing a serene view to gaze at.
Upon the table, there was an array of beautiful delicacies. Charlene opened the snout of the teapot and steam began ascending therefrom.
She daintily poured the glassy beverage into porcelain cups for herself and for her guest, before setting the teapot aside and taking a deep sniff of the flavoured vapours that wafted up. Then, she took minced petals of the sweet flowers and cast them into the teacups.
"It is so warm and lovely here", Alessia said, dreamily.
"Indeed, it is", Charlene said, lifting her cup to take a sip.
"So, tell me what your bothers are?" the damsel asked, taking her own share of the drink.
"Ah", the golden haired beauty let out a long sigh, before saying, "Well, it is about Baron Sean."
~