Chapter 2 - Not Willing to Marry

"My Lady, I heard Duke Kensington will be coming over for a visit this evening and your presence is also required. Shall we decline that visit as well?" Lily asked tentatively.

Hearing the cursed name made Melissa trembled unconsciously.

"Is that Duke Zachary Kensington whom you referred to?" Melissa enquired, her heart unwilling to accept the answer.

"Yes My Lady." Lily confirmed with a smile in her eyes. Who in this mansion didn't know that Duke Kensington had been chosen as the Mistress's future husband.

"Decline, decline! Tell His Grace that I am unwell and I need to rest! No visitors until I feel better!" Melissa exclaimed suddenly, making Lily jumped a step back.

"Yes My Lady. I will inform the Duke right away." With that Lily backed away and left the room, looking puzzled. Her Mistress was fine just now but now she seemed annoyed and possibly angry too. What's going on? Did she not want to marry Duke Kensington?

'Okay, okay, calm down. I need to figure this out. According to the plot, I would marry that unreasonable guy soon. The fact that he's here for a visit means the marriage is not finalized yet. I can still get out of this. Yes I must avoid him at all cost. Only when I don't marry that I would be able to avoid my tragic fate!' Melissa thought hard and finally decided this would be the best. Once she avoided this marriage, she could plan her own life path.

She wondered what had happened to the original soul of this body. But thinking that this was actually a novel world and therefore the characters must be somehow replaceable? Anyway she didn't want to think too much of it. Since she's here now, she must think of her own life.

Downstairs, the Duke of Hurrey's brows furrowed when he was informed of his beloved daughter's sickness.

"Call for the doctor now. Let me know once Lady Melissa is better. I will visit her then. No one is to disturb her for now, understood?!" Duke Malcom Knight bellowed with his loud voice.

"Yes, Your Grace." All the servants replied submissively, bowing to him before they left the room.

"Father, is Melissa not feeling well?" Lord Melvin entered the study in haste after receiving the news from his assistant.

Duke Malcom sighed heavily while looking out of the window.

"Yes, she is unwell and just need some rest. Don't worry, the doctor has checked on her." Duke Malcom answered his son.

"Then why are you looking so down? Is there anything else?" Lord Melvin questioned his father.

Duke Malcom looked at his son before replying, "Did Melissa speak to you about Duke Kensington?" Duke Malcom knew that both his son and daughter were really close knit siblings and Melissa might have told Melvin about this.

"Duke Kensington? Zachary? No, she didn't say anything about him to me. Why Father, what's going on?" Lord Melvin was puzzled at his father's query. What did Zachary has to do with Melissa? As far as he knew, Melissa rarely went out of the mansion and she had no friends. Although he pitied his sister for not having any friends to speak to, he knew of her character well. She had never once complained to him and always put on a smile whenever he saw her. Therefore no one really knew how she felt or whether she was truly happy. As such, he tried to spend as much time as he could with her, trying to fill the void in her life. However, she never once mentioned about Zachary, lest anyone else for that matter. He also knew Zachary and his sister had never met each other.

"I informed her yesterday that the royal family has chosen her to marry Duke Kensington, and he would be visiting her today. And this morning, I got news that she's unwell. We have to cancel the Duke's visit as well. I can't help but wonder if Melissa's sickness shows her unwillingness to accept this marriage." Duke Malcom explained to his son.

"What??! Melissa is to wed Zachary?? But Father, how could this be fair to her? Eventhough he is a good match in terms of status and wealth, but that's about it. Father, Zachary is a widower with a son! Not to mention he is 8 years older than Melissa. How is this marriage possible? Melissa is still a young girl. And now she has to wed an older man and become a stepmother to a young child? No Father, even I as her brother is unwilling to accept this, how could she? She didn't tell you because she loves you. No Father, you need to decline this marriage." Lord Melvin was furious at this ridiculous arrangement. No wonder Melissa suddenly fell sick. Who's willing to accept such a match?

Duke Malcom sighed and pinched his eyebrows together before explaining to his furious son. Of course this was something he wouldn't agree as a father. But the one proposing this was none other than the Queen herself. Duke Kensington was her nephew and everyone knew how much she loved him. Duke Kensington's mother was the Queen's older sister and she passed away when Duke Kensington was still a young boy. The Queen took it upon herself to raise him as one of her own and therefore she was naturally very concerned of Duke Kensington and his young son. When the news of Lady Delia's passing after she gave birth to a son, the Queen was deeply worried about both her foster child and his baby boy. She had tried to persuade Duke Kensington to remarry but that man had remained obstinate all these years, citing he's no longer interested in having a wife.

But now, the boy had turned 5 and needed a mother to raise him well. He's at the age where motherly care and guidance was needed the most, to shape the man he would become in the future. The Queen had decided it was time for Duke Kensington to marry another wife and gave his son the security and love much needed. They couldn't depend on the servants to raise this boy as it's not proper. After much contemplation and going through the list of potential brides, the Queen had settled on Lady Melissa Rose Knight, the only daughter of the Duke of Hurrey. Duke Malcom's reputation as a dignified and honest nobleman had much impressed her and the royal family. Although she had heard some unfavourable gossips about Lady Melissa's character, she refused to acknowledge these groundless gossips unless she witnessed it on her own.

Furthermore, the apple couldn’t fall far from the tree. As the Duke of Hurrey’s daughter, she would definitely had been raised well by her parents. Although Lady Rose Knight passed away a few years ago, she herself was a kind and virtuous lady, not to mention one of the Queen’s close companions. Therefore, Lady Melissa was the best choice for her beloved nephew.

Lord Melvin was still unsatisfied after listening to his father’s explanation. However, upon learning that the Queen herself had propositioned this to their family, they couldn’t reject as it would be unbefitting to oppose the Queen’s wishes. Both Father and Son sat in silence, thinking of Melissa’s uncertain future.

It was a common knowledge among the noblemen that Duke Kensington was a sharp and astute person. Due to his decisive nature, coupled with his profound intelligence, he excelled in everything he did. At a young age, Duke Kensington had single handedly expanded the wealth and estates of the Kensington family, thus making him an invincible persona in the business world. However, he was also known to be cold and unfeeling, except to his son. After the death of his wife, Lady Delia, the only person who could bring a smile to his handsome cold face was little Lord William, his adorable son. Many women had tried to seduce him but failed miserably. He showed no interest in women whatsoever.

Therefore, both Duke Malcom and his son knew that the reason he accepted this marriage was solely due to the Queen’s pressure. If that’s the case, how would he treat Melissa after she married him? They didn’t dare to imagine her future. They just hoped she would be safe and sound. Lord Melvin had secretly vowed to make sure he visit her often so at least that way, she could be happy when she meet him. For now, she had no choice but to follow the Queen’s wish.