Lady Madelaine Austria

Crickets are sure quite noisy tonight. The thick curtains sway when the cold air enters from the window of our living room. A glimpse of the bright moon touches my heart as I felt the warm tea in my throat when I sip my favorite drink.

The dim light from the chandelier that covers the area has set the mood to a serene, helping my stiff cheeks to be compose.

It was almost perfect. After filling my stomach with our steak dinner, this was the best time to finish the book that I was interestingly reading. With the savoring aroma of tea, it shall relax my nerves.

However, a different case occurs.

"You are going to be married."

I accidentally burned my tongue when Count Dean Austria, my father suddenly announced a deafening proposal that was said to be the good news. He was sitting across to me; his hostile expression did never batter. And perhaps, I inherited my scoreless eyes from him.

Just as the day that I was born, he once loved me. So, I shall do the same. He's wearing a black suit that he bought from a famous clothing store, I'm sure it cost quite a fortune. Meanwhile, my ankles were already aching from wearing these old heels since morning.

Tired of keeping my face straight but I'm still hoping that he will change his mind after a few seconds. If I try to consider, marriage was the best option to escape from this family even though it's a political one. So, I should calm down and look at the brighter side. Maybe this is indeed, good news.

On the elegant red single sofa, sitting with my chest out that shall have no trace of slouch will be found. Despite of the tight corset I'm wearing, I gathered all of my courage to meet his gaze and ask a question that I should have think twice.

"With whom, father?"

Once again, he quietly sips from his teacup and I saw how his fingertips slightly tremble. Beside him was my stepmother, Countess Lisha Austria. Her graceful dress is a new released from a well-known designer of the Claintery Empire. I see, it must be expensive.

She hugged his arm and cried helplessly in his shoulder. What kind of a farce are they showing to me?

"Oh darling, I don't want to send away our daughter."

Our daughter you say?

"Hush now Darling, the decision has been made," as my father console her, my eyebrows furrowed.

I don't understand what is happening. Why is she wasting her precious tears to shed for a mere daughter like me that have no worth in her eyes? As far as I'm concern, this stepmother of mine will never cry for me unless it is for my half-sister.

She only cares for Alliyah. I mean why not? She is the proof of their so-called love. I stared at them, wishing that I would know the name of my husband soon.

"He was the talk of the town now," my father hinted turning around to me while caressing the back of his wife.

I tilt my head, implying not to go around the bush. Was he's name so sacred to speak of that I should try to guess? Hmm.

He sighed.

"Countless times lead the war in victory. His name was Grand Duke Alcide Cajarte. If you marry him, I'm sure you will live your life pleasurably."

My eyes widen, being taken aback. My stepmother weeps that seems to have no limits became louder as the mention of the name of my marriage partner. What's this? I should be the one who's crying right now.

I get it, she must be so happy that I will be no longer here. If not, she'll pretend to look weak so that I will pity her. My hands gripped tightly to the mug and I can feel its hotness that I ignored.

Of all people. Why would they choose Grand Duke Alcide? Indeed, just his name can bring shivers to our bodies. He was famous among other kingdoms for his obsession in killing without blinking his eyes. He was a tyrant noble; one wrong move can be the cause of my death.

Be it a woman or a child, they can't escape how ruthless he is. He just slays all of them not leaving one person unscathed. Other countries were terrified of him, he leads the war and always attain victory. I've never heard of him being defeated.

I have not seen him in the flesh nor feel his presence near me although the rumors around in the Capital says, that he has a scary face. That his clothes were always covered with blood. Dripping, as he walks with his sword that no longer shine as the proof of the thousand's necks.

And now, my father wants me to marry him and to live my live pleasingly? Maybe after the tyrant Grand Duke chopped my head, yeah?

"Pl-lease father, I'm just sixteen and he's in twenties," I reasoned him. Sure, I want to be married so that I can leave this family that did nothing but to insult me. Yet, not with the Grand Duke of Arello. Anyone will do aside from him.

"Even I don't want you to be married with him but we already agreed to the Emperor's request," her face filled with sympathizing eyes for me but the corner of her lips rose teasingly.

Would you look at her. She was like changing clothes as fast as she changed her colors. She was just crying a little while ago and now she's looking so relief.

"Sixteen is the best age to marry and Grand Duke Alcide Cajarte is still young. I don't see any problem to refuse the offer."

My lips parted. "What do you mean by the Emperor's request?"

They froze and it seem they just realized right now what they are talking about that shouldn't be discuss. Slowly, like the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that are forming. I'm getting the gist of how Grand Duke Alcide will entangle in my life.

"W-well. Grand Duke Alcide was not that bad. He may give you everything you want if you get in his good side," step-mother stuttered.

This is not new to me. So, disappointment of a mother's love had been long gone out of my expectation. Her face says it all. As long as it was not my half-sister, everything will be alright. This is her true self. Acting like she cared but in reality, she did really want me to stay far away from them.

For what is she doing all of this? Because she wants Alliyah to be the heiress of our fortune. In this country, the first born is the rightful successor yet by sending me to Arello and getting married was the right and easy way of disposing me.

I chuckled.

My father leaned on the couch, losing all the manner that a person should have. Is it because he's facing me that he doesn't mind to be rude?

"Let's stop this. We will tell you everything since you will be gone from here." He massaged his temple and start narrating.

"That bastard man, declaring a war to the Claintery Emperor like an insane person. His Majesty was relieved that it was solved by making a peace treaty."

"And that peace treaty was agreeing by the both parties in marriage," I uttered. Both of them look away from my stares. I gritted my teeth. Perhaps, they really want me dead. If I will be in the arms of the Grand Duke, it will be much easier to kill me. No one wants to point a finger to him or you will face his sword. Is death the only thing that awaits me?

"I don't want to be tied with him. Please."

"Then what Madelaine? Do you like wars so bad that you will let it happen in this country?"

"Father, I'm just asking that maybe you should consider," my voice was shaking. I was already begging him not to send me away. I rather stay here and take all of their abuse.

"It's too late for that, we already agreed and took the compensation."

"Compensation?" All the pose that I was planning to keep until the end of this conversation was loosening.

"How dare for you to raise your voice at us."

I bit my lips. Letting my tense shoulder relax when I received his glares. "I apologize. I didn't mean to. Please explain further about this compensation that His Majesty had bestow upon you."

Stepmother came closer and held both of my hands to caress them softly. "Madelaine, you should not concern yourself in this matter anymore."

I hope that she is not avoiding this topic obviously. Now, I'm curious. What might it be?

"Darling, she deserves to know this."

My stepmother laughed. "She doesn't really need to know all of these. She will leave when the sun rises tomorrow."

"What is it?"

"We are in the edge of bankruptcy so we ask for a land that will sustain our business to be more profitable for a few generations. We also asked for your sister protection as she grow up."

"What?" This time, I can't help but to stand up. Unbelievable indeed. I was the one who's life was on the line and now they asked the Emperor's knights to protect my sister? What about me?

"Then why can't my sister marry Grand Duke Alcide?" I blurted even though I was aware the answer to my nonsense question. These mixed emotions of mine. Frustration and irritation were not enough to describe the face that I was exposing to them.

"You! Don't include your sister here! At least she is more useful than you," stepmother's sharp voice sting in my chest as she points her finger at me. Of course, she is. She's your daughter.

"Madelaine, your sister is just fourteen years old. Don't be stubborn and do this for our family sake."

Right. Father was not wrong. Surely, Alliyah is sleeping soundly without a nightmare to hunt her dreams or a problem to face in the future. While here I am, stuck like a bridge that will act for her bright morning tomorrow. How I wish that I was her.

My shaking knees that can't support my body anymore, collapsed and I was back again sitting on the chair. My palm run through on my face, the stress has been piling up and I feel like I'm on the verge of crying. Seems like any minute from now, my tears will fall down if I can't hold back anymore.

"What about the princess of Claintery Empire or the daughter of other nobles?" I ask with my hoarse voice.

"How can you be so dumb? This is why you should attend social gatherings more." I flinch from her insult. The mask on her face was strip off just the mention of my sister.

In high society, gatherings like balls are essentials. It was a time that you will meet with other nobles and share knowledge. They said I was like a doll. A mouth that was sewn in the middle of social gathering among them.

Can't start a conversation nor can last in a gossiping group. Perhaps the reason they see me like this was also partly my fault. But what can I do? Even I want to be like my bubbly sister, I still wish to be alone and prefer to read history books.

"The princess is the only prodigy of this country; she is like a treasure that no man deserves her. While the other nobles refuse the offer. So, we took this opportunity," father stated with finality in his tone.

We must look desperate in their eyes as my parents were willing to send me away.

It was always unfair. They didn't even give me options to choose. What more, they only decide for the better of my sister while I was set aside like a dump. If I were a prodigal daughter just like the princess, perhaps they will love me even more and treat me better.

One of the best history books that I have read so far, I learned that prodigies can bring fortune to their family. Thus, many of the people want them and claim to be like them.

Prodigies only appear in the Kingdom of Velez. Maybe the reason why that country is still flourishing even more. Surprisingly, the Empress of the Claintery Empire must be blessed for her to give birth to a genius. And that princess bought abundance.

"Just agree to marry Grand Duke Alcide. Alright? This way, you will not be a worthless daughter anymore."

I coldly stared at her. A look that no longer holds a tiny hope once it has. As my eyes pierce went from her face to the jewelries on her fingers that glitter and her extravagant clothes, I couldn't help but let a laugh escaped from my mouth.

Perhaps this is the reason why our business is on the edge of bankruptcy. Imagine, sacrificing myself to contain their wealth is more precious than their daughter.

I always dream to experience falling in love with a person who will do the same without minding my status. But that dream was shattered into pieces because of their greed.