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Chapter 15 - A Hidden Secret

I'm currently sitting on my bed deciding which clothes I should pack for my visit to the Marchioness.

It turns out that Assenav is actually a kingdom close to Aendesia. And this Marchioness Anastasia Novan is actually a relative of mine. The idea of spending three whole days travelling was a great turnoff for me. But I wanted to see what kind of world exists beyond that in which the novel takes place. I also wanted to see what this relative of mine looked like. The novel made no mention of her so I'm curious.

Javis is currently giving orders to different servants who carry my things out of my room. I wonder if this trip is a bad idea or whether I should reconsider going at all.

But I push aside those thoughts. I'm not sure why she invited me.

As far as the novel goes Veronica didn't have any friends. And this is someone out of Aendesia. The relatives in the novel were all from Vincent's side and we're all accounted for. I don't know anything about Melody so maybe it's one of her relatives.

I am once again snapped back into reality by the noise in my room.

My gaze falls on the red dresses being carefully folded and packed into suitcases. Another annoying aspect of this girl is that she was totally obsessed with the color red. She'd only buy red dresses and refused to wear any other color.

Her obsession for this came from a really sappy chapter in the novel. Where as children She and Damien would often spend a lot of time together. Bear it in mind this is a long time ago when they were both friends.

Veronica was feeling sad and hated her red hair then Damien told her that red was his favorite color and that it looked lovely on her. From that moment on she only wore red. Her strange fascination with the color prompted a new name for her in high society.

The Red Aristocrat.

There were other titles such as The Scarlet Patrician, Vermilion Noble and Blood Peeress.

But she didn't care as long as Damien liked it she would wear it.

The only thing in this girl's wardrobe is the color red. Accompanied by other colors but there's little choice.

According to Javis we'll board a ship going to Assenav. Stay at a motel for the night and take an early morning train and arrive at her mansion in the afternoon.

"My lady I was able to purchase a ticket for a vessel departing for Assenav tomorrow. I'll see to the rest of the preparations. So I believe it'd be best if you got a good night's sleep"

The servants in the room pick up my suitcases and leave. With a small bow Javis leaves the room and I am alone once again.

I wonder if I am dreaming all of this up. I died and I suddenly wake up in a body that is not mine. I've seen three of the novels characters and danced with one.

Charlotte was with Damien at that party. The both of them walked in hand in hand. So it's safe to assume I'm somewhere close to the story's beginning.

There's still a lot that has to  happen before the engagement ring arc.

Veronica and Damien's engagement is bound by an unbreakable vow. Sealed with the king's blood.

As long as that contract exists Damien and I must get married. No deviation from the contract is allowed.

An Unbreakable Vow.

A king's everlasting wish. It is a privilege granted only to royalty by Emperor Rickcaos. It allows them to make one sacred and unshakable rule that holds even past death. There is no limitation as to what can be written and it is protected by a curse. It is sometimes written in the presence of those involved and sealed with their blood as well.

On no occasion is this vow to be disobeyed. It'd didn't matter if Damien went around playing with Charlotte. Bound hand and foot by it we are both trapped. He must get married to me.

Despite its name the Unbreakable Vow is surprisingly very easy to break. It can be destroyed by burning it in flames fueled by mana. To protect an Unbreakable Vow a king must hide it where it can never be found. Or entrust it to someone who will keep it safe for him.

In the engagement ring arc Damien is about to get married to Veronica. Charlotte is doing her best to try and find the unbreakable vow. The previous ruler and Damian father Emperor Xian Rickcaos had entrusted his unbreakable vow to the head butler of the main palace before he died. Charlotte tries to convinces the butler to tell her where he kept it so she can protect Damien's happiness. Time is against her but she succeeds and destroys the unbreakable vow.

And then came what I would call the saddest part of the novel. Damien left Veronica at the altar the moment the vow was destroyed.

I would be laughing at the situation if it wasn't going to happen to me eventually.

My engagement will be cancelled in due time. I'll just wait out until then.

In the meantime I'll explore the world of Mischievous Nobles. I'd like to believe Veronica wasn't entirely obsessed with tormenting Charlotte. She must have had some sort of life outside of making Charlotte miserable.

When I get to Assenav I'm going to have fun.

In the meantime I'll read up on this kingdom. A little knowledge wouldn't hurt.

*****Somewhere in the Kingdom of Uladmihc****

To the average person Adelio Mattel had it all. Looks, smarts and a great personality.

He was the first son of the Earl of Mattel so he already had a bright future from the day he was born. In every sense of the word he was perfect.

"Adelio"  A girl with strawberry blonde her and green eyes called out to him. She was Lady Ava Noelle daughter of Viscount Noelle and his betrothed.

"I finished what you asked me to do"

She handed him a small golden box tied with a beautiful white ribbon.

"I'm sure Isabella will love it. You'd better get going the carriage is waiting for you"

He observed the box in his hand. He hoped that she'd love it.

"I'm leaving now I'll see you later"

And with that he bid farewell to her and headed down to the carriage.

The first semester had just been concluded and he had no doubt in his mind that he'd be the valedictorian of his class. But for now he just wanted to go home and spend time with his sister.

He entered the carriage that had been sent by his father and soon he was on his way home.

His sister.

Adelio's heart began to feel heavy. The  Mattel family seemed perfect from outside. But what layed beneath is what one could only describe as complete disharmony and chaos And at the root of all that was his sister.

A long time ago. His father Earl Fredrick Mattel fell in love with a servant from Aendesia. A woman with long brown hair and equally dark skin who went by the name "Ihuoma"

He had seen the woman in the mansion a few times. And those few times she was always smiling and laughing to herself. Eventually his mother Countess Lora Mattal found out about his adulterous ways and threw out Ihuoma.

From that day a rift between both of them was formed. The atmosphere became suffocating and the tension unbearable.

Their relationship was never the same again. And just like a horrible nightmare. That hideous blemish that they thought they had covered up and hidden from the outside world threatened to show itself again.

And this time it came in the form of  "Isabella" the child that Ihuoma left behind.

She came with only a single letter. Back then he didn't fully understand what the letter had meant. But it was from Ihuoma who claimed that "Isabella" was the Earl's daughter and her dying wish that her daughter be taken care of.

What made this claim hard to refute was the color of her eyes. They were the same as him and his father. A soft cobalt blue that made her look exotic.

However his mother didn't take kindly too the news. She refused to let the child stay with them. But his father ultimately had the final say and  just like that. The family had a strange addition.

Lady Isabella Mattel First Daughter of the Earl Mattel.