Aria sat frozen in her chair, staring blankly at Lord Blackwood. She couldn't believe what she had heard. She had always known that her father, King Marcus, had ambitious plans for her, but she had never thought he would go so far as to arrange a marriage for her. And to Lord Blackwood, no less. But what exactly was the point of Lord Blackwood in accepting the marriage pact? She wanted to ask him but saved her energy for another day.
The lord's cold, unfeeling gaze seemed to bore into her, as if he were already claiming her as his property. Aria felt a lump form in her throat as she struggled to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill over.
Aria's heart was pounding as she made her way out of the dining room. She couldn't believe what had just happened. She had begged her father to give her a month to get to know Lord Blackwood, to try and understand why he had agreed to this marriage. But deep down, she knew it wouldn't change anything.
As she walked through the halls of the palace, she couldn't shake the feeling of being trapped. Trapped by her father's ambition, trapped by this arranged marriage to a man she barely knew. She felt a sense of suffocation as if the walls of the palace were closing in on her.
She finally reached her chambers, slammed the door shut and collapsed onto her bed, tears streaming down her face. Aria couldn't understand why this was happening to her, why her father would do this to her. She was sure that Blackwood had no ambition for power, and that was why he agreed to the marriage so easily.
For a moment, Aria let herself wallow in self-pity, but then she realized that feeling sorry for herself wasn't going to change anything. It was time to take action. She sat up, wiping away her tears, and took a deep breath, determined not to let this marriage happen.
Aria's mind raced as she thought of all the possible ways to escape the arranged marriage. Could she run away? Could she find a way to make Lord Blackwood change his mind? No matter how impossible or crazy the idea seemed she was willing to explore it. One thing she knew for sure, she won't give up until she find a way out.
She took a moment to compose herself, wiping away her tears, and decided she would start by getting to know Lord Blackwood. Maybe if she could understand his motives, she could come up with a plan. She was determined not to let her life be controlled by her father's ambition and the political game he was playing.
With renewed determination, Aria stood up and went to change into something more comfortable. She would begin her plan to escape this arranged marriage tomorrow. But for now, she just needed some time to herself.
Aria needed to clear her mind, so she decided to take a cool shower to wash away the tears and the overwhelming feeling of suffocation she had experienced earlier. As the water cascaded over her, she felt the tension in her body begins to dissipate. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, letting the water wash over her face.
When she was finished, she dried herself off and put on a simple white linen dress. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she noticed how tired she looked. The events of the evening had taken a toll on her. She knew she needed to get some fresh air and decided to visit the palace garden, a place she had always found solace in since she was a child.
The garden was a peaceful oasis in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the palace. Aria walked along the stone paths, surrounded by the scent of blooming flowers and the sound of the fountain. She felt her spirits lift as she made her way to her favorite spot, a small pond surrounded by willow trees.
Aria sat down on the edge of the pond, trailing her fingers in the cool water. She couldn't remember a time when the garden had not been her sanctuary. She spent many hours here, as a child, watching the fish and listening to the birds. Her mother would often join her, and together they would escape the pressures of the palace, if only for a little while.
But now, as she sat by the pond, Aria couldn't shake the feeling that even this sanctuary was not safe from her father's ambition. The thought of being married off to Lord Blackwood, a stranger, filled her with dread. She couldn't understand why her father would do this to her, why he would throw away her happiness for the sake of his own ambition.
Aria's mind began to race as she thought about the future, and she realized that she couldn't just sit here and do nothing. She needed to take action, to fight for her own happiness. She knew that it wouldn't be easy, that her father would never let her go without a fight. But she was determined to not let him control her life and her future.
As the sun began to set, casting the garden in a warm, golden light, Aria made a decision. She would not let this arranged marriage happen. She would find a way to make Lord Blackwood change his mind, or she would find a way to escape. Whatever it took, she would not let her father sacrifice her happiness for his own gain.
Aria stood up, feeling a renewed sense of determination. She knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but she was ready to face it head-on. She would fight for her own happiness, no matter what it took. As she made her way back to the palace, she knew that the first step on that journey would be to get to know Lord Blackwood, to understand his motivations, and to find a way to change his mind.
As she entered the palace, Aria felt a sense of resolve. She knew that the road ahead would be long and difficult, but she was ready for the journey. She was determined to take control of her own life and her own future, and she would not let anyone stand in her way.