"My lady, lord is waiting for you." Hazel had barely entered her room when she looked at the panicked knight. He must have been waiting for a long time to be this restless, everyone knew that her father did not like waiting.
But why was he calling her? She knew that the silence was only calm before the storm.
She nodded her head meekly and followed the knight but her eyes turned sharp when he turned.
Her eyes narrowed on the man sitting on the velvet sofa leisurely. He did not come even once when she was injured. Even if he did not like her, the marriage was decided by parents. Shouldn't he come at least once to show the society like others did. She still remembered how he ordered them to kill her mercilessly. Not even once did he feel bad for her! Not even once did he look back when she was begging for mercy!!
Her eyes turned cold at that thought. She would make sure to marry him in this life and then turn his life hell. It would be he, who would die in this lifetime.
She felt a pair of eyes staring at her all this time when she was looking at duke Jonathan. She had thought that it would be his father or Amelia but the eyes were of a stranger she did not know. She tried to remember, but no matter how much she recalled, the man did not seem familiar.
"So you are finally here. Come in, don't just stand on the door." came the strict and annoyed voice of her father. She could feel the pressure he had used in controlling his anger.
She nodded and entered the room with meek steps. It was necessary to maintain her image of a weak girl in front of the man she hated to the core. She bowed her head in front of him with a sweet smile only to get a perfunctory nod in return.
"Yes, father." she asked the reason of being called suddenly by her father when he pointed at the stranger that was staring at her.
"Greet our guests too, hazel. He is a messenger from the land of Alienore." I bowed my head but my heart drumed hard when I heard the name Alienore.
Everyone knew that beasts reside in that land. The land was covered with the shroud of mysteries. This was the first time that she had seen or heard about a man from Alienore but why was she called specially to meet him? Only the thought was enough to create chaos in her mind.
She still bowed her head, trying hard to not look rude when staring at his face. He was wearing a thick cloak which was making it hard to see his whole face.
"Come sit here with me." he offered a seat beside her, which made her eyes narrow again. Even the countess and Amelia were sitting on the other side while he was offering her a seat beside him. It was smelling suspicious no matter how she looked at her.
She could feel that she was entering a trap. But she could do nothing to save herself. She still didn't have anywhere to run to. And she had to follow their wishes till she was here.
Taking a deep breath, she summoned all the courage she had, and passed a bright smile to her father again. But he was not even looking in her direction. His eyes were set on the man who had come from Alienore.
She took slow steps and finally sat on the hot seat. She could feel all the pins and needles lying beneath her seat.
She had not even settled well when her father started,
"Hazel, as you know that your grandfather had decided to marry Jonathan when you were young." she nodded as she looked at the man who was finally looking at her with a smile but his face was filled with false sadness. She could see his eyes were gleaming but his face was looking like he had suffered a blow!
"Yes, father," she replied calmly. She needed time to understand what was happening and for that she needed all the information she could.
"Our family has been loyal to the crown for centuries and so is lord Jonathan's" he added as if they were doing a heinous crime by marrying each other. She finally raised her head and looked at her father.
"I did not understand, what are you trying to imply father!" Though her words came in a low voice, the sharpness behind it could be felt from far away.
"For a long time, the royal family had felt threatened by the land of Aelinore. No matter how we have tried to make relations with them, we have been ignored.'' Hazel could feel dread, why was she being told all this and the matter of her marriage was raised at the same time. Could it be? No! Why and how would they want her to marry this man? They didn't even know each other. She shook her head again but her heart had already realized the threat.
"If the relationship does not improve, there is always a chance of war between both nations. And after a long time, we finally got a chance to serve our empire. But for that you have to be strong, Hazel" he could not be any clear but she still did not want to accept it.
Tears started to brim in her eyes, yet she shook her head.
"I did not understand what you were saying father." the sound of snort could be heard but she did not care after all her whole life had been at stake, even if she had to beg from her killers, she would. She could not let go of her second chance to live her life.
"Now we have got a chance to strengthen our relationship with them.. But for that you have to sacrifice your promise of marriage from lord Jonathan."