The Villain's Dead Wife

7. Sparkle and Sass

I missed my grandmother dearly. She had always made my birthdays special, baking me a small cake with what little she had and singing me a song.

As I thought about her, my eyes welled up with tears. The emotional pull was overwhelming, but I managed to smile through it all, "I look so pretty."

Just then, the Duke and Duchess walked in. The moment they saw me dressed up like a doll, they were instantly overcome with emotion. It was a poignant moment for them—after all, their daughter had finally turned 18 and was now a grown-up woman, ready to receive proposals from admirers. Little did they know that their daughter was fated to face danger at the hands of her future husband, Prince Kairan Alistair Ashbourne.

Seeing me in my elaborate dress, Duchess' eyes brimmed with tears. She and the Duke came up to me, their faces glowing with pride and love. They gently wiped away a stray tear from my cheek and placed tender kisses on my forehead. The sensation was like a warm, comforting embrace, filling my heart with a deep sense of belonging and love.

In that moment, I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy for the original Meredia, who had experienced this familial love and support from the very start of her life.

Duke said, "Mery, you don't know how thrilled we are that you've finally become a woman. You've matured and become responsible!"

Oh, sure, I’ve become responsible—right before being handed off to a prince who probably thinks ‘duty’ means ruling with an iron fist!

Duchess chimed in, "Today, you'll receive proposals from many noble men. In a year or two, you might be off to start a new life."

My face went as pale as a ghost. Really? At the height of this joyous occasion, they’re already talking about marriage? Couldn’t we have one moment of happiness without the "and then you'll be married off" subplot?

I dramatically clutched my chest and said, "Mother, I don’t want to get married! I’ve only just figured out how to walk in these heels without tripping over my own feet. I’m not ready to lose my newfound responsibility to marriage. Plus, who needs a husband when you’ve got a whole library of books to read and an entire palace to explore?"

They both chuckled and nodded, probably relieved that I wasn’t going to throw a tantrum and accidentally knock over the entire ballroom with my dramatic flair.

I managed to steer the conversation away from marriage. Inwardly, I was praying not to meet any man who would get down on one knee and ask, "Will you marry me?" Because if that happened, I’d probably channel my inner superhero and give them a swift kick to the, well, you know where. I mean, no one should be allowed to propose without a full background check, right?

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And here I am, teetering on my trembling feet, which feel like they’re about to give way under this ridiculously heavy gown.

Not because of the weight—though I’m sure I’ll need a crane to get out of this thing—but because of the name that just dropped from some noble’s lips.

"Crown Prince Kairan will be attending the ceremony too."

Oh, great! Just what I needed to make this day perfect. Why didn’t I just wear my running shoes instead of these medieval torture devices they call heels?

I would’ve bolted faster than a hare in a foxhunt if the Duchess hadn’t nabbed me for her personal show-and-tell session with her friends.

Her friends kept talking, but my brain was too busy plotting my escape route.