*slam*
"Oh my Heavens, Eve, 3 Earls, 2 Viscounts, and now a Duke that you turned away!, they're good men eve, good men!"
Yvette flinched at the woman's shouts.
"But mother, i want to marry..for love!.."
Yvette's mother scowled.
"Love?,love?!..that's the only reason you rejected the proposals of high ranking men!?"
"That is not my argument, mother!"
Yvette screamed.
"i saw it, their gazes, the way they were undressing me in their minds with just a stare!"
Yvette clenched her fists.
"if that is what i have to endure, i would rather die than marry one of them!"
"Wait, Eve-"
Before Yvette's mother could continue speaking, Yvette stormed out of the drawing room, her footsteps up the stairs can be heard distinctively around the manor, a single maid, a ran down manor, that was all Yvette's family had, after the Great Aristocratic War that shook the whole empire, the Weirs family, that was part of the aristocratic faction, just like the other noble families that was apart of it, fell down from grace, after the treason that was attempted by the Duke Leviata, the man who was the leader, the mastermind of the aristocratic faction's attempt of rebellion failed.
Yvette threw herself upon the not so soft, yet not so hard mattress of her bed, she thought deep, the hardships she went through after her noble family's fall, the life of poverty, eating after scraps, well..not really scraps, but Yvette and her mother would eat something that a noble wouldn't even imagine eating.
"if only..if only i wasn't so stubborn..then we wouldn't experience hardships anymore.."
She clenched the sheets tight, and...
*hik..sob..ah..sob*
Yvette's tears went flowed her eyes, the remnants of salty water from her teary meltdown, cascaded upon the bedsheets, dictating her emotion of sorrow and sadness.
"im..hik-...sorry..mother.."
Yvette's cries was outside her room, her mother, who is standing infront of her chambers, remained still, her heart clenching, for her, she only wished for the best for her dear daughter, the marriage proposals by the men of high rank set her heart ablaze, the feeling of the burden of their hard life, being lifted upon her child's shoulders, made her very thrilled, But at this very moment, she knew that her daughter needed space, to let her emotions go array, to let Yvette's feelings out, in the comfort of her room.
-The next day-
"Dearest, About our list of gatherings for this social season.."
Yvette's mother nervously spoke to her.
"Yes, yes mother, i'll go.."
Yvette spoke with no single emotion, like a bored tone.
"Great, then..the dresses..we'll go rent some at the modiste, and then-"
Yvette's mother continued to chatter about her plans for her daughter for the social season of the empire, the sound of cutlery and the sweet voice of her mother, comforted a hidden scar deep within Yvette's heart.
-At the tea party of Viscountess Geovani-
"gosh, look at her, so shameless!"
"yeah, how can she show face after the fall of the aristocratic faction.."
The murmurs and whispers of the young ladies who attended the tea party was loud enough to be heard all over the mansion.
Yvette clenched her dress, enduring the hideous remarks about her family, then stood up from her chair, which shook the gossiping ladies, then Yvette walked to the door which opens to the marvelous garden of Viscountess Geovani.
She inhaled deeply, the scent of fresh nature refreshed her lungs, it lessened the anger she felt before, inside the halls of Viscountess Geovani's Residence.
Then she started her stroll, admiring the lovely flowers that grew around the garden, but her steps stopped at a familiar voice.
"Lady Weirs?.."
She turned around to meet the person who called out to her, her eyes shone in awe, as a man with blonde hair that flew across the wind, green, ivory eyes that make even the most precious gem in the whole world turn to shame, and a build that was exactly her kind of type...it was no doubt..it's him..it's..
"Lord Salsbu-
"Your grace..your grace!!.."
The deafening sound of another man came to be.
"ha..ah..the Viscountess wants you to join the tea party..agh.."
The man pants heavily, sweat pouring down his forehead.
"Are you alright?"
Yvette asked.
The man who was sweating looked at her.
"Yes, i am alri-"
Before he finished his sentence, his face grimaced.
"look who it is, the very daugther of Count Weirs..i see the fall of the aristocratic faction affected your...situation.."
The man looked Yvette up-and-down, visibly judging her.
"now, now Anthony, your gaze will scare the lady..."
The man broke the piercing gaze that was directed to Yvette, to Lord Salsbu-
"Your grace, the Viscountess asked you to make your apperance at her tea party"
Yvette asked in confusion.
"Your grace?..but..i thought.."
The man glared at Yvette.
"Did the fall affect your knowledge about the hierarchy of the empire?.."
Yvette's face scrunched in annoyance.
"What is the matter with you, mister?.."
The man battered back.
"My problem is you, ruining the good atmosphere of this gathering with your presence.."
"Anthony, Quiet down.."
The other man's tone of speaking broke the impending argument that was about to happen.
"Your grace, the Viscountess-"
"I heard enough, i'll go now.."
The two men began to walk back to the venue of the tea party but stopped at a screaming voice.
"wait, wait!"
Yvette pleaded.
"Your grace..?..but i thought you were only a.."
The man who was looking at her with an annoyed expression lashed out.
"Do your disrespect know no bounds, Lady Weirs?!"
Yvette stared at the man in confusion.
"The man infront of you, is the one and only Duke and ruler of the southern region, his grace, Frederick Demion Scheitzer Von Alson!!.."
Yvette was about to speak, but when she heard the name, time stopped.
It was the man, that man..the one who caused the rebellion to cease, the reason her family lost their honor, that costed her father's life, she clenched her fist in frustation, breathing heavily, that man, she hated him, she despised him.
The duke sighed.
"i guess we have to restart our introductions, my Lady.."
Yvette's mind began to haze, the fog of hatred clouded her brain.
"Once again, I am Frederick Demion Scheitzer Alson, The head of the Alson Dukedom, it's very nice to meet yo-"
*slap*
A sound of a hand meeting the duke's face was heard, Anthony, the man who looked at Yvette with disgust, is now gaping his mouth.
A Girl from a fallen family, slapped the duke's face with no hesitation!
-To be Continued-