Binding Fate: Betrothed to the Otherworldly Duke

Chapter 21: A Holy Intervention

 The maids had just finished selecting my attire for the day, laying out the clothes on an ornate wooden chair with their usual meticulous care. The outfit they'd chosen was impeccable—deep blue velvet doublet embroidered with intricate silver thread, a pair of black trousers that fit me perfectly, and a crisp white ruffled shirt. I nodded in approval and dismissed them, preferring to dress myself.

Once I was dressed, I heard the familiar knock at my door. It was Pascal—his knock was always distinctive, a gentle but assertive tap that I had come to recognize over the years.

"Enter."

"The Holy procession is about to enter the estate grounds, Your Grace."

"Well then, we must go down to greet them," I said, standing up with a sense of authority.

"Has she had breakfast yet?" I asked, glancing down the hall toward Mara's room. I couldn't help but wonder what she was up to this morning.

"Yes, Your Grace," Pascal answered dutifully, always a step ahead. "Miss Mara had her breakfast in her room earlier. She then asked for directions to the library, expressing a desire to spend the day there."

The words hung in the air as I processed them. Could she read our language? That was...odd. My mind spun with questions. How could she understand our language so well? A flicker of doubt stirred in my heart. Could she really just be a shipwrecked Xoltecan? The thought lingered, unsettling.

As we descended the main staircase, Pascal asked, "Is there anything you would like me to convey to Miss Mara?"

I hesitated for a moment. "Only that I request her to dine with me again tonight," I began but then stopped myself, an idea forming. "No, don't relay that. I'll find her in the library later and ask her myself."

As I descended the main staircase and walked out to the main entrance, the sound of heavy footsteps followed me. My knights had gathered behind me, their armor clanking with every move.

I saw as the first of the Holy Knights crossed the threshold into the estate grounds. An almost mischievous grin played on my lips as I watched them react to the potent protective magic that enveloped the estate. I got the slightest tremor of a wince amongst them, sure that the high priest and saintess inside the carriage must have felt it too.

But when the carriage arrived, I focused on the moment. I needed to be present. As the door swung open, I greeted them with the authority expected of a Duke. "Welcome to the Aster Estate, Your Holiness."

"Thank you for having us, Your Grace," Silas answered as he stepped out of the carriage in full regalia.

What a pompous bastard!

Stepping out right behind him was a woman in a white and gold dress with a lace veil over her face. I had seen this figure in passing during my last visit to the royal palace. It was the new Saintess.

"This is Saintess Celeste." Sila introduced Celeste, and I could feel her eyes on me as she stepped forward.

"An honor to meet you, Saintess Celeste," I said, my voice steady and composed.

Celeste stepped forward and did something I hadn't expected—she lifted her veil, revealing her face. This was a bold move, something that wasn't commonly done. Part of the allure of the Saintess was that she was seen as a heavenly maiden, connected directly to the goddess Elysarra. Her beauty was understood, a given, but it was not something to be revealed to just anyone. I supposed there was a good reason she was unveiling herself to me, but the thought made my stomach churn.

I noticed the flicker of irritation that crossed her face when she saw my reaction—or lack thereof. It was brief and quickly masked, but I caught it. There was no denying that Celeste was attractive. She had long, curly golden hair and eyes, the lightest shade of pink, and a face that could undoubtedly cause anyone to stop and stare in awe. But I wasn't so easily impressed. I'd seen beauty like hers in the capital all my life. And if I was being honest, her features paled in comparison to the woman who was probably nestled in a reading nook in my library right now.