ARIEL'S POV
I jumped off the bed with my disheveled hair and pale face, my head was aching but I had no choice but to go and complete my house chores..
I dragged my foot on the bare floor turning my eyes left and right around my bedroom...
"What's making me creep like a plant?.." Could it be that I worked for the whole day at my hostel before coming home ??" I questioned myself.
"Huh," I sighed and managed to walk to the courtyard and started working.
As I walked my way through to the living hall, I noticed there was a red envelope underneath the door.
I walked to the door and picked the red envelope. He had a ribbon around, meaning that it contained a love message.
"Did the duke of Bedford send this ?.." I questioned myself again!
I read through it and found myself blushing to the contents of the letter. I wasn't wrong with my assumption.
The Duke of Bedford, the man whom I have always considered the love of my life, sent a letter about our marriage preparation, he was now willing to come and see my parents at the house and tell them about our relationship.
However we secretly planned the marriage when we were in school. "It's now time to let my father know but they are very difficult."``
"I will make anything possible for us, things are going to be smooth Ariel," I said to myself convincingly.
I remembered that he promised me marriage before we completed our level of education which was last week but I took it as a joke ..
"I'm certainly not too young to get married. I have gotten my heart owner"..
He was the perfect man for me, there was no way on earth that I could decline him. He had always been nice and good to me.
"Can't wait for the day," I muttered.
After I finish my chores, I will certainly write back to him, so that he will be aware that I am equally prepared for this union.
I quickly went to get the rest of the work at the living hall done. After one hour of hard work, I went to the courtyard for a brief task and came back to prepare a morning meal for the family.
" Ariel, my parents are very happy that I chose you as a bride...Their first sight made them fell for you as their daughter-inlaw when they came for visiting at the hostel," I smiled as the contents of the letter that the duke sent, kept ringing in my head.
My excitement was not unfounded....
I was so in love with him. Naturally hearing him praise me like this made me happy.
It kept ringing in my ears, I felt so lucky to get him as my Lord and husband? I thought to myself between giggles..
I was so excited that I prepared and served my parents and cousin with the food without a notice ... It's kinda weird but that's so ..
"" Ain't I the cutest and most special girl he has always loved to be with?
I kept singing out those words to myself as I went straight to my bath tub for a shower after completing my task..
My father wasn't at home. He had left so early today. I wondered what was so urgent for him to have left without telling me.
Was he at the town's court again? Giving verdicts and judgement to people that didn't care about our welfare?
I didn't dwell on it though. I was so excited, thinking about this would surely ruin my joy.
I smiled and went to sit at the dining, to have my breakfast.
* *
Later in the day
"You are back father," I said, giving him a warm hug.
"Yes. I had something urgent to attend," he briefly replied.
I twitched my lips. What did he call urgent? Giving free councils and judgement to a bunch of selfish villagers?
"Umm, Ariel. I have something to tell you." My father cleared his throat and said.
"I noticed you are a bit uneasy. Please go on father, I'm listening." I said with a smile.
I was so excited; nothing could possibly dampen my mood.
Or so I thought....
"Ariel, what do you think about the Duke of Snow hill?" My father asked suddenly.
I looked at him in confusion. What was my business with the Duke of Snow whatever?
Why was my father asking me something like that?
"I don't know father. I only heard that he's ruthless." I said in a fidgety manner.
"Ruthless? Hah..." My father chuckled.
"Father, what do you want to tell me abo...?" I wanted him to finish speaking first.
I wanted to break the news of the marriage to him.
"Well, Duke Conner is a friend to my late friend," he said with a pitiful look.
"I'm sorry," she said, knowing quite well that her father seemed to be really close with the deceased.
"That is by the way. I promised his son that I would give you to him as his lifetime companion." My father finally dropped the bombshell.
'Did my father just give me out in marriage?... To a man whom I knew nothing about, a man who has only bad things to be said about him.' The words rang in my ears like the sound of an explosion.
What was my father talking about?
"Dad, I don't understand. Have you forgotten I have a man I love, a man who is coming to ask for my hand very soon?!" I shouted angrily.
On a normal day, I couldn't shout at my father in that manner.
But was this a normal day?
This was absolute madness.
"You don't know what you are saying, child. How can the Duke of Bedford compare to Conner?" My father asked irritatedly.
"Father did you sell me out for money?" I asked.
I felt numb.... I did not want to believe that my father's mind was made up. I couldn't accept such a drastic decision for my life.
If only my mom was around, she would have certainly helped out.
"Say something..." I beseeched with teary eyes.
How was my fiance going to take the news?
I felt betrayed.... How could my father do this to me?
How could he separate me from my beloved??
He had texted me earlier today, today was meant to be the happiest day in my life but my father ruined it with this decision he made.
This is my life, the least he could do was talk to me first. He would have tried to put an end to my relationship with the duke of Bedford first but no, he didn't