Danger and opportunity

This man who was smiling at her with a satisfied expression as if he hadn’t just tried to maim her was definitely insane.

“Just like I was saying, you will be able to use your magic if you are properly trained. Why would someone like you conform with being the Marchioness, staying at home or attending parties for him to show you off?”

He was insane, but on the other hand, her hand was indeed intact, and she might be as insane as he was, because she found his words appealing. Training to use magic...

Suddenly, Elena was able to see an alternative to that life. It was impossible to understand how she could even possess magic, only people from Raeden and some come from Eir had that ability. However, there was a chance to actually do all those things she’d only read in books.

The temptation was only natural.

“You’ll teach me, and you will help me to avoid the Marquis this time. What will you gain from this?”

“A promise, of course.” He whispered in a silky voice. “In fact, there is only one way for you to get out of this house and come with me. Would you marry me, my lady?”

Her lips parted as she tried to find the right words to say. There weren’t any.

“You…”

“My name is Ivar. You might call me by my name.”

How could she?

‘Ivar… it does suit him.’

‘No, it doesn’t make sense. He really came all the way here for me?’

“Why?” She asked, not letting his sudden closeness cloud her mind “My family doesn’t hold any real power, my father doesn’t support the policies of the empire either. Besides, this is the first time we’ve met, why would you consider me of all people?”

“I’m looking for a very valuable item that’s been lost to my family for generations. I believe the source of your powers might have some connection to it, and you will eventually help me find it.” Ivar smiled. “I cannot reveal much unless you agree to marry me, I hope you understand.” 

It sounded too good to be true.

“Besides, you’ll be the highest-ranking woman in Vallas, you will enjoy more freedom than you’ve ever had here as the daughter of Enmanuel Valverde. I’m not someone who goes by the traditions of the South… not even by the traditions of the Empire. As long as you gain control over your powers and help me find what I need, you can do anything you want and go wherever you want.”

At first, there did not seem to be a big difference in exchanging a marriage for another, but to Elena the singularity of Ivar’s proposal was clear. No other husband would say that kind of thing. 

Moreover, if she was realistic, that was the only honorable way to leave her house. Doria wouldn’t be a problem either, because no one with a bit of sense, not even his father, would say no to the Duke of Alba in favor of a noble of lower rank.

“Have you talked to my father about this?”

“Shouldn’t I be asking you first, Elena? After all, this matter concerns only you and me.”

He had asked her first.

‘Words are only words.’

But a man’s words were something important to take account of, too.

Maybe at that moment, her heart was already inclined to say yes. However, no one should make important decisions in a hasty manner, even less while being sleep-deprived.

“I’ll think about it. Good night, Your Grace.”

It was as good a time as any to slip out of the kitchen and get away from him.

***

The fire was spreading from the altar to the floor and the wooden pews too fast, and she ran to the doors trying to escape. It was locked, she remembered with desperation. She was trapped inside.

She was going to die.

“Miss, I’m sorry, it’s a bit late.”

Elena gasped for air as she opened her eyes.

Laila came opening the curtains and letting the sunlight into the room, but her timid whisper was enough to wake Elena from her nightmare.

Stretching her arm and waving the palm of her hand, she half-expected to see a burnt there, as the memories from the night before came flooding back to her. Perhaps that, too, had been part of the dream.

Certainly, the duke had not proposed to her, or had he?

She used to think her father was bad enough, but Ivar de Alba was dangerous, she realized that much. 

Was she really willing to risk it all just to be able to start over? She’d endured for so long already…

“Miss, are you okay?” Laila approached the bed and looked at her with concern. “You have to hurry up. Everyone else is ready to go to the temple. I didn’t know… I’m sorry I only came for you now.”

Ah, it wasn’t late at all, but today she was expected to entertain her guests. (Only one occupied all her thoughts).

“Don’t worry. No one told you to come for me because I don’t join the family when they are in the temple.” That was to say, after the horrifying night when the place caught fire, she wasn’t allowed to go in ever again. It suited Elena just fine, she didn’t have any interest in doing that either. “Laila, could you bring hot water for my bath? Ask the other girls to help you.”

She still needed to be respectable when they returned.

As she got up and waited for the young girl to come back, Elena contemplated her situation as the daughter who was too sinful to walk into a sacred place. How fitting it’d be for someone like her to be part of another family that also denied their God’s existence or the importance of their religion.

Actually, what happened that night and even her family’s response made more sense if, as the Duke said, she possessed magic. In some ways, this thought was comforting.

Nancy and Laila effectively pushed the memories away when they came to tell her the bath was already prepared in the room next door, but only the young girl remained there while Elena undressed.

She shivered in the cold before getting into the bathtub. Behind her, Laila gasped.

“Miss, what happened to you?”

“It’s only an old scar.” 

“But it looks…” 

Ugly. Disgusting. Something that should definitely not be on the back of a fine young lady.

Unlike the previous when Ivar blew fire on her hand without leaving a trace, the fire from eleven years ago did manage to leave this mark, a reminder of just how much she was cherished by her father. 

Why did nothing happen last night? Was it because she was older, the magic that protected her was stronger even if she didn’t control it?

What if it was just a matter of luck, and she wasn’t lucky next time?

Would there be a next time?

He was dangerous, but he was also her best opportunity to get out of this house to something different... if she was going to believe his words.

Elena’s heartbeat was erratic the more she thought about it. And she had to make her decision soon, before her father closed the deal with the Marquis.

Once dressed and ready to go downstairs, she took a second to fully compose herself, and then she and Laila were out in the corridor. 

It wasn’t really surprising to see the Duke walking towards her.