My hair danced in the breeze as the wind got stronger. My eyes wondered around the garden aimlessly, the tea grow colder by the second almost mimicking my heart. I felt like screaming, or maybe crying but nothing. I looked the man infront of me dead in the eye
"why are you showing me this" I questioned.
We had only met a few time, his gaze would follow me around and when I'd turn he would have already looked away.
A smile played on his face, as if mocking me
" I think a young lady deserves to know when her partner is being unfaithful." his eyes stared right into my soul, as if they were searching for something.
A glimpse of worry flashed but was quickly replaced by a cold and unreadable expression. I looked once more at the love letters that I now held in my hands. This was definitely Sedrics handwriting and the replies were in lady louisa's handwriting but why? Why would they do something so wicked, what did I do to deserve this. I looked back at him, his cold gaze eating mine
"what is it that you truly want?" i tried to sound confident but I failed the words I spoke sounder more of a plea than a demand.
He stood up and walked towards me, my eyes flowing his every move with caution. Stopping right infront of me he nelt down and reach toward my face. I flinched instinctively. My eyes closed shut in anticipation. But instead of the pain I thought I'd feel, a cold hand caressed my face making me open my eye wide in shock.
"you asked me what I truly want" I stayed quiet waiting patiently for him to continue
" you'll have to find that out yourself "His voice was a low whisper. Quite yet playful. My face flushed as I watched him stand up and leave.
I sat there for a while staring at my now cold tea. My heart was still racing, his touch somehow felt familiar. My hand traced along the palace he touched. Why was the Grand Duke doing this wand since when was he so gentle. Just then my train of thought was broken by a sweet voice calling for me.
"Young miss" turning my head, scanning the area to see where the voice was coming from. A few steps way form me stood a young lady with vibrant red hair, green eyes and pale skin, dressed in a green dress with some gold accents. I smiled as my eyes met with a familiar face, "Yes Rona" her full name was Marona Korztdeval but I call her Rona as we had been close since we were young even though she is my lady-in-waiting.
"Sir Sedric is wanting in the draiwng room" my smile dropped and the images of his betrayal flashed before my eyes "w, why is he here?" my voice cracking as I asked. Marona notices, immediately makes her way towards me in a rush she knelt down placing her hands on top of mine, her face full of worry"Lady Ophelia are you alright" before I could answer her eyes landed on the letter. Standing back up she picks up a hand full of the letter and began to read them, I could stop her, I was so embarrassed and ashamed, scared of her reaction I kept my eyes down. Was she going to find my situation pitiful or funny. With a loud bang Rona slammed the letter back onto the table.
"how could they do this to you." she roared furiously. Placing back and forth, her hands on her hips as she made random hand gestures to emphasise her pointa. "what a sick man" she scoffed "can we even still call him a man, or even a boy, thtss, trash suits him better"
She stopped and turned towards me "and you" I flinched at her soudden attention "are you not upset? Why are you sat here shivering as if your not the victim in this situation" her sudden revelation made me laugh. Why was I sat here, as if I'm the one who was caught being unfaithful. I looked at Rona who had a determinated look on her face and smiled.
Standing up, we made our way to the drawing room. The walk was silent and I couldn't help but think about the past, how before I would have excitedly run towards the drawing room. Wanting to see him before he left. I scoffed at the thought. How could I have been so blind, how have I never noticed how everytime he came to the Delphinea house, it wa s ever once to see me, I'd have to run just to get a glims at his silhouette. And after all those times I'd through a tantrum yelling at every serve to I saw for not informing sooner. Even the thought made me roll my eye.
A familiar scent invaded my nose the closer we got to the drawing wrong. The scent got stronger making me nauseous. Unable to withstand the strong smell, I held my handcachif to my nose.
"lady Ophelia, you don't have to, you know" Rona looked at me with a worried expression. I gave her a weak smile "I'm fine Rona, please open the door" she opened the door, announcing to the people in the room I had arrived.
I put away my handcachif and fix my expression to hid my replution at the scent coming from the room.
Glancing around the room the most beautiful shade of amber eyes met mine, my heart ached knowing everything this man did behind my back. Composing myself I gave an elegant curtesy "mother, father, sir Sedric" the room fell silent. Every expression in the room seemed confused or caught of gaurd. I mean why wouldn't they be before this I would have ran to Sedric hugging him, refusing to let go, but now I just can't bring myself to even look his way without feeling disgusted. Still standing I looked at my parents who didn't seem to thrilled then back to Sedric. Keeping my expression cold and hopefully unreadable.
A sigh came from his mouth as he rubbed his temple seemingly annoyed by my presents " Ophelia, how many time have I told you. If I want to see you ill go look for you, right now is not the time or place for your shenanigans." I wanted to scream, to shove the letters in his face and tell him I new everything but it was obvious, he wouldn't even bat an eye, instead he'd just break off the engagement and the whole of high society would be on his side as I never had a good reputation.
I bite my lip holding myself back " I only came to greet you as you are the guest of the Dalphinea house" he went silent for a bit then scoffed "now that you've.." I cut him off by standing up, I knew the next words that would come out of his mouth would be to humiliate me and I refused to just sit here and take it "since my reason of coming here is fulfilled I'll take my leave. "
I gave a quick curtesy and left. I wanted to see his face, I wanted to see how he looked at me, I wanted ot see how he would treat me, I wanted to see how he would speak to me, I wanted to see all of this so I could compare them to his sweet words in the letter he sent to his mistress.
Everything was different the way he spoke to her, they way he described how he looked at her, the way he treated her, it was so different. Even in the letter he wrote to me he never use such language, he never even put in such care. The way he looked at me will for ever haunt me, it will never let me forget how u loved I was. He looked at me with so much disdain. Not even an ounce of love.
We had been betrothed since the age of 12. Even thought he knew I was always going to be his wife he still courted me once we reached the proper age. He claimed to love me, and claimed I'd be his only wife. His family love me and I loved them. My parents had groomed me to become the wife of a knight and a duke. They forced me to attend etiquette lessons on how to be a Duchess. The only thing that kept me going was knowing that I was going to marry a man who loved me, and I slowly started falling in love with him. So what, when, where and how did it all go wrong?
My footsteps could be heard through out the hallway, my pace quickened and quickened and quickened until I began to running as if my life depended on it. I kicked of my heels and they went flying in different directions. I had no idea where I was going, I just kept running while Rona was following closely behind running after me, not saying a word, quietly understanding it wasn't the moment to ask questions. I didn't care about the stares I was receiving, I just new I needed to run. My eyes fell apon my bedroom door, pushing it open, I walked in and my knees gave out. I cought my self on the verge of tears. Rona quickly closes the door to give me privacy "he, was he always like that towards me?" I turned towards Rona looking for answers but she looked away, not meeting my gaze which was answer enough.
He was never inlove with me, so why, why did he persue me, why did he say he loved me, why did he write me love letter. My solf chuckls soon erupted in laughter as I realising how fullish I've been for all these years. I was but a mear tool for him to use as he pleased, throwing me away a soon as he was done and the minute he got bored he'd pick me up again. It's was some how funny. My hands wrapped around myself for comfort, my laugh still ringing around the room. Just the thought of how embarrassing I've been acting makes it hard to stop laughing. It was all so funny and yet pathetic at the same time.
My laughter came to a abrupt stop as I looked forward "I will never let another man take me for a fool" I turned my head around too look at Rona who looked very worried, she must have thought I was going mad. Her expression change becoming more serious. She walked up towards me. Grabbing my shoulders as she knelt with me "neither will I,"
Pausing for a moment she continued "I just...." she played her head in my nap "you were so in love with him, I knew if I told you anything negative you'd push me away so I tried stopping you two from seeing each other, but my plan failed as everyone would tell you where he was just to see you make a fool of yourself, I tried to tell you but you didnt.."
I brought her into a tight hug. I realize all the time she tried telling me to pay more attention to his actions she was trying to get me to see who he was sbjt I was to blinded to see. Releasing her, I made it clear she wasn't at fault. I looked into her eyes "he needs to pay" I say almost as an invitation and she gave me a firm nod "tell me what I need to do." I smiled bringing her back into the hug. My eyes were full of determination and fury, I wasn't going to let him live happily ever after.
Sedric Vermine will pay.