I won't recognize you anymore

Marriage of convinience

In the middle of the night were the moon can be seen crystal clear. And the secret whispers between trees can be heard in the silence without an interruption, rides a carriage through the forest which bears the family crest of Sergions, toward the Viscount's Residence . The carriage slowly approaches the front gate.

The visitor was escorted to the Viscount's study by the butler. When all was said and done talking in the office did the visitor return back. The Viscount walked with a big grin on his face along the corridor and stormed into his daughter's room early in the morning, screaming "Just when I thought that you were of no use to me, did you show me the opposite! My precious daughter it's finally time to show me your worth. I have received a request for an arranged Marriage between you and the young Grand Duke Lucas." Sofya who was astonished at the news which her father brought up, looked away from the book she was reading. She said nothing and looked at her father who was already calculating the power and wealth of his future son- in-law. Viscount Mandeville is known to be a cunning man who is to ambitious for his own good. Since Sofya's mother was a low born maid who worked in the mansion, made Sofya Viscount's illegitimate child. Him having ambitions was also one of the reasons why he registered Sofya under his family register, after her mother gave birth to her. So he could use her later as his most valuable pawn.

Sofya sat on her seat in front of the window and wandered in her own thoughts, while her father was still calculating very hard in the background. "So... does this mean that I can finally leave this suffocating cage, and spread my broken wings too learn to fly again. I would've never imagined that it would be possible for me to escape this hellish place."

Months went by and before Sofya could apprehend was it already time for the wedding preparations. There she was sitting on the same seat where she got the life changing news on her important day, while she was dressed and dolled up by the maids. This was a unfamiliar feeling for her. Maids who were taking care for her down to the smallest details. The Viscount personally never bothered to look after her. He even nearly forgot the existence of his one and only daughter.

The maids finally accomplished in preparing Sofya for the ceremony. They looked into each other's eyes and started whispering to one to another. "Wow, She looks dazzeling, I can't recognize the young mistress anymore. We didn't even put that much make up.'' The door opens and the Viscount enters the room. He looks at his daughter for several minuten and opens his mouth. "The good sign is that you atleast got the beauty from that woman, it would be a shame if you were ugly. Don't forget my orders and catch your husband's heart at all cost." Sofya stared at her father and nodded. "This will be the last time you will see my face.'' This is wat she wanted to say but changed her mind. The Viscount held out his arm to escort Sofya to the banquet hall.

Sofya walks towards the aisle with her father on her right side, she can see the groom in front of her. If I cross this path will I be free? But what kind of life is waiting for me on the other side?

I don't know my soon to be husband. I only heard some unpleasant rumors about him from the maids. It's rumored that he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for succession. He is the only heir of the Sergion's with red eyes. His father and the father of is father all possessed blue eyes.

Sofya stands still and takes a deep breath while trying to gather some courage, and looks slowly at the Duke. she's never had so many people around her, it's now or never. But her body is not on the same page as her mind. When she wanted to take another step further, someone blocked her path it was a tall and broad men.

It was the duke, he leans forward and whispers in her left ear "I don't have forever, I'm starting to get impatient.'' Sofya's hair started to stand on end by the Dukes unexpected behavior. His voice was low which felt cold. Despite the coldness of his voice it still managed to give her a strange feeling which she never experienced before. The temperature in her body is rising and she is getting slowly flustered. He takes her arm from the Viscount and walks beside her while holding her hand toward the aisle where the priest is standing.

Welcome everyone to celebrate the reconciliation of  two young souls. As we stand beneath Got, and to make you husband and wife you shall exchange vows. " Lucas take you, Sofya, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, yes i do. And you Sofya do you take Lucas to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have a hold. From this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, yes I do. you have declared your consent before God. May the lord in his Goodness strengthen your consent and fill both with his blessings, what god has joined, men must not divide. Amen. Rings were getting put on and the ceremony was continued with a party that went on until midnight.

The newly wed couple had left the party early. While people thought that the young pair would seal their marriage tonight
something unexpected happens. I won't beat around the bush Sofya. You and I know both that this marriage was bestowed upon us by order of the emperor, not out of my free will. "You may be married to me, have my last name and be called the lady of the house but you'll never get a place in my heart, or in my bed." After saying those harsh words Lucas left the room and Sofya stayed behind. Sofya felt hot and started to get weak in the legs as she staggered to the bed while tears rolled down her cheeks as she sat silently. Sofya's beautiful blond lashes got wet from sobbing, She sat on the edge of the bed with her veil over her face staring lifelessly at the wall. She slowly mumbles to herself "Where did it go wrong?" "Am I the problem?" "first my dad and now my husband, is this my fate. suffering and going the same cycle over and over again." I thought that I escaped the cage once and for all, I believed that I could leave all te pain and sorrow behind. "I stupidly believed in an illusion I created, it's impossible to escape the past, and most importantly, I'm just destined to live like this."  Without any sense of time Sofya kept staring at the floor and eventual fell asleep.  The Duke had spent his night in the office.