The Lady with a Purpose

The wind rode steadily, with an elegantly carved black carriage away from the Dukes household. The sun shines brightly, the wind felt nice, and the birds were singing. Everything was nice, except what he was feeling right now. The journey home with his father, Count Silvanus Maxim, felt tortured and suffocating.

”Hows your meeting with Lady Deanna? ”

Count Maxim asked with a stern face. He was curious about what happened, but somewhat in a bad mood.

”Its fine, father, ” he replied with a flat voice.

”I want the two of you to get married. You know what to do, right? ”

Count Maxim said, happily, as if he could already see the future.

”…, ” he stayed quiet.

”We will be more powerful with the Duke on our side. It will be better if the Duke just accepts my request. Now I have to depend on you, ” Count Maxim said.

”Father, I don think it is right, ” he said in a very soft tone.

”I gave you everything and you dare to defy me. At least do this, for the honor of our family, ” Count Maxim said furiously.

Count Maxim continued persuading his child as he knew that his child was the only person that could help him achieved his dream. Duke Remus doesn have any son, so whoever marries his daughter will become the Duke. He started to grin while thinking about the power that will fall in his hand as his son inherits the Dukedom.

”Its not a hard request, right? I will wait for the good news, my beloved son, ” Count Maxim said.

Its not like he could say anything, but he didn dare to defy his father. Scared and respected were two different things. Right now, he was scared. Scared of what would happen right now and in the future.

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During the meeting between Duke Remus and Count Maxim, filled with heavy air despite the happy beginning.

”Your daughter grew up well, beautiful like her mother. I think last I saw her when she was a baby, sleeping peacefully on her mothers arm, ”Count Maxim said.

”Yes, 17 years. She grew up beautifully. I wish Angela could see her… She would be very happy, ” Duke Remus said with a rueful smile on his face.

”At that time, my son was only two years old. We have been friends for a long time, wouldn it be nice if our familys bond could be strengthened further? ”

Count Maxim said and laughed sneakily as he tried to propose for the marriage between his son, Sir Calisto, and me. As the Duke, he only let out a fake laugh without a word that comes out.

”Don you think both of them suit each other? I could already hear the wedding bell, ” Count Maxim said cheerfully.

”I know your son is a good and capable child, but I won approve any marriage without Deannas consent, ” Duke Remus said with a stern face. It was not that he didn like Sir Calisto, but he just wanted his daughter to marry someone she loves. Just like him and my mother, Angela.

Count Maxim left with a smile on his smile, but his eyes were full of rage. He thought that everything was simple, as both of them had been friends for a long time. He felt like the Duke didn change at all, living inside a dream. Everything seemed beautiful, but it was far from reality. He walked with a determination that his son would be the next Duke.

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After Sir Calisto and Count Maxim left, I was called to the dining room. The silver cutlery was perfectly lined on the dinner table. I could see only two sets were placed. I am glad my stepmother and Eliana wouldn join us. I sat myself down and waited for my father to arrive. A few minutes later, my father walked confidently, and anyone who could feel his presence would cower in a shiver. The meal looked delicious and mouth-watering, but right now it doesn taste anything for me as it felt suffocating and awkward. I forced myself to eat bit by bit. Each bite was harder than before, I wish I could excuse myself. Then my father spoke as if to break the silence.

”Does it suit your taste? ”

He asked, but without even looking at me. He just continually chewed his food. It felt like he just asked to break the awkwardness but doesn even care about my response.

”Its delicious, father. Thank you for inviting me, ” I said.

”Then you should eat more, ” he said as he placed a chunk of meat on my plate.

”.., ” I was startled by his action. I didn know what to say or how to act when he did this.

”Hows your meeting with Sir Calisto? ”

He asked, but this time he acted differently. I could see that he seemed restless. I couldn understand his action right now. What was he trying to do?

”Hes very nice, and a good man, ” I said, trying to brush off his behaviour.

”If you like him, I allow you to marry him, ” he said with a stern face.

”No, father. He is just a good friend, ” I replied.

”Fine. Do whatever you want, ” he said.

I don understand what was happening right now. Is he trying to be nice or condemn me? It frustrated me. At this time, I felt like I should just say everything and go my own way. I couldn stand this situation anymore.

”What are you trying to say? ”

I said as I put down the cutlery and looked straight at his face. I am scared, but I have to do this. I hid my hand under the table so he couldn see me trembling.

”Im saying what I meant, ” he said.

”So what do you mean? Are you hinting that I should oblige you? What a great father you are? ”

”.., ” he didn say anything but just looked at me.

”Do you remember when was the last time you smile at me, care for me, or even love me? Never! I felt nothing except hatred right now. Just being here makes me suffocate, ” I said furiously. I tried to stop my tears from falling down, but it was hard. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. Despite that, at the far corner of my heart, crying, and begging for his love.

”If you don love me, can you just let me go? ”

Im begging, with tears running down my cheeks. Its hard to live somewhere where hatred is the only thing I felt. Thanks to Laura, I could feel some kindness and love. I know Laura cared for me, but I didn want her because of me, she felt down the well of misfortune. I repeatedly consoled myself saying Im fine.

”Im sorry. It was all my fault, ” he said with a brittle voice.

”You think just by saying sorry, everything would wash away, ” I said with a sniffled.

”Im sorry. I couldn cope with the loss of your mother. Im in pain and heartbroken. I couldn do anything. Every time I close my eyes, I could see your mothers face. So I buried myself with works so I could forget about her. By the time I realized you were already walking. I didn know how to approach you, ” he said in a soft and quivering voice.

”Does that justify what you did to me? She is my mother. Im only a week old. I didn even know how she looked like and you selfishly desired me to pity you, ” I said with contemn.

”Im sorry, Deanna. If I could turn back time, I would. I promise Ill do anything for you, ” he said, feeling remorseful.

”I don feel like hearing this anymore. Thank you for the meal, ” I said as I stood up and walked out of the dining room.

I walked furiously as my tears kept on falling. I hated myself for feeling sorry. I knew I acted the same way as my father: selfish and stubborn. I wanted him to understand, but I knew I didn try to understand him. I just felt like we should stand together and fight this loneliness. We should comfort each other, not ignore them.

I threw myself on the bed and cried to sleep.

I woke up as the daylight began to drain away. I hugged myself wishing everything would be alright. Then Laura came to check on me. She walked straight to me and gave me a big, warm hug. It felt so warm and comforting.

”Im here. Don cry, ” she said as she patted my back gently.

”I hate him, Laura. I hate him, ” I said with a sniff.

”I know… I know…, ” she said in a very low and comforting voice.

A few minutes later, I felt a little bit calmed from this heart-wretched moment. Laura started to confide everything to me, the thing that had been hidden for a long time.

”My lady, I know I am not the one experiencing it, but please give some thought. Your father may look fine and strong from the outside, but every time he asked me about you I could see how sad and remorseful he was, ” she said.

I was surprised to hear that. I didn know that my father asked about me. When I was young, my father was very busy with work. That was all he thought about.

”If he knew, then why didn do anything when my stepmother abused me. Why did he leave me alone? ”

”When I first came here, the Duke rarely came home because of the war. As you know, your father is one of the most powerful people in the kingdom. Even though he didn go to war, all the work that needed to be done was double. Now he has to clear up the aftermath of the war. Your father loves you dearly, my lady, ” she said tenderly.

”Laura, I didn know what to do. I hate him for neglecting me, but I love him. He is my father, how could I hate him, ” I said with a sniffle and tears started to fall.

”Its alright, my lady. As long as you open your heart, one day you can accept him, ” she said.

Laura accompanied me till I calmed down. Then she went back to work as she still had some that needed to be done.

The evening sun shines her path to the Dukes office. Laura walked with a message in mind.

”How is my daughter? ”

The Duke asked with a low voice as he couldn hide his sadness.

”Shes calmed down a bit, your grace, ” she said.

”Good. If anything happened, inform me, ” the Duke said as the colour on his face started to show.

Laura walked out the door as she finished relaying the message that the Duke asked.

Since he was a child and as the only child of the Remus, he had many responsibilities he needed to uphold. His life consisted of burying himself in books. He likes reading, so he didn think much of it. He just needed to do what his father said, just like a marionette. He knows his duty as the next heir, so he works hard every day. A friend is just a word he learned in a dictionary. He has acquaintances that he met occasionally, but he wouldn call them friends. He felt awkward and uncomfortable every time. So he always just sat there quietly and listened. Some would say that he was arrogant and cold, but he doesn mind. His father would always force him to go to any gathering, as his father said: to be stronger, we need a strong base. He might be the Duke, but once the faction rebelled, it could cause catastrophe.

His parents passed away during their anniversary as the carriage they rode was caught in an accident. He, who was only 18 years old, became the youngest Duke of the kingdom. At first, some would rebel, and some who approved intended to use him, but he stood strong and protected the Dukedom with his own hands. Then he met Angela while visiting a village. He was captivated by her—shes bright like a sun, and light his gloomy self. Then they got married, despite much opposition. His life was hers. So when shes gone, he felt like his life became dark. He worked non-stop just to make him stop thinking of her, as when he started thinking he felt like dying. Every time he looked at Deanna, he thought of her. He was furious at himself for not having the power to save her. One of the reasons he married Lady Chlaricia, his second wife, was because he thought that she needed a mother figure. So she wouldn feel lonely and unloved. As days turn to years, he doesn even know how to approach her daughter. He never has good social skills as he lives his life inside a book. He doesn know how to start, but he loves her so much.