Duke Hareton's Bride*

Victoria watched her father knead and roll the large piece of mixed flour on the table. Her eyes fixed on his amazing hand movements as he kneaded without tiring. For the past years while she was growing up, she could never get tired of watching this exquisite art from her father.

Feeling her eyes on him, the middle aged man stopped what he was doing to look at his daughter. Who was actually gaping like a fish out of water. Taking one last look at the dough, he shook his head and cleared his throat.

"Victoria!" He drew. "You have to watch the shop table. Those little thieves are everywhere in the market and we don't want them stealing from us right?" He asked.

Victoria sighed. The rate of thieves in the town was fast increasing especially amongst homeless kids. Oh no. She could have watched the table rather than gawking at her father's skill. Immediately, she rushed out of the building. She did a good take of the breads and cakes and saw they were untouched but that didn't stop her from noticing the strange movements of two kids who were standing quite far.

She quietly picked up the cane which was resting against the wall and waited for them to come closer. So was their daily life at the market. The hustling and bustling of people from different parts of the kingdom, the scent of foreign spices and laughter of those watching the acrobats do what they know best.

Soon, her father came out of the house with a basket full of baked bread. He placed it on the table and stood akimbo.

"You're sweating father," Victoria said as she pulled out a kerchief from her skirt pocket. She wiped his face clean and he smiled in return.

"You always put a smile on my face darling." Sighs. "Only if she was here to see how you have grown so much into a beautiful woman," he replied in a crestfallen tone.

Victoria nodded her head and instantly buried her face in the dip of her father's neck. "I miss her."

"We all do," he replied and patted her head as if she was still a kid. Just as they turned to continue their daily routine, Victoria and her father came face to face with two kids who were lifted in the air by two pairs of hands.

He wore a black tunic with intricate silver embroidery, adorned with the emblem of the Galwynn Empire on his chest. A black pants and a sturdy shiny boot. Standing next to the man was another one, clothed in black tunic and silver armor. He was holding a spear in his left hand while his other hand reached for his sword which was inside its sheath. His face was made of stone as he glared at no one in particular.

Patrick's eyes turned wide as saucers when he saw who was holding the children still. He immediately went on his knees without hesitating.

"Your Grace," he bowed.

Victoria frowned. "What's happening father?" She asked and glared at the man who she couldn't see his face. Upon moving her eyes to meet the guard, his eyes shot daggers at her. Patrick almost yelled at her to kneel before the ruler of the Galwynn Empire.

He pulled her down forcefully and shot her another pair of daggers. A worried crease etched on his forehead. Victoria was so stubborn in some way and it was troublesome to him.

"Why did you do that?" Victoria whispered angrily at her father. "My knees hurt."

"I'm sorry but can't you use your head? They are not commoners. Neither are they wealthy merchants Victoria." He eyed her and sulked. Victoria almost smiled at her father's sulking face but now wasn't the time.

"Who are they?" She asked.

"Patrick Donovan, you may rise." Patrick didn't know who just spoke but he immediately stood up. Then Victoria followed.

His breath caught in his throat and he pushed her head. "Kneel there. Don't stand up you silly girl," he yelled quietly.

Meanwhile, Victoria stared blankly at him. She was now starting to wonder who these men were to make her father so jittery on his nerves.

Patrick swallowed and turned to look at the man before him. His legs almost gave out but he tried not to feel intimidated.

"Eyes down!" The guard shouted at him and he immediately brought his head down, shutting his eyes tightly as his body shook with fright.

Victoria couldn't take it anymore. She opened one of her eyes and took a look around but couldn't see anything. The moment she opened the second one, the man holding the kids was now visible yet, she didn't know who he was. "Father? Who is he?" She asked.

Patrick's heart almost fell off his chest. "Victoria!" He shouted angrily at her again.

"Don't scream. Your daughter is so…. stubborn, I see." The man replied with a bemused smirk on his face.

"Hey! Watch your tongue. I'm not stubborn," she retorted and stood up.

The man chuckled softly but enough to send fear into Patrick's spine. "Vi…." He immediately shut up when the guard threw a nasty glare his way. 'God, please' he secretly prayed in his heart.

A dreadful smile pulled off his lips as he stared at her. "Of course you are. You don't respect your father, little girl. You should have listened to him." He replied. Amusement dripping from his words like slime.

Victoria blinked. She did respect her father but she could have obeyed. She doesn't like the way he was scared of this so-called man.

"Start by respecting elders first before you tell me what to do and what NOT!" She glared at him. Eyes to eyes.

"Victoria, that's the Duke," her father struggled to reply.

"What?" Victoria's eyes bugged out of its socket.

The man smirked and turned to look at his guard. "Check the others."

"Yes, your grace," he replied and stomped off like a giant.

"Step back sweetie before you push your Father's bread to the ground."

Victoria hadn't realized that she was pushing herself through the table and the bread was slowly going forward. She pulled back all of a sudden and started arranging the bread. Her father then joined. Their hands shaking in strong anxiety. She had just disrespected the great Duke of Galwynn Empire. Victoria's throat immediately went dry, what have I gotten myself into? she whispered to herself.

Soon, the guard returned with kids of about 8 to 12 years old in a queue. The market has turned silent as everyone did their things quietly.

"Give out your bread to these children." The Duke ordered and Patrick immediately obeyed. Moving out of the shade to the front of it, he began giving out the bread to the thieving children.

Victoria took a seat on a stool, weak from the sudden event that just happened. Pushing her brown hair away from her face, she shook in fear. The penalty for disrespecting the ruler of their Kingdom was death.

The Duke looked in the direction of the girl. He could see her body shaking from shock. That's how some people who don't know him end up acting. But this one was peculiar. So different from what he has been seeing for decades. So beautiful and amusing.