MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: Gnome's and fairies", by Marco cuntini.🤍
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"Please come with me, madam." I followed the woman through a door which led to an enormous stairway. She started climbing and I followed holding the ray for support.
Everything we passed was either in gold, marble or made of rare stones. I've never seen anything like it in my entire life.
The mansion may look modernized outwardly but the interior design was a bit old fashioned which had me wondering when this mansion or castle was built.
Two maids with trays filled with empty glasses walked down the stairs too. They both exchanged looks when they saw me, giggling to themselves.
I puffed my cheek eyeing them respectfully as I wondered what they were laughing at. Even if I was ugly compared to Scar and everyone in my family, I wasn't that ugly to be laughed at.
Sighing, I adjusted my glasses biting on my lower lips and trailed behind the woman before me. They were the least of my troubles at the moment. I was going to meet my husband to be, Dalton Bancroft tonight. The richest man in the entire country.
I could feel my body tremble slightly at the thought of him. A cold eerie feeling consumed me and I had no idea why.
"Your room would be shown to you later. For now, you should freshen up in here and prepare for the ceremony." The woman said pushing the large door open and we both stepped inside the room.
The warmth of the room embraced my skin immediately and I shivered. I inhaled the warmness my eyes rolling into my head at the feeling. I knew I spent hours under the rain and would be sick by morning.
"There are new clothes to change into and if you need help from the maids just ring the bell at the right and we'll be running in." She said politely and I nodded.
"I'll inform the lady that you're around." In her words, she left me all alone.
I stepped into the bathroom quickly to wash my face and get dressed. I didn't have the time to cherish the decor of the room or its lavishness, maybe I'll get to do it some other time. Evren had already said I was late when we arrived, but now, I'm super late.
I stood before the bathroom mirror only to scream and flinch at the hideous monster staring back at me.
I looked even more hideous than I've ever looked. I wouldn't blame those maids for laughing, hell they respected me for not running away.
Anyone would be terrified of this face. But he didn't. He had kissed me with this face. And even said I was beautiful. I ran my thumb across my lips and shivered. I could still feel his hot breath on my face.
His soft lips on mine...
I forced myself out of my foolish thoughts. I shouldn't be thinking of that man, but I couldn't get him out of my thoughts either.
I bit my lower lips. The rain had washed the makeup off my face, creating a dark rivulet down my chin. Everything I had applied mixed together turning me into a monster, Yet somehow... He Still Found Me Beautiful...
After quickly washing my face and body, I stepped out of the bathroom wearing only a white towel around my waist. Startled, I noticed a girl standing in the bedroom. Her dark curly hair matched her tanned skin and brown eyes. She was beautiful and looked a bit timid.
Her brown eyes peered at me and I could see the confusion on her face. "Welcome madam, I'm Agnes your assigned maid." She smiled.
"Call me Adara."
"I'm afraid that cannot be possible madam. You're the soon to be wife of our master it's only normal you're addressed as such."
"Come, let's not keep the guest waiting, they're all so eager to see you," she said briskly, guiding me towards a closet filled with an array of elegant dresses and accessories. Her nimble hands selected the garments and prepared to dress me.
"Guest?" I asked. Father had said a dinner with the Bancroft's not a party filled with guests. But again, rich people's way of life was different from that of commoners like myself, I was wrong to think it would be a small dinner between our families.
"Yes guest." Agnes led me to seat before the dressing mirror then she started working on my half dried hair. Her hands were so smooth like that of a professional as she tied and twisted my hair into a beautiful style.
"Dalton Bancroft, what is he like?" I couldn't hide my curiosity anymore. I hadn't had the time to do some research about him or his family since the marriage plan was an impromptu one but it would be better if I heard what he was like from an insider. Not the media who only had the Information the Bancroft's wanted them to have.
Agnes paused for a moment, her eyes meeting mine briefly. "Master is handsome." She smiled.
"Though compared to his brother he's nothing but he's so hot. He's a good and caring man and loves his family so much." She said calmly.
Everything she had said sounded like a recited poem but there was something I picked from her words, 'Brother?'
"Dalton has a brother?" I stared at her with wide eyes. Agnes quickly stared at the door and then back at me, I could see hesitancy in her eyes.
"I cannot say any more than I already have. When you become a full member of the Bancroft family you would know everything about them." She said.
Everything about them? Was there anything the Bancroft's were hiding? I know every family had their secrets, and for my family, no one has found out yet of our bankruptcy since Father had done a good job hiding it. That's one of the reasons he wants me or Scar to be married.
Even if Scar was the country's most sort after model, she had no skills in handling our family business. Neither of us knew how to manage it, so father wanted to pass it on to his son in-law to handle the company and it seems the Bancroft's are the best options.
"What do you mean?" She pressed her lips together as if not wanting to speak before saying.
"The Bancroft's have another son they're yet to reveal to anyone. Maybe because he's the first son of Nathan Bancroft by birth, but Dalton is his first heir in marriage. He's the one who handles the entire business while his brother Dalton takes the glory for it." I stared at her with wide eyes as she hissed those words.
This was unbelievable.
The man in question had similar story to mine we were both unknown and hidden from everyone only that I didn't know how to handle a business. I wanted to see him, to know who he is.
"But he can easily just reveal himself."
"Yes he can, but young master is the least Interested in any of that." She shrugged.
"They say there is a silent war brewing between both brothers at the moment. Both of them want the Bancroft's empire. One is capable and the other one is the rightful heir. The family wants the capable one but the lady Bancroft wants her son, which is the reason they want him to married." No wonder they accepted Father's proposal immediately. I thought.
Father holds a large share in the Bancroft's empire, and from the little knowledge I know about businesses, they might want his support for Dalton, that's the reason they agreed on his marriage proposal and in return, Dalton would help his business. I sighed.
It was really none of my business and even if Dalton is wrong or right in this situation, I would have to support him no matter what as my husband to be.
"Master Dalton's marriage to you is to secure his position as the son of the family. You're not the first woman chosen for Master Dalton. He has rejected countless others. Women more beautiful, talented, and of higher status, I'm sorry to say."
Her blunt honesty left me momentarily speechless. "Why? What does he seek?" I asked.
Agnes paused, her eyes meeting mine in the mirror. "An alliance maybe. Master Dalton's preferences are known only to him. But be prepared to leave an impression madam, He's a little coquettish by nature." She smiled and I reminisced her words.
"You look so beautiful by the way. I think this will do." She said and I stared at my reflection and smiled.
I was beautiful...
For the first time in my life, I thought of myself as being beautiful.