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Chapter 1

Author: RARE
last update Huling Na-update: 2024-12-27 17:46:32

RAYANA POV

Ignorance is bliss!

And so were the times I pretended to be one of the million citizens of Great Britain without the duties and the expectations of my ‘holier than thou’ last name following closely behind me like a shadow. Very unfortunately, those times did not end well; it so happened that every time I stepped out of the shell that had cocooned me my entire life, things just had to go to shit!

And to shit they go.

I raised my head as the heavy metal door slammed shut a few yards from where I was canoodled on the cold floor, blankly staring at my sparkly two-toned green and silver Jimmy Choo’s. Something about the gems studded into the fabric fascinated me!

“Get up, princess. Looks like today is your lucky day.” The mean Latino officer intoned as she jiggled heavy cell keys, the sound creating a hollow echo inside my brain. The deadlock bolted into place before she yanked the bar door open, and then held it ajar.

I got up from my pitiful position and straightened the non-existing creases on my black Gucci suit, then attempted a smile that failed to reach my ears.

The officer eyed me up and down like I was some rich kid who had a reckless night only to land her ass in a cell and spend a night.

However, that was not so far from the actual truth.

Except I was not some rich kid, I was a princess.

“You silver-fed brats have it all. All the money and no brains.” She tsked before shaking her head in disbelief while handing me my silver clutch bag that assumingly had all of my belongings; her eyes lingering on my feet a minute longer.

I stared at my feet, and smiled heartily before slipping my clutch bag into my armpit, then crouched lower and unclasped both heels. I straightened up and held them before her with a pearly smile.

She glared at me like I had grown an extra pair of eyes.

“What do you want me to do with them? I don’t need these. Heck, they probably cost more than my annual salary.” She reluctantly dragged her gaze from the shoes before staring back at me like I was crazy. I shrugged nonchalantly before taking her hand and placing the shoes, then patting her shoulder.

“I have more than plenty of those.” With that, I bee-lined her and sashayed out of the holding cell I was kept the entire night.

My head was pounding like I'd rented my skull for a disco night, and a million questions haunted my subconscious like a hateful ghost seeking revenge. But the one that made my mind reel even harder was: if I was in jail; ALONE, then where the hell were Aubrey, Chloe, and Olivia?

Because I sure as hell left my place to go out with them to discuss my wedding. I'd opted for a much simpler get-together: something along the lines of cheese boards and wine, but Aubrey ruled it out for a club and white powder.

The last thing I remembered was us screaming in the VIP, then nothing!

I couldn’t even rake my brain for what could have transpired that landed me in jail, but all of that would come to light later.

I stepped into a brightly lit corridor, my feet hitting the cold floors and sending euphoria to my brain. I was feverish, my skin hot underneath my clothes. The headache made it almost impossible to stay sane and my stomach growled and roared with discomfort.

I arrived at the reception and the first person I saw made my heart do that tiny flip-flop.

Lucas rose from his seat before walking to me and pulling me in a tight hug. My nostrils caught a whiff of custom cologne that sent a tiny jolt of awareness to my brain as though it wanted it to shut down completely. My eyes fluttered close.

“You are going to be the death of me.” His soft timbre brushed down my spine as he rubbed my back, the warmth of his hot skin seeping through his shirt and suit coat and making me lose all rationality.

“Sorry to worry you,” I mumbled against his neck.

“I don’t think I will ever do it again. Plus a jail cell is not a place for the likes of me.” I said giggling and pulling off from him.

Green eyes stared back at me with affection. Standing 5ft8 with blonde hair and the brush of stubble ghosting his manly jaw; Lucas Franklin was a literally panty dropper; every woman’s wet dream, and lucky for me, my fiance.

Just the mere idea of being branded by this man made the rock on my finger weigh a little more than it did.

“Where are the rest of the girls?”I asked as though the poor man held all the answers to the bazillion questions I had. Even though he was not part of whatever shitshow that went on that went on last night. Heck, I was even humbled by the mere fact that he found out which police station I was being held because I sure as hell didn't even tell him that I'd be out clubbing while he did God knows what at his company.

“We’ll talk about the girls later. Let’s you out of here first.” Ah. My heart.

We may have had our differences and often didn’t see eye to eye in most of the things where our relationship was involved, and I hated it. For instance, I wanted a wedding at a church, he wanted a beach ceremony!

Two different things!

But despite all of that, we always found ways to make it work.

He took my hand in his, and we silently walked to where his black Maybach was parked. He didn’t bother opening the door for me, just unlocked it and climbed in the driver’s seat before patiently waiting for me to climb aboard.

I strapped myself to the seat and with silence reigning in the car, he drove off. The silence offered the peace I didn’t know I needed; and made way for my mind to reel even harder. I tried piecing together remnants from last night to create a clear picture in my mind, but whenever I tried, pain lasered through my brain and I knew that I could do all of that later.

Luc drove in silence while I settled in the passenger’s seat watching the morning life buzz from outside.

What day was it?

And were there so many flags on the way yesterday?

Luc pulled over and I realized it was in front of a coffee shop. My lips tucked up in a small smile when I glanced his way to find him watching me as he unstrapped his belt. He leaned into the backseat and retrieved a pair of black VERSACE sandals, then handed them to me, My smile grew wider.

I unstrapped my belt, pulled on the shoes and the two of us exited the car together. He once again reclaimed my hand in his and we walked into the coffee shop, my senses collapsing inside of me at the smell of freshly ground coffee beans.

“Find a seat. I’ll get us something to eat.” He said motioning to the empty seats at the farthest end of the shop. I hummed my response and did as he instructed.

I dropped into the leather seats and released a low moan of relaxation as my body unfolded in the seat. Leaning backward, I pinched my eyes shut for a moment and just took in my surroundings. For the first time, my mind was blank!

“I got you the breakfast combo and a fresh latte,” Lucas announced his arrival as he dropped into the seat before me, and I was forced to peel my eyes open.

He had a strange look, something along the lines of concern and a bit of shadiness… Like he was hiding something. I shifted in my seat for more comfort, then stared at him deadly.

“Is everything alright?” I dropped my hands on the table before us.

He eyed my hands before heaving out a loud sigh.

There it was!

“I don’t know how to tell you this, Rayana. But you are eventually going to find out so I might as well be the one to break the news to you.” He mimicked my movements, but unlike my steady hands, his fidgeted like crazy.

My brows knitted together as my mind once again tried to find what the hell was going on.

Was he calling off the engagement? I wouldn’t put that passed him!

“What is it?”

He looked at me in the eye and swallowed.

“Your father.” Another hard swallow. “Your father couldn’t make it another night, Dona”

Blood in my veins, heart in my chest; everything went ice cold. In one painful yank, my world came crashing to the tiled floor beneath me!

My eyes opened even wider, the pounding in my head ignored for the stronger, deeper, and more intense ache that slowly brewed in my chest!

My hand came flying to cover my mouth, and one word breathy word escaped my lips: “No!”

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  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 2

    Chapter 2ALEJANDRO POVThe clock’s timely ticks and tocks filled in the silent space, the words ‘Tell me about yourself’ lingering in the air between us. Everything about being here left a bitter taste in my mouth, and made me ache for something entirely different. I came here because somebody suggested I needed it. I needed to think about something; anything other than blood and white powder and reigning the underworld, yet all the red-haired bambolina did for the past eleven minutes and thirty-seven seconds was flash her undoubtedly fake tits in my direction and lift her skirt inches higher up her thighs.A universal ‘I want to fuck you’ sign women flashed whenever they wanted someone up in their nooks and crooks!I could fuck her right where she sat; considering I had already pictured all the ways I could switch positions in her like I was doing some yoga. Yoga! Maybe I should try that shit. Maybe it would ease the blood lust and make me think like a human!Tick. Tock. Tick. Toc

    Huling Na-update : 2024-12-27
  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 3

    Chapter 3RAYANA POVThe sun floated across the sky as I sat on the elevated sill staring blankly at the greenery that stretched on the acres and acres of land. Tears left a trail of sticky mess on my face, and my chest rose and fell with short breaths as I tried to make meaning of the situation. It felt like a nightmare; a cold, inhuman, cruel dream and my heart was screaming in agony to be shaken awake. My dad and I may have had our differences but he was everything to me. The man got me in ways that nobody had ever done, and he was my safe space when the world kept me awake at night. And to lose him just like that… It was a cruel joke. He was sick. There was no doubt that he was ever going to make it. Leukaemia sucked him dry from the inside. I watched him wither and rot in his skin until he was nothing but the shallow reflection of the glorious and mighty man he used to be. It hurt me to see him slowly perishing, but all of that didn't prepare me for his death. None of it ev

    Huling Na-update : 2024-12-27
  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 4

    RAYANAI whisked my head to the side and glared at the monster who was sitting at my right, looking so unaffected by the series of nonsense he just spewed. Inheriting the archduchy was all that he thought about. My blood roared in my veins, and venom threatened to choke me dead. I bit my tongue and swallowed the poison that was ready to pour off my tongue, then decided to glare out the window at the passing scenery. He was right, to some extent. Our lives, unlike theirs, were a long political charade, always open and exposed to the eyes of the public. And vultures and thieves were hiding in the shadows waiting for a moment of weakness, just a tiny lapse in judgment and they would latch on everything that had the archduchy name on it. I released a shaky breath and pinched my eyes shut.And in that moment, I wished I was born ordinary. At least I could mourn my father’s death without having to worry about being mocked for grieving my dad. “I understand it is hard for you, brother.

    Huling Na-update : 2025-01-01
  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 5

    Chapter 5ALEJANDRO POVI watched her out of my peripheral vision as she rose from her seat and walked out. Her face was swollen, her feet wobbly, yet she managed to hold her head up high and walk out like she owned the place. I looked at the front of the ballroom at the excuse of a man called her brother, only to find him glaring piercing daggers at her retrieving back. I let out a smooth chuckle!Of course, he didn’t like it. And she just had to do it.My chest ballooned with pride as I cast another look at her, and a foreign feeling caught my heart in a tight grip.I swallowed hard. I don’t know what it was that propelled me to fly to the UK. And I knew damn well it wasn’t to pay tribute to the late archduke. Yes, we may have been business associates but that was all it ever was. Nothing more, nothing less. And we sure as hell were not on a friendly basis to attend each other’s backyard brunches and funerals. And heck, now that I thought about it, I had a shit ton of things to t

    Huling Na-update : 2025-01-02
  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 6

    Chapter 6RAYANA POV The morning arrived, and I peeled myself reluctantly from the warm pillow. The inside of my head felt like a clubhouse of a thousand trolls, and there was this sinking feeling that seemed to be pulling my insides into a bottomless pit. I remained seated for a few minutes, trying to come to the current reality and not drift away in the musings of my mind. As much as my mind had rather amusing things- and I would rather be anywhere than in my current life- I had to get up and face the day. The door was yanked open and in came Charlotte dressed in a pair of black pants, black stiletto heels, and a black coat. She had on her head a small veil that covered her pale skin and undoubtedly poofy eyes. “You look like shit.” She said walking in my direction and stood before my bed. I wanted to ask where she got the energy to get up so early and prep up, while I was here feeling like I had had a one on one with John Cena in a wrestling mania!“And you bathed nice,” I said

    Huling Na-update : 2025-01-03
  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 7

    Chapter 7RAYANA POVLiquid shock held my lungs captive as I watched HIM walk away, shoulders and frame larger than life. Everything in my body and soul just knew that it was the beautiful intruder from last night, the same man who'd moved into my head and decided to live rent-free. His face was the replica of an angel, his body the one only possessed by gods. It was clear to any onlooker that God took his time sculpting, modeling, and framing to be the finest specimen he was.And the voice... I now knew who the owner of that sweet voice was, and intrigue bubbled inside me like green acid.I wondered what his eyes looked like. Damn the bloody glasses that hid those killer jewels from me."I don't blame you for staring. He's hot as fuck." Charlotte's voice yanked me from my musings. Redness crept to my face and I thanked Heaven for the small blessings since my face was already red from all the crying.I cast a look at my sister to find her staring at me, a knowing look on her face. I

    Huling Na-update : 2025-01-07
  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 8

    Chapter 8RAYANA POVHeels clicking on the marble floor, we all waded into the main office where we all plopped wherever our heart desired. James had already sucked all the decorum out of all of us, and no one cared how messy everyone must have looked. I scoffed when he claimed my father’s seat on the main desk, then leaned back and watched us like we were peasants under his mercy. His gaze was proud, triumph dripping off him with disgusting arrogance I found myself wondering if the man in front of us was the brother I grew up with and loved with the whole of me. “You are so fucking unbelievable.” Even though everything was happening right in front of my eyes, I still found myself having a hard time wrapping myself around the recent happenstances.Everything was happening so fast that my mind failed to catch up, and all it did was drag behind and register the events a little too late. Just a few days ago I was sleeping in a jail cell, and then my father died. I bet the Latino office

    Huling Na-update : 2025-01-15
  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 9

    Chapter 9 THE WILLTo my amazing wife- Agatha Anne Mountbatten, my beloved children James William Mountbatten, Rayana Elizabeth Mountbatten, Charlotte Victoria Mountbatten, and Charles llI Harry Mountbatten, I leave the Archduchy of Fairefax and all its assets.However, I revoke all wills, codicils, and other testamentary dispositions previously made by me, jointly or severally, and I bequeath the title of the archduke, in this case, archduchess, and all the governing power to my daughter Rayana Elizabeth Mountbatten.It is my final wish that Rayana, as the newly appointed heir by this will, inherits the archduchy and leads our family with wisdom and compassion.Regarding the business interest of the archduchy, I appoint my daughter Charlotte Victoria Mountbatten as the new Financial Engineer, overseeing the financial strategies and growth of the leading company Royal Holdings and the archduchy.Charles shall serve as the new CEO of Royal Holdings at the age of 23 and shall continue

    Huling Na-update : 2025-01-18

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  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 77

    Chapter 77ALEJANDRO POVMy ears clogged on ascending. Luckily I had a little good human to keep my mind occupied. Viper had made it a deal to call us into the small office at the back of the jet, between the lounge space and the bedroom space, to fill us in with the happenstances that had occurred in my absence. Some of the things he hinted was that maybe, just maybe, we have been hunting for the traitor from the wrong huddle. His words haunted me even an hour later as I lay in the lounger with Rayana’s body on top of mine, her head snuggled in the crook of my neck and her breaths coming out in small pants. Everything about her was just so perfect. So natural. Even the way she casually touched my cheek here and there while looking into the small device in my hand, all made me believe my little notion that she was indeed the rib of my ribs!“Check this out.” I drawled in a small raspy voice. Her attention flew to the tablet in my hand. I scrolled a few before clicking onto the link

  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 76

    Chapter 76RAYANA POVI woke up curled into Alejandro’s side, his whole being wrapped around me like a warm comforter. I let my eyes take him in fully, let them wander on every single nook and crook of his face. I printed each detail to memory, and for the umpteenth time, I was awed by the beauty of this man. Long lashes, thick eyebrows that only models could get from terrible laser operations, lips so full and lush that the V dipped so down low. He had these beads of sweat on his forehead that I just wanted to lick with my tongue because that’s how much I loved him. When sleeping, he looked so beautiful. No angry grunts, no heavy sighs, no tiredness that weighed so heavily on him that it was all evident in his simple glance… Just peace. His scent was the soothing elixir I never knew I needed. I was never really a big fan of scents and personal odors, but Alejandro made me find out things about myself I never really knew I had in me. If it were a few months ago I would cringed at t

  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 75

    Chapter 75RAYANA POVAlejandro balanced me on one arm as he attempted to open the door, but I beat him to it and twisted the door hand. He pushed it open to reveal a pathway of roses and candles all around. My mouth fell open in a small gasp of surprise as my eyes took in every little detail. Somehow in a span of few hours, they had managed to turn my bedroom into a whole honeymoon suite. The entire room was filled with red and white, from roses to the white small throw on the red bed… And everything else reminded me of the time he first took me. The time he claimed me and destroyed for any other man, living or dead. My breath hitched at the memory and heat spread all over my body like wildfire.“Wow…” I breathed out softly. Alejandro simply le

  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 74

    Chapter 74ALEJANDRO POVEvery time THAT thought crossed my mind, my whole body shook. Shivers rattled my bones and an unknown force slammed right into my chest, causing goosebumps to erupt all over me and sheathe my body like a second layer of skin.At some point, I almost freaked out thinking I was scared, that I was regretting all of this… But then I figured it was because everything was all too surreal. All unbelieveable. A man like me didn’t deserve this much happiness. A man like me with a closet so full of skeletons that they couldn’t be hidden anymore, deserved nothing but isolation for the rest of his life. Cause as they all love to say, people in our world were all beyond redemption. Right now, I was starting to wonder if that was even true.

  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 73

    Chapter 73RAYANA POVGrowing up, I always imagined that my wedding was going to be the grandest of all times. I imagined it being the most iconic, even more grand than Princess Diana’s herself. I pictured the entire country going on a national lockdown to celebrate the holy matrimony of the Archducke’s older daughter.I imagined chariots, horse carriages straight out of Disney movies, cherry blossoms littering the ground I walked on. I imagined a literal fairy tale, straight out of the books and brought to life. I pictured myself wearing a beautiful princess gown, all white, my teeth brighter than the golden rays of the sun.It probably would have been like that if my dad was still alive, or maybe if Luke was still alive and it was him I was tying the knot to. Never in my wildest dreams had I ever pictured myself being pushed down the aisle in a wheelchair by my younger brother, while my family stood at the head of the chapel watching with eyes filled with tears. At that point, I j

  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 72

    Chapter 72RAYANA POVAwareness came in bits and pieces. I could feel it by the slow intake of breath and the blood thrumming inside of me that I was alive. But I was not in the world where the sun rose from the east and set in the west. That one was very much evident. Where I was, everywhere I looked, everywhere my eyes landed on was nothing but pure and raw darkness. It was cold, bone-chilling and there was this eerie sensation that kept on washing over me, like cold fingers caressing my skin and making it crawl. And the funny thing was, I felt like I was floating. There was no ground beneath my feet, and my whole body was lighter than a feather. But in this darkness, nothing else existed. It was just me and the deep nothingness that had swallowed me. There was no pain, no joy, and the entire place was void of any sort of feeling.That’s when I heard it. A low murmur of voices, like I was somehow inside a closed drum and they were coming from the outside. That would fucking explai

  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 71

    Chapter 71ALEJANDRO POVNausea and fury rolled inside of me like hot green acid. I had hoped that the solo drive after the damn ambulance would calm me the fuck down, but the annoying wee! Wee! Wee! Oof the bloody siren made me want to gut the steering wheel right out of its cradle. Every single sound of it meant Rayana was inching closer and closer to death, and that could only mean one thing. My days of pure and unsullied happiness were over!And no. That couldn’t fucking be. I couldn’t allow it. Rayana was not going to leave me because if she left, then she’d leave with the little remaining piece of my soul.And that would be the worst punishment any man cou

  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 70

    Chapter 70ALEJANDRO POVPain sliced through me. The kind of agony that made me weak in the knees.I’d fucking seen that bloody red dot as it danced around her. But I was fucking slow. Too slow to react and was not faster than a damn bullet. Horror landed inside of me in all its form as I raced up the raised deck, watching with eyes snapped wide as Rayana went lax in her seat. Her head rolled to the side, and her eyes found mine just before she closed them and collapsed. I caught her body before it could collide with the floor, then placed my hand on the reddened spot where her blood was coming out in gallons. The tether of her pain echoed all around me, and I could all bu

  • Claiming The Archduchess   Chapter 69

    Chapter 69RAYANA POVA rattling shudder rolled down the length of my spine as we rolled down the long, narrow, and carpeted hallway inside Buckingham Palace. It felt like forever since I had stepped foot in here and I hated the fact that I wasn’t so thrilled about being back to my office. If it were any other day, I would have been on the fucking cloud nine. “You alright?” Alejandro’s hand dropped to my lower back, and the heat from his palm seemed to permeate right through my skin and disperse the concentrated tension down there. I let out a huge puff of breath before staring at him in my peripheral, then gave him an unsure nod. I had wanted to carry out the press conference in my own time and on my own terms: when I felt ready to take over the world again. But that visit from my aunt had me sleepless for days, gnawing and churning me from the inside. The disapproval inside her voice had been deadly; but despite all of that, there was no way I would undo what I did. Yes, I und

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