Ordained

The pairing is supposed to give you your perfect partner. A divinely chosen ordained pair.
Most nobles forced into the pairing end up matched with a commoner and disowned by their families. Emmeline had come to accept this.
The neglected youngest daughter of an overly ambitious father, she had accepted trading her life of luxury for a chance to finally be loved.
However, everything goes wrong when she is paired, not with a commoner, but Cassius Marcellus. The nephew of the King and sole heir to the powerful Marcellus duchy, who was forced into the pairing to show royal support for the ancient ritual.

Emmeline quickly throws Cassius and his parents' plans into chaos when she refuses to be quietly discarded. She was promised a perfect partner who would love her, and that is what is going to get.
................................

Cassius opened his eyes slowly, his nose still only inches from her's. "Emmie." He slowed her worrying, reaching up to press a rough palm to her cheek. "It's fine." She waited a few seconds to check he meant it, before kissing him again. She moved slowly, as if wanting permission as she lifted one hand up to rest on his good shoulder. He chuckled, meeting her lips and humming happily against her mouth.
"I love you too." She finally admitted between kisses.
Cassius paused, pulling back to see her fully. "You mean it?"
Emmeline nodded, suddenly embarrassed. His answering smile was triumphant. "I will make you the happiest grand duchess this kingdom has ever seen." He vowed, kissed her hard before she could reply.