When Beauty Destroys The BL World

Marriage Contract

Irene knocks the duchess room.
"Come in." Hearing the duchess reply, Irene gets in.
"Dacia, why you're not sleeping yet?" The duchess was surprised to see her daughter.
"Can I sleep here with you, mom?" Irene asks.
Hearing her daughter request, makes the duchess smile.
"Of course."
Irene then get beside the duchess in the bed. She lean in towards her mother embrace. The duchess is happy and grateful to see her daughter behaviour. It was a rare moment for her to have a mother daughter bond with her estranged daughter since she never been in her children life. She thought she will never had a chance to be a mother for her children.
Her daughter had already grown up but looking at her daughter like this, behaving like a little kid still wanting her mother affection, make her heart moved. The duchess stroke Irene back affectionately. Irene smile as she hug her mother. She misses her mother so much. Being in her mother embrace, make her forget all her problem for awhile.
How she wishes she still had time to spend with her mother. But knowing she will be separated with her, make Irene feel sad.
"Mom...what are your dream?" Irene couldn't help but wonders.
"Dream? Hmmm...to see my children healthy and happy." The duchess said.
"Not that kind of dream. I mean...when you were young, don't you had a dream of what you want to become?" Irene tries to explained.
"Of course I have." The duchess said.
"What is it?" Irene become curious.
"When I was little, I want to be a gardener. I used to go help your grandmother tending to her garden. She loves flowers. But still she had her favourite. Her favourite flower were rose and lily. Mine is daisy. She always talks about flower and how to take of care of it that it makes me grow to love doing it." The duchess smile, as she reminiscing the time when she was little.
"I thought that I can grew my own garden. Just like my mother used to. But that it is meaningless, now that I have my children. All I care now, yours and your brother well being." The duchess stated.
"Why don't you grew your own garden here?" Irene asks.
"Your father doesn't like changes. Beside that, he doesn't fond of flowers."
Listening to her mother explanation, Irene come to know that her mother's freedom is limited due to the duke. Hadn't she married with the duke, she probably live happily being a gardener.
"Mom, don't you wish to leave this place?" Irene question again.
"And go where?" The duchess asks, seemingly not unbothered with this question.
"Having your own place. And maybe become a gardener. Have your own shop. Something like that." Irene said.
The duchess then chuckles.
"Maybe. Someday. Now, go to sleep." The duchess pull Irene back to lie down. Thinking that, her daughter was just trying to have small talk with her.
When actually Irene is thinking about their future plan. She have a thought that, after divorcing the crown prince she will leave this place with her mother. And then find a new place for her and her mother to live. There, they can start anew. She can even help her mother grew her very own garden and make a business out of it. Thinking about this, make her feel content.

Before the day of the wedding, Nickolai come by at the Wickson household.
Both of them assessing each other contract.
Nickolai was already prepared to accept any of Dacia extravagant wishes. But upon reading her part end of the deal, he was surprised.
Her only wishes is to have her freedom and that to have a place for her and her mother to live.
That's all.
At the same time, Irene is reading the contract, nods her head. Just as she predicted. The content of the contract is exactly what she had thought the male lead will ask her to do.
Seeing that both parties accept each other term, they then sign the contract.

Nickolai was about to leave when suddenly the duke and Verick arrived in the living room.
Irene also didn't expect to see both of them.
"Your highness, are you leaving already?" The duke asks.
"Yes, I have other matters to attend to." Nickolai said.
Nickolai then turn to look at Irene.
"Hope to see you tomorrow at the wedding, my dear fiancée."
Irene took a slight bow.
"As do I, your highness."
All of them took a bow towards the crown prince as he left.
The duke turn to look at Irene.
"What did you talk about with the crown prince?" The duke questions sternly.
"He merely just doing his part as my fiancée, asking about my well being. None you need to be concerned about, your grace." Irene reply.
The duke was stunned. It is the first time, his daughter addressed him with so much formality.
Not giving him a chance to lecture her, Irene then excuses herself.
"If there's nothing, I would like to return to my chamber now, your grace. Young lord." After giving them a bow, Irene left the living room.
Both the duke and Verick look at her as she leaves.
"Tomorrow will be the wedding day. Have a guard to watch over her." The duke ordered.
"Yes, father." Verick obeyed.