"What did you say?" Ana was so busy in enjoying the delicacies she had not eaten since ages that she did not follow Gary!
What was the use anyway? She had insulted him and she knew that his ego was higher than a mountain. So there was no way that he would still choose her.
But..
"You do not need to act anymore. The lord had already said yes to the marriage. But I still did not understand how you know that he would say yes if you act like a crazy woman? Even if he had such a kink! How in the world did you know that?" Diana could not help but stare at her daughter with dubious eyes
Her prim and proper daughter who did not even sneeze in public would never behave like a ruffian without a reason. If only she had fallen in love with someone else.. She took a sigh as she knew it was a gone case and she could do nothing about it.
"Ana.. it is not like we are conservative and did not want to give our daughter to a widower. But he only had his first wife in his mind and his son is already old enough to know that you are his step mother. I am just worried about how you would adjust in his palace. Not to forget that his political position brings many threats.
We had always been a neutral family but marrying him would mean.. We are finally taking sides!" she sat beside her daughter with a dim look, "I am not sure if you can manage all this and still stay happy! Mother just wanted you to live a carefree life."
Ana's heart trembled. She remembered having this kind of conversation in the past too when her mother explained to her how Garrison was not right for her but she had just snubbed it on the face of her mother that she did not trust her abilities.
She thought that Ana was weak and would not be able to manage the duchy!
But this time she knew.. She knew her mother was right and the threats were more than she could think of!
She wrapped her arms on the shoulders of her mother and leaned her head on her chest.
"You are right, mother! I am not prepared for this much. And that was the reason I did not want to marry him anymore." She confessed when her mother glared at her. Her mother's softened face turned cold again as Diana jerked her hands away.
"You have already achieved what you wanted! Yet you are lying to me! Ana, I am disappointed in you. I did not teach my daughter to lie and act like this." she stood up and then gave her a disappointed look "Do what you want! I will not explain it to you again." with that she turned and left leaving Ana stunned and hurt.
She could not blame her mother. She had been in love with Garrison for such a long time that no one would believe she did not love him anymore.
But.. she did not give up! She had to find a way to refuse the marriage.
But how..!
A noble could not refuse the marriage offered by the higher nobles to them. Though in this case, they have a point that he was a widower while she was a maiden. It would be null since they were the one who offered the marriage and Garrison had only accepted it.
Refusing now would lead their family to the ire of the royal family and duchy with humiliation in the public.
No, there must be some other way! She raked her brain hard but it did not work at all.
So, she stood up and walked towards the training ground where her brother must be practicing.
The knights covered in sweets were immersed in their sword practice and she was not noticed until the match ended.
"My lady!" They all looked shocked and confused to see her there when they bowed their heads.
"That was such a great performance! You did so well sir Maxwell. I was not able to take my eyes away from all of you." She clapped her hands with a proud look on her face that shocked the knights further and their face flushed.
"That is so kind of you to come here and praise them, sister. But they need to practice! What are you doing here?" All the knights stood in parallel lines leaving the way for him to pass as her brother stood in front of her. Ana smiled even when he was frowning at her.
"I am here to meet you. I want to see my brother train?" his eyes shook a bit as he was never expecting this reply.
"You do?" he asked with a shock when she nodded her head.
"Yes, I can see how you are improving. I am sure my father will accept it soon too." she continued with the same smile.
Their family did not belong to the knights but trade. Her father was the biggest businessman in the empire owning more than half of the trade. And as his one and only son, Vincent was to take the position of the heir. But Vincent loves Swords.
He was so madly in love with the swords and daggers that he refused to take the position. If he will not be the heir then.. She had to be the one.
And in that condition, she would not be able to marry in duchy but had to marry a man from her vassal family so that she could take the position of the marques and her husband would work as his supporter.
And a duke could never do that.
"Even if you look at me with suspicious eyes, brother. I want to tell you that I support your decision to be a great warrior and earn a lot of fame for yourself."