Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
He held up both his hands. “A moment, please.”
I clamped my mouth shut, resting my hands in my lap.
His shoulders heaved, lifting high up to his ears before dropping down almost regretfully. “I promised to discuss your future with you,” he said slowly. “I am aware that Lord Ezra visited us today with a view to ask for your hand in marriage, but I’m afraid I must contact both Duke Alansia and Duke Trelawney and cancel our meetings.”
“Why?” I asked, straightening my spine. “I understand cancelling the meeting with Duke Trelawney, but I would be happy to marry Lord Ezra, and he feels the same. He’s leaving now to ask the duke—”
“If this conversation had happened even yesterday, I might have been able to rush an agreement through at your behest.” Father shuffled his papers. “However, I received a proposal this morning that I do not think I can refuse.”
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Surely not.
Had that bastard thwarted my plans?
“Does my happiness not matter?” I asked, gripping the edge of his desk. “What if my heart wishes for Lord Ezra? Does that not change anything?”
Father couldn’t meet my eyes. “If it were anyone else proposing marriage, I would send them away without another thought. However, this comes with a commercial and political benefit I cannot ignore.”
Thump. Thump. Thump.
“Then why can’t Sophia take my place? She’s been doing it for long enough in society, so let her have the marriage, too!”
“Alicia, that is quite enough.” His tone was cold. Unfeeling. Unforgiving. “You are sufficiently aware of your role within this family. I was willing to let you partake in your marriage discussions, and had this proposal not have materialised, I would have been more than happy to allow you to marry Lord Ezra. I have made that clear numerous times. Unfortunately, things have changed.”
“Father!”
He closed his eyes. “If it soothes you at all, I mentioned that I have another daughter, but the Grand Duke insisted that he was not proposing marriage to House Vermillion, but rather to you, Lady Alicia Vermillion.”
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The Grand Duke.
Kalon.
It’d happened regardless of my efforts.
I’d tried so hard, yet it didn’t seem to matter.
No. I hadn’t moved fast enough. I’d been too blasé in my pursual of a husband in the first place. Instead of dillydallying this week making a choice about a fake engagement, I should have just proposed marriage to Ezra at the bloody ball and really gotten ahead of the curve. Heck, I should have just sought him out to marry from the very beginning and not lollygagged the way I had.
I dropped my chin to my chest. “What did you say to His Highness?”
“I requested some time to consider my response. He proposed the exclusive trade of magic stones from the mountain mines, and it isn’t an agreement I can look at overnight. I suspect it will take me at least two days to review every facet of the proposal, then we must negotiate the terms. That said, he is a member of the Imperial Family. He wouldn’t have sent this proposal without His Majesty’s express permission. As it stands, I do not see a way to reject it.”
I swallowed. “I understand.”
“Stein is a self-governing province, and the Grand Duke holds a position on par with that of a king,” Father said softly. “As Grand Duchess, you would have similar privileges. It would also mean you could leave the tumultuous relationships within this house behind. It would be advantageous for you.”
“It would be advantageous for you, you mean,” I said bitterly. “The magic stone mines in the Stein Mountains are famous, and this union would bring huge revenue to House Vermillion, as well as great honour. After all, the Grand Duke is second in line to the throne, is he not?”
“Alicia—”
“Spare me, Father.” I got up and turned away. “It’s clear to me that you were only willing to listen to my opinion until a better offer for you came along.”
He stood up. “Alicia, please, listen to me.”
I was stupid.
Stupid to think he cared.
Stupid to think that my actions had made a difference to our relationship in this timeline.
He didn’t care about me or what I wanted. Just what would serve him.
Another thing was clear: I would never be able to reconcile the modern-day liberties and freedoms I was used to from my past life with the lack of them in this world.
I gripped the handle of his office door and yanked it open. “I suppose I should offer you and the marchioness my congratulations. After all these years, you’ll all finally reap the rewards of raising Ivelle Lovett’s daughter.”
No matter how far down the pecking order House Lovett had fallen since their divine power had waned, they still had close ties to the temple and had some of the bluest blood of all the noble houses. That blue blood ran through my veins, and when mixed with my paternal line, meant my noble blood was pure enough to rival that of the Imperial Family if it came down to it.