(Chapter 21)
Clarisse Faeloria listened to her father's words with a heart full of confusion. She still couldn't believe his request for her to stay for a week in the Northern Territory with Lorcan Frostborne. The idea seemed impossible to her. The place was unfamiliar, and it wasn't the right time for Clarisse to live with the Duke. She shook her head, trying to politely refuse.
"It's impossible, Father. I'm not ready to stay there, and it's not time for me to live with Lorcan," she replied firmly.
Jonathan Faeloria looked at his daughter with a gaze full of conviction. "Clarisse, you need to adapt to a new environment. This will help you face your future as the Duke's wife," he urged.
Clarisse sighed, her heart in turmoil. "Even so, Father... I don't feel ready."
"I know it's difficult, but think about it. The Duke has promised a gold mine in the North if your marriage goes smoothly. I will be trusted to manage it. Isn't that good for our family?"
Clarisse fell silent. She understood how important this was to her father, but her heart couldn't accept such a decision so quickly. "Father, I understand you're doing this for the family, but look at me. I also need time. I don't want to rush. I agreed to the marriage, but why does it feel like everything is being pushed faster?"
Eleanor Faeloria, who had been sitting not far from them, joined in with a gentle tone. "Darling, just for a week. If you feel uncomfortable, you can come back. It won't last long."
The usually warm and lighthearted living room had turned into a heavy space, filled with pressure. Clarisse glanced at her mother with a pleading look, hoping Eleanor wouldn't take sides.
"Please, Mother, don't ask me to do this..." Clarisse felt cornered.
Eleanor only smiled softly, her gaze full of pleading. "Sweetheart, listen to me. Look at me, if you can't look at your father."
"Mother..." Clarisse massaged her temples, trying to hold back the emotions rising within her. The push from both of her parents, who seemed to corner her at every turn, made her feel more and more pressured. She wanted to be angry, but she knew it would be pointless.
Eleanor, despite her love for Clarisse, preferred to support her husband. The hopeful look in her mother's eyes was piercing, almost as if pleading for Clarisse to agree to the decision. Clarisse felt the weight grow heavier, as if there was no other choice but to accept.
"I need time to think about it," she finally said, her voice weak.
After a full day of contemplating all the possibilities, Clarisse finally gave in. She knew it was pointless to keep rejecting them. After all, this wasn't just her father's wish, but her mother's hope as well. Clarisse nodded in agreement, though her heart was still filled with doubt.
Eleanor smiled with relief and joy. "You made the right decision, darling. I'm proud of you."
Clarisse only gave a small smile, not wanting to prolong the conversation. That night, she wrote a letter to Lorcan with trembling hands, informing him that she had agreed to stay in the Northern Territory for a week.
Lorcan received the letter with a small smile on his face. Without hesitation, he immediately began preparing to pick up Clarisse from the Faeloria estate. The thought that he would often see Clarisse in his home made his heart feel lighter, something he rarely experienced. Aedric Thornshade, his aide, noticed the change in Lorcan's expression and was momentarily surprised, though he quickly regained his composure and left.
The head of the Faeloria family greeted Lorcan's arrival with great respect. Clarisse stood beside her father, offering a respectful salute.
"Welcome, Your Grace," Clarisse said gracefully.
"It's been a while, Lady Faeloria," Lorcan replied with a tone that was slightly warmer than usual.
"...Yes, Your Grace. It has been quite some time," Clarisse answered, a bit awkwardly, not used to Lorcan's change in tone.
Clarisse was accompanied by a maid named Sasa, specially chosen by her father. Sasa was no ordinary servant; she had strong combat skills, something Lorcan immediately noticed upon seeing her. Lorcan knew this maid was not just anyone.
On the journey to the North, the two of them sat inside the quiet-moving horse-drawn carriage. There was no conversation between them, just a heavy silence. Lorcan sat calmly, gazing at Clarisse with a gentle yet thoughtful look. Clarisse, on the other hand, struggled to avoid looking directly at Lorcan, choosing instead to gaze out the window, watching the changing scenery along the way.
The road to the Northern Territory felt long. They passed many villages that were not as prosperous as she had imagined. The villages looked poor, with residents watching their procession with curious and wary eyes. The journey felt foreign and burdensome to Clarisse, as if marking a new chapter in her life that she could not avoid.