***
Orisis Evans
I watched him leave from my office window. He looked very helpless but that didn't matter. I had given him enough time to read the contract thoroughly and he didn't read it properly which is his fault because he chose not to.
'Break off the engagement.'
The words I hoped I would never hear but did end up hearing. I slumped into my chair sighing at how frustrating today was.
Why was everyone after me? Why was everyone trying to take my peace away? Was today 'Bother Orisis Evans Day'?
***
Early that day...
I was yet again at the second meeting I had tried to escape. Everyone present was arguing about the Crown prince and a decision he had made.
"How can the Crown prince marry a Marquess's daughter? Your Majesty, that is not right!" One of the old men present today declared.
"Watch your tone! Duke Wembley." The Emperor warned him.
Duke Wembley flinched from how calm the Emperor was. The rest of the member's tone and behaviour changed. The mood in the room was completely different from before and it made me chuckle out loud. It was then that everyone's unwanted attention was on me.
"What is so funny, Duke Evans?" Another man whose name I can't remember asked me.
"Oh, nothing is funny besides the fact that you people just spew nonsense every time you open your mouths." I answered as I stared at them.
"How dare you speak to us like that!" Another man shouted angrily.
"Who are you again?" I asked him as I tried to remember his name and title.
"Your Majesty, I'd like to also remind you that it's not only the Crown prince who wishes to marry a daughter of a Marquess but also Duke Evans who too wishes to be with a Marquess's daughter." Duke Wembley stated.
"He did not even send in a formal application asking for permission like he has to as A DUKE OF AN DUCHY." he added emphasizing the words a duke of a duchy.
The Emperor looked at me before sighing. I know that expression so well. It's an expression that he thought scared me when it frankly just humoured me.
"Duke Evans, May the board know why you wish to marry the daughter of Marquess Richardson?" The Emperor demanded in the assertive tone he used when he was present at trials.
"Just because." I answered vaguely and bored from this conversation.
"How dare he speak so rudely to His Majesty!" a familiar yet annoying voice exclaimed.
I turned my head to confirm who I thought it was and there he sat. The imbecile who once tried to take over the northern duchy. Marquess Wilson of the Western Aegis fief.
"Marquess Wilson, It seems you forgot your manner. This is a conversation between His Majesty and a Duke." I stated annoyed yet in a mocking tone.
His face turned red from embarrassment. That should keep him quiet until I'm done talking. I turned my head back to the Emperor and he looked angry as if he would faint from the stress and anger I've caused.
"And about the formal application, I did apply." I added as I stared at Duke Wembley.
Duke Wembley stared at the Emperor shocked.
"It's true he did apply." The Emperor added as he rubbed his temples.
I smirked as I stared at Duke Wembley. He is such an idiot. Did he think I would not send a formal application for approval?
"Your Majesty, For a while now we have been trying to ally with the Kingdom of Eros." Another Voice calmly spoke.
"Having Duke Evans Marry the princess of the Eros Kingdom would be beneficial for the Aegis Empire." He reasoned after a while.
Everyone nodded their heads in agreement with what he said. It was the truth but why would I do such a crazy thing? I am a person who will never let anyone force me to sacrifice my peace for the peace of these ungrateful nobles.
"Your Majesty, am I the only young man eligible for marriage?" I asked the Emperor.
"You are not." he answered as he thought about what I had said.
"Why not have Duke Allen marry the Princess or why not the Crown prince?" I asked them.
"Unfortunately, the Crown prince said he would never do such a thing for ungrateful nobles." The Emperor answered vaguely and absent-mindedly.
"That's how I feel too, Your Majesty." I responded.
"Your Majesty, if the members present today are so desperate to create an alliance with the Eros kingdom, then have Duke Allen marry the Princess of the Eros kingdom." I added as I relax back into my chair.
"Unfortunately I cannot do that."
We turned out head towards the door and there he stood. The man who had tried to get his sister married to me. He had an annoying expression plastered on his face. It made me want to punch him in the face every time I saw him.
"Forgive me for arriving late, I was busy with something as important as this meeting." He let out as he went to his seat.
"Your Majesty, I'm going to use the Allen Family's Recusatio Decree." He stated.
The members present gasped shocked by what Duke Allen said.
The Allen Family's Recusatio Decree. A Decree that not even the Emperor can ignore. If the Allen family wanted they could even strip the Royal family of their power...
***
"Ori..."
"Orisis!" Arthur shouted.
I looked at him annoyed. Why was he shouting?
"Why are you here?" I asked him annoyed.
"Because of this." He responded throwing a letter at me.
He left as soon as he threw the letter. It is good he did or else I would throw him with a dagger.
I looked at the letter and it had the royal seal on it. What in the hell is going on?
I open the letter and scoff. I wonder whose dumb idea this was?
Duke Orisis Evans,
If your bride can do what we couldn't do, we will accept your marriage. And if she fails to do it, your marriage to her would become null and void.
This is the decision of the board.
His Majesty
What's wrong with them? I finally decided to get married and they have a problem with it. I should have just kept quiet until the meeting was over. Sighing I get up from my seat and I walk to my bookshelf.
The books my mother enjoyed reading were on the shelves. They are the only things I have left of her. The books are the only piece of evidence of who my mother was that I can hold onto. They serve as a reminder that my mother abandoned me... They are the only books I find a tint of happiness in... Happiness that I used to call my mother's love for me. It's funny that I saw it as her way of loving me.
"What did you do?!?"
I turned my head slightly to see Prince Nicholas standing at the door angry. He was angry and frustrated and it amused me as well as it annoyed me.
Today must really be 'Bother Duke Evans Day'. This is the only plausible reason I can think of. It's the only reason that makes sense to me unless these people have death wishes.
"What DID I do?" I asked him inattentively.
"What did you DO?" He asked in disbelief.
"Because of whatever bullshit you pulled in today's meeting, if Marissa can't get the Eros kingdom to ally with us then I won't be able to marry her!" He shouted angrily.
"Is that not interesting." I scoffed before laughing.
So this is their plan to ensure that neither the prince nor I marry Treece or Marissa. They were planning to kill two birds with one stone.
"Why are you laughing? This is serious!" He asked angrily.
"Look on my desk." I replied vaguely.
I could hear him rush to my desk and pick up the letter. He laughed maniacally and he scoffed.
"I can't understand this people." he spoke out laughing.
"It was their attempt of killing two birds with one stone." I tell him.
"I'm going to ruin them all." he declared angrily as he crumbled up the letter.
"And what would you be achieving?" I asked him.
"Why aren't you supporting me here?" he whined frustrated.
"Because you are not the only one with problems here." I respond.
It was a fact. We all had bigger problems to worry about and solve. Mine was getting Treece to Marry me without her finding out about this loophole. How can I get her to show how capable she is? Latrice Bellatrix Richardson. How do I make her mine?
"Should I tell Marissa about this beforehand?" He asked pacing forward and backwards in my office.
That's it! She would do anything for her best friend's happiness! I will use her best friend as the common solution to our problem. Treece will not find out and I will get to stay married to her.
"I might have a method." I declared and he halted before staring at me with hope.
"What is it?" he asked excitedly.