Duke of the Beast and the Vicarious Bride - Chapter 4

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※ This work contains depictions of coercive relationships, explicit language, and other graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

At Fiona’s last words, spoken half in jest, the antique drawing-room of the House of Troyes was engulfed in a chilling silence. What an atmosphere. Is this a marriage negotiation or a sentencing chamber? As Fiona smirked inwardly, every member of the Troyes family remained mute before her question.

Ah, I see. So it is a death sentence, then. Fiona smiled a bitter smile.

The Count’s explanation was, in essence, this:

Some years past, the Emperor had bestowed the title of Grand Duke upon a certain individual in the north. A man who had rendered great service in the northern frontier, it was said.

As time passed, the man came of marriageable age. Deeming it time he required a Grand Duchess, the Emperor sought a suitable young lady from a noble house and sent her to the Grand Duchy, but for some reason, she could not endure three days before returning. The same occurrence repeated itself several times thereafter, and grim rumours began to circulate among eligible young ladies.

The marriage was but a pretext; in truth, the Emperor was seeking a sacrificial offering for a monster in the north. From that time, any noble house with a daughter began to tremble at the thought that she might be demanded. When the imperial command fell, there was even a young lady who attempted suicide.

The lot, passed from house to house, had at last fallen upon the Count of Troyes. And the Count, unwilling to send his own daughter to such an ill-omened place, had recalled the bastard he had abandoned long ago, and sent for her.

So, in the end, that was it.

“I said I’ll do it. So, for now, could you kindly send me home? I, too, require some time to prepare, you know.”

Though the brazen chain of their reasoning was deeply infuriating, there was nothing to be done about it now. Fiona had accepted the proposal with a mix of spite and defiance. Upon hearing her answer, the Count looked as if he would lock her in the manor that very day and begin her bridal training, but she managed to wrangle a few days’ reprieve.

Leaving the odious Troyes family behind, Fiona quit the manor. The first things she saw to were packing her meagre belongings and explaining the situation to her younger sister.

“Rose, listen. I am to be married, to a very fine place, thanks to the Count’s introduction. But sadly, I cannot take you with me just yet. Instead, while I am away, the Count’s family has agreed to look after you. So you will be living at the Troyes manor from now on. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

She showed no sign of comprehension. Rose simply stared at Fiona with her clear, green eyes, as she always did.

Fiona was not particularly disappointed. She had not expected an answer, after all. From the very first moment they met until now, her younger sister had never once opened her mouth or made a sound.

“Of course, I don’t mean to leave her there with you without any safeguards. You know as well as I do that the Count is a bastard. But do not worry too much. I intend to invoke the Dragon’s Pact.”

This had been on her mind from the moment the Count first spoke of the north. If she were forced to leave this place, she would need some guarantee of Rose’s safety. And Fiona was the sort of person who would face any danger, if only this poor, pretty child could live happily.

* * *

Fiona’s mother, Anaïs Till, had vanished without a trace when Fiona was eight years old. Her disappearance was without warning. Though she had often seemed melancholy and sad, Anaïs had done her utmost to raise her daughter. For a long time after she was gone, neither Fiona nor the villagers could believe that Anaïs had abandoned her child. Most suspected an accident or foul play.

But a few days later, a witness appeared who claimed to have seen Anaïs leaving the village of her own accord, and the mood shifted entirely. A brief letter left for Fiona, along with a small sum of money, was discovered belatedly. It said that circumstances compelled her to go far away, and she hoped Fiona would fare well.