A Mysterious Proposition

I have no idea what happened in the novel Princess Coronation. I only read until the gruesome part. I didn't even read it properly but wanted to see. But why did I end up here when I wasn't even reading the book? What made me get stuck in this place?

"Ellanious, come to my study!!!" he told me again as I was lost in my thoughts.

"Yes, Father," I followed him to his study.

As we reached inside the study, the door behind me closed loudly. I became numb for a second, but when I saw the Duke sitting at his desk, I felt a bit calmer.

"Your brother is going to come," he said.

Brother? Where did this person come from? I never heard of Duke Arnous having a son.

"So? Do you know what you have to do?" he asked, but I was not aware.

"What do I need to do, Father?" I asked.

"Ellanious, I don't think I need to explain what you need to do, right?" he said with a creepy smile, making me aware that he was telling me to be quiet. So, the son doesn't know that his sister is being forced to marry the crown prince?

"Ellanious, did you understand?" he asked again.

"Yes, Father," I answered, but I had a weird smile on my face.

Yeah, that is my only chance to get out of this marriage. Yeah, Ell, you can do it. Even though you aren't aware of the content of this novel, you can still avoid interacting with the royal family, as well as this Duke, too, unless you don't want to go through the same fate as the Duchess.

"You can go now," he dismissed me as if I were a mere servant.

I came out of the study and walked toward my room, but there were numerous things inside my head, asking for answers. I'm not sure what kind of answer can satisfy them, but I want answers. Who is the son of Duke Arnous? Why did the Duchess commit suicide? Why do the Duke and Duchess keep repeating that they committed a grave sin? And lastly, why did the Archmage approach me when he can't even understand what I'm trying to say?

Why?

Why did he come then?

Why did he say he can do whatever I want?

Why did he say he can fulfill every wish of mine when he thought my mind is not stable because of Duchess Aurelia's death?

"Yeah, think a lot."

"Ellanious, you are doing it right!"

Again, the voice was ticking inside my head like a ticking clock. My head is feeling a sharp pain as if something is planted inside my head, but I'm not sure why.

"Ellanious, think however you want, but you have to come to a certain place. Or everything will be meaningless."

"If you get married into the Royal family, then all the things you have done so far will fail."

"They will...

"They will...

Yeah, tell me what? What will they do? Tell me.

"They will...

"Enough!!!" a cold voice interrupted the first voice, which I had been hearing for so long.

"Don't cross the line!"

"She has to find her path by herself."

That new voice made me feel as if she were staring deep into my soul.

"Princess, wake up!"

"The young duke is here!"

"He is waiting for you at breakfast."

I woke up and sat up in bed in a hurry.

"What did you say?" I asked again.

"The Young Duke has arrived."

"He wants to meet you."

I have no idea what kind of person he is. It has been months since I ended up here, but no one ever brought up any topic about the Young Duke, and all of a sudden, the Duke informed me that his son would arrive.

"Princess, let me help you dress up!" Misa said.

"No, I will do it myself."

I got up, walked toward the large mirror, and observed myself. My eyes directly fell on the scar which the Duchess had given me with a slap. But now, the scar is barely visible.

"Why? It was so deep yesterday, then how?"

"Princess, we are getting-"

She was trying to annoy me by interrupting my thoughts.

"Tell him I'm not coming to greet him," I said.

She looked at me with a shocked expression, but I didn't care. I don't care what the person thinks because I'm not the one who he knew, or I'm not the one who knows him as well.

"But, princess-"

"Can't you hear me?"

"Or do you think he is your master?" My anger wants to come out so badly.

"No, I ask for forgiveness," she pleaded.

"Okay, then leave. Don't tell them what I said, right?" I spoke.

"Yes, princess. I will do as you said," she said.

As the door locked sound reached my ears, I was again lost in my thoughts. I'm all clueless, even though I have several questions dancing inside my head. While I saw something coming toward me. As the bird came closer to me, I knew it was the little sparrow who brought the letter from the Archmage the last time.

As the sparrow landed on my window, I gently retrieved the letter from its leg.

"Greeting, Princess."

"First of all, I want to ask for forgiveness for how I behaved yesterday."

So, is he aware of how he behaved?

"Yeah, and I'm aware too that I shouldn't have called you. You are not mentally fit because of the Duchess's death, but still, that was not something I could accept."

At last, he came to the same conclusion.

What was I even waiting for?

"But yeah, I can help you break off the engagement with the prince."

So, is he aware?

So is he aware what kind of circumstances i m going through still he told me he can't accept what i said? Isn't it like I trust you but I don't believe what you say?