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Bound by Love and Desires.

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Synopsis

Chapter 1 - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

When my mother died, I felt nothing but sadness and rage as I watched the men lower the coffin into the grave. We were a family of four, and the day mother died, it struck my sister, and me the hardest. My eyes burned with tears, and my hands clenched into fists as I stared at the coffin.

Noticing my expression, my father approached me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. I couldn't hold back the tears as they flowed down my cheeks. I raised my head to meet my sister, Esther's, gaze. Her eyes were swollen from many nights of tears. As the older sibling, I knew I needed to be strong for her. I took the handkerchief from my father, wiping the tears from my eyes.

Every relative and close friend of my mother attended the burial, all dressed in black. As my father was the Lord of the house of Rivendell, many came to pay their respects to the former Lady. One of them, an older woman, approached me, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Everything will be alright, Penelope," she said.

I nodded.

After the funeral, we returned to my father's mansion. My maid, Isabella, prepared a bath for me, and as she washed me, neither of us spoke a word to each other. After taking my bath, we gathered in the living room as my father had summoned us. Esther had cried throughout the day but managed to stay strong now. Isabella handed a cup of herbal tea to ease the headache I was feeling.

Taking a sip from the tea, I leaned my back against the plush sofa, waiting for my father to speak.

"You look tired, Penny," my father said.

"I couldn't sleep," I murmured. I wasn't as close to my father as I was to my mother, but I knew that after today, we would have to be close to each other. We would have to grieve for mother's death together. The image of my mother's face as they lowered her in the coffin flashed in my mind, and I shook the thoughts from my head. I needed to be strong for Esther. We were only a few years apart; while I was eighteen, Esther was fifteen.

"You'll be fine," he assured. "All of us will be fine."

"I know," I said. But it would take time for the wound to heal.

"That is the reason I called you two here," he said. "I received a letter from the House of Cordova."

The House of Cordova was where the Blood King, Atlas, resided. He was given that nickname after he singlehandedly killed thousands in a war. He was feared by many; strong and powerful. But I had never seen him. None of us had ever had the opportunity to meet the King, not even my father, the Lord of one of the Houses of this Kingdom. If anyone wanted to speak to the King, they would have to go through a guard who was closer to the commander, who would then pass the information to the Blood King.

"The King of Westfall is asking for your hand in marriage," he said. My eyes widened, lips parted.

"What?" I asked, a bitter feeling settling at the back of my throat. My hands clenched around the cup. Just a few hours ago, we buried mother, and now father is bringing this up.

"Penny, you need a husband," he said. "Both of you."

"Esther is only fifteen!" I frowned.

"That really isn't an issue," father said. "I've seen a lot of young girls of twelve get married."

My lips curled into a deep frown as I glared at my father. Was he serious?

"Father!" I exclaimed. "Have you forgotten that mother just died a few months ago and was buried today?"

Father leaned his back against the sofa. I took a sip from the tea, trying to calm myself down. I didn't want to get married. I wanted to think about my life now that mother passed away. Mother had told me we could get married after the age of twenty. Why was father bringing this up when he knew mother wouldn't have agreed to this? And Esther? If I get married, she would be lonely. The grief would be too much for her to bear on her own.

"You are not going to stay here and grow old. You need to get married so you won't think much about Daphne's death."

"Not now, not today should you have brought this up," I said, setting the cup down. "You expect me to marry and leave Esther behind?"

"She will get married too," he said. "I have someone in mind for her."

Letters from suitors who were interested in me have been flooding the house since I turned sixteen. But what I didn't expect was that my father would wish for me to marry at this time, just after we buried mother.

"I know it's not a good time to discuss this, but this letter was sent from Cordova by the King himself. Do you know what this means for our House? For me? For you?"

"I really don't care, father," I said, biting my bottom lip. "I don't want to marry now."

"I know it's disrespectful to talk about this now, but I cannot wait any longer. You need a husband, and you must marry the Blood King."

"I won't," I said, standing up and turning around to leave.

"Penny!" My father called after me, but I didn't listen. I climbed the stairs up to my room, and once inside, I collapsed to the ground.

Esther came in shortly after, sitting beside me on the floor.

"I hate him," I cried out. "I hate that he's treating us like this."

"I know father acts annoying sometimes, but he's right. We can't reject the invitation, especially when it comes from the Blood King."

I raised my head to meet Esther's gaze.

"You should marry him," she said. "He'll warm your bed and ease the pain."

"No," I shook my head, frowning.