It's so boring, they smile with their faces but spew evil coated in sweet nothing. It's been almost a years since I started participating in high society and I've heard it all. They praise me for being engaged to a prince and mock me behind because he keeps messing around with other women.
"Lady clarisa, the gown you wore to the last ball was simply bold . It has been the talk of high society for weeks now" I smile softly. Is she trying to mock me for wearing a gown that showed off my back? What a joke.
"Well I do try my best to remain relevant in high society's news lady Ivory " she flinches as her smile twitches from my remark.
10 ladies seated around a table all looking for ways to tear each other down. That's high society for you.
"Did you all attend the night market during the solial festivals? It was spectacular " I knew this conversation would come up. It was no secret that the prince has been actively dating a commoner and they were seen parading themselves all over each other during the festival.
"Lady Tamara" akward chuckles were heard around the table, i know they all were enjoying themselves at my expense. Since my engagement 6 years ago prince callus has spent all his time dating different ladies.
"Did you all hear?" Lady laria queen of news in high society chimed in slapping her fan shut.
"Duke Theodore Leandros is searching for a bride" the ruler of the north is searching for a bride. I sip my tea as i try to fade out of their conversation.
"What!! who would be crazy enough to marry him" lady Jessie shudders as she adds
"I know right no one in their right mind would marry a monster who has killed off his past 2 fiancée " he killed he last 2 fiancée? Is that why he is called a monster? What a horrible fate.
"Well killing his fiancée is just the tip of the iceberg ladies"
"Was there more lady laria" I guess they are done with my life. Now they want to scrutinize the duke's life. Pathetic people
"I heard at the age of 15 he destroyed 3 noble household. Killed every single member of their families in a blood crazed frenzy. Not even the previous duke the war hero could stop his frenzy"
"That's so scary"
"That's why he stays in the north"
"Hopefully he never leaves the north, it suits him"
"Aughhhhhh they make me so mad" Sarah huffs and puffs as the carraige bumps on our way home. Her anger makes me laugh and I feel all happy. She continues to lament about the other ladies and the prince and i couldn't help but just laugh. Its been 6 years since the engagement. And as if to spite me, the prince would invite me to the palace only to spend the time with another lady. Each visit he have a different women attached to his hip and he didn't hide his blatant hate for me or the dumont family. His actions didn't come as a shock to me though and frankly I didn't care. My marriage to him is only so I can escape the dumont family name. If I run away now the count would do everything to hunt me down. But if I run away as the wife of prince callus he would probably hide it and pray I never come back.
"Where is the count?"
"He is in his study, do you plan to visit him?" Alan looked visibly uncomfortable. The last 6 years have been fairly quiet for me. The count got even more pathetic with time and with each scandal of the prince I got some good old education. Strangely though he no longer hits me, he just goes on a screaming rampage like a banshee.
I knock softly on the door
"Father i have returned"
"Come in" his voice barks back.
"In a month you will come of age and your marriage with the prince will become official, you will not tarnish my reputation. Till the day you get married you will live quietly and not bring shame upon the dumont family."
"Yes father" he keeps acting like he has some grand reputation to be kept. Disgusting bastard. I guess he doesn't have energy to give me his education.
"The imperial family will be sending a physician to check on your health before the wedding"
"Yes father" was that all? Why did he call me to his study, he could have just passed the message through his aide.
"Clarisa, how was your meeting with father"
"Arabella, when did you get here?" She had closed the gap between us and enveloped me in a hug.
"Clark had some documents he needed to give to father so i tagged along because i missed you." Arabella beams as we walk towards the garden. Clark and Arabella got married 4 years ago. The moment she arrived in the manor she tried getting closer to me. She is quite shy and reserved so I was very glad when Clark moved close to the magic tower with her, they lived in one of the count's manor. I was so scared she would fall under the tyranny of the count if she lived here. She comes from a bloodline with strong magic, but unfortunately she cannot use magic. I guess the count felt that mixing both bloodline would result in a child with great potential.
"Clarisa, how are the preparations for the coming of age ceremony?"
"Father said my health was too frail for a ball" she looked at me with sad eyes, as if trying to reassure.
"Well then you can spend the whole day with me and I can remind you of how precious you are to me" she squeezed me into a hug and we both burst out laughing. The air was cold as if announcing the beginning of a new era.
A soft knock on the door distracted me from the book i was reading.
"My lady you have a letter from the palace" Sarah's soft voice rang out as she stepped into the bedroom.
"The prince must want to torment you again. It's not been up to 2 days since you last met with him" I retrieved the letter from Sarah and went over the contents. He was inviting me to the palace tomorrow. What a short notice. I don't mind it though it's been 2 days since I last practiced magic. I have so much pent up frustration so I need a good magical release.
"Clarisa" Clark's low voice called out from the door. Sarah excused her self as he stepped in. The last 6 years Clark has tried to redeem himself. When he moved out with Arabella, I was given a free pass to stay with them whenever but I never took the offer. I just couldn't be bothered.
"Brother it's been a while, how have you been" he was looking even more gaunt than the last time I saw him. He seemed to have lost some weight too.
"I have been busy at the magic tower. How was your meeting with father?" Why is he so obsessed with my meetings with father. We would exchange letters regularly mainly filled with greetings but occasionally he would ask me about my meetings with the count which was so out of character for him.
"It's went well, he was just giving me an update on the wedding" he furrowed his brow, open his mouth, shut it, tussled his hair and let out a frustrated sigh
"Clarisa, my offer still stands. If you want to run away please let me know. I'll do everything within my power to help you out. Not even father would be able to find you. The prince is not a good person. " his voice was trembling. He was scared but I don't know what of.
"I'm fine, I told you already in do not need your help" he looked like he was going to cry but there was nothing he could do. I didn't want his help, not then not now.
I flop onto my bed as the nerves melt away. In less than 2 months I'll be free. I wonder what I should do first. I should make a list of places i would like to visit and things I would like to do. With the money I would receive from the count as dowry to the prince I should be able to live very comfortably for a few years without needing to get a job. After touring the continent i'll then decide what to do next. Once I leave this place i know I'll be free. 'Freedom' I can already see it and it looks so beautiful.