Marriage To The Assassin of Thorndale

chapter one

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THE wedding couldn't come any sooner, as Nylah had hoped. Months upon months, she'd been preparing to marry a man she was still yet to meet.

From skin care routine, classes with her governess and learning how to run a household now that'd she'd become, Lady Nylah Vanderbilt.

She knew nothing of that sort. She was simply the oldest daughter of a mayor and a stay at home mother.

Four children in total were born to Mr and Mrs De Blanc, Nylah had two younger brothers and one sister, the baby of the family.

Being the daughter came with good privileges like going to private schools, living in a nice house, and living very comfortably. That was the positive side.

The other side, negative in nature, was that she had to deal with the spotlight on her. Citizens and peers in her circle alike, she was expected to be perfect along with her siblings, but more so her, her brothers being male had more privileges than her.

She'd hoped things would change, once she went, and that her little sister wouldn't meet the same fate as her, that's she'd marry someone she chose and loved for herself.

Nylah knew next to nothing about the arrangement between her father and the father of her husband to be.

All she knew was a business arrangement that would ensure her father secured the funds needed for the next step in his political career.

Nylah had been around and stayed late into the night, with her family, to help brainstorm ideas and strategies that would be utilised for her fathers campaign.

Most times, the girl found herself bored and would find ways to sneak off into the bathroom or the little she'd behind the community centre.

She'd bury herself inside whatever book, whether in the genre of both fantasy and romance or historical romance book she found herself engrossed in.

If she felt like something different, she dived into the world of aliens with different features to her own. She rather enjoyed the adventure and the fancy systems and cultures described by the authors.

Or if she was caught in a reading slump, she'd hang out with her long-time friend, Azariah.

His father was a friend of her father, a rich millionaire helping fund Mr De Blanc's campaign. Well, some of it, at least.

It was nice to talk to him most of the time, but his demeanour had changed the past few months now that her wedding was approaching.

He's become more affectionate and complementary. Unfortunately, she'd made the mistake of brushing it off as something harmless.

She'd once or twice participated in the act of flirtation herself. She hadn't thought anything of it, concluding it was just two friends using each other to fill the time.

Azariah, however, had seen something different. He was currently at her side as she stood in her silk robe in the freezing snow.

It was the early hours of the morning, no sun in sight. Azariah begged her to call off the wedding.

"Azariah, you know I can't do that."

"Come on, surely, we're a perfect match." They were a perfect match. He wasn't wrong about that at all. The La Rosa family ran in the same circles as hers. The two of them were close in age, and she'd known him a long time. It's just that whatever her father put down as law, she could change.

"Azariah, you know my father, you can't change his mind that easily."

"I can try. He might listen to me." For some reason, that statement alone, she was hurt.

What if her father did listen to Azariah, compared to her and her pleas for her not to marry a stranger. However, she couldn't see herself marrying Azariah. He was simply a good friend, and that was it.

"Azariah, everything has been set. We can't change anything."

"True, I just worry, he won't treat you properly given where he's from. The people of Nosturg are known to be particularly cruel. "

Rumours had filled the ears of the people of Vaclya about what the people of Nosturg were like. They were described as cruel people, with weird customs and interesting features.

They were known for their sharp teeth and elf-like ears and scary eyes. She'd only seen a few people from Nosturg who travelled to her planet for business. Other than, just in her history books or tv.

Nylah didn't say anything else to Azariah. She was already in her own head about what fate she'll meet once she landed on Nosturg. She had no clue what it looked like.

No pictures or descriptions had been recorded, well there had been but she didn't know if it was a biased recount, one written to quell the interest of her people to stop them from travelling and moving to other planets.

That was the new order since the great change in 2050. Earth had officially not solved the problem of climate change, leaving the governments to reach out to other planets for help.

Continents had been divided and a planet given to them each. 

Her country of Vaclya and its people were descendants of the people that inhabited the continent of Africa. They were strictly to stay in Vaclya and equally divide resources. 

Everyone had followed those rules so far. Crime had gone down, but the exploration and diversity she'd been taught about had stopped.

She hoped that one day it would all change. That at least exploration and travel would be allowed.

So this very intergalactic marriage she was very curious and had many questions about. Most people would just marry people inside their own worlds. So what would cause the change now?

"Well, I best get going, I have a wedding to attend on another planet and all."

"Okay, well, enjoy your wedding, but I won't stop trying." With that, Azariah left, not before landing a soft kiss on her forehead and cheek.

Nylah hurried herself inside the house, heading straight for her room and warming herself in front of the fireplace.

It was now six o'clock in the morning. She had a trip that would last three hours, given that she'd be getting on the earliest shuttle to Nosturg.

Nostburg, please be kind to me. 

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