Chapter -3
The weight of his stare bore down on me, more unnerving than the cold steel pressed against my neck. His voice cut through the tension as he commanded the knights,
"Pull back your swords."
I held the knife at his throat, my grip steady, yet every second made it feel heavier. As the knights hesitated, he glanced at me, his face calm but calculating. Before I could react, he moved.
His foot shifted, catching me off guard, and within a heartbeat, I found myself pinned beneath him.
The knife was still in my hand, but it might as well have been a toy at this point —useless against the strength that held me down.
His gaze never wavered, locked onto mine with a focus that unnerved me more than the blade I'd tried to wield.
"Everyone…" he commanded, still not looking away from me.
"Sir?" The head knight stepped forward, clearly confused.
"We will begin investigating the lady An—"
"Inform the butler to prepare for the lady's stay."He didn't let the commander finish.
His words jolted me out of the moment, and I glared up at him, my voice laced with defiance.
"I have no interest in staying at a stranger's place."
"We'll see about that."
He smirked at me, as though amused by my protest.
"Leave us."
Turning to his men, his gaze remained fixed on me.
"But, sir…?"
The knight's commander looked back, uncertain.
His eyes snapped to the knight, cold and unforgiving.
"Be lost at once."
There was no mistaking the authority in his tone. The knights exchanged quick glances before nodding and retreating, clearly unnerved by the sudden change in his demeanor.
Once we were alone, his intense expression softened slightly, though he was still as commanding as ever.
"Shall we move to a better place? Somewhere warmer, perhaps, more suitable for lying down?"
I couldn't help the fire that flared in my eyes as I shot back,
"As if I can move. Apparently, I'm pinned down by a giant."
He raised an eyebrow at that, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
"A giant, huh?"
He got up in one fluid motion, brushing the dust off his clothes like nothing had happened. I sat up quickly, trying to compose myself, but before I could stand, he reached down and pulled me into his arms as if I weighed nothing.
"What the—"
His grip was firm, and I found myself held against his chest before I could even react. The shock turned my protests into little more than incoherent stammering.
"What the hell are you doing?" I spat out, finally regaining my voice
He gave no reply, his eyes fixed ahead as he carried me toward the castle. I struggled in his arms, my pride flaring up.
"I can walk on my own! Let me go!"
My mind spun, trying to comprehend the situation. What the hell just happened? I struggled in his grip, trying to get free.
"What are you doing?"
He didn't respond, and that only made me more determined.
"Leave me! My legs are just fine, I can walk on my own!"
But he ignored me entirely, his pace never faltering. Growing frustrated, I nearly shouted,
"What the hell do you think you're doing? Abducting an innocent woman in the guise of helping her? Taking advantage of my situation? Who do you think you are!?"
As my voice echoed in the air, a figure appeared at the castle's entrance. The butler, dressed in his formal attire, bowed slightly before addressing the man carrying me.
"Grand Duke, we've prepared for the lady's stay. Please instruct further."
His words hit me like a punch, and I fell silent, my body stiffening in his arms.
Grand Duke!?
I froze, my breath catching in my throat. Grand Duke?
I looked up at the man carrying me, disbelief written all over my face. I stammered, trying to wrap my mind around the words.
"Gr… Grand Duke?"
He lowered his gaze to meet mine, his voice sharp but laced with mockery.
"Yes, Lady Rossano."
What the…. My mind couldn't process further, this man who helped me all long this time was a Duke?
"Alessio Vittorio Cavelli, the Only Grand Duke of the Empire and the ruler of the northern region."
His word were a clear mockery to me
My thoughts were spinning. This whole time, I had no idea. And yet, the realization did nothing to soothe the fire inside me. Before I could speak, he shifted his grip on me, not quite letting me go, and with a sudden movement, we were heading inside.
The warmth of his body pressed against mine was impossible to ignore.
Every step he took, I could feel the strength in his arms, and while I struggled earlier, now I was too conscious of the eyes on us. From the entrance, through the grand corridors and hallways, every servant we passed looked on, their gazes making me burn with embarrassment.
I wanted to demand him to let me go, but the words caught in my throat.
Grand Duke. The title echoed in my mind, stirring an uncomfortable knot in my chest.
As we reached the entrance to a large, beautifully furnished room, he didn't even glance at the servants stationed there. His voice was a calm command, low but carrying an authority that made my skin prickle.
"Out."
"Sir,"
they replied in unison, bowing before scurrying out of the room without hesitation.
The door closed softly behind them, leaving just the two of us in the dimly lit space. My eyes quickly darted around, taking in the luxurious bed, the large windows with heavy curtains, and the crackling fireplace. The room was warm, but I felt a different kind of heat spreading through me.
He still hadn't set me down.
I glanced up at him, my heart pounding louder than I wanted to admit.
"You can put me down now."
For a brief moment, I thought he might refuse, but then, with an unreadable expression, he slowly lowered me to the floor. I felt the cold stone beneath my feet, but my legs were too unsteady to step back.
I took a shaky breath, trying to regain some semblance of control.
"I'm not staying here," I said, my voice stronger than I felt.
He raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into the smallest hint of a smirk.
"You keep saying that."
I stepped back, but my back hit the edge of a table, stopping me.
He was still so close, his presence overwhelming in the small space between us. I tried to focus, to hold my ground, but the intensity in his gaze was too much.
"Stop looking at me like that," I muttered, turning my head to the side, unable to meet his eyes.
"Like what?" His voice was low, almost teasing.
"Like… like you own me," I snapped, more to cover my nerves than anything.
He moved closer, and I felt my breath hitch. His hand came up, fingers brushing against the side of my neck, making me shiver involuntarily. I hated that my body was betraying me.
"I don't need to own you,"
he said softly, his lips so close to my ear that I felt the heat of his breath.
"But you're mine now."
I turned my head sharply, my face inches from his.
"I don't belong to anyone."
For a second, our eyes locked, the air thick with tension, neither of us backing down. Then, suddenly, I pushed against his chest, my frustration breaking through.
"Back off," I demanded, my voice shaking, even as my heart raced.
To my surprise, he didn't resist. He stepped back, giving me space, but his gaze remained steady, and there was something in his eyes that told me he was still very much in control.
"Don't think you'll leave so easily, Lady Rossano,"
he said, his voice calm but filled with a dangerous promise.
"The night is still young."
I swallowed hard, my fists clenching at my sides.
"I won't be your prisoner."
A small smile played on his lips, but he didn't reply. Instead, he turned and walked toward the door, his back to me as if I posed no threat at all. Before stepping out, he glanced over his shoulder, his eyes dark with something I couldn't quite place.
"Rest tonight. We'll continue this conversation later."
Then, with one last lingering look, he was gone, leaving me alone in the room with my mind spinning and my heart racing.
Later that evening, as the moonlight bathed the estate, a servant entered the room with a tray of dinner, quietly placing it on the table before bowing and leaving.
I was still flustered from everything that had transpired, but the smell of the food brought me back to my senses. Reluctantly, I sat down to eat. My thoughts raced faster than my appetite. What was he really after? Why had he brought me here, and more importantly—why did it feel like there was something more beneath the surface of his cold exterior?
Once I finished, the servants returned, clearing the dishes with practiced efficiency. They avoided eye contact, as if they knew something I didn't, or were trained to act that way.
I decided to change into the nightgown that had been prepared for me, grateful for a moment alone. It was soft, luxurious—nothing like the rough fabrics I had grown used to. As I untied the last of the fastenings on my current clothes, feeling the cool air against my skin, I thought back to my old life, a time when moments like this felt mundane.
Just when I was about to finish changing, the door creaked open.
The Duke entered without a word, his presence immediate and commanding. I turned toward him, half-dressed in my inner garments.
For a brief moment, I expected some flicker of shock or embarrassment, but none came from either of us.
I didn't scream, didn't panic—what would be the point? After all, in my old life, this wasn't a big deal. people wore far less in public and thought nothing of it.
Without saying a word, he walked over to the window, glancing out at the moonlit grounds. I stood there, unsure of what to say, but he broke the silence.
"Is it that casual for you to change in front of someone, A man; at that ?"
he said, his tone was laced with something else—curiosity, perhaps? It was hard to tell.
I shrugged, pulling the nightgown over my head without breaking eye contact.
"It's nothing. If you're here to discuss something, go ahead."
His eyebrows raised slightly, clearly amused by my composure.
"You are... unexpected, Lady Rossano."
"I get that a lot,"
I said, tightening the sash of the gown. I could feel a slight blush creep into my cheeks, despite the calm exterior I maintained. Standing here, half-dressed in front of him, I felt both vulnerable and powerful at once.
The Duke took a few steps forward, closer now.
"Does nothing unsettle you?"
"Why should it?" I met his gaze head-on.
"I've seen far worse."
His lips twitched at the corners.
"I believe you…."
He took a breath, as if considering his next words carefully.
"You seemed curious earlier," he said, his voice calm but firm.
"And yet you don't ask the right questions."
"What exactly do you want from me?"
I narrowed my eyes on him.
As the night deepened, the atmosphere inside the grand chamber thickened with tension. The Duke stood near the window, his silhouette outlined by the soft glow of the moon. I could feel my pulse quicken as I sat across from him, the realization of what was being proposed settling in.
"A marriage of convenience," he began, his voice calm but commanding.
"One that would benefit us both."
His sharp gaze cutting through the distance between us.
I folded my arms, leaning back into the plush chair; And raised an eyebrow.
"A contract?".
He nodded and walked closer, his presence growing more intimidating with each step.
"Marriage. For both our benefit. You avoid your forced engagement to that fool de Luca, and I keep the emperor and the royal family off my back."
I blinked, unsure if I'd heard him correctly.
"You...want to marry me?"
"Yes."
His expression remained unreadable, but his tone left no room for doubt.
For a moment, I didn't know how to react. It was so absurd, yet it made sense in a twisted way. I stood up, pacing around the room, trying to wrap my mind around the idea.
"Benefit you, you mean. I don't see how getting tangled up in royal affairs would help me."
His eyes flickered toward me, unreadable yet piercing.
"You'd rather marry Sir Anton, then?"
The mention of that name made my skin crawl. I straightened my back and shot him a defiant look.
"Of course not."
"Then this arrangement should be an easy decision," he replied smoothly, stepping closer.
"I marry you, and no one—not the emperor, not the royal family—can pressure me into wedding the second princess. You, in turn, avoid being tied to a man like Anton de Luca."
The air between us felt thick with tension, the weight of the decision pressing down on me. I knew I was running out of time, that if I didn't agree, my future would be sealed with de Luca
"And why should I trust you?"
He watched me closely, his gaze unwavering.
"Because our goals align. I need to stop the emperor from forcing me to marry the princess, and you need to avoid marrying a man you despise. It's a practical arrangement, nothing more."
I scoffed. "Nothing more, huh? You expect me to believe that?"
He took a step closer, his eyes hardening.
"I'm not asking for your trust, only your agreement."
I raised an eyebrow. "And in return, I get…?"
He smirked, as if the answer was obvious. "Freedom. Protection. You would be my wife, the Duchess. No one would dare touch you."
I hated how right he was. With the threat of marriage to Duke de Luca's son looming over me, this contract was the only way to secure my future.
Yet something about his confidence made me want to push back, just to see how far I could go.
I stepped closer to him, challenging the space between us.
"And if I decide to walk away from this estate tonight?"
He didn't flinch. "I wouldn't recommend it."
I let out a quiet laugh. "You think you know me."
He leaned in, just enough to send a small shiver down my spine. "No. But I intend to."
I stood, pacing toward the grand bed that dominated the room. The idea of marriage felt suffocating, even if it was only a façade.
"And what if I want more than that? What if I want a real life, not some… political game?"
He walked toward me, his eyes dark and intense.
"You think you're in a position to demand more?"
I stopped, turning to face him.
"I think," I said slowly, "I'm in a position to want more than just a shield. I want to know what I'm signing up for."
His jaw tightened.
"This is not a negotiation. The terms are simple—you marry me, I protect you, and we both get what we need."
"Need,"
I echoed, stepping closer. The tension between us crackled like a fire.
"So, what do you need, Duke?"
He didn't answer immediately, but the way his gaze held mine spoke volumes. His presence was overwhelming, and yet, I felt the smallest flicker of control. This was a game I knew how to play, even if the stakes were far higher.
"What I need," he said finally, his voice low,
"is to end this pressure from the emperor and the nobles. Marrying you will do that. It's a simple solution."
"And what about love?" I asked softly, almost mockingly. His face hardened, his expression unreadable once more.
"Love," he repeated, as if the word held no meaning.
"This isn't about love. This is about survival."
For a moment, silence fell between us. I bit my lip, considering the proposal. Marriage to a man like him—it wasn't what I'd envisioned. But the alternative was far worse.
Finally, I nodded.
"Fine. I'll sign your contract."
His lips curved into a smile, satisfied but far from warm.
"Then it's settled."
"Duke, We'll make a contract. But know this: I'm not just some pawn in your game."
His smirk faded, replaced by a serious expression.
"Lady Rossano. I think you might not know this : You of all people can never be anyone's pawn"
I could feel the walls closing in. He was right. I had no real choice here. My heart raced as I looked into his cold, calculating eyes. There was something more to this, but for now, the marriage would protect me. It was a way out.
As I extended my hand to seal the agreement, he caught my wrist and pulled me closer. His breath ghosted across my skin as he whispered,
"Just remember, Rosie… this is a contract in name, but in every other way, you will be mine."
I swallowed hard, but kept my gaze steady.
"I wouldn't expect anything less."
After the tense agreement, the atmosphere in the room shifted slightly. Though the tension between us hadn't completely dissolved, there was now an understanding—a shared, unspoken acknowledgment of the precarious balance we had struck.
The Duke, seemingly satisfied with my decision, moved toward a small desk near the fireplace, pulling out a sheet of parchment and a quill. He began drafting the contract, his movements calm and precise, as if this were just another business transaction.
"Your terms?" he asked, not looking up from the paper.
I walked closer, standing just behind him. My eyes traced the elegant strokes of his handwriting.
"No interference in my personal life, unless it concerns the contract," I said, my voice steady but firm.
He paused for a moment before nodding.
"Agreed."
"And I will be free to leave after one year, once I have secured my position. No obligation to remain bound to this marriage longer than necessary."
His pen stopped mid-stroke. He turned his head slightly to look at me.
"One year? That's hardly enough time to cement your standing."
I crossed my arms.
"It's more than enough time. I'm not looking for a lifetime of this."
"Three" he said in a low and calm voice.
"What!?"
"Three years at least"
I Slightly tilted my head to the side; as I failed to understand the need to continue this contract for three years.
"We need to carry it for at least three years to avoid the suspension of the court and emperor"
I couldn't agree more, he was right, if we get divorced after a year of our marriage people might suspect us and it is possible that with him I also come under the king's notice.
I nodded my head in agreement, but I was still unsure about it.
"Fine then; no more then three years "
His gaze lingered on me for a moment before he turned back to the parchment.
"Very well. Three years."
He resumed writing, the only sound in the room being the scratch of the quill on paper. I watched him in silence, a mixture of relief and unease swirling inside me. This wasn't how I imagined my future—marrying a man like him, entering a contract like this—but it was the only way out.
When he finished, he set the quill down and turned to face me fully.
"Anything else?"
I shook my head. "That's it."
He rolled the parchment and handed it to me.
"Review it. Sign it if you find it acceptable."
I took the contract from him, our fingers brushing for the briefest of moments. The touch sent a shiver through me, a reminder of the precarious position I was in. I stepped back, putting space between us, and unrolled the contract.
The terms were simple, as we had discussed. A Three year-long marriage, no interference in personal matters, and mutual benefit for both parties. It seemed straightforward, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this—more to him.
After reading through it, I found a small bottle of ink on the desk and dipped the quill. With a steady hand, I signed my name at the bottom: Rosie Vittoria Rossano.
He watched me closely, his expression unreadable.
"It's done, then."
"It's done."I nodded, my voice barely a whisper.
The contract now bound us, and though I knew it was just for survival, there was something final about the moment. The Duke took the parchment from me, glancing at my signature before rolling it up once more and tucking it into his coat.
And with that, the deal was struck.
He moved toward the door, his hand resting on the handle.
"Tomorrow, we'll begin preparing for the marriage. I'll make sure your situation with de Luca is handled."
I exhaled, the weight of the decision settling in.
"Thank you."
He opened the door but paused, glancing back at me one last time.
"Lady, the fact that our marriage is bound by this contract should not leave this room; No-one absolutely no one besides us should know about this…Rest while you can."
Without waiting for a reply, he stepped out, leaving me alone in the room.
The door clicked shut, and I stood there, staring at it for a moment, the events of the night finally catching up to me.
I had just agreed to marry a man I barely knew, a man who carried a presence that was both commanding and cold.
I made my way to the window, looking out at the estate grounds bathed in moonlight. I couldn't help but wonder—what had I just gotten myself into?
My thoughts swirled, a mixture of uncertainty and resolve. Who is he really? And what does he truly want?
With a heavy heart, I turned away from the window and moved toward the bed. Tomorrow, my life will change even more. For now, I needed rest.
As I laid down, my mind wouldn't quiet. The deal was done, but something told me this was just the beginning of a much larger, more dangerous game.
End of Chapter 3
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