(Chapter 1)
In this world, turning eighteen marks the beginning of adulthood. Clarisse Faeloria felt anxious about that reality. Reaching that age meant she had to face social pressures, including arranged marriages and inevitable engagements. The thought of it all made her stomach churn. She couldn't imagine being trapped in such a situation, where her life was dictated by the expectations of others. To Clarisse, a future bound by such ties was terrifying and utterly undesirable.
Clarisse gently rejected the nobleman's son who had come to propose to her. She turned him down politely, hoping he would not return, as she wanted to focus on her studies at the Academy. However, her peace was shattered when her father returned home with a frustrated expression. Clarisse felt a sense of dread upon seeing his face, especially when she heard the bad news he brought: she was to marry Lorcan Frostborne, the Duke of the North.
"This is too sudden, Father. I don't want this arranged marriage to happen," Clarisse said, her voice trembling as she struggled to suppress the tightness growing in her chest.
"Think about it, Clarisse. If I accept this arrangement, we will receive a substantial dowry. He has also promised prosperity for our family," her father replied, his tone filled with careful consideration.
Clarisse fell silent, unable to speak. How could she refuse when this matter concerned her family and the great benefits they would gain? As she read further into Lorcan Frostborne's letter, her heart ached even more. The words written there were undeniable: her family would prosper.
Clarisse asked for time to think. She weighed her decision carefully. On one hand, this opportunity was too valuable to pass up. As the daughter of a noble family, it was only natural for a woman to marry a man of high status to elevate her family's position. Everyone would see it as a wise and strategic move. However, on the other hand, she couldn't lie to herself. Something inside her hesitated.
"Lorcan Frostborne is known to be ruthless," she murmured softly, barely audible. The words echoed in her ears like a warning she couldn't ignore.
Clarisse gazed at the fading horizon in the west, her heart heavy. She knew this decision wasn't just about her. It was about her family, her future, and perhaps even her heart, now placed at risk.
Standing by her bedroom window, she looked up at the rising moon in the night sky. The cold evening breeze brushed against her skin, offering a small comfort amid the turmoil in her mind. Sleep eluded her as thoughts of the impending decision swirled in her head. Lorcan Frostborne's image surfaced in her mind—a man with a cold and imposing face, feared across the land for his power and influence as the Duke of the North.
"What will happen if I accept this marriage?" she wondered. The thought of becoming the wife of a man she barely knew, a man with a fearsome reputation, sent a chill down her spine. But she also knew that rejecting the marriage wouldn't be easy. Her family would be put in a difficult position, possibly even disgraced in the eyes of society.
The next morning, Clarisse woke up with a storm of emotions still raging within her. At the Academy, her friends spoke cheerfully about their futures, engagements, and weddings. But for Clarisse, all of it felt like an unbearable weight. Every step she took toward class felt heavier, as if she were carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
TO BE CONTINUED