Chapter Nineteen – Kalon #2
“Good. Shall we leave?” I offered my hand. “Do you need some time to get ready to go into town?”
It took her a moment, but she laid her hand in mine and allowed me to guide her to her feet. “Yes, if that’s all right. It’s my first time venturing out, and I should look more put together than this.”
“I think you look beautiful just the way you are, but do as you wish.” I raised her hand to my face and pressed a kiss to her fingers, glancing up to see her blush redden. “Let’s meet at the carriage in thirty minutes, shall we?”
***
Alicia collapsed back into the carriage and rested her head against the window. “That was exhausting.”
“It was only two dresses,” I said. “You’re hardly dying.”
She sniffed. “Well, like I told you, I had a whole new wardrobe put together before I came here. Lady Isabelle would be upset if I didn’t wear any of her creations during our debut as an engaged couple.”
“Are you talking about the new Marchioness Velian?”
“Yes; she and the dowager marchioness practically locked me away in the boutique for three days. I’m still traumatised.”
“Then next time, I shall have the tailors come to the castle.”
She waved her hands. “No, no, it’s nice to get out. I’ve wanted to see the town.” She peeked out of the window and immediately sat back. “Everyone is staring at the carriage.”
“Of course. They want to see their Grand Duchess.”
“I’m not the Grand Duchess yet.”
“You’re as good as, and it’ll only be a matter of time before you are.” I reached over and drew the curtains. “There, now you can relax.”
She pursed her lips. “About that… Can we have that discussion now?”
A chill ran through the air.
I wasn’t going to enjoy this very much. “Very well.”
“Don’t forget that you promised not to get mad.”
I sat back and closed my eyes. “I’m listening.”
“I… would like to have a longer engagement.”
I was correct.
I was not enjoying this.
I opened my eyes and looked at her. “And why exactly is that?”
“Well.” She linked her fingers and rested her clasped hands in her lap.
“This relief fund has made me realise there’s a lot more work to being Grand Duchess than I initially thought there would be.
Ark has spent a little time explaining my duties to me, but this policy has taken more time and will continue to do so.
I would prefer to take my time in learning my role and getting to know the history and people of Stein before officially taking on the role of Grand Duchess. ”
Shit.
It was a valid argument, but it pissed me off.
I hadn’t gone out of my way to offer her father a deal he couldn’t refuse just to delay our marriage for Khimos knows how long.
“Haaa.” I pressed my hand to my face. “How do you expect me to argue with that reasoning?”
“Is it… okay?”
“No. If I had a choice, I would force you to sign the wedding papers right this second.” I peered at her through my fingers, and she flinched. “But you’ve made an annoyingly fair argument to the point I have little recourse to counter it.”
“I merely wish to assimilate to the role,” she said in a soft tone. “That way, if you find me lacking, we aren’t bound together in a way that would hurt us.”
I dropped my hand from my face. “Find you lacking? You’re already more competent than many of the council members. How could you possibly think I would find you lacking?”
“This is but one policy.”
“And what does that policy matter if you aren’t the Grand Duchess?”
“It would be my honour to leave behind such a legacy in the event we part ways.” She met my gaze, but hers was guarded. “Know that isn’t my intention. I truly do wish to take this time to become a Grand Duchess the people of Stein deserve.”
There was a shadow to the sincerity in her gaze, and it was a shadow I knew well.
She didn’t trust me.
This was unsurprising given that she believed her father had sold her to me in exchange for a trade deal.
Perhaps she thought she was expendable to me.
The idea was laughable.
She was nothing of the sort. Even if I didn’t fully understand why, there was simply no way I could ever let this woman go after seeing the life she’d brought to the castle.
“Very well,” I said, reigning in my anger. “How long do you wish to delay our marriage?”
“Six months.”
She’d thought about this. A lot.
Perhaps I’d left her alone for too long after her arrival here.
“Until marriage or until we discuss marriage?” I questioned.
“I would be open to revisiting it at three months.”
“You seem to have put a lot of thought into this,” I said, keeping my gaze focused on her. “Almost as if you’ve planned it.”
Alicia raised her hands. “I cannot fool you. This was my intention from the moment I got word of your proposal,” she admitted, and the apprehension in her gaze cleared. “Please do not allow my feelings to impact the trade deal you agreed with my father.”
“Ha.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “Do you take me for a petty man? I don’t change my mind on a whim, and despite what you may think of me, I respect your wishes.”
She looked down. “Then please grant me this one.”
“It comes with conditions.”
“Which are?”
“As I said earlier, the Emperor believes I fell in love with you at the spring ball. When we’re in public, I expect you to act as though that is the case. Especially in the empire.”
Alicia bobbed her head. “I accept. That’s why we just purchased matching outfits, no?”
“Correct.” I tilted my head to the side. “You will slowly assume the responsibilities of the Grand Duchess during our engagement, including managing the castle and the employees.”
“That’s also reasonable.”
“And lastly, if we’re delaying our marriage, you must be aware that Empress Eudocia has not given up on you as a candidate for the Crown Princess.”
Alicia froze. “What?”
“It’s one of the reasons I intended for us to marry as quickly as possible.
” I cracked my knuckles on one hand. “She vehemently opposed our betrothal, even after my father gave his consent. In her mind, you should be with my brother. The longer our engagement continues, the more confident she’ll become that she can snatch you away. ”
“Why?” She reached up and pulled one of the curtains to the side to peek out of the window. “Why is she so determined to marry me to the Crown Prince?”
“Your bloodline, I’m assuming. The Lovetts were once a powerful family with divine power, but they always resisted marriage into the Imperial Family because of their close ties to the temple.
Matters of religion and state have always been separate, and the temple felt that the Lovetts were too close to them to engage with the state so intimately.
Things are different now. To have a daughter of the Vermillions and the Lovetts become the next Empress would secure the Sada line for at least three more generations. ”
Alicia looked at her hands. “But I have neither the ability to wield sword aura or divine power.”
“Mana manifests in strange ways, and any combination of those powers could show in your descendants. I’m not saying this to scare you, but merely to make you aware that the longer our engagement continues, the more persistent Eudocia will be in her pursual of you.
She may fabricate situations to build distrust between us. ”
She slowly raised her gaze to me. “But you’re a part of the Imperial Family. How do I know you aren’t using me for my bloodline?”
“You don’t.”
“That was bold.”
I shrugged. “I’m part of the Imperial Family by birth, but there’s little else tying me to them. If I were using you for your bloodline, don’t you think we’d be in the palace right now?”
She paused. “I suppose so.”
I held up a finger. “I agree to your request for a longer engagement based on these terms, but I won’t extend it again after these six months, Alicia.
Six months is the autumn ball, and that’s more than adequate for you to fully understand your duties as Grand Duchess.
We will be married as soon as we return from the autumn festivities in Sada. ”
“Then we have an agreement.” She inclined her head in acknowledgment. “Thank you for indulging me, Your Highness.”
“Kalon.”
“What?”
I glared at her. “I thought you’d gotten over the ‘Your Highness’ thing.”
Alicia pressed her hands against her stomach. “Ah. Then… Thank you, Kalon.”
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Why was my heart beating like that?
Was it because it was the first time that she’d ever called me by name, despite our conversation about it being a few days ago?
My name had never sounded as sweet as it did from her lips.
I brought my fist to my mouth and coughed into it, turning my head to hide the warmth that was rising in my cheeks. “Think nothing of it.”
The carriage came to a stop, and Hayes opened the door. “Your Highness, Lady Aerwyna is waiting in your office for you.”
Alicia brightened. “Does that mean she has my magic stone?”
I fought back a gentle smile. “It should. Will you excuse me for not escorting you inside?”
“Of course.”
“Hayes, take care of Alicia.” I got out of the carriage before pausing to offer her my hand.
She set her smaller one in mine, accepting my assistance. “Thank you.” She smiled warmly at me. “Don’t worry about joining me for dinner tonight. Your meeting with Lady Aerwyna is more important.”
“Very well.” I kissed her hand. “I will see you soon.”
I released my grip on her and walked towards the castle, sweeping Ark up to my side as I did so. “Is this with regards to her initial letter to me?”
“Yes, Your Highness. She also brought the magic stones you requested.”
“Good. When we arrive, take them from her and have them sent to Chameur. One should be set in a bracelet or ring for Alicia and the other in a simple brooch for her lady-in-waiting,” I ordered. “They must be delivered before we leave for the hunting competition.”
“As you wish.” Ark stepped before me and opened the office door. “His Highness, the Grand Duke of Stein, has arrived.”
Aerwyna turned to me and bowed. “Your Highness.”