"Do you think you can win with such lousy skills?" she shook her head as she parried another attack from her brother.
He had attacked her thirteen times so far but she did not even need to put some effort into defense and if she wanted, she had already killed him a few times.
Vincent glared at her but more than angry, he was shocked. His prim and proper sister hated dust and mud. She always made sure that she looked perfect so he could not imagine her holding a sword and attacking him this freely. Just what in the world had happened and why was he not aware of it?
In the end, when he kept staring at her, she could not bear it anymore and attacked with the intention of finishing this fight and his sword fell on the ground with a whoosh.
"You need a lot of training brother if you really want to be a knight or you are going to lose badly." she shook her head with despair. It only meant that she had to think of another way.
"I will! I will show you I am one of the best knights." he said in a defensive tone as he picked up the sword and left with heavy steps when she shook her head and sat on the ground with a sigh.
She was fighting with him in a gown yet he was not able to subdue her. If it would have been Rowan… she shook her head again. She did not need to think about him. Not now.
"My lady! You are here! Your father is looking for you.'' The maid took a few deep breaths as she held her knees and heaved when Ana took a deep breath of defeat.
She had worked so hard in the past to get that marriage happen! But now.. She was stuck in the marriage she wanted to stop at any cost.
She stood up and dragged her body to the office of her father where he was working on a file. He waved his hands when she walked in and sat on the sofa with a listless look.
"Ana, i have called you to tell you that the duke had said yes for the marriage but i am sure that your mother had already informed you about it." He adjusted his glasses and looked at her when she nodded but she did not look happy at all with the news.
Three deep lines formed on his forehead and he sighed and placed the file back on the table.
"Ana, I know that your mother is too blunt sometimes but that is only because she is worried about you. She is still upset about the book you have left in the midway. But she would be fine. So do not think much about it.
I have called you to know when you are expecting to get married. Now that the marriage had acceptance from both families, his majesty will soon call us to fix the date." he started when she finally raised her head to see some hesitation on his face.
"Now.. I know that you want to marry early and his majesty is expecting that too so that the child could get another mother but we still think you should take at least a month to prepare yourself. Being a mother is not easy!" he sighed as if he was afraid that she would refuse.
It made her wonder just how much she had forced them for this marriage that they were so upset yet supporting her in it.
"Father…" she called the man who looked nervous suddenly, "i know that you would not believe me. But I do not want to marry anymore. I want to live here and study more. Write that book mother is worried about and learn more about our family business. I want to earn and be strong before thinking about marriage. I think everything is happening too early." his father's eyebrows furrowed as he looked at her in confusion.
"Darling you are twenty five. It is already too late for marriage!" he reminded her, "but i agree that you should not marry the duke. I will find a good man for you in our vassal family so that you do not need to leave…. I will go and talk to the lord and your majesty. I am sure that we will find a way if you do not want to marry anymore." he said with a smile as he stood up immediately, "you are sure that you do not want to marry Garrison, right?"
"..." she wanted to nod her head so badly. But… finding a way! There was no way. If his father would refuse the marriage directly then it would be taken as an insult to the royal family and he would be punished.
The worst could be stripping off his position of marquees. The easiest would be a lot of fine and then he would be humiliated on every public occasion among nobles. And she did not want any of it for her family because of her whims.
"I…" he kept staring at her when he closed his eyes and shook his head.
"For Christ sake, Anastasia. This is no joke. Do you even think about the consequences of your actions? Go and take a rest. I do not want to deal with you right now." she opened her mouth but closed it again as she stood up and left.
"It is not that I didn't know about the consequences of my actions, father. But that is what I am afraid of! But you do not need to worry. I will find a way and make you proud of me once again."