Chapter 2: Hand For Marriage
Amari
He slyly smirked, as my heart thumped. Because of his looks alike him, I am inevitably having troubles of keeping my composure. He leaned his face on the back of his palm, asking in a low, lazy tone.
“As my wife, what will you do for me, then?”
I frowned. Well, aside from killing him I should… serve him. I cleared my throat. A wife’s duty is to satisfy her husband’s desire, which I shall be willing because of this mission. I pursed my lips, unwilling. I never had any man other than him in my original world so now I was hesitant if I could even word that I'd be willing to shoulder a wife's duty.
Zaren smirked, “Lost your determination?”
“No.... Your Grace.”
“?”
“I…” I gripped my skirt, shy, “really want to be your wife. I will be loyal to whatever may come.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re the Duke.”
“There are other Dukes who could help you.” He straightened his posture, crossing his arms and peering into me with a narrow of his eyes.
“No one is as capable of doing so other than you, Your Grace."
He heaved a breath. "No had been so strong enough to share a carriage with me, uninvited, at that." His eyes glowed amusement, smirking in a sly manner.
I was guilty. Indeed, it was a mistake that I climbed here in his carriage on my own accord. Anyways, I have to marry him because his power was of higher than my Uncle.
The carriage stopped moving and when I was about to look outside, I heard him spoke.
"Check what I sent to your Uncle and consider it."
"To my Uncle? What is it...?"
He motioned that I move out with a smiling face, as I blushed at the smile I had never seen for so long. I bowed when the carriage began moving and turned to face where I was at. Surprising, huh. He actually sent me home. How considerate contrasting his title 'Living Demom'.
I closed my eyes, and turned away. My Uncle hates it when I make a mistake so there was no doubt he'd punish me at home. I looked up at the dim sky. Well, the rain will come so it’s better for me to go inside before I get wet. Zaren Valkyrine… Why do you have Zhiven’s face?
“Amari!” My Uncle’s voice was loud and clear. He must have heard that I failed in wooing Duke Valkyrine. Such a headache. Dealing with Duke Valkyrine was as hard as cutting diamond with my bare hands without magic.
The servants bowed at me as I approached my Uncle, who seemingly looked happy. Shouldn’t he get mad at me?
“Amari, you did well, so good! I am proud of you. Now, our plan is going smoothly!” He had a wide grin on his face that made me confused. What was his celebration?
“What are these piled gifts, Uncle?”
My Uncle gazed at me, baffled and smirked. “You’re going to become a Duchess of Valkyrine. What do you mean?!”
“... H-Huh?!!” I gaped, covering my mouth and looking over at the gifts. Did he not reject me? Wait, what happened? I was clearly rejected earlier, though! Did I just really charm him using my beauty? Now that I think about it, he told me to check what he sent to my letter. Was it marriage proposal?
This was such a twist of events.
I stammered, “U-uncle, are you sure? This was from Duke Valkyrine?”
He laughed in delight, “Look, look. He even sent an official document asking for your hand into marriage! How meticulous of Duke Valkyrine!”
My point exactly. So, even before I asked him to marry me, he have already written a proposal to me? My Uncle praised Zaren endlessly but I was just standing there, confused. It felt like Duke Valkyrine prepared this beforehand. He couldn’t have that much time to make an official document of asking my hand into a marriage when I just proposed to him.
Does that mean he liked me, too? I pondered about it.
“Uncle, when were these gifts sent?”
“Just before you got here, Amari.”
“....”
That man must be also smitten over Amari’s beauty. As expected, no one was a stone in front of this gorgeous face of Amari. The only thing I envy about her was she easily got Zaren’s heart. Maybe this what they called Pretty Privelege I never had for my entire life. But now that I am Amari Inlan, the body i took over after being transferred into this world, I could use it to my full advantage.
The news that Duke Valkyrine asked my hand into marriage spread like wildfire. At first, people were gossiping that the Duke wouldn't want to marry as sickly as me. The outsiders only knew the real Amari's sickly body but they don't know that I have taken over this body, hence I was fine as a smooth linen. Since the Emperor has given him a decree that he could marry anyone he likes, no one could win over against him.
I, too, had to ready a lot of things. The Duke sent a designer for my wedding dress and the dresses I’d wear when I became his wife. It was quite sweet, although I am not certain how did this face of mine get him head over heels. Well, Amari was seriously gorgeous doubtlessly. I am so jealous of her, really. I wanted to have this face too, not as Amari but as Yula.
It took almost a month for the preparation. I was also thrilled to think that the face I got married before somehow was becoming my husband, for the second time. Anyways, I was just exhausted. For these past weeks, servants didn’t leave my side, they’re giving me such an hour-long bathe for my wedding night. I blushed at that thought.
I had a lot of doubts whether marrying him was the correct choice. Looking at my current situation, there was no possible way. I knew I could be someone he could use, and he was someone I could see, too, for the power. In order for me to unravel the truth why I was here in the first place. The real Amari died then my soul got here, then I woke up from a coma. The memories of Amari in me were all hazy, the only vivid was when her parents were killed when she was five years old. Her parents were good people but their deaths were unknown. As such, as I embodied this body, the least I could do was to discover why they were killed. I had many things to resolve that was why I wanted to borrow Duke Valkyrine's power.
When the wedding came, I was also nervous. The same face I married in my original world was the face I am marrying again in this world. Sounds crazy, I admit. Moreover, I was also busier than I was. The wedding dress came earlier- adorned with accessories, there were laces around the skirt, a white long dress that definitely glorified the title 'Duchess'. It was a dress so extravagant and pretty that I doubted if it was really for me. After a long preparation, I then got into the bride's carriage- further decorated luxuriously.
I was in the carriage waiting for him to open the door and take my hand to walk on the aisle. As much as possible, I want this to end as soon as possible because I wanted to rest. At the same time, Duke Valkyrine gently opened the door and extended his hand to me. His gray showed resembled the glory as if ryhtmically danced with the wind, his eyes on me, even his hand was gently outreached towards me. No wonder why ladies proposed to him every now and then.
He’s so… handsome. Amongst all the noblemen I've seen, I could vouch that Duke Valkyrine was far handsome than them, epitome of handsomeness, to be frank.
I blushed, as I looked away. I held his hands and climbed down from the carriage, bashful. Zaren made all the preparations; inviting people, my dress, his clothes, the venue, literally everything was made by him. He really was meticulous.
I stared at him, praising him in my heart because unlike me, who was tired of studying etiquettes and manners as a Duchess, he was also tired, more than what I feel.
He then whispered into my ear, “Wife, reserve your eyes for later at night.”
“....?!”
I didn’t know he was shameless!?