AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Some even say that he has succumbed to the temptations of the arcane.
That he drinks the blood of his enemies.
Not that I believethat.
Since he returned from battle, Corvan Duthriss hasn’t returned to Lukiria once; not even for the Midwinter Ball.
It’s as if he just wants the world to forget about him.
“Y-you can’t send me to Tyron.” The words fly from my lips before I even realize what I’m saying. “Corvan Duthriss is a brutal man… a madman. And Tyron…”
It’s as remote and forbidding a place as I’ve ever heard of. If I set foot in Tyron Castle, I’ll never escape.
Baron Solisar sees my distress. I can tell that it satisfies him. My father, I think, always resented the fact that, I, his firstborn, turned out to be a girl.
And he hates the fact that I can do all the things my brothers can.
I can ride a horse. Shoot a bow. Read and write.
Aswell, if not better than them.
My brothers were the ones that taught me when my father wouldn’t allow it; when he was off on one of his manybusiness trips.
My dear brothers, Aderick and Kastel.
Now I understand why they weren’t summoned here for lunch.
They would be livid.
Father’s gaze crystallizes. “No matter what state of mind he is in nowadays, he’s still thecrown prince.Do you understand what it means for our family to marry intothatfamily? Do you know what we gain in exchange foryougaining such a powerful husband? Emperor Duthriss has agreed to admit Kastel and Aderick to the Imperial Knights’ Academy in Lukiria. When each of them graduates as a Knight of the Empire, they are to be granted their own lands and titles. They are to be given the rank of Viscount.”
My eyes widen in surprise.
My brothers don’t care about Imperial Academies and titles. They’ve said so themselves.But they are young and naive, and even I can’t deny the magnitude of the emperor’s offer. In Rahava, it’s almost unheard of to cross ranks.
It’s a once-in-a-century opportunity.
A life-changing opportunity.
But not for me.
Bitterness rises in the back of my throat. “And what about you, father? What doyougain from all of this?” I should bite my tongue right now, but I can’t. “Did Duthriss agree to pay off your mountain of debts?”
Baron Solisar is already out of his chair. He crosses the floor, his boots ringing loudly on the cold stone.
His hand connects with my cheek,hard.
Stinging pain rips through my face. I cradle my cheek, staring up at him in disbelief.
Bloody bastard.Maybe living with the Cursed Archduke of Tyronwill be better than staying with you.
“Lucar,enough,” my stepmother says softly.
As always, father ignores her. “You do not get to question my authority, child.Ever.I will not hear another word of dissent from your impudent little mouth. If you wish to survive in Tyron Castle, then you will do your best to learn to hold your tongue. For your own benefit, Finley, I would strongly suggest that now is the time for you to develop a shred of common sense and learn to act like a proper fuckinglady.The Archduke is not kind to those that disobey him.”
Why do I feel like throwing up all of a sudden?
“And do not say a word of protest to your brothers, Finley. Do you want to lay waste to their futures; to burden them with unnecessary guilt? As far as they’re concerned, you haveagreedto this union.”
