Lady Madelaine Austria

My heart wasn't prepared to witness the scene of a handsome gentleman, sitting comfortably on the couch while reading a newspaper in the living room of the palace. His look was scrutinizing each word of the content eagerly and I can't take my eyes off him.

This will be the first that I saw him in his pristine clothes. Grand Duke Alcide Cajarte, the man that I will be committed for this lifetime. His appearance without blood was actually attractive when properly groomed. Indeed, rumors are just rumors.

I still haven't recovered from the shock he caused me last night. So, when he looked up and met my gaze, his familiar aqua-blue eyes that I shall never forget has stamp in my mind forever. It was like my feet have its own thought to turn back and walk away.

Nevertheless. Before I can even escape, he uttered a word that made me startled as his voice filled in the spot. It brought shivers down to my spine, his cold alluring tone made me bit my lips.

"Come sit down," he greeted.

My slender fingers tighten the gripped of the soft cloth as I wear my long skirt. I tried to avoid his stares. Instead, the bright sunlight peeking through the crystal curtain saying hello, which doesn't even help to calm my nerves.

I refuse to listen and remained standing with every last bit of confidence I have. I fear, sitting across with him would be the early death of me. He might even lead me to show the stairway to heaven.

If I know that he will be here, I should've not decided to rest in this area after eating breakfast. Assuming that he's not home nor I will see him again in this huge palace, is a very bad idea. Now, I need to face this tyrant person without tremble hands and obviously being anxious if I can still get away from this place alive.

The Grand Duke let out a heavy sigh. "Worry not. I would not kill my wife on her first day. You'll sit or do you want me to make you, Grand Duchess Madelaine?"

I flinch from the way he spoke my name. "P-pardon me, Your Excellency. Then, I chose to sit on my own."

Quick. I gradually find myself a comfortable position on the sofa with modest. I refrain my movements to make a noise. Perhaps, making a sound might annoy him.

He wants me to comply in his words yet, he just went back reading. We stayed for a couple of minutes in an awkward dead air. My eyes roam around to the ceiling, because of nothing to do.

"May I a-ask a question?" I broke the silence.

"Hmm." He put down the newspaper before sipping on his tea.

"You called me earlier your wife and address me as the Grand Duchess? Although, we aren't married yet."

"The certificate. I already signed them."

I look at him with full of questions before my vision went to the papers on the table that I only just noticed. My hands pick them up and tried to understand what it's says. As the lips of mine parted, my frown grew deeper.

"Your sign is needed," he stated pertaining to a thin straight blank line. Beside was his messy signature that made me confused even more.

"For what is this?"

"A marriage certificate," he answered like it was the only clear thing in the world. Right, I just did not expect that we will be married now. Isn't too soon? I was believing that you didn't like me to marry you, right from the start when I step on this manor and the butler offered his hand. You were not there to welcome me.

"Let's not hold a wedding ceremony. That would be a bother."

Well. He's right and I couldn't agree with him even more. It will just only waste both of our time and efforts. Who wants to be the guest of the tyrant killing person? Perhaps, the priest would also close the door of the church for not welcoming us. He might be horrified to attend and give us the blessing of their so-called god for the man that I will marry is insane.

"That's alright for me. However, I want some conditions to be added," I boldly indicate. He looked at me with amuse in his eyes, something fun that he might see in me.

"I'm all ears."

"First. You'll give me the full authority of being the Grand Duchess. Thus, you can't just swing your sword the way you want."

Perhaps, he won't kill me. Right? Yet, I don't think this method was enough to forbid him from his merciless.

"I already told you, I won't hang your head. What are you so afraid of?" His dark eyebrows furrowed and strongly clench his jaw, like I stepped on a landmine and just offended him. My lips pressed into a thin line, refraining in giving him an honest opinion.

He scares me. Yet, I wouldn't dare to admit it in front of him.

"If so, I shall also have some conditions for you to meet."

"Let's hear it then."

"We'll sleep separately as it is now. We don't need to act like a newlywed although, I still want you to attend me at night whenever I'll call you."

Somehow, it seems like I forgot how to breathe. I beg to disagree. But, it's a wife duty to make his husband feel good and I feel so hopeless for having no power over that. He gave me the consent to my plea without having any second thought and he's expecting me to do the same.

I rather wield a sword, if he will only give me an option.

"Alright." I was force to accept it and now a vexing smirk has plastered on his face. He wants me to comfort his needs, to satisfy him every time he would call me when the moon is beautiful that I don't have a choice but to obey.

This is embarrassing. I don't even have the slightest experience, what should I do? I want to slap my forehead and buried my face beneath the soft pillow. Now, now, let's calm down, shall we? Never mind that for now. I content myself by assuring that it will not be this night, I wish. However, it will be soon.

"Second. We shall avoid indulging ourselves in personal matters. I'm saying that you can have lovers as many as you want. For I will never love you even If I gave myself to you."

Remembering the past. I promised to myself, that I will never be like my real mother. I'm afraid that my fateful thread will get hitch just like hers. And to avoid that, I will never love this man in front of me.

His face became cold and look at his sideway. "You shall do the same, freely. Were only tied by the papers."

I nodded.

"Anything else?" he asked sounded bitterly.

Since he just gave me the condition to attend him at night, the future idea has come up in my mind. If ever, I don't like my little one to live like mine. To be cast away by your own family should never happen twice.

"The child from your lovers will never be the successor," I firmly propose with my head high up. This time, instead of avoiding his drowning eyes, I found the courage to face him properly.

His eyebrow raised. "Neither yours."

I seriously look at him. He tilts his head, showing me his firm jawline. Waiting for me to sign the paper.

"Done," I said as I stared my neat handwriting on the certificate. From his side, his body suddenly cross over the table to reach few of my hair strands with his rough fingers. He placed a gentle kiss on my blond straight hair and finally, a wide grinned has appeared on his red lips.

"Then, you're officially the Grand Duchess of this castle, my wife."

I cringed. Horror filled on my visible eyes that I couldn't kept anymore. With how he's face was near to mine unexpectedly, my body moves to its own and without knowing myself, I smack his hand that were caressing my hair.

When I realized what I just did, I stood up and bow to him for courtesy. "I shall leave now. I wish to spend some time in the library."

Let's get out here as soon as possible. I didn't dare to wait for his reply and just immediately left the scene. Our bare skin had made contact in a worst case. Really, Madelaine you're so unbelievable. The only thing you need to do is to not keep yourself being tangled to the Grand Duke, and yet I might hurt him from slapping his arm.

At the gloomy hallway of the castle where the only light from the candles are guiding my path to my destination, I grasp my situation that the reality of me being alone in this lonely passage made me gulp.

Because it was so peace that my ears became deaf, I had some time to process some things. I marked this date, the day where my name changed into Madelaine Austria-Cajarte. If I'm still dreaming, I hope Celine will wake me up like the usual routine she does.

Finally, I found a huge two-door meant for the library after feeling my ankles in pain for walking around in this maze for about an hour. When I entered, my nose was filled by the aroma of books placed on their rightful shelves.

Yes. This is what I called heaven.

A quiet place that were only filled with ancient pages. I roam around more in search for a good read without complaining about my heels. More like, I can't anymore for the titles written by the famous authors has did their job so well in captivating me.

When my eyes caught a history book, without a doubt. Like a flower that I was interested, I pick it up and happily sat down on a single seat. I started to flip the pages and begun to forget all about my stress.

The only thing that I was confident, was my knowledge that I gain from reading. This was the only form I know to feel that I'm connected to my goal. As my imagination devoured my mind, reflecting the words like a reality has made me survived in satisfying myself.

I've been fond of reading when I want to escape the actuality. It's just pleasing when I feel like I belong in that certain scene. Because in fact, I will never be one of them and all I can do was to endure the pain of watching in crashing my dream.

In the past when I was a child, I yearn to join the battlefield. Lead the war. To be bestow by the Emperor as Dame, a female knight.

My father, as he is. Was the first one to be against. It was not a befitting role for a daughter of a noble. A lady should only rule at social gathering. Their purpose was to dress up and sit pretty while gossiping. Taking care of the appearance of their family house. Though, I'm bad with that.

I sighed, remembering those days. How he's face was fuming red when I told him what I wanted to be when I grow up. Then he uttered just how I became a worthless daughter? I smiled. Father is one thing as a hindrance, yet another thing added up.

The slightest sight of drooling blood can make me lose consciousness. Thus, I decided not to walk the path in achieving that dream. I did not say to forget it. Until now, I still wanted it and through reading, I cope it with that and contented myself.

"Madam, you're here. I've been looking for you. The dinner is ready," Jackson politely disturbed me.

Time pass and it became dark. I was too absorbed that I didn't know that it was time for dinner. I close the book and get up.

"Alright."

"My apologies. I should have address you as Grand Duchess by now. Your Excellency, being old is quite troublesome."

I shook my head. "Oh no, Sir. Jackson. It's alright. You can call me the usual."

"Please, Jackson would be fine." He led me to the dining area in less than a minute while I just followed him. I'm grateful for he came to find me, if he didn't, I would have lost my way again.

As we draw closer, I was praying to the gods that Grand Duke Alcide will not be here yet they might not be on my side right now. I saw him starting eating without me on a long table, being busy in slicing the meat with the knife. He was sitting where the head of the house should be. So, I sat at the opposite. A five chairs away from him.

The maid immediately served me a mouth-watering meal and pour some water on my glass. Perhaps, even with this delicious dish, I would still get indigestion from the heavy atmosphere around him.

"I hired a teacher. You shall learn the things needed for this household."

It was like a miracle to be able to hear his baritone voice from here. "When will that teacher coming here?"

"Probably tomorrow."

He sighed and look at me. "You know..."

"I don't bring my sword when eating." Wiping his mouth with the prepared napkin, I shut my lips and focused my eyes on my meat.

"So, you don't have to be far away from me."