I was supposed to fake obsession to survive. No one warned me it would start to feel real. They said the Duke killed every woman who failed to love him. What they don't say… is how easy it is to start wanting to try.
THEBIS CHAPEL
"Dear Lord, bless the harvests of the people so they will have enough to eat, Amen." But even as the words left her lips, she couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't the gods she needed mercy from.
She stood up from where she knelt and walked slowly to the entrance of the chapel while pulling out a handkerchief to dry her forehead. When she reached the door, she turned around and bowed before opening the doors and walking out.
She used a hand to cover her eyes from the bright light but taking in the breathtaking view before her. The sky was a beautiful shade of blue, too perfect blue, like it was painted over and never allowed to change. The grass was green and there was a small cobblestone path that led from the stairs to the main gate.
She strayed off that path and went to a side building to change out of the sack cloth for prayer she wore into her noble clothing. A few minutes later, she looked different from before. She was wearing an afternoon garden dress made from velvet silk and embroidered with soft floral patterns. Her vivid red hair was tied back in a ponytail.
She was the Viscount's daughter, Elena Valendis. She didn't know yet but by sunset, her life would no longer belong to her.
Elena left the church gates behind and walked into the main estate where the Valendis villa was located. Her father had made sure a church was made right next to their villa when he found out she was interested in praying for the people but that became a punishment over time.
Her father never left her anywhere outside the estate, this resulted in her becoming a wallflower. Today of all days she felt guilty, the prayers she offered weren't from her heart but a request made by her father after a message was passed to him at breakfast time.
She wondered why she had to but didn't complain, she was already cared for by her father and older brothers. So agreeing to their whims every now and then was her own version of repayment.
Her thoughts were interrupted by voices carried through the estate corridor. Not loud enough to make her panic but not normal either.
"Why her?" one of her brothers snapped. Another voice answered more carefully.
"…Father already agreed. There's nothing we can do now."
"That's not an answer," the first hissed.
"There are dozens of noble houses. Why would they choose…"
A pause. A hesitation too long to be natural.
The other replies "Because their criteria… aren't normal."
Silence followed that sentence like it had weight. Elena slowed her steps.
"…Criteria?" she called out as she approached.
Both voices stopped instantly.
When she entered, Edward was the first to turn, so quickly it almost felt controlled. Marcus stood slightly behind him, avoiding eye contact for a moment too long.
"Oh, Elena," Edward said smoothly, too smoothly. "It's nothing serious. Just estate matters."
Marcus forced a light tone. "Yes. Ball arrangements. I forgot some invitations, that's all."
Edward glanced at him, that alone was a warning. Marcus corrected himself immediately. "I mean… minor issue. Nothing for you to worry about."
But Elena noticed something strange.
They weren't talking like they usually did.
They were… hiding the same thing.
She pretended not to notice and instead changed the topic.
"Have my friends arrived yet, I asked them to so we could have some tea before the ball"
"They should be in the courtyard next to the gazebo." Marcus replied, sounding almost distant.
Elena simply nodded and headed in the direction of the gazebo, throwing the discussion to the back of her mind for now.
She found it easy to read people, countless suitors had been rejected due to this, their only goal being to acquire another beautiful trinket worth displaying. She refused to reduce herself to such even though her father had been nagging her to find a partner, unbeknownst to her doting brothers.
She maintained a cute and sweet little girl persona while ignoring the ache for freedom and excitement. Luckily, she was still granted one form of relief and that was through her childhood friends. Listening to their stories of the outside world intrigued her, making her wonder sometimes whether marriage for escape really would be a bad thing.
Yet, she had somehow managed to resist the idea for four years. Yes, the ball being held was for her twentieth birthday.
She passed through the corridor and was almost at the courtyard when she saw a few maids whispering to each other. This was a common sight, the maids loved to gossip but the ominous look on their faces made her feel there was something she was missing.
Before she made up her mind, to call them they were gone.
She wondered why everything was so strange today but tried not to let her mood waver. She reached the courtyard where two of her closest friends were waiting.
"Hey look, Elena is finally here." said Mirabelle
"Finally, I was getting tired. Do you really need to go to the prayerhouse everyday" Ariana pouted.
"You already know the answer to that question." Elena giggled.
"Sigh. If only all that praying got you a nice guy" Arianna said.
"There's no such thing as a nice guy you know" Elena replied coldly.
"Now, now, calm down Arianna, I'm sure you of all people should be aware of her dislike for men" Mirabelle said while trying to soothe both parties.
A maid came with the tea.
"Happy birthday, Elena. I'm sorry Arianna ruined the mood but she does have your best interests at heart" Maribelle said cheerfully.
"Happy birthday, Elena. I apologize for what happened earlier." Arianna said while giving Maribelle the 'don't talk like I'm not in the room' glare.
"It's fine. I'm just happy you guys could make it away from your husbands" Elena said with a mischievous smile.
She was the only one out of the three who wasn't married and she didn't mind it one bit. To her, marriage was a way of escape but with a different set of restrictions.
"By the way, Elena the Duke of Grimgor is single again" Arianna said while putting some sugar in her tea.
"He killed another one. Hasn't it only been like two months since the last one"
"You say that like this isn't the longest he's ever done"
"You have a point"
Mirabelle just kept quiet, she had never been a fan of the duke or badmouthing people without evidence but even she couldn't deny the consistency of the rumors.
Elena hoped that she would never have a reason to meet with the despicable piece of scum.
After that, the conversation went on to happier matters like how their husbands were great performers in bed, or telling her about the festivals they went to after their last meeting.
Soon it was time for her twentieth birthday ball, at sixteen you were considered eligible for marriage as a girl but the ball held for the twentieth birthday represented shedding your younger self and becoming a Lady.
Hours later, Elena excused herself to change into the dress her father had asked to be specially made for the occasion. After one last look in the mirror, she glanced at the portrait of her late mother and asked for strength before exiting the room.
As Elena stepped into the ballroom, she saw her father approach her while everyone else watched. He took her hand and led her to the center of the room.
"Everyone, I'm grateful that you took the time out of your busy schedules to celebrate this joyous occasion with us. My daughter has finally become a Lady. Let's toast to many fruitful years ahead."
Loud cheers erupted and then the ball was in full swing. Young men offered to dance with her and she accepted a few. She was about to return to her seat when someone blocked her path.
"May I have this dance, Milady?" he asked.
Elena looked up and realized it was Sylvester Gremory. One of the marriage candidates she had rejected previously. He had that cheeky grin and playboy aura written all over him. She suddenly had a mischievous thought.
"You may" Elena said while slipping her hand into his.
They stepped onto the dance floor and in the beginning, Elena danced along but in the middle of the song she deliberately started stepping on Sylvester's toes.
"My Lady, is this on purpose?" Sylvester asked, noticing a pattern.
"Whatever do you mean" Elena said while tilting her head and putting on her best smile.
Sylvester was about to say something when suddenly the ball doors were opened and a trumpet was blown. Everyone turned towards that direction while some whispered to one another.
When the messenger was sure he had their attention he began to read.
"Attention all noble houses, I the Duke of Grimgor have decided to hold a selection for a new wife effective immediately."
The second that name was mentioned, the sound in the ballroom faded completely.
For a split second there was nothing but ringing silence in her ears … and the slow thud of her own heartbeat.
"The candidates that have been chosen,once notified, should be prepared. Within three days they shall be escorted to my mansion."
"The candidates are Alya Vermont, Anastasia Grant, Rubella Gray, Alice Nirvana and lastly Elena Vanadis." The messenger said closing the scroll.
Silence.
A message flickered at the edge of Elena's vision. "| Unknown Condition Detected |". She dismissed whatever she heard.
She felt like the air had been knocked out of her lungs. Everyone's eyes were on her, why won't they be she had been selected as a candidate to the most terrible man in existence.
Elena turned to her father and brothers hoping they would tell her it was a joke but they avoided her gaze, that was all she needed to put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
The afternoon conversation and the maids all of it were signs.
She had been set up and the game was finally in motion.
"| Candidate Accepted |"