Chapter 4 The Duke

After the incident at the party, I was so embarrassed and scared of the duke regarding the time I laughed at him for being lost. We left the party and I am currently following him from behind, silently.

"Hmm, I didn't think that the lady that laughed at me would be my soon-to-be bride." He said and I flinched at his words. He stopped walking and turned around to face me.

Because of the fear that he would kill me, I immediately bowed down to him. "I-I'm very sorry for that, I didn't know that you were the duke" I replied nervously.

"Pfft, hahaha"

I was shocked at what I heard so I tried raising my head to take a glance at him. Maybe I heard it wrong. When I raised my head to take a glance our eyes met and I instantly bowed my head again.

"You are amusing," He said while trying not to laugh. "Raise your head, I won't bite you," He said and when I looked at him. I saw that he was serious so I fixed my posture and looked at him properly.

Arthur's POV

The lady that I saw near the pond and the lady that is currently in front of me are so different. Does she have a split personality? She looked like an optimistic person when I saw her sitting near the pond but the lady in front of me now is like a rabbit cowering in fear in front of a lion.

We walked around the garden for a few more minutes when a sudden gust of wind passed us. "I think we sh-" I didn't finish my sentence when I saw her smiling while fixing her hair from the wind.

She was cowering in front of me earlier now she was calm enough to smile like that. She turned her head towards me and gave me a confused look. I looked at the trees and coughed, feeling embarrassed.

"Duke" She called softly.

I looked back at her. "I think it's time for me to go back to my room now," She said and I nodded. She bowed elegantly and left me in the garden. I sighed and turned my head towards the bushes.

"You can come out now, stop hiding like a rat," I said and Charles came out from the bushes while smiling at me.

I raised my eyebrow at him. "What?" I asked feeling annoyed at his smile.

He laughed so loud that he had to touch his stomach while laughing. "What!" I asked angrily.

"What was that?!" He asked while wiping his tears from crying. "You the one who was called the monster feeling embarrassed?" He said and laughed again.

"Shut up" I sternly said.

"Okay okay, a fine duke who got speechless in front of a lady," Charles said, teasing me.

"I was not speechless!" I retorted. "Yes, you were. Anyway, there was nothing suspicious about their proposal. It seems that they just want to send their youngest out of their sight" He said and reported what information he got during our stay here.

"Meeting the lady, I was sure that this marriage is nothing to be suspicious of," I said while walking towards our carriage."

"Well yeah, seeing you embarrassed and all" He teased again and I was about to reply when I saw him closing the carriage right in my face.

'That bastard! I should have thrown him to the wolf nest when I had a chance

Beatrice's POV

I thought I would be enjoying my breakfast after a tiring party last night when one of my mother's maids came.

"My Lady, the duke and duchess asked you for a meal," She said and I sighed. I signaled her to leave and she looked at me shocked at my response.

"Katy" I called and Katy instantly came inside the room and the other maid left.

"Help me to get ready," I asked and she smiled. After I changed, Katy is now fixing my hair.

"My Lady, if they say something again, please don't mind them too much," She said with a low voice. I looked at her from behind and I saw her trying to smile at me.

"Don't worry too much Katy, I uh" I said and paused.

I smiled at Katy and faced her properly. "I don't care anymore," I said and held her hand.

I made my way towards the dining room and sat quietly. A maid gave me a plate of food and I started eating quietly while my sister Corina was glaring at me.

I suppose it was about last night when we greeted Prince Edward. The prince's reaction was as expected, not long after we greeted him. They left to talk to another room but while they were walking, I saw Prince Edward giving lustful looks at every lady he passed through.

The rumors about him being a pervert are true. I did not do anything wrong for her to glare at me. "Beatrice" My father's cold voice stopped me from my thoughts.

"Yes Father" I replied softly.

"How was your meeting with Duke Lionel" He asked.

"It was normal," I said.

"Your wedding will be in 2 days," He said like it was nothing.

"Okay, father" I replied and continued eating my food.

The wedding will take place sooner than I thought. They must be excited to kick me out. Well, I met the duke last night and it seems that he won't be killing me anytime soon.

I think it's better to make myself useful for the duke so that he won't kill me, instead of being treated like a mouse here at my own house.

I don't know if I am excited to leave here or to be ready to be dead anytime in the north.

I looked outside the window enjoying the cool breeze. I loved my family so much that I didn't even realize that it left a hole inside of me.

It was tiring, trying to get their attention, be recognized, or even study day and night for them to compliment me.

I tried everything but in the end, they only saw me as someone useful for marriage. At the very end, I didn't even receive a little bit of affection from them.

I loved them so much that it hurt. It pains me when I think of all of my memories here. It hurts every time I think about them. Why didn't they love me? Why did they throw me away? Am I part of this family? Am I adopted?

It hurts so much but I promise myself that this will be the last day that I will feel this way to them. I am not part of this family, I'll accept that now.