Lord Edwin's tired gaze lifted to meet Adelheid's. "I had no choice." His gaze shifted to Lady Evelyn's. "The debts were beyond my control. The new dresses, the new carriage, the jewelries—"
Lady Evelyn straightened immediately, her face twisting with fury. "Oh? So it is my doing now?!" She snapped. "All I desired was for our daughter to appear presentable before the Ki—!"
"Mother." Adelheid cut in, her expression was that of disbelief and anger. "You led us into ruins.. merely so I might look well in the King's eyes?"
Lady Evelyn's gaze darted between her husband and daughter, her throat bobbing as she tried to regain control of the conversation. "You cannot blame me for this! Your father—h-he swore he possessed enough funds! I had no reason to believe he didn—"
"Enough funds?" Adelheid let out a breathless laugh, the kind that came when reality finally crashed in. She shook her head. "I should have known something was off from the start! The new clothes.. the jewelry and then the maids complaining about not being paid on time.." Her fingers curled into fists. "And now, Russell and I have been placed in this situation!"
Lady Evelyn's lips parted, perhaps to defend herself again, but before she could, a sharp cry pierced the air.
"Lord Montclair!"
Lord Edwin's body had slumped forward, his body finally giving in to his wounds.
Lady Evelyn immediately rushed to his side, screaming orders at the butler and footman. "Carry him up and summon the house physician at onec!"
The butler and footman scrambled to lift the unconscious man, hastily hauling him up the stairs.
Adelheid just stared.
Slowly, she stepped backward.
Her hands trembled at her sides, but not from grief, but from rage, from the realization that the man she had deemed more responsible than her biological father had led them to ruins.
She had been naive.
She should have known better.
All men were the same—with fathers being the worst.
"You—"
Lady Evelyn's hand suddenly snatched her wrist, fingers digging into her skin. Then she laughed—the kind that sounded half-mad.
"It seems you shall not escape marriage to the King after all!"
Adelheid froze.
"Your alliance with the King is the only thing that can save us from those bloodsucking monsters!" Lady Evelyn hissed, her grip tightening painfully around Adelheid's wrist. "Do you have any idea how dangerous these people are?"
Lady Evelyn's voice dropped lower, her nails digging deeper into her daughter's skin. Adelheid winced. "If you do not marry the King, we are doomed. These men will strip your father of every last possession. They will tear apart this house, sell every piece of jewelry, every painting—and when that is not enough, they will drag us through the streets like beggars!"
Adelheid wanted to speak, but Lady Evelyn wasn't finished. She gripped her hand tighter.
"They will make sure we are seen, pitied, mocked. That your father is remembered not as a nobleman, but as a worthless wretch. They will leave no corner for us to hide in, no mercy for your brother, no dignity for me."
She gave out a breathless laugh, as if escalated by the realization. "You are the only thing standing between us and complete ruin Adelheid. So you will marry the King."
"..Do you even care about I and Russell?" Adelheid whispered, shaking her head in disbelief. She had always known her mother to be selfish, vain, self-absorbed and utterly indifferent to anything that didn't serve her own interests—but this—this was something else.
Surely, there had to be another way—one that did not turn her into a final gamble, tossed at the royal feet to escape ruin!
"Father may have borrowed the money, but you—"
"Do not dare lecture me, girl!"
Lady Evelyn abruptly cut into her sentence, shoving her away. Adelheid hit the ground with force, the impact shooting pain up her spine.
"I have to make preparations!" Her mother declared, dusting off her hands as though she had simply knocked over a vase.
She turned, already striding toward the door. "You cannot appear before the King with your hair in such disarray, nor with your dresses pitifully crumbled. You're going to be the QUEEN!" And with that, she strode off.
Adelheid pressed her palm to the floor, slowly getting up.
Tears silently traced down her cheeks. Perhaps it was the realization sinking in.
She had been a fool to think she ever had a choice.
To believe, even for a moment, that she might be able to carve out a life beyond the expectations set for her.
She suddenly chuckled hysterically—before falling silent as quickly.
What a stupid fool she had been indeed.
‡‡
The study was dimly lit, the only sound in the room was the occasional crackling of the fire.
Cassian stood near the door, one shoulder resting against wall, arms loosely crossed as his gaze settled on the man behind the large wooden desk.
Zamiel.
Even in the dim light, the man's features stood out. His golden hair, kissed by the candlelight, shimmered at the tips, giving the illusion of spun gold. He was dressed in his royal attire, deep blue embroidered fabric that befitted his status, though it did little to soften the commanding presence he exuded.
Cassian exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "A noblewoman of a rank equivalent to a mere scrolls reader, has ignored His Majesty's proposal."
His tone was laced with amusement as he tilted his head towards Zamiel. "That is not something one sees every day."
Zamiel did not immediately respond. Instead, he pulled open a drawer beneath the desk, retrieving a single envelope. With unhurried movements, he slid it across the polished surface of the table toward Cassian.
Cassian's amusement deepened. "And now, this same noblewoman is to receive a secret letter from His Majesty himself?" A quiet chuckle escaped his lips. "What an interesting turn of events."
Still, Zamiel remained silent.
Cassian's brow lifted slightly as he stepped forward, his fingers brushing the plain white envelope. His thumb traced the wax seal, Zamiel's initial boldly imprinted in its center.
"And pray tell what this is?"
"The noblewomen are hosting a charity gathering later today." Zamiel finally spoke, his voice even. "I believe Lady Adelheid will be there."
Cassian's amusement only grew, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studied his friend. "You are serious."
He looked down at the envelope once more, turning it slightly between his fingers. "I must say, this is quite the contradiction. First, you insult her in front of everyone, and now.." He gave a low chuckle. "Now, you send secret correspondence?"
He leaned in slightly, teasing, "Tell me, are you playing a game, or has our dear King finally fallen in love?"
Zamiel did not answer.
Instead, he settled back into his chair, exuding the same unshaken composure. Fingers lightly pressed against his chiseled jaw, while the other arm rested against the arm rest.
Cassian let out an exaggerated sigh, shaking his head. "Ah, so the great King has no words for his actions?"
Smirking, he turned away, making his way toward the door. "Very well, I shall take my leave—"
"One last thing."
Cassian halted mid-step, but did not turn around.
"Do not open that envelope." Zamiel added.
Oh?
The latter's gaze dropped to the letter in his grasp. His fingers traced the wax seal once more before a smirk slowly curled onto his lips.
"You make this far too tempting, Your Majesty."
He mused. A throaty chuckle followed as he tilted his head slightly, eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Now I truly wonder.. what exactly have you written in here?"