C18 Unexpected Visitor

Time passes so fast as if a speedy turning pinnacle. And Lady Francesca couldn’t get less and less comfortable on the approaching days before the celebration eighteenth birthday. The day where she can become legally independent from her guardian, Duchess Carlotta, and finally take over the management of the dukedom.

But before such glorious and hopeful days, she was aware of the knocking danger on her doorstep. A marriage before she turns eighteen would be the best course of action of the wicked stepmother, provided that there had already been a marriage agreement signed by the young lady’s father before he died. The court of justice wouldn’t have a say on the matter.

In fact, Lady Francesca had been receiving countless letters from Feledencia demanding her return in the manor. It was enough premonition of the unprecedented big event in the dukedom that will permanently steal her freedom and control over the much-loved duchy.

And on one fateful morning, she was shocked into her core to see her evil stepmother sipping tea with her oblivious grandmother in the sitting room.

“Oh! You are finally awake, my lovely young maiden. Duchess Carlotta had paid you a visit,” Lady Margaret exclaimed upon spotting Francesca descending the staircase.

Instinctively, the heiress could feel her blood boiling to the highest degrees. The wicked middle-aged woman was obviously taking advantage of Lady Margaret’s courtesy and obliviousness at her advantage.

They were not particularly in good terms, neither were they in bad terms. Carlotta had appeared only after the death of Savrina and not the other way around. Lady Margaret were liberal enough, a trait she inherit from being a tea merchant, to put away the past and accept change.

If Carlotta had appeared on Landon’s life when Savrina was still alive, surely, Carlotta would be long loathed by the Andersons. Given how much Lady Francesca tried to cover up everything on her own, Lady Margaret had nothing hold against the unexpected visitor.

“You sure look lovelier here, my dear,” Duchess Carlotta commented on Lady Francesca’s look and overall vigor as the latter joined them in the sofa.

After a small light talk, mostly tainted with unreal opinions on each other in the case of the two Feldencian, the unexpected visitor spilled her true intention of coming all the way from the manor.

“Lady Margaret, I am afraid it was now time for Lady Francesca to come back in the dukedom. If she were to be the next ruler of the land, she should show more passion in there than here in her mother’s land. Don’t get me wrong, I mean no offense in saying so. I only wish what’s best for late husband’s daughter,” Duchess Carlotta said, feigning concern over the young maiden.

Lady Francesca could just mentally roll her eyes. It was not as if she wishes to actually show in front of the old Anderson widow how much a trash they actually communicate with each other in person with no regard to society’s expectations.

“Oh! None taken. If that was the concern, I think it would be best if Lady Francesca would decide for herself.”

Knowing their were no escaping already, Francesca voluntarily took on the offer or else Carlotta will be tired of riding her plan on keeping it out from her mother’s family.

“Of course, I will be very much willing to do so,” she agreed. Excusing herself from the two, she proceeded into the comfort room. There she vent out her frustrations of not being able to do anything.

She knew.

She knew that from the moment they got back there, it will be all over for her.

That same day, they left Verindale on Carlotta’s carriage. It happens so fast that Francesca didn’t have the luxury of time to properly bid her goodbye to Lady Hariet or Lord Dynirho.

Her heart was heavy with the thought of not seeing him one last time before she walked straight into her own damnation. She hated the fact that she was so helpless about, and at this moment she had no one in mind to blame but his father. Not Carlotta. Not anyone else.

But the very man who gave her life, shelter, and foods to her stomach…

The same man who will be taking any more life she has left with the marriage agreement he signed for her.

No words were rarely spoken throughout the travel. Lady Francesca knew wasting her energy in arguing would only be futile. On the other hand, Duchess Carlotta tried to sympathize with the young lady. She was just an innocent young girl who was caught up in two clan seizing for power. Innocent casualty can’t be help in achieving her goal of getting back the August clan in control over the said dukedom.

After what seems to be an eternity of deadening silent travel, they reached Feledencia. And Lady Francesca couldn’t be more anxious when he saw two familiar figures of identical men, waiting at the entrance of the manor.

It was the two twin brothers she had an encountered with at the Verindale forest. Why are they here? Her mind wondered. She could think of a reason, but she was too hesitant to even acknowledge such possibility.

She does not want to.

But reality can’t just be beaten with denial.

“Basing on your reaction, I am presuming you already understand the situation,” Duchess Carlotta started.

“They were the Augusts twin brothers – Evander and Evandel. And one of them would be your future husband. It won’t be too long now, my dear. Don’t get too excited,” she intentionally jested knowing she was not bit happy about it.

‘That’s it, poor child. Fate can sometimes be cruel. Not every time that you are at the top,’ the wicked duchess thought and proceeded inside.

Francesca doesn’t know what should she do now. All she knew was that she was shaking in disbelief. She knew it long before that she was already betrothed, but the fact seems to just sinks into her system just now.

Now that she was standing face to face with the man she was supposed to marry as they say.