Chapter 2 Betrayal

Ahnarrah Carmeine Quin, daughter of the Duke and Duchess. The future ruler of the vast estate of Araceli. The beloved Lady Narrah for her people. Araceli's precious jewel.

Life is perfect, not until a tragedy happened. She lost both of her parents to an accident.

She is mourning their death and acquaintances' visits to show their respect for their family. It's been unfortunate losing a great ruler.

Orphan, that is what she is now. She has no one but her beloved people and her betrothed, Philip of Cameron.

And his visit together with his family immensely lightens her misery.

Excited to see him, she run the entire hallway to meet Philip and his family.

She was about to enter the receiving room when she came to an abrupt stop. Philip and Charlotte kiss each other in front of their smiling parents.

From her spot, she could clearly see the intimate act that stunned her. Her betrothed passionately kissing her distant relative who came to sympathize with her loss.

She stared at the two intimate figures with a clenched jaw. She remained standing until Philip noticed her and Charlotte followed his eyes.

"Narrah, it's good you are here, come join us" Merlin exclaimed as she walked towards her with a fake smile. She gestured for Narrah to come closer.

Calmly looking around the room, her gaze stopped at Philip whom he thought was decent enough together with his family. She took a step towards the group with her head held high.

Philip looked awkward but Charlotte is audacious enough to smirk at her.

"We will take this chance to tell you that my daughter, Charlotte, will be marrying Philip of Cameron. Whatever talk made by your parents and the Baron is no longer effective" Charlotte's father announced while staring at Narrah who remained silent.

"What do you mean, my lord?"

"Call me, your Grace" the man seriously replied with a smirk, making her stare at him in confusion.

"The King has decreed, I am the new Duke of Araceli" the man continued.

She remained quiet, staring at the triumphant smirk on the man's old bland face. The two women beside him mirrored his triumph.

”Narrah, dear. I expect you understand the situation" the older woman sneered.

Narrah? She was never addressed as Narrah. It's maybe her name but no one has addressed her with a mere Narrah except for her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Araceli.

She is the only daughter of the Duke and everyone addresses her as 'My Lady', fit for her title. She is on a pedestal of the Royals. Everyone looked up to her. They bow with her mere presence, not disdain just like what she is seeing on her visitors' faces.

"I am still the Lady of this estate" Narrah muttered seriously, directly looking at the man's eyes.

Chuckles sounded as three pairs of amused eyes stared at her.

"I'm afraid it's no longer the case, Narrah" the man slithered with a sinister smile.

Narrah's unreadable eyes coldly stare at the man, her head held high. No one could be as impertinent as the man and it's riling her.

”I am Ahnarrah Carmaine Quinn, the Lady of Araceli, you address me accordingly" Narrah repeated. Her cold gaze continues to stare at her visitors.

The younger woman beside the couple scoffs as she mockingly stares at her.

"Save your arrogance Narrah, you are no longer the lady of this estate… but I am" the younger woman exclaimed smugly.

Narrah's cold eyes turned to the woman who met her gaze with a challenge.

"You dare challenge the King's decree, Narrah?" the pompous woman exclaimed with a curt smile.

The three people stared at the young girl who stood in front of them with an air of pride and arrogance, though unfit for her dim situation at the moment.

Whatever she was thinking, no one could tell. She continues to stare at the people claiming her father's title and their whole family's identity.

"I am the only daughter of the Duke. I am the rightful heir of this estate. I am the Duchess of Araceli at my parent's demise" Narrah coldly mutters as she looked at each pair of amused eyes.

"Have you forgotten my dear, you are only seventeen" the woman replied with an arrogant smile.

"For a child, you are not fit to rule this vast estate. Your pampered and young life knows nothing but being fancy. So, don't be impertinent" the man spoke with obvious contempt in his voice.

"Be grateful for our charity, Narrah. We agreed to make you stay. You won't be left homeless, despite your uncertain status" the woman spoke scornfully.

"Your time of power has ended. You are nothing but a commoner. Just like your mother" the man continues with pure disgust.

Narrah stared at the three people with a cold gaze as she lamented her situation. Her teeth grit at the mention of her mother.

Everyone knows her mother as a commoner, no one knew her lineage. She was respected as the Duchess but every member of the peerage secretly looked down on her.

A woman without royal blood, unknown of her ancestors, a nobody who only became Duchess with her marriage to the Duke.

"You cannot disrespect my father and my mother like this" Narrah muttered grimly.

"It's the King's decree" the man responded mockingly.

"What sorcery did you use to have persuaded the King of this treachery?" she confronted the man angrily.

The man scoffs and smirks. He stared grimly at her but she met his gaze with equal intensity and arrogance.

"Until you are of legal age and I declare to the King that you are fit to rule this estate, I will be your Duke" the man cruelly replied.

She grits her teeth as she stared at his devilish eyes. No words could unravel her thoughts.

"You are at my mercy, Narrah, and I expect your acquiescence. Earn my favor, by then, I might make you stay longer than I intend you to" the man warned with a glare.

"I am at nobody's mercy" Narrah responded defiantly making the three people in the room scoff.

"Believe me Narrah, you are" the man countered mockingly.

"Your arrogance is out of place. You are no longer the precious daughter of the Duke but just a mere peasant like all the servants inside this castle" the man sneered.

"Lower your head!" the man's voice thundered as he glared at the defiant girl in front of him. He tried to intimidate her but to no avail, Narrah held her head high without fear just like how she was used to as a Royal.

”The Duke told you to bow your head!" the woman forcibly grabbed Narrah's head and forced her to bow, which she resisted. Narrah's face was devoid of emotions and unconcerned about the painful hold of the new Duchess.

"How dare you defy your Duke!" a slap ringed her ears as her face felt the pain from the Duchess's palm. Despite being hurt, she shows no emotion.

"Your useless mother should have taught you respect!" the woman continued as he forcibly pulled Narrah's hair just to make her bow.

"Don't malign my mother" Narrah turned to the woman and sharply stared at her, her eyes stone cold.

"Or what?! Do you think you can do anything? You are no one now Narrah, throw your arrogance away. I will say whatever I want to say about your whore of a mother" the woman angrily ranted as she cupped Narrah's chin in a tight grip.

"I told you to bow your head to your Duke and Duchess" she pushed Narrah to the floor, making the girl fall to her knees.

Three pairs of eyes looked at her with a satisfied smile.

”You are better kneeling on the floor" the younger woman exclaimed happily, making her parents chuckle.

"You should remember who you are, Ahnarrah Quinn. A lowly peasant. You belonged to the floor" the new Duke exclaimed haughtily as they stared at the girl who was once the princess of the kingdom she no longer owns.

Ahnarrah Carmaine Quinn was the precious jewel of Araceli castle, loved by her parents and her people but despised by other royals due to the unknown blood of her mother.

Once the envy of every young girl is now kneeling on the floor, hopelessly miserable.

The pain in her knee is incomparable to the pain she felt inside. She was still mourning the death of her parents. She was supposed to be crying from their passing at this time, but the shameless family barged in and unceremoniously claimed what is rightfully hers.

Tears stuck in her eyes, and not a single one dropped. She is furious, enraged by the treachery of the shameless family. They gave her no time to mourn. They have no decency to wait. Her parents were just buried but here they are, already claiming the power his father once possessed. A great power and influence every man envied.

She wanted to cry but tears refused to fall. She wanted to weep but her pride won't allow anyone to see her pain.

"You have no one now, Narrah, but us. You either bend to our ways or suffer" the new Duke muttered after watching the girl who resists shedding a tear. Her hostility despite her uncertain situation is riling his anger. He grits his teeth as he watches Narrah's sharp glare at him.

"You will not have food tonight. You will starve in your sleep" the man added angrily and turned to the nearby servants who all bowed to him.

"I will punish anyone who would give this girl food! Make everyone know!" the Duke commanded.

"Yes, your Grace" all servants bowed low in fear of the duke's wrath.

Same servants who have served Narrah's family for the longest time. Loyal people were all powerless to help her. They could only make subtle sympathetic glances at their once cheerful young lady.

"Hope you understand, dear Narrah. The wedding is political...and without your father, as Duke, you are no longer suitable for my son. The King had decreed a new Duke" the Baroness casually explained. Her expression is devoid of any glint of sincerity.

Narrah remained silent, her throat too constricted to talk. She was overwhelmed by the turmoil of emotions inside her. She seemed to be repeatedly faced with the wall of nowhere, trapping her.

She endured every scornful stare towards her as she allowed them to celebrate their victory of stripping everything from her. She can do nothing but swallow whatever unjustness they subjected her to.

”I understand..." Narrah muttered calmly, taking her time to stare at every eye in the room. She made Philip the last.

The man whom she thought was on her side. He was her childhood friend, though not that close. They almost grew up together and when Philip turned eighteen two years ago, they were betrothed to each other.

Philip's family was like her own, or so she thought. She knew clearly now. They were never a family. They were after the title she would bring them.

"Good...I know you are smart, Narrah" Charlotte mockingly exclaimed before she faced Philip and shamelessly pecked another kiss on his lips. The two were about the same age and they could get married anytime.

For someone who was homeschooled and heavily guarded since birth, she was so excited waiting for the time she would turn eighteen. It would only mean one thing and it is the time she and Philip could get married.

She dreamed of having a happy married life like her parents, and she wanted many children. Though Philip and she were never intimate, they were at least friends. Marrying him even by arranged marriage is not a bad idea at all.

"You can serve the tea, now" the Duchess orders her with a stern tone. Treating her like a servant.

"Let's see where your arrogance would bring you" the duke scorned as he mockingly scoffed.

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