Consequence

Chapter 4

April 13, 1813

"Where were you planning on going?" Dominik smirked as he handed me my luggage.

"I don't know." I answered truthfully staring down at the brick pavement. I just really wanted to do things my own way. I suppose Mrs. Helen was right, I'm more stubborn than I'd like to admit.

"Come on then...the auto can't wait forever." I wondered to myself what an auto was but the grin on his face intimidated me. There was no way I was asking. I didn't want to seem stupid.

He wasn't much older than I was so why did I fear him like he was my father or something. But it's not like I'd know what it felt like to have one anyways.

As we approached the orphanage he pointed to the horseless carriage and said, "This is an automobile."

How did he know? It's like her read my mind or something. Or I'm just bad at hiding my confusion. I nearly smacked my hand on my forehead in embarrassment.

I passed by Mrs. Helen and gave her a slight nod. Then she did something that truly surprised me. She pulled me into a hug and whispered "Be a good girl Eva. I expect great things from you but don't fill Mr. Klein's head with your silly ideas."

She pulled away and for once she flashed a smile. It actually suited her. Her smile was gone in a second and replaced with a straight face.

I climbed into the automobile and turned to wave goodbye. But she was already walking through the door of the orphanage, her back facing me.

I recalled the events of last night. I remembered how after I awoke from my fainting spell Mrs. Helen had informed me that I was technically adopted by Dominik Klein.

It was a very strange arrangement. Mrs. Helen and her husband had signed a document handing my custody over to Dominik Klein who I found out was indeed two years older than me. Since he was eighteen he could legally adopt me. But it was more like an arranged marriage than an adoption.

I still didn't know all the details. All I knew was that everything I worked for was completely useless now that I was already freed from the orphanage.

I was so deep in thought that I didn't notice we had entered the high class neighborhood of the city until I raised my head to watch the sky.

The homes that we passed by couldn't be compared to any house I had ever seen. My eyes widened as I stared in awe at the giant palaces before me.

The auto stopped in front of the most beautiful mansion. We were greeted by a young boy who I assumed was a servant. He took my baggage from my hands before I could even say otherwise.

Dominik who had been hovering over me for what felt like forever sped past me as the servant boy opened the large glass doors (I had never seen anything like them before). Dominik had already disappeared from view.

I stepped inside and felt as though I had entered an alternate world. Large crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, the marble floor shined white like pearls, and every piece of furniture was lined with gold.

The orphanage couldn't even compare to this castle fit for a king. It was no place for someone like me to live, I felt embarrassed just standing there.

I closed my eyes and asked any higher form of power "why me?" But it wasn't a question as to why I was so lucky. I actually felt cursed.

All my life I had the belief that in order to succeed in life you need to put in the effort. But I was practically getting everything handed to me on silver platter.

Then I remembered that I was an orphan and some would say that I had bad luck pretty much all my life. I never believed in luck, though, but maybe this was my fate. Maybe I was destined to start life as the poor orphan girl and end as the "lucky" wife of a beyond wealthy man.

I could never be content with just that. I would need to forge my own path better than the one that was created for me by destiny.

I couldn't allow this marriage to take place. Even if my life depended on it.