"You'll be wedding Ronald tomorrow"
I looked at father incredulously. I thought my ears failed in their duty of hearing.
"What rubbish? Are you in your right senses, father?"
Or maybe it was father's mouth that was the problem. He did have the habit of spewing nonsense, on a daily basis.
"I'm sure you're not deaf. You will be Duchess Belv by tomorrow. Your wedding gown and accessories have been prepared"
Honestly, I was speechless. All I could ask was what popped up in my head first.
"Who has a wedding without any proper preparations?"
Father chuckled. He seemed so happy. As if the irritation on my face served as a comedy of some sort.
"Nobody of high status does. That's why I've been planning your wedding since the past six years"
"What?"
Planning my marriage for the past six years? That means since when I was sixteen? It seemed that the man before me truly was crazy!
In my silence of trying to comprehend his words, he went on.
"Only a monster of a father wouldn't care about the marriage of their first daughter"
His elbow was propped on the chair's armrest, his cheek planted at the back of his hand as he talked about the magnificence of my wedding lazily. I could see the glint of satisfaction in his dark purple eyes.
Finally gaining my composure, I cut in.
"Marriage? To Ronald Belv? I refuse to"
"You have no choice"
His smirk grew even wider. There it was, his unchallenged confidence.
"Oh yes I do"
I stared at him defiantly.
"Your personal servants and your mother have been taken care of. I believe you are in no condition to rebel"
The situation was so absurd.
Father continued talking, seeming to enjoy my state of confusion.
"We're having an important guest this evening. Skilled maids are waiting for you in your room"
I squinted at him suspiciously. To see if he'd smirk and say it was a joke. But he did not seem to jest.
"Fath-
As I was about to rebel, the door opened and the head of guards walked in then bowed to father.
"Your Grace"
"Escort my daughter to her room. Maids are waiting there for her"
"Yes, my grace"
I looked up the man's big frame and bit back the urge to shove him to the ground. For I knew my attempts would be futile. He was a guard with many years of training. Even Harper, could not beat him in a match a few days ago. I wouldn't engage in a fight I couldn't win.
I turned back to father and asked.
"Who's the guest?"
"Go get ready and come meet me in my office when you're done"
He said just that and waved his hand, dismissing me.
Relenting was the only option. For now at least. I had to properly observe the situation in front of me before I made any action or escape attempts.
I glanced at the head of guards and looked back at father who had a huge smirk on his face. Oh how I much I wished to wipe it off...
With one last deadly glare at him, I angrily turned around and purposefully bumped into a beautiful silver vase, knocking it down, near the door.
It toppled unto the floor just as I walked out. The sound of it breaking and seeing its pieces scatter unto the floor brought me pure satisfaction.
'Breaking things belonging to people I don't like does feel nice'
However, I scolded myself for acting on a whim. Impulsivity should not be a character of the likes of me who should calculate every action and weigh every choice.
Currently, I was supposed to be figuring out how the Belv Duchy has access to great magic. Not preparing to get married to the future heir of the household. Well, I had up until tomorrow to get out of this situation.
If I truly wanted to escape, it would be easy seeing as I could use hypnosis on the guards at night and escape. Hesitation gnawed at me. I reasoned it over one more time.
Only two more chances remained for me to use my hypnosis power for this decade. I wasn't going to waste it doing something that had an alternative solution.
I peered at the head of guards through my peripheral vision. I considered bribing him or persuading him unto my side, but that plan seemed unlikely to succeed.
Him and his father were loyal dogs to my father. And his grandfather and ancestors, servants to the past heads of the Deor family. Loyalty wasn't always solid, but still, it couldn't easily be bought. Besides, he'd probably be unwilling to work for me because I had already made a bad impression on him.
Anyways, I didn't need to escape immediately. It would be wise to first understand what father's plan was. If you don't know what game your enemy is playing, how do you plan on beating them?
He said I'd be meeting a guest alongside him this evening. I wondered who it could be. Perhaps my childhood friend, to celebrate my bachelorette night? No. She wouldn't come unless I reached out to her.
Then again, she had always been unpredictable so maybe she would. My train of thoughts stopped for a second.
'Should I reach out to her?'
I shook the thought off. I didn't need any 'friend' to get me out of something so easy. Confident? Oh I am. Too much that I've become truly arrogant.
As I walked side by side with the man, down the long hallways, I noticed the eerie silence that pervaded in the mansion. Usually servants would be moving about in the hallways.
Upon about reaching mother's office, I made a run for it and sprinted towards the door. I pushed the door handle down only to see it was locked.
She wasn't inside.
The head of guards became alarmed and ran up and immediately caught me.
"My lady, what are you doing?!"
The man grabbed my wrist tightly and roughly dragged me away from the door.
The insolence! How dare he handle me as if I were some criminal? What kind of situation is this even?
Anger boiled in me and manifested in an angry growl. I forcefully pulled out of the guards hold and glared at him.
"Did you know handling me like that could get you killed?"
The guard seemed to be annoyed with me as much as I was with him, but he contained his expression and offered and apology.
"I apologize my lady. The Marquis ordered that I ensure you go straight to your room without any detours"
"I understand. But you don't have to carry out your task like a barbarian"
I shook my head at him and continued on my way, with a question coming to mind.
'Where is everyone?'
Father had said he had 'taken care of' my personal servants and mother, but that didn't explain the disappearance of rest of the servants.
I got closer to my room, hope suddenly came to me. The hope vanished as quickly as it had come.
Harper was no were in sight. In my room, were four maids who I had never seen before. Tsk, it seemed that father did not want to risk one of my people setting me free.
The maids all bowed to me and greeted. "Greetings, my lady"
I smiled professionally at them. "It seems that I am in your care" I could sway one of them to my side and escape from this crazy place after this dinner.
At first I flashed them my million dollar smile and spoke kindly. But none of my efforts in swaying them worked, as they all remained mute despite my chatter.
"Were you all newly employed? I've never seen any of you before?"
Silence. It seemed like I were talking to myself. The lack of response irked me.
The head of guards who had been standing, silently watching turned to leave as the maids began to go through my clothes.
Before he left, he spoke up.
"My lady. The Marquis ordered that if any of them should speak asides from the greeting, he would have their tongues removed"
With that, he walked out and closed the door shut.
What an interesting threat father. They must have all been shaking when he warned them.
But that was his mistake. Loyalty only comes when you inspire and charm your subordinate; Of course with some domination so that they'll fear you slightly. I was sure I could bring at least one maid to help me.
"Oh. I'm so sorry for forcing you guys to speak. How terrible of my father"
I acted as if I wanted to cry for them and maybe even help them. The genuineness of my acting almost even convinced myself.
For now, I'd be silent and act as if I pity them and understand by letting them do their job.
Around two hours passed and the maids finished their job of cleaning and dressing me up. I turned to face the mirror and complimented their hard work.
"Thank you all for taking your time to make me look nice"
I smiled at them.
"Oh it was the lady's natural beauty!"
One maid, with dark green hair spoke up, but quickly closed her mouth with her hand. The other three maids looked at her terrifyingly.
"Oh, it was my mistake. Oof"
Fear was evident as her pupils dilated. She covered her mouth even tighter with her palm.
"Shh. It's okay. Don't say more. The guard couldn't have heard you. I won't say anything"
Reassuringly, I spoke to all of them, and promised not to report them. I payed extra attention to the green haired maid. It seemed like my charms had slowly won her.
Gazing at the mirror, I took one last look at my golden gown which flowed unto the floor and held me in the right places, and hair which was pulled back in a big braid, with some strands covering my forehead.
I had to say, I was a sight to behold. Narcissistic? Of course.
Walking out of my room, I strutted to father's office, the head of guards following not too far behind.
Without knocking, I opened father's office door and walked inside.
"Oh. You've cleaned up the vase. Hmm?"
Father was dressed up in all white. He ignored my remark, clasped his hands and said.
"Yes. Only my daughter can look this beautiful. You truly are befitting to be the Duchess"
He laughed and stared at me with his dark purple eyes which looked like mine. The only difference between our eyes was the magical power which lay beneath them.
Asides from the bright red hair which I inherited from mother, my resemblance to father was great. Back in my first world, there was a belief that two people who looked alike, hardly got along. Maybe this was our case.
"Why do you want me to marry Ronald?"
I asked what first came to my mind. For him to have been so eager to marry me to Ronald, there had to be some catch — something great he got out of this. But I doubted he'd say the truth.
Father laughed lowly. And just as I expected, he said.
"I only want the best for my daughter"
Lies. I rolled my eyes in annoyance.
"Then what about Paisley? Isn't she Ronald's lover? Don't you think she'll be heartbroken if her sister gets married to the man she loves?"
Question after question rolled out on my tongue. If father thought it important to have a strong connection with the Belv Duchy through marriage, why not give out Paisley who was willing? Since when did I become the family's representative whatsoever?
Father looked at me patiently. The smile on his face seemed to get brighter by the second.
"Since I'm in such a good mood, I'll show you something"
He walked over to his desk and sat on the chair behind it. I noticed the way how the chair made a creaking noise, and couldn't help but think.
'When I take that seat and his office as the head, I'll make sure to have that chair changed'
I shook the thought off. I couldn't become the head until I ousted father at his own game. This however suddenly felt difficult with the problem presented to me. Usually I solve problems, but problems like these feel so annoying. Just popping out of the blue like this!
It seemed so ridiculous. The only reason why I remained was to gain information out of all this. My escape plan was easy. If the magic stone didn't work for me, I'd use hypnosis and get out of here. The desire to leave strongly pulled at me.
'No Adrianna. Be calm. You have to hear everything till the end. You can't be in the dark'
Complaining would do no good. I heaved a sigh and slumped unto the chair in front of father's desk. I felt the urge to break some of his furniture, to relieve my stress maybe just a little, but destruction would do no good either. So I just watched him open his drawer.
After a minute or so, he brought out an envelope which had a familiar symbol on it.
"You see this"
He waved the envelope as if it were a flag. His smirk growing wider as he sensed my growing curiosity.
"It's an order from the Emperor"
Aha! I recognized the symbol on the envelope to be the sun and moon insignia of the Imperial family.
"An order to do what?"
As I asked, he tossed the envelope over to me. I clasped the envelope in my hands with satisfaction.
'Finally, we're getting somewhere'
I thought, while I opened the envelope and brought out the letter which it contained.
"An order for me to give Paisley's hand in marriage to Crown Prince Nathaniel"