Chapter 2

Niklaus Dragomir, the 8th Duke of Belikov, was staring out of the room that he was taking a sip of his tea that was laced with blood. He smacked his mouth before his butler was knocking on the door. The door opened and Niklaus was glancing over his shoulder before he was regarding the butler.

"What is it now?" He asked as he was having a hard time keeping track of time when he was supposed to be balancing the ledgers and all that happened with his tenants and trying to keep the food on their table and a roof under their heads.

Belikov's responsibility was included with Royal Molftus, where the Lesser Gentry and the Higher Court resided but they must be sustained and that's where his tenants came to feed the wealthy. He was having the big responsibility to keep the tenants and gentry happy as well as serving the young queen of Niapachad Island as well.

"You have an engagement tonight that you asked me to remind you, Your Grace," the butler said as Niklaus sighed. He rubbed his face with his free hand before he turned to look at the door.

"And what is my engagement exactly?" He asked as the butler was coming into the room and carried a letter. He gave it to Niklaus before the duke opened it and read it. He arched his eyebrow. "A ball?"

"Yes, on behalf of the young queen," the butler said before Niklaus sighed. He waved his hand away before the butler was out of the room. He turned to look at the sunlight that was on the horizon before Niklaus was thinking about the decision of the Higher Court regarding his heritage.

They asked him to find a bride and produce an heir.

Niklaus' grip on the teacup tightened before he was looking at the invitation again. He thought that maybe this was one of the ways that the young queen ensured that she trusted the court to produce their lineage as soon as possible to secure the position. Niklaus put the teacup down before he strode out of the room.

Maybe it was time to secure a bride, he thought.

*****

"Why do you have to make it so tight?" Becca whined as she was trying to breathe through the corset that her lady's maid was tied behind her back.

"Sorry, mum. I don't think that it would be that tight," the maid said as Becca instructed her to loosen it up. "Like this?" The maid asked before Becca was taking a deep breath. She never thought that she would be appreciating to breathe normally through that tight corset. Even if it was for comfort and accentuate her excellent figure.

Like I need anything more of that, she thought.

"Okay, let's get moving, shall we?" Becca said as she was looking at the petticoats, 5 layers that she had to put on and she has to wear the corset cover as well before she can even get into the actual gown that she will be adorning tonight. "I think Lady Georgia was trying to kill me with those clothing," Becca joked before her lady's maid was chuckling. She was standing straight as the maid was taking the first layer of petticoats to be put on her.

"Let the torture begin," she said as she was getting ready for the ball with constant curses in her mind. Not that her lady's maid knows or heard about it, only Becca herself.

After a few hours of perfecting the perfect silhouette of the respected lady as well as the worthy status of her father, Becca was descending the stairs of her father's manor. Her parents were waiting for her downstairs before they gasped at her.

"Oh, Becca darling, you look amazing," her mother compliment her as Becca was smiling, trying to conceal the fact that she was about to fall if she did not balance herself on those shoes.

Those tight and high shoes.

"Well, thank you, I tried my best to look presentable for the ball that I care less," Becca said sarcastically before her mother was glaring at her. Becca smiled before she was greeting her father, Lord Matthew Davis. Their family has been extended to visit someone from the modern world but Lord Matthew refused since they have to leave the island. And they never did, in their entire life. Only Klara, a daughter that Lord Matthew found when she was shipwrecked and raised her like she was his own.

Until she found her way back to the modern world.

"Well, shall we get going? I don't think John Coachman would be patient with us if we don't get moving," Lord Matthew said before the trio was out of the manor. The cold air hit Becca before she was pulling her coat even tighter to her body.

So much for tonight's entertainment, she thought before the carriage was being opened by the footman. Her mother got inside first before her father was helping her to get inside the carriage as she was gathering her lavish green skirts that matched her eyes. Becca just hoped that it would not attract too much attention to her tonight, just like before.

Then, Lord Matthew was inside the carriage before he tapped the roof with his cane and the carriage was moving forward. Becca was looking at her parents before she sighed inwardly. Becca didn't think that tonight will be like any other night, where she would disappear to some secluded area and read.

No, this time, her mother, Lady Georgia Davis was determined to make sure that Becca will land a husband and perhaps with someone wealthy like she matched her sisters. Becca just hoped that one of the Higher Court lords will not be gaining his attention on her.

But of course, that would be a dream as the Duke of Belikov's estate was shining with the gaslights from afar as Becca was looking through the window. This night will seal the fate that she has been wanting to get away.

Being someone's bride.

*****

Niklaus was looking around the ballroom from the balcony that was on the second floor of his estate. He sipped on the wine that was laced with blood. He constantly needed blood as he had Porphyria when he was younger.

And now, he was a changed man.

Niklaus was scanning the ballroom before a group of people was coming through the front door. He stopped his glass midway as he was staring at the young woman that was adorning the emerald dress that was complimenting her fair complexion. Her hair was black that was styled in crowns to adore her head before he was feeling something inside him.

Something that Niklaus never felt before.

"Who are those people?" Niklaus asked his friend, Ian, that was standing next to him in his secluded area.

"Why, that is Lord Matthew and his family. His wife, Lady Georgia, and their youngest daughter, Lady Rebecca. I heard that she is the only one that has not been capturing any suitor's attention like her sisters," Ian said as Niklaus was blinking his eyes.

How come the beautiful woman was not married yet?

"Do you know why?" Niklaus asked Ian before the marquis chuckled. Niklaus turned to look at him before Ian was smirking at him.

"I see that she managed to capture your attention,"

"That's none of your business," the duke said before Ian was laughing at his friend.

"Well, rumors said that the lady in question was reckless and wild. She has a mouth that would turn sailor to shame, or so I have heard," Ian said before Niklaus was determined to find out more about that woman. Maybe she was the answer to his conquest. A loveless marriage, just a wife to give him an heir. End of story.

"Well," Niklaus said as he was straightening his coat before he was putting the glass on the rail, "I think I will be the judge of that," he said before he was moving out of the balcony, making his way to his potential bride.

At least this problem will be solved, Niklaus mused to himself before he stared into the vivid green eyes he ever saw in his life.

*****

Becca was sighing before she rolled her eyes as she was looking at the enormous estate that stood in front of her. Her father had helped her to get out of the carriage before her mother was getting off the carriage behind her.

"Wow, this duke of Belikov did not play with his wealth. He loves to show it off," her mother said as she was adorning her ruby jewelry. Becca rolled her eyes.

"Like someone that I know," she mumbled before her mother turned to look at her.

"Did you say something, darling?" Lady Georgia was asking her daughter before Becca smiled at her.

"Nothing, Mama. I was just adorning your ruby collection. Bold for this kind of party," Becca said before her father was clearing his throat.

"Shall we get going then, family?" He asked before her mother was putting her hand on the crook of his elbow before they were walking ahead of her. Becca followed their pursuit before the door was opened and the grand ballroom was in front of her.

"Lord and Lady Davis. Welcome," the butler said as her parents were nodding at him. Her parents took off their coats as well as Becca before giving them to the servant. Suddenly, Becca felt conscious of the dress that she was adorning. It was emerald green that hugged her figure perfectly but the neckline was too low for her taste now. She felt like she was the prey in this ballroom. She heard her parents were talking to someone before she turned to look at them. They were gone now.

"Damnation," she cursed before she was looking around for any sign of them but failed miserably. She sighed before she felt something behind her. The body heat was too strong to be ignored and when she turned, she was looking into the deepest blue eyes that she could ever see in her life.