The next morning I woke up with the same sunshine on my face. I was about to get up instantly knowing I was late to breakfast, but I realized I wasn't in school anymore; I was in the duke's residence. I should have known the instant I woke up, it wasn't the sun that was shining, it was the polished tiles on the side of the room, the sun shined on the tile for it to reflect the transfer onto my face.
I got up, feeling strange and weird. This wasn't the first time. I was already still uncomfortable about last night, when I and William were driven here in a luxurious car alone. The silence was unbearable. I so badly wanted to apologize and tell him the truth. But what good would it do? I can even find better excuses rather than that stupid truth. But I didn't want to lie to him again. He deserved much better. William didn't look comfortable too, in fact I felt like I was in the car with a stranger, like we were already enemies, waiting for each other to be pounded upon.
I turned off the shower and curled the towel around myself. As I looked in the mirror, I saw a thinner girl, I haven't even ate since the last time I was in school. But I had the same grey eyes and the same wavy red hair. It's still me, but me alone. I have to fight this for myself now. No matter how much I gathered the strength to convince Ethan not to stop it now. But I probably knew he needed some privacy and think about what he made me feel the moment he decided to give up. I needed him to know how much I want this plan to work.
The gowns were beautiful, the most beautiful I've ever seen. Last night when I first came, they saved my gown, the one I worn to The Collection. They said it was a tradition, almost like taking pictures for memory making. But I didn't want to remember bad memories. I didn't want that gown to remind me of killing Martha.
The maids helped me put it on. I had convinced them somehow that I wanted to dress and shower by myself. But by the end I couldn't get the laces of my night gown at the back, who knew it would be hard to put on a night gown for a future princess. No. Erase that. My plan would already be finished before the marriage, in three months' time. I will stick to the plan me and Ethan worked on before he gave up on me.
The future is in my hands, me alone.
Three equal lengthened knocks came at the door. "Ma'am, your breakfast is ready. The duke awaits you." The maid, Dana, says. Dana is just like Anna, the same worshiping type.
I nod at her. Knowing my voice will sound hoarse if I speak, due to the tears I've shed. For mostly everything that happened last night: Martha, William then Ethan.
Dana shuts the door lightly and I hear the footsteps as she leaves down the swirled stairs that almost made me dizzy by the time I reach downstairs.
I decide to wear a simple gown. Not the ruffled up gowns, or the ones which make me seem curvier or the ones which expose me inappropriately. Fortunately their all my size, so I pick the one at the floor of the huge sized wardrobe. It wasn't ruffled or showing exposure and most importantly, it looked comfortable. Gowns are an important part in my situation, if you don't believe me, then answer me how in the world can you save the lives of people with an uncomfortable gown?
After a while of trying to find the dining room, which took me twenty minutes to find, I slid in the luxurious double doors I found it. The dining room was beautiful, irreplaceable and shiny. As I walk inside the duke sits at the front of the large rectangular table. William sits at the side, alone, but he was in the closest chair to the duke's, and there sat his four impossibly beautiful wives on the other side. But there was one extra, one who was my age. The one I went to school with, sitting on the closest chair to the duke with the other wives.
Sophie.
My face must have looked horrified when I saw the duke show a puzzled expression. "Is something the matter, dear?" William doesn't look up to see the situation; he just continues swirling his spoon around the plate, expressionless.
"N-No, your sir." I said, I realize as I walk to my place where a plate awaits for me to dig in, and it was placed near William, my legs were trembling and my hands were shaking. I tried my best not to look at Sophie, as she did to me.
"Eden!" She exclaimed, her voice full of eagerness. "I can't believe this, you're here?!" I could make out her expression without even looking. I could tell she was surprised and full of joy that she doesn't have to spend the rest of her time with the elders and with William whom she probably isn't allowed to be with.
So she is another one of the duke's wife? She's being used to pleasure the duke's desires too? Sophie's much more worth it. That's probably why the crowd was shocked; they thought that the duke chose 2 wives for himself at The Collection. But honestly, he has a son, the duke's secret son and only heir.
And I was chosen to be with him.
"Of course. You both must be familiar with each other." The duke started. "I wanted Sophie, the country's new duchess, to be comfortable with this unusual court by having a familiar face by her side."
My fork scraped against the plate, causing an awful noise, disturbing the others in the room. I completely was unaware that I too was messing with the food on the plate.
"Are you sure you're alright, my dear?" The duke said, using every bit of his acting skills to look concerned. But I caught him glancing at Sophie every second; his acting education seems to have wasted his time.
"Yes, I'm fine," I quickly added the last inevitable words I had no choice but to add. "Sir." The duke chuckled.
"You don't have to be like that with me, my dear; I have enough people treating me like that here."
"Yes! Oh, Eden we'll be like best friends!" Sophie exclaimed. I forced down the bile rising to my throat. Why is Sophie like this? Is she not upset about The Collection? I guess she has already let it go. But how can she let go of the fact that she killed someone she cared about that easily? It's not right. Maybe she might not have passed that stage.
I looked up at her and slightly smiled. I will not let anything get ahead of me. I will not let myself and the other millions of people down because of my opinions about how Sophie should be feeling right now.
The duke stood and so did his other wives including Sophie. The maid from the side of the room pushed his chair back in as he moved out of the way. "I have some work to be going back onto now, the parliament won't stop going on about the war, if you two may excuse me." Just as the duke made his way out, William stood calmly.
"Father, do I also have to prepare?" His tone was guarded.
The duke nodded, ignorantly keeping his gaze on the exit. "Yes, you are the next heir and since I've brought you a wife, you need to write your speech for the press conference you're going to have to deal with in a week or so and make it seem comforting and make it so that my subjects understand why we've held it a secret for so long." This time he looked at William with cold eyes. "Do not mention anything unpleasant." William nods in his place while the duke turns to exit the room. There was nothing but silence, until William was about to exit too.
"Wait," As soon as I said the word, William had already stopped in his tracks. He did not look hesitant, as I was when I did not find any words to say to him. I just didn't want to be alone and I wanted to make up with him, be friends all over again.
"This is stupid!" I stood and marched up to him, tired of all the situations I have occurred. "Look, I get that you're angry at me for. . ." I didn't know what to say. I want to tell him that I thought he betrayed me without making it sound mental. "For slapping you, but I promise I have a reason behind it, it's just that I don't think I can tell you what exactly the reason is. I hope you can understand that." William opened his mouth to say something but I stopped him as I knew there was a spark in his eyes when I spoke.
"Remember when I said you were the only man who I've ever talked to, or even seen in reality? I didn't realize I trusted you when we were having that tiresome conversation." I rolled my eyes thinking about that again. I don't know why anyone would bother telling someone about themselves so easily when they've only just met. I saw as the corners of Williams lips curved slightly, showing a slight smirk.
"I told you everything about me, except some of my darkest secrets." I had to say that, I didn't want to feel like I'm lying to him. "But when I asked you questions, you never answered me. And yet you're the one who's angry at me?" The room was in shock silence. The maids in the room suddenly stiffed. I couldn't help but hear my heart beat ringing in my ears continuously.
"I'm sorry; I guess I've been acting a little selfish. I didn't realise I had gone too far." Just before William was going to say something else, a guard came in. He seemed breathless, as if he'd been running.
"William, there seems to be a situation downtown abbey."
"I'll be right down." He responds with a nod. William looks at me and gives an apologetic look. But as he walked past me, he leaned into my ear. "I'll make up for it, I promise." He said, smiling.
I couldn't help but notice my lips curve into a smile, almost impossible for William to miss when he glances back at me from the door.
I was left alone, but it was different from last time, this included a warm, comfortable feeling to fill through me and I didn't even realize as a whole lot of pressure lifted off of me. The maids one by one at the side of the room started to pick the plates and clean up. With nothing else to do, I joined them.
"Miss, what are you doing?" A female maid said.
"It's okay, continue with your work." I said as I picked up another empty plate on top of another.
"Miss," she whispered as if afraid someone would hear her. The other faces in the room also looked shocked and full of fear. I was only trying to help, was that so fearful? "If the chief maid finds out, we might get sacked, please, miss continue with your duty and leave it to us." She begged.
I was stricken, would they really be fired if someone was caught helping them? That's just plain stupid. As I watched the maids continue with their work, scraping off the good on the plate and into the dustbin. With nothing else to do I went back into my room wondering the whole way through what William was up to. I turned the luxurious golden coloured doorknob and entered the huge room. I made my way to the table where my journal sat. I was lucky to have left it on the most obvious place back in school or else this wouldn't have been found for it to be transferred here. Of course it's unlikely for these things to happen, as it is stated a new life will begin once a ring is through your marriage finger, but since I am a duchess-to-be I can choose whether I desire to have the things I left behind or not.
But this diary was important, it included my plans. I was lucky enough no one has searched through it. My thoughts drifted off to Ethan, after that dramatic moment, I wanted to know what he was doing this very moment. I wondered whether we would still be in contact now if he hadn't given up. Now that I think about it, why did he give up? After I mentioned to him about William, he looked shocked and seemed as though all hope has been lost. Are they already acquaintances?
Knocks at the door took me back to reality. The door opened to reveal a tall strict looking woman, it could be the chief maid. "Miss, may I have a word with you?"
"You already have, but go on." She hid the multiplied anger and falsely smiled.
"You have duties to be getting on to, why are you here?" Duties, what duties? The sudden thought came to me; I'm a duchess-to-be and would need the proper education to act like one. There won't be a time where I can relax easily in this castle and getting on with my plan on to end the injustice. I sighed as I made my way towards her and closed the door behind me silently.
The mansion was much bigger than I thought, the glimmering tiles covering the whole building. Why are they spending so much money on this when they can save many lives if they offer the money for more useful things? Even my school wasn't this luxurious. The thought caught me on guard. Did I make a right decision to have turned down Miss Audrey's offer? They did, after all, look after me. But I can't turn back on the offer, it's too late, not that I am rethinking about what choice I could have made.
I look forward, away from the glittering objects that sine on my eyes causing disturbance. There was no one in front of me; I look around me madly to find me all alone in the big mansion. I've lost her. I don't know whether to be glad with relief or worried, but I take advantage of the chance and wonder around. This could be my chance to begin my search.
I go towards the nearest door to me, the doors me were huge, and twice the size of the doors of my bedroom. I place my ear onto the door to see if anyone was inside but I couldn't hear a thing. I place my hand onto the doorknob and turn it open slightly, my heart beating fast at the motion.
As I continue to open the door, I stop only after an inch of the gap was visible. I saw the duke behind the gap, no one else, but I knew there were other people in the room, I could tell as he was facing someone and his mouth opening as if talking to them. I couldn't hear what they were talking about but it looked pretty serious as I saw the duke throw a flower vase onto the floor causing it to smash, water spreading the ground.
"I don't care, I want him here now! You useless piece of thing, can you not even take care of a simple command?" He shouted, the whole building probably shaking at his threatening voice.
"Sir, my apologies. I should leave from here-"
"No. You are to complete my command no matter what it is, if you don't bring him here this instant, you are putting your family at risk Michael. If this fails all the same, I promise you, you will be begging for mercy at my feet. Am I understood?" His voice was low and frightening, causing shivers to run down my spine. Are they talking about William? What's happened? Has something bad happened to him? A whimper escaped me at the thought. I suddenly regret even coming here as the voices stopped in mid-sentence. They heard me. I quickly move from my position and ran to the other end of the hall.
"Hello?" I heard the duke's voice from behind the wall I hid. I placed a hand onto my mouth to stop breathing heavily. I heard a door shut, there were no more voices, they must have gone back already.
"What are you doing here?" I gasped loudly as I turned round to spot the chief maid. She looked as suspicious as ever, her brows inter-whining as I still haven't answered her yet.
"Um- I was lost." My stupid remarks cause her lips to twitch slightly at the ends. She was trying not to laugh. I fought the urge to hit her and smiled to show her my position. I cleared my throat.
"Actually, I'm glad you found me," her mouth stopped twitching as her face lit in confusion, "I'm actually quite thirsty, since you haven't done your job accurately to take care of me and host me, I hope you don't mind to bring me a glass of water at the least." I smiled as her face once again tried to guard her rising anger inside.
She didn't say anything and mentioned me to follow her; I proudly took forward steps just as I hear a voice calling my name. I turn to see it was the duke.
He had his arms crossed over his chest and a deadly smirk on his disgustingly old face was visible.
"How long have you been here?" He said, smiling as a if he caught me red handed. Just as I was about to answer to cover my previous actions, the chief maid spoke over me.
"I was heading her to the living facilities but she had gotten lost along the way, sir. It was for over 5 minutes." She said, folding her hands on top of each other as she slightly bowing looking at the floor throughout the process.
"I see." His gaze was still on me as I cursed under my breath. He knew it was me, but he still had that stupid grin. Why was he grinning?
"Excuse me." The maid said as she took steps backwards and I quickly followed her, not wanting to be left alone with him, my heart hammering against my chest. What is going to happen now?
"Eden?" I looked behind. "You better be careful, I am worse than what you have heard today. If you in any way test my anger, you wouldn't like to see the result, would you now?"
I didn't respond, I was just staring at him, not knowing what in the world he was blurting out. I turned and followed the maid with an increased pace, aware of the eyes piercing my back as I walked further away from him.
First it was a game ready for my victory, now this was war.
A silent insidious war.