Saving My Duke

chapter one

everyone always thought we were the perfect couple, a fair maiden with pale porcelain skin and silver hair;
and the dark noble gentle man, with piercing reddish brown eyes, towering over her. 
we fell in love so foolishly, hopeless romantics meeting during a gathering between our two nations.
mother pushed me to talk to the tall mysterious man in the corner,
i was far to nervous to approach him during the main event.
whilst i was greeting guests, everything was too much.
i never liked being a noble, having to be perfect all the time. and ofcourse, even if i tried i could never be the goddess worthy maiden such as my mother. i couldn't live up to her hopeless ideality.
i took a short walk into the gardens, to escape it all. i stood there meekly admiring the roses.

red roses are beautiful, but they have thorns.
that's how i would describe my mother,
a beautiful lady of high class, with deep silver hair, blood red lips and sharp piercing features.
the power of goddess sylvia has been passed down her line of the family for hundreds of years, you can expect how painful it was when she has a daughter with nothing but looks. i didn't even have health, i was born weak. i have nothing to give to my mother, and so, she hates me.
she was powerful and cunning in her young age;
every man fell to her feet,
love was a simple game for her, untill she met my father.

a cold, backhanded man. he had the power of the world just in his fingertips, the man who was of common blood who manipulated the emperor to give him nobility in exchange for his every lasting devotion, Count Maximilian Ravenore.
i never knew him well, whenever i did see him it was for a lecture of sorts.
their love was praised by high society, and so, they settled down and had me,

the disappointment to house Ravenore.

i have to save ryuuji. i have to go back.

"they're pretty, aren't they?" a small deep voice echoed into my ear, startling me.

spooked, i turn to see the same guy my mother was so adamant i had to meet.
my face flushed, i try to step back as his face is inches away from mine.
he takes a step back, nobly smiling with his defined face and deep eyes like rubies.
"sorry, did i startle you?" he smirks at me,
but i pay no attention and continue staring at his eyes.

"rubies..." i whisper, tilting my head slightly to the side as my green sunhat tilts over my face.
"rubies? " he questions, lightly lifting up my hat to look into my eyes.
i jump slightly at his face being so close to mine, i can almost feel his breath on my nose.

"your eyes, they're like.. rubies." i gaze into his eyes once again, mesmerised.
his face slightly falters from the normal cool guy i think he tries to be, and then he just breaks out into laughter.
i giggle with him, beaming.
"you're certainly something!..." he grins, scratching the back of his head.
"i think i've been told that once or twice."
i smile, ruffling my silver-blue hair in between my silk gloves.

"so, what's your name, ruby guy?" i question him, still admiring him secretly.
"i'm ryuuji, what's your name, snowflake girl?"
i startle slightly, my eyes widening.
"snowflake?" i laugh, almost uncontrollably.
"Persephone."
i know that voice, it's mother.
i turn quickly, to see her approaching with her band of slaves behind her, a flashy deep red dress, the colour of blood.

i briskly brush down my pale green dress, straightening out my skirt.
"hello mother." i bow my head, holding my hands in a ball.
she scoffs.
"you were acting rather informal by what i saw," she nags on at me, i simply keep my head bowed to refrain from infuriating her.
"remember, you are a lady, Persephone."
i scrunch my face, as she walks forward.
her hand reaches out towards me, is she going to hit me?
i flinch as her hand gets closer and closer towards me.
"we're you not aware this man is a duke?"
her voice taunts me, burning holes into my skin getting deeper and deeper with each word.
it stings.
she lifts up my chin, bringing me close to her face.
"well, are you going to answer me, girl.?"
i jump from the aggressive tone,
"y-yes, mother. i'll improve myself next time" i blurt out, stuttering all over the place.