An esteemed Barons daughter of High-society is forced to accept a marriage in order to save her unloving family from bankruptcy. It's her final show of love for her broken father. The Duke of the east, also known as the Imperial beast, is to be her...
A month had passed with no letters from the Duke. My father and stepmother grew wary not understanding why, according to them there was so much that still needed to be discussed between houses.
I knew very well what they truly worried about was having their debt paid off in full, by the Duke. The banks had agreed to put a hold on the proceedings with bankruptcy, once my father showed them the written letter proving The Duke was to marry one of his daughters.
A white carriage with the temples symbol in gold, appeared at the front of our estate. It sent our remaining members in a slight panic as the High priest himself stepped out of the carriage. His white robes gleamed in the sunlight, the gold sparkled much like his carriage. A few of his church members in all brown robes, followed closely behind, as he made his way up the steps to our front door.
I watched curiously from my bedroom window upstairs, wondering what on earth was so important the High priest himself would show up.
My bedroom door slammed open, the loud bang from it hitting against the wall caused me to yelp in sudden fright.
Turning around my stepmother was catching her breath. Did she seriously run? Her?
What on earth for?!....
"YOU... get downstairs right this instant!".... She huffed out.
My body moved on its own, always obeying instinctively. My stepmother was right behind me, I could still hear her attempting to catch her breath.
Am I in some kind of trouble?..
As I came into sight at the top of the stairs my father exhaled in relief with a clap of his hands.
"Ah, there's my precious Isabella!"...
My body flinched at his words and tone, he was clearly pretending to be a loving father towards me in front of our unexpected guests.
As I slowly made my way down the stairs, stepmother whispered behind me just low enough for my ears to hear alone.
"Don't you dare embarrass us"... she sneered
I forced a convincing smile upon my face as I greeted the High priest, along with his followers.
My father led all of us to the drawing room, which had plenty of comfortable seating for us. Stepmother had already ordered the few remaining staff members to bring our finest tea and snacks.
Margaret joined us sitting beside me on the spacious couch. Father sat to my right and stepmother sat beside Margaret. It felt so odd to be sitting so close to either of them. In the dining room for meals, we didn't sit this close to one another.
I suppose to any outsider we looked the part, a normal family.
"I bring the marriage certificate for Isabella Holbrook to vow and sign to marry Duke Killian Blackwood..... both the Emperor and Empress have signed this certificate confirming this marriage by the Imperial family. It was also the Empress herself who ordered you both be exempted from traditional ceremonies, which is why Duke Killian Blackwood has already signed his part, now all you need to do my dear is Sign it and you are officially married." ... the high priest's voice was comforting with wisdom and a sense of peace.
He was warm and kind. My smile now was not a forced one.
My sister lightly elbowed my side, I apologized grabbing the ink pen the High priest held out for me to take. One of the church members rolled out the marriage certificate onto the coffee table between us, gently holding two corners so that it wouldn't roll up as I sign. The other held a small box in his hands with a black envelope.
A letter from the Duke?
As I signed my life away, the room was silent besides the scribble of the ink pen and the High Priest's voice as he said a prayer.
The moment I put the ink pen down the High priest announced my new name, my new identity was Duchess Isabella Blackwood.
My body involuntarily shivered slightly upon hearing my title and name for the first time as everyone else in the room clapped respectfully.
Soon I was handed the small box and black envelope. Opening the small black box first I gasped, everyone else who caught sight of what was inside, had similar reactions to my own.
It was a ring. The largest Emerald cut stone gleamed the prettiest shade of green I've ever seen, the stone was in the center along a silver band with white diamonds. It was utterly beautiful, I had never seen such a fine piece of jewelry before. I took it out carefully placing it onto my ring finger.
It had some weight to it, reminding me of who I was now.
A wife.
Butler Fredrick along with another servant arrived serving tea and snacks to everyone. My father and stepmother happily conversed with the High Priest and church members.
No one noticed when I got up to walk a few feet away to the nearest window. Opening the black envelope I pulled out... my husband's letter.
Duchess Isabella,
If you are reading this it means you have signed the marriage certificate. I apologize for not being there in person to give you this ring. It's a family Heirloom, it has great meaning to me. And now I give it to you, my wife.
See you soon.
~Duke Killian Blackwood
I reread his letter a few more times not able to pinpoint how I was feeling. I still felt so numb but there was a sense of kindness to his written words.
As I stared at the beautiful ring upon my finger, I swallowed the bile that threatened to surface.
I was a Duchess now, even though others would jump to the heavens to have received such a title. Fear weighed me down, fear of what this would bring, what this meant for me.
His words confirmed one thing. I'd be leaving this place, very soon.
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