A year later, her mourning period is done but she is still not in the mood to go outside. This time, her mother finally returned to the mansion but surprisingly, without her father! Her mother told her that her father preferred to stay behind...

"Did you two have a serious fight? Why would father prefer to stay behind? Why did you just let him?" She inquired feeling that something is wrong. She knows that her father is madly, deeply, highly, totally in love with her mother.

Why would Father stay behind and let Mother go home alone?

"Beatrix, I also do not want this..." Her mother is crying now.

"Mother, please do not cry... He will come home soon... He cannot take being separated from you." She comforts her crying mother.

Lady Andrea did not reply and just hugged her daughter tightly and cried wretchedly. Beatrix comforted her mother. She sighed while thinking...

I thought that after their four-month vacation that extended to one year vacation, their love for each other will grow deeper and deeper... Why did this happen instead? Did Father have a change of heart that is why mother is so sad and hurt?

After the mourning period, several shameless representatives visited the General's Mansion for one purpose and that is to bring and present their master's or young master's marriage proposal asking Beatrix's hand in marriage! Both Beatrix and her mother were shocked! These groups of people are truly shameless! They just waited for the exact mourning period to finish before sending a marriage proposal!

Lady Andrea is still not in the mood so Beatrix volunteered to make several polite letters of rejection and borrowed her father and mother's seal! It is truly a huge headache after she assigned one servant per letter to make sure that her response will be properly handled!

The next day, her headache worsen when she received an imperial decree from the Emperor and Empress to enter the palace! She already had an idea why they will summon her out of the blue! She dreaded it long ago but she does not have a choice but to comply! She feels like she is back to square one...

Can't they leave me alone?! The mourning period is done but my heart is still grieving and not ready!

Beatrix dressed up grandly to properly face the Emperor and Empress thinking of what she should do. She hopes that she still has the same option to choose just like before... When Beatrix arrived, the two princes are already present in front of the Emperor and Empress. Beatrix greeted the Emperor and Empress then greeted the two princes. She respectfully provided well wishes to the imperial family and then politely asked why she was summoned.

"Lady Beatrix, I do not know if you were already aware that the late Emperor, my Imperial Father, and the late General, your paternal grandfather had an agreement to marry their children but since it did not become possible, they asked me and your father to let our children marry instead." The Emperor started by giving her a brief background of the marriage arrangement.

"I knew about it long ago, Your Majesty." She replied truthfully.

"Since you are already aware, you must know that you are now obligated to follow the dying wish of the late Emperor and the late General. The late Minister Zander King passed away a year ago and my two sons do not have a main wife so I thought that we should honor the dying wish of my Imperial Father and your grandfather." The Emperor explained further.

"I understand, Your Majesty." She replied wishing in her heart that she could at least have the option to choose which of the two princes she will marry.

"Great! Honestly, my two imperial sons submitted their marriage proposal long ago stating that they want to marry a new wife and they specifically indicate your name." The Emperor informed her.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but since I could not marry them both, do I have an option to choose who I marry?" She asked politely praying in her heart that the Emperor will say "Yes". She ignored the dangerous aura emanating from someone near her. She will never allow herself to just go with the flow. She needs to extract herself from impending doom!

"Unfortunately, no!" The Emperor told her directly which made her heart thump so loudly. "I already considered everything carefully and made a sound decision based on the circumstances. I have here two imperial edicts for my two sons. One of them should marry you and the other one should marry the youngest princess of Cloud Empire."

The two princes were as surprised as Beatrix! It seems that they also do not know that the Emperor has already made a decision and even an imperial edict! It was Beatrix who immediately recovered from the initial shock!

"Your Majesty, are you referring to Princess Madeline, the princess known as the Flower Princess of Cloud Empire?" Beatrix could not help but ask.

"Yes, are you familiar with her?" The Emperor replied.

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