1. The ruthless announcement

In the Evans Manor...

In the hall of the well-decorated mansion, sitting, Rodger Evans. Known as a selfish businessman. Beside him, sat a twenty years old blonde girl with beauty and elated attitude. She is Anastasia Evans. His only daughter. And in the opposite, a young man in his mid twenties, Snyder Evans. Rodger's nephew and the next owner of his properties along with his daughter.

Rodger's brows furrowed, enhancing his wrinkles. He is worried because of the huge loss he just encountered in his business. Such a great loss only could be removed if he is blessed with a miracle.

Right beside him, stood his loyal Assistant, Damien Bradford.

"Don't worry too much boss, we will recover this loss soon." He tried to assure but the glare of his boss immediately shut his mouth.

"Recover my foot! This loss can't be recovered in the next ten generations! I am almost on the road!" He rubbed his face in frustration.

Damien watched his boss. He has an idea, yet he does not know if that will work ever. He cleared his throat. "If you give me permission, I have a few words to say, sir."

Rodger's brows furrowed deeper, yet he approved for him to speak.

"Sir, we all know that the great Anthony Rossi is searching for a wife for his grandson with a great dowry announcement. How about, you try there? Your problem will be solved with benefits." Damien proposed.

Rodger looked up at his Assistant, "What do you mean?"

Damien got some courage. He leaned a bit toward his boss, "I am talking about the marriage between Miss Evans and Mr Rossi's grandson. How about..."

Before he could finish his words, a high pitched denial spread in the hall,

"Papa, you can't do this to me! Alexander is rumoured to be inhumane and demonic!" Anastasia cried. Her blue eyes teared up as she tucked her father's sleeves.

"He lives with a deadly face that burnt away and numerous mistresses! He is an impotent man! A walking death that kills for no reason and tortures women to bring out his anger for not having the ability! Papa, how can you send your only daughter to marry a lethal creature like him!? Moreover, you know I want to marry Snyder! Papa do something!"

Chloe heard all of it, standing at one corner in the distance. She is Anastasia's personal maid and is bound to follow her everywhere.

"But sir, this is the only option we have!" Damien spoke hurriedly. He is desperate to get the higher position in the noble community he has been offered. He can't lose this chance because of this man's unnecessary doting.

"Declining the royals means, accepting your defeat. Think about your future generation, sir. Your business."

"Papa..." Anastasia cried, tugging her father's sleeves again before glaring at the idiotic Assistant.

Rodger felt heartbroken. He dotes on his motherless daughter too much that he even aligned the doctors before her room if she sneezes a little. And now, he has to send his daughter away to that torturous duke? Impossible!

He glared at his Assistant, wanted to kill him immediately. How dare he even think to hurt his precious daughter!

"Are you asking me to send my daughter to that devil!? How dare you!? I have given you duties to find a solution for a problem and you are doing the opposite by sending me to the graveyard!?"

"I want you to find a better solution for this loss! I can't send my daughter there!" He announced and Damien's all hope just blown away.

His boss is too stubborn it seems. If he behaves like this, then demolish of his dreams is not so far away!

The whole place falls into pin-drop silence. A few moments later, Snyder decided to speak. Even though he seemed cool outside, he is terrified in his heart of losing his desired assets.

If Anastasia was married to someone else, he is gonna lose these riches. And if she was not married to the Rossi family, because of this loss he is still gonna lose it all. And after coming this long, there is no way he would let everything go.

Snyder cleared his throat, "I have a suggestion, uncle If you permit me to speak."

"Speak." Rodger urged him. He is open to any suggestion at this tough time.

"Uncle, we all know that no parent in sane is ready to give up their daughters to that Duke. But, what if we give him someone who is not reckoned by anyone? Someone, who is parentless?" He raised his brow.

Rodger sat straight. His brows furrowed deeper as he spoke curiously, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, one of the maids from the manor." Snyder's words left and the whole room gasped in horror.

Even Chloe gasped too in one corner. 'A maid from the manor? Whom is he talking about?' She thought in her mind, feeling helpless for that one maid.

"Shut up!" Rodger shouted and glared at his nephew, who seemed to lose his mind!

"Are you trying to destroy the whole of Evans!? How dare you suggest this here!? Sending a maid to the Rossi!?"

Snyder immediately sat straight "No uncle, you misunderstood me. Try to think this logically. In this way, you don't have to lose your own daughter or your business."

Rodger frowned again. "How is that?"

A little smirk crept on Snyder's face. He once eyed Chloe at a corner and lowered his tone, "According to my observation. Anastasia's maid, Chloe can be replaced with her."

Hearing that Anastasia pouted sadly but Snyder assured her, "Of course, no one can be as elegant as our Anastasia. She is the epitome of nobleness." Immediately, her face lit up.

Snyder continued, "If we dress up that girl as a daughter of Evans and send her to the imperial Palace after some basic training that a noble lady should obtain, we all could be saved. Think about it, uncle. No one has seen Anastasia before. You can just say, she is your second daughter. Abroad returned."

"The idea is convincing, but will she agree?" Rodger asked.

"Well, these people are greedy for money. I have heard, she is already disowned by her family and her mother is diagnosed with cancer. She needs money, uncle. We also can keep her mother as the hostage."

Snyder's idea touched Rodger's heart. He has chosen a good follower of him!

Damien also did not oppose the idea as he only needs the result, no matter what the process is.

All of them turned to Chloe as she was standing in the corner. Under their gaze, she felt strange and uncomfortable, unaware of what is coming on her way.

"Papa! I like this idea!" Anastasia exclaimed in joy. "Snyder is so good!" She blushed while praising.

"I like the idea too! Well done, Snyder. If your plan is successfully executed, I will let my daughter marry you in a month and everything will be yours!" He announced and Anastasia blushed, lowering her head.

On the other side, Chloe was clueless, she did not understand what idea they found. Suddenly, she was called by Rodger.

Chloe walked forward a few steps and lowered her head, "Yes, Master?"

"We have decided to send you to the Imperial castle instead of Anastasia..." He announced.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey guys, I am back again with my second story. Hope you will enjoy it too!