Karina couldn't help but make a blank expression --- staring off to space, standing awkwardly outside the Tarjun mansion.
Three days ago, the marchioness of Neuschwanstein had sent Karina a personal letter regarding an invitation to have afternoon tea together. The whole estate of the Tarjun went into a mess at the shock of hearing their lady receiving a letter from a powerful and famous family --- the Neuschwanstein.
The Marquess was more delighted after hearing the news, and his words were still fresh in her mind. "Excellent job, Karina. Perhaps Marchioness Neuschwanstein is searching for a marriage partner for the heir of Neuschwanstein. Do not let this chance go to waste Karina, form an alliance with the marchioness and woo her eldest son's heart!"
The colour of Karina's body instantly drained once she heard the marquess say that to her. It was unexpected of the marquess to use the word 'woo'. It felt foreign on Karina's ears.
"That's impossible, Father..." Karina muttered. She knew the tea invite the marchioness had sent was probably connected to what had happened in the alleyway.
Not that she told her father about the incident. If she does, Karina will most likely be forbidden from going to the orphanage, and she would never wish that upon herself.
"Are you alright, my lady?" Mandy asks, feeling worried at how quiet the young miss was and how she was not moving a step down the stairs. It was time for Karina to head to the Neushwanstein estate, or else she would be late.
"I'm fine... let's go." Karina slap her cheek gently and took a deep breath.
Karina went down the long flight of stairs and arrived at the bottom. She raised an eyebrow when a shadow casted over her. Karina looked up to see a pair of light grey eyes gazing down at her.
'He's back early...' Karina thought to herself. She had heard from her father that Arthur was on knight duty at the palace.
"Welcome home, older brother." Karina broke their eye contact and looked away.
Arthur didn't say anything, and Karina took his silence as his response, "If you'll excuse me older brother... " Karina slightly bowed and walked past him.
"Don't embarass the family." Arthur suddenly said. "Not that I'm denying you aren't already."
Karina scoffed at his ridiculous warning and insult. The angry brunette turned her head back to glare at him, only to find Arthur already going up the stairs along with his guards. Karina made an ugly face at him as soon as she saw nobody was looking.
"Should I poison him while he's asleep?" Mandy whispered to Karina. "I wish I could too." Karina answered.
The two shared a laugh before continuing their walk to the carriage.
"I'll be back, Mandy!" Karina said through the carriage window. Mandy nodded and bowed, "I hope you have a pleasant day today, my lady."
"Right this way, lady Karina."
Karina couldn't help but mouthgap as she walked through the huge hallway of the Neuschwanstein mansion. The hallways were adorned with different vases and expensive antiques. The whole mansion had hints of the colour green and gold everywhere. Green was the official colour of the Neuschwanstein, after all. And seeing golden antiques and high-quality interior decorations were befitting with their well-known status of being the wealthiest nobles in the empire.
Karina freeze on the spot as she was passing by a huge frame of a painting hanging on the wall.
It was the painting of the late marquess. Johannes Von Neuschwanstein. 'People say he is a wise man...'
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The Lion's Heart | A Stepmother's Marchën Fanfic
FanfictionUnlike her family, which is known for their talented skills in knighthood for generations, Karina Von Tarjun wasn't particularly gifted in wielding weapons or capable of performing martial arts. Due to that, Karina considered herself to be a negligi...
