Chapter 10
Reaching the Monroe estate, I let out a sigh bracing myself for what was yet to come. The lights in the mansion were still on which indicated that they were still waiting for me to return.
'such pitiful people' I thought to myself as the carriage came to a halt.
"My lady, we have arrived." The coachman announced as he made his way to open the carriage door for me and Susan.
Susan walked out, as I took the coachman's hand and stepped out of the carriage. Taking a deep breath, I walked into the mansion. At the entrance, father stood with a stern look on his face, as the lights to the waiting room remained blinding to the eye.
"Bring her," he said as the maids grabbed me trying to drag me to the waiting room.
"What are you doing?! Let my lady go!" Susan tried prying their hands off only to be held down by other maids.
I was not obliged to do anything that woman felt was right for me. Trying to get myself out of the grip of the servants that held on to me, I flailed and kicked, getting them to loosen their grips. But I found no escape. Huffing, I allowed them to drag me to the waiting room where Anna sat looking as though she had seen the most shocking thing in the world for the first time tonight. Anthony comforted Anita who had crocodile tears dripping from her face.
Held down on my knees before her, I simply rolled my eyes. Was this how they wanted to play?
"Winter Azalea Vera Le Monroe, this night must have been the most humiliating night the Monroe family has ever faced in history, and on top of that you had gotten the crown prince involved." Father began talking as his eyes glared at my appearance. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
Say for myself? Did he think I felt bad for the events that had occurred tonight? Or did he think I was sorry? Or more, was he afraid I said something to offend the crown prince?
"I have nothing to say, other than, it was not my fault. Had Anita not done what she had done, by pushing me, we wouldn't have had to face that humiliation." I sneered. I felt a hand make its way across my face.
"Look at this insolence! Look at what she has done to us! She has ruined us all. And you still think to keep this illegitimate bastard in this house dear?" Anna questioned as her words dripped with venom.
The marquis tried calming his snake of a wife down, as the fox daughter of the couple watched the entire event unfold. How disgusting.
"Dear, Winter is but a child, after she gets married to the duke, she will settle down," Father said with a smile. "You are still planning on marrying our dear Winter are you not duke?" he asked creepily. Anthony simply kept silent.
It seems I had lost his favor way before this banquet had taken place.
Funny thing was, the only reason the marquis was so eager to hold on to me, was the dowry he knew he would receive had Anthony proposed to me, but little does he know that the favour he thinks I have was long gone, and Anthony had set his eyes on Anita. Not because he loved her, but because his name would not be tarnished, but that would not work.
Antony could not marry Anita. Anita had plans of her own. And marriage was only last minute.
"I do not wish to marry Duke Dominic," I stated emotionlessly. Anthony's eyes snapped to mine.
The marquis had turned around so quickly that his entire body turned with him.
"What did you say your insolent child?" he asked in a raging tone.
But I was not scared anymore. This was my life.
"I, Winter Azalea Vera le Monroe, will not agree to marry duke Anthony Dominic," I said as fathers' hand had branded a slap on my face.
"You have no say." He said menacingly.
I moved my jaw uncomfortably, and harder and it would have drawn blood. This abusive piece of crap.
"I have already been proposed to, and I have accepted."
"Proposed to by who? You need your parent's approval, or such a marriage will never take place." Anthony said slightly panicked.
Why was he so panicked? Had he not wanted my sister over me? He had no right to intervene.
"I don't need their approval if it is the crown prince I am marrying."
The moment the words left my mouth, the glass of water Anita had picked had fallen to the ground and shattered. She seemed taken back by the sudden change of events. The plan she had so meticulously put together was now going to crumble and there was no way to fix it. This was a hole that was going to lead to a larger one.
"Crown prince my foot! Do you not see she is making this up? The prince would never. Take her away and lock her up in her bedroom." Anna said in anger, her face about to explode.
The stupid maids grabbed me yet again dragging me away. If only I was slightly stronger.
Anna was starting to lose her mind and it showed. Sighing I managed to get out of the maid's hold.
"I can go by myself," I said making my way to my bedroom.
Walking in I shut the door. Sighing I sat on my bed, my mind filled with frustration. The only way my revenge would work is if I no longer resided in this house. I needed to leave here, and I needed to leave fast. If anything, Zachary needed to validify the proposal so we could be official which would then require me to move to the palace.
If knowing Anita's character more than anyone, she is probably going to plot Anthony's quick proposal to me and that will not do. I needed to untangle myself from anything related to Anthony and only then would the real battle start. Because right now, I was at a disadvantage.
I needed to devise a full proof plan that would ensure not only the fall of house Monroe but also the fall of the Duchy. This time I was going to play the villainess and I was going to succeed.
But first, let us remember the flaws of house Monroe. Only then will this feel like a game I was going to win.