Page 7

7

The Betrothal Contract

A storia excused herself to the gardens after dinner. Emmett offered to walk with her, but she told him she wanted to be alone. He gave her a gentle, understanding smile and kissed her forehead before he and Silas retreated to the library.

Dinner was torture. How come enduring one suitor— he —was more insufferable than the bunch of suitors who had dined with her and her family before?

She knew why. And she hated it. Oh, if only she could die of humiliation! It was eating her up. If she saw him again, that would be it. She would drop dead.

A rustle among the bushes behind her made her twirl around, hands at the ready. “Who is there?”

A tall silhouette entered her line of sight. “Just a man looking for his betrothed.”

Astoria stiffened. “What are you doing here?”

“I think I just answered that.” He kept walking towards her, and as he neared, moonlight illuminated his face enough to reveal his infuriating smirk.

Powers brimmed at her fingertips. “Come any closer, and I will strike,” she warned him.

Silas stopped and raised his palms in mock surrender, his smirk widening. “You insult me, Princess. Do you really take me for a fool, to try something as reckless as laying a hand on you?”

Astoria rolled her eyes. “I insult every man who tries to woo me.”

“Oh, darling, you think I am trying to woo you?” He laughed, deep and rich.

Astoria narrowed her eyes into slits. “What did you just call me?” she asked slowly, menacingly, even though she had heard him quite well.

Silas tilted his head and grinned devilishly. “Why, do you want me to call you that again?” He paused, and before she could retort, he crooned huskily, “ Oh, darling… ”

Astoria flushed at his seductive tone. Her anger flared up. “You—You—Leave me alone if you want to stay in one piece!”

If possible, he only looked more amused. “Are you threatening me, beloved?”

Her fluster deepened. Beloved! He must have a death wish.

“Let me be clear.” Astoria shook a furious finger at him. “I am not, and I never will be, your beloved anything .” Before he could interject with another infuriating response or worse, an endearment, she added, “And if you ever call me that again, you better hope I don’t murder you in your sleep, Mr. Silas!”

Her words had no desired effect on him. From the way his eyes twinkled, she knew she was getting another infuriating response from him.

“Oh my, my, are you already thinking of sharing a bed with me, darling?” he tsked with a cocky grin.

Astoria’s jaw dropped, and judging by the heat overtaking her face, she bet she looked like a tomato. He wasn’t satisfied with humiliating her in front of her people, but he had to take every opportunity to do so in private as well?

If she could drop dead now, she would be immensely grateful. Another second of this humiliation was more torture than what she endured back at dinner.

But, she wasn’t dropping dead, nor was anyone coming to her rescue. She should face this head-on, just like she’d faced all her other suitors. And luckily for her, she knew just how to turn the tables.

Astoria put on a seductive smile and batted her eyes. Something like surprise raced across his face, and that was enough encouragement for her to push forward with her game.

“Perhaps I am,” she said in a tone she hoped was sultry and stepped forward until she was right in front of him, their bodies nearly brushing. She tilted her head and looked into his eyes boldly, placing a hand on his chest. “I bet you are too.”

She trailed her hand down, feeling the hard planes of his body, and was surprised by how it sent her heart racing like a wild horse.

She hadn’t expected that, and her face burned at the realization that he was the first man she wasn’t related to that she had touched. And so intimately. But she couldn’t lose her composure now; she needed to play this right.

Silas’ smirk was unwavering as he caught her wrist, ending her touch as he pried her hand off him. He held it in the air. Astoria’s smile had almost turned into a victorious smirk, but he leaned down hastily and murmured, “I know what you are doing, Princess. I assure you, it’s not working.”

Astoria’s breath caught, both by the nearness of his face and at his words. Perhaps, this wasn’t the best decision, after all. She wasn’t an expert in flirting or had flirted at all. All she was good at with men who tried to woo her was insulting them. Apparently, even that did not affect this man.

What was he made of? Stone? Iron?

“If you do not step back, I might be tempted to kiss you.”

Astoria jumped back, putting a decent distance between them. She glared at him. “And then my brother—my brothers —would make entertainment out of punching you.”

“You forget I can defend myself better than anyone else in the entire kingdom.”

Astoria withheld the urge to punch his smirking face herself. “For a street performer, you have an enormous ego and quite the nerve.”

“That might be the nicest thing you have spoken to me today.”

Astoria picked up her skirts. She couldn’t stand with him for another second. “Well, good— bad night ! Have a nightmarish sleep, Mr. Silas!”

With that, she stomped past him towards the castle. He had to ruin not only her day but her night and a peaceful garden stroll as well. Aggravating man!

Silas laughed from behind, seemingly pleased with himself. “I’m looking forward to marrying you, Princess! Life with you is going to be so entertaining.”

Oh, he had better hope she didn’t strangle him before their wedding day! She could barely tolerate him for five minutes, let alone two days or a lifetime. If her brothers somehow came up with a loophole and saved her, she would be forever in their debt.

If not, she would go from the Unyielding Princess to a mad woman in no time.

* * *

The next morning, Astoria was summoned to her father’s study before breakfast. She entered with Skylar in her arms and froze at the sight of her betrothed on a chair across from her father.

Silas turned. Their eyes locked. He smirked slightly and rose.

In an instant, Astoria was taken back to the day she walked into her father’s study and it was Wizard Orion in Silas’ place. It felt like a very long time ago.

Astoria ignored him and how her heart jumped at last night’s recollection and averted her eyes to her father’s smiling face. A smile that made him look ugly. Next to him stood one of his scribes who executed a bow at her sight and continued shuffling through the papers in his hands.

Her stomach dropped in dread. She knew exactly why she was summoned today.

Sky, do me a favor and get Emmett, please.

This is what I think it is, isn’t it? Skylar asked and didn’t wait for her answer. He hopped down and scrambled out the door.

If Emmett and Silas haven’t found a loophole yet, my fate is going to be sealed, yes.

Don’t worry. Just tell me where you think I can find your brother since he wasn’t in his room when we left the suite.

Astoria immediately realized where he would be. He promised he wouldn’t rest until he found a loophole. Library. He’s in the library.

Alright. Buy me some time.

Astoria closed the door behind her and walked to the center of the room, feigning nonchalance. “You called for me, Father?” she asked, lifting her chin with mustered courage.

“Yes, my daughter, please take a seat.” The king waved towards the vacant chair next to Silas.

Astoria ignored her betrothed as she grabbed the chair and dragged it away from him before sitting down. In her peripheral view, she saw him sit back as well, the smirk still on his lips.

“I hope you both know why you have been called in here?” The king looked from Astoria to Silas, his eyes twinkling.

“Yes—”

“No, Father. Would you care to explain?” Astoria interjected, keeping her expression and voice blank.

“Oh, I thought it was obvious!” Usually, her nonchalance would annoy him, but today, her father was too cheerful to be annoyed. “You two are here to sign your betrothal contract. Since the wedding is the day after tomorrow—”

“Yes, since the wedding is in two days, why not postpone it until then?”

The king frowned at her. So his good mood could be shaken. “Because that is how it’s done in our kingdom, which of course, you are aware of, my daughter. Any couple getting married should sign the betrothal contract before their wedding.”

“Oh, I am willing to bet that no one has ever signed a betrothal contract merely two days before their wedding.” Astoria gave a hollow laugh. She knew she was being ridiculous, even annoying, but she needed to buy Skylar time to get to the library and return with Emmett.

“Astoria.” The king sighed exasperatedly and gave her a pointed look. “You knew this was expected of you from the beginning.”

Astoria had plenty of retorts waiting at the tip of her tongue, but strangely today, she didn’t feel up for a fight. So she gave up on that topic and moved on to her next option to buy Skylar time. She glanced at the scribe who was watching her and her father with apprehension, familiar with their heated arguments and her threats.

Astoria smiled sweetly at him. “Lord Fern, would you please read me everything written in those papers that I am to sign, so I can make sure I’m not getting myself into a trap.”

“Of course, Your Highness, if it’s alright with His Majesty…” He trailed off, glancing at the king. At her father’s wave of hand, the older man adjusted the spectacles on his nose and began to read.

Astoria put on her best listener expression and seized the opportunity to telepath with Skylar.

Sky, did you find him?

I just turned the corner to the library, Princess. Are you successful in buying me time?

Yes, but please hurry back.

I will, but I haven’t figured out how I am supposed to tell your brother the urgency of the matter.

Just grab his pants and pull him towards the door. Bounce if you have to, with wide eyes, to show him the urgency, and pull at him again.

Oh, the things I do for you. Fine, I shall make myself an idiot, then.

Did you enter the library?

Yes, I am running through the bookshelves. I think I can hear them.

Them?

“Princess Astoria?”

Astoria snapped back to focus and looked at Lord Fern, immediately pulling off an apologetic smile. “Sorry, what were you saying?”

The man cleared his throat. “I was asking if you have anything you wish to add.”

She blinked. “Add to… I apologize, I was a little distracted. Could you please repeat that part?”

A muffled snicker reached her ears and she snapped her gaze to her right. Silas had that infuriating smirk on place as though it was a permanent feature on his face. He rested his chin on his hand, elbow propped up on the armrest, and watched her with amusement. He used his index finger to tap thrice on his temple, his smirk growing.

He knew.

Ugh. She hated his observance.

Astoria brought her attention back to Lord Fern, who watched them with interest, along with her father, before he cleared his throat and went back to reading the part she had missed.

He had been asking if she had anything to add to their vows for the wedding.

Astoria shrugged and opened her mouth to tell him no when Silas beat her to it.

“I would like to propose something, if I may.”

Astoria turned to him, surprised. What could he possibly want to add to their vows? Wasn’t what they already had torturous enough?

“Of course, son, you have a say in this as much as Astoria does.”

Son? Astoria gaped at her father. When was the last time he called either of her brothers ‘son’? Vicious snake. He only cared about his gain, and he was trying to get into her betrothed’s good graces.

Astoria could only imagine what they would plan together if these two bonded. If it ever came to that, Astoria swore to herself that she would do everything in her power to overthrow her father and give the throne to Emmett, even if doing so would paint her as a wrongdoer.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Silas began in his smooth, deep voice. “I was wondering if we could add something like not using our powers against each other. I believe it would be a wise and rather safe move towards the beginning of my and the princess’ life together, given that we are rocky at the moment.” He finished with a nervous chuckle as if to prove his point.

Her father’s eyes lit up at his suggestion. He turned to the scribe and asked him to add it to their vows, not even asking Astoria for her approval. But Lord Fern did. He met her eyes as if silently asking if she agreed.

Astoria gave a stiff nod. “I suppose that’s indeed wise and safe.” She spared her betrothed a glance and added, “Who knows what would’ve awaited me otherwise?”

She watched as his smirk slowly disappeared and the intensity from last night’s dinner took over his eyes. Astoria didn’t look away this time. She wondered what it meant. Only when he showed no sign of looking away did she decide to avert her eyes to the scribe, who was scribbling the addition into one of his papers.

Once he was done, Lord Fern straightened and continued reading. Astoria tried not to telepath with Skylar and zone out on him again. As anxious as she was to know if he was able to get her brother, she didn’t want to be caught distracted and risk one of Silas’ smirks again.

The door flung open behind them.

“What is the meaning of this?” The king jumped to his feet.

Astoria turned to see Emmett barge in, Skylar in his arms, his dark hair disheveled and his attire slightly wrinkled. Astoria’s hand flew to her chest. Heavens, did he spend the night away in the library looking for a loophole?

That was when she realized he wasn’t alone. Silas was behind him, giving the impression that he too had been in the library all night. Astoria thought her heart couldn’t take anymore when her eyes landed on the last person.

Jasper.

She froze. His attire wasn’t disheveled, but his hair looked like he had been raking his hands through them. What was he doing here?

He was helping your brothers find the loophole and brought a bunch of books from his own library about law and annulment—your brother’s words, Skylar said.

Astoria met Jasper’s gaze in disbelief. He dipped his chin in an acknowledging nod.

“What is going on here, Father?” Emmett demanded.

“Well, what do you see?” the king retorted.

Astoria’s eyes brushed past her betrothed as she turned towards them. She did a double take.

Silas regarded Jasper with hardened eyes.

Now, that was interesting. Did he see Jasper as a threat? Did he somehow realize Jasper was in love with her, from the way he looked at her?

Did he fear losing his chance to marry her and become a lord, thinking Jasper was here to convince the king?

Suddenly, Astoria became fully aware of how little she knew the man she was supposed to marry in two days, compared to Jasper, whom she had known most of her life.

Had Jasper been right when he asked if she’d rather marry him than a complete stranger?

At the time, she had shoved the question aside, never believing she’d reach this point. But now that she was here, the weight of the situation hit her.

Would she rather marry Jasper than this stranger?

But would Jasper even take her back? She would have to find out. It was pathetic and desperate of her, but there was no way in all the realms she would tarnish the name of the Unyielding Princess by cowering from this fate. If she had to marry, it might as well be someone she knew.

Her brothers had launched into an argument with their father by the time she zoned out into her thoughts. They were insisting on how much of a stranger her husband-to-be was to her and her father arguing back that he had no desire to postpone the wedding.

“Why don’t I marry Jasper, then?” she yelled over their raised voices.

The room fell into pin-drop silence.

Astoria felt the heat of Jasper’s gaze and turned to look at him. Her face burned with humiliation, but she pulled herself together and held his shocked gaze. “If he will take me, that is. He’s a Mage, too.”

Her heart pounded inside her ribcage like the relentless march of soldiers’ boots on a silent night. With seven pairs of eyes on her, the pressure on her rose to the skies. She dropped her gaze. Maybe this was when she was finally going to drop dead from humiliation.

What a fortunate, merciful end that would be.

Shut it, Astoria. Are you truly out of your mind? Skylar chided her.

Astoria didn’t respond. She didn’t want to miss the others’ reactions, which she would if she replied to Skylar. He was in one of his ‘adult’ moods now.

“I would.”

Her gaze snapped up to Jasper. “You would?” She couldn’t hide her surprise.

“I was ready to take you even when I knew you didn’t love me back,” he said gently, his eyes shining with sincerity, as though he was trying to remind her of his words from months prior.

Astoria almost smiled, but then, her father spoke. “Jasper, my boy, I adore you. You must know you are like one of my own sons to me, but Astoria cannot marry you.”

“Why not?” Emmett took a menacing step forward, clenching his fists.

“Because he’s not powerful enough for the union, why else?” he retorted, and added to Jasper, “No offense to you, my boy.”

“None taken, Your Majesty,” Jasper said, tying his hands behind him. “But may I ask, weren’t all the suitors you brought in for Storie before this man like me? And you were so keen for her to marry one of them. If I remember correctly, you weren’t exactly into Storie’s scheme of dueling the suitors .”

The king studied him, his way of ignoring a question that he couldn’t answer without humbling himself. “You sound so taken with my daughter. Why did you never try to compete for her hand?”

“In the tournaments?” Jasper asked incredulously and scoffed. “Because, unlike those buffoons, I’m not a fool.”

The king sighed. “Still, Jasper, I stand by what I said. You are not powerful enough for the union, nor were any of them. What we need is a powerful source against the Emperor, and Silas here is the most powerful we have yet seen. And—” He held up a hand as Emmett opened his mouth to argue “—Astoria has already signed a contract with me. I can show it to you if you like. She agreed to marry the one who defeats her in the duel. And that is Silas. Astoria is bound by the law to fulfill her end of the bargain. And, for your information, there is no loophole.”

He shot his sons a pointed look.

Someone must have tipped them off.

Astoria’s stomach sank as she let this information—the cold reality—sink in. Her fate was sealed. She was marrying the street performer who drove her insane.

When she looked at Silas, he was glaring at Jasper.

The next moments passed in a blur. Jasper stormed out of the room, Silas—her brother— paced to the side, Emmett hugged Astoria to him, and Silas, her betrothed, sat back in his chair with a clenched jaw as Lord Fern proceeded with the reading.

Then, Astoria was given an enchanted quill to sign her name. She hesitated a moment, holding the quill over the papers, and met her father’s gaze.

“You should know I am only doing this because I signed that contract stupidly. This isn’t your victory by any means,” she gritted through her teeth and signed the papers one by one. Then she dropped the quill and stormed out of the room, not sparing a glance at anyone.

Jasper was pacing down the hallway when she stepped out. He stopped as he saw her, marched towards her, grabbed her hand, and motioned for her to follow him silently.

Astoria looked over her shoulder to make sure her betrothed hadn’t stepped out yet and let him lead her away. Jasper pulled them into an alcove and released her hand.

“I have a plan,” he blurted out. “It’s the only loophole I have found. If you marry a Mage, your father’s contract will be void, since that is what he wanted for you in the first place. We can marry in secret. Emmett can officiate, and Silas and Skylar can witness. Once we are magically bonded, the papers you signed won’t hold. You will be free, and I will take care of you with my life.”

Astoria felt her breath leave her. Her eyes widened. “We can do that?”

“Yes.” Jasper nodded, his eyes shining. “Once we are bonded, there is nothing your father or your betrothed can do. We will be together.”

Guilt claimed her at his last words. He was doing this from his heart. He wanted her, wanted this. But she only wanted her freedom. His choice was selfless, but hers was an outwardly selfish one.

“Jas, you should know that I’m willing to do this only because I think you would be a better and safer choice than a stranger,” she told him earnestly. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Storie.” He sighed. “What did I say about my love being enough— wait, you didn’t let me finish my words then,” he teased with a small smile. She chuckled. “So, let me try again. Let my love be enough for both of us until your love joins the journey. What do you say about that? Do you still doubt my intentions?”

Astoria shook her head, pulling off a smile to ignore the burden weighing down on her heart. “It’s not that I don’t trust—” She stopped short as footsteps came down the hallway.

Jasper stepped back to thoughtfully leave distance between them so no one would find them in a scandalous position, even though they weren’t touching.

A shadow fell over the alcove. Astoria angled her head in time as her betrothed appeared at the opening. His eyes slid past her and narrowed as they fell on Jasper.

“What are you doing with my fiancée?”

The iron in Silas’ voice surprised her. She arched a quizzical eyebrow at him, but he was too busy pinning Jasper with a death glare.

Jasper glared back. “For your information, street performer, she was my friend before she became your fiancée. I believe I am allowed to talk with her as much as you are.” He took a step towards Silas and sized him up, but Silas was a head taller than he was. “And in this case, she is more interested in talking with me than with you.”

Silas merely smirked, but his eyes remained menacing. “Speaking of which, I would like to talk with my fiancée.” When Jasper made no move to leave, he added, “Alone.”

Jasper held his gaze a second longer before turning to Astoria.

“It’s alright, Jas.” She gave him an assuring nod.

Jasper nodded back with a clenched jaw and walked out of the alcove. As his footsteps faded into the distance, Astoria crossed her arms and leveled a firm look at Silas.

“What do you want?”

Silas turned to her from the hallway, probably after making sure Jasper was gone. He stepped towards her, the hardness in his eyes leaving, if not all the seriousness. The familiar intensity filled them.

“I know your father was unfaithful to your mother,” he began. “Correct me if I am wrong. Wasn’t he?”

Astoria gave a nonchalant shrug. “Everyone is aware of the royal scandal.”

“So, I take it the things I’ve heard aren’t wrong.”

Astoria narrowed her eyes at him. What was he trying to play at?

“No need to look so accusing, Princess Feisty. I was merely trying to confirm the old rumors before I made you a promise.” His lips twitched, but it was not a smirk. There was no wicked glint in his eyes either.

Astoria didn’t blink once. She even forgot the retort on the tip of her tongue at his nickname for her. And was that a smile?

He took her hand, causing her to uncross her arms. “What are you doing?” she blurted out, her voice so breathless it was barely audible. Her heart galloped.

Silas held her gaze, the intensity in his eyes unwavering. “I promise to be faithful to you, Astoria. As long as I live, I pledge myself to you and only you. I will never give myself to another woman, no matter how much you loathe and annoy me. And I expect the same from you.”

Without breaking the gaze, he lifted her hand to his lips, flipped it over, and pressed a kiss to her palm. “And your father won’t have a shred of victory from our union. I promise you that as well.” He dropped her hand and executed a quick bow. “I will see you, my Little Dragon.”

He left the alcove.

Astoria slumped against the wall and pressed her other hand to her chest, trying to calm the wild beat of her heart. But it didn’t help.

Her palm tingled from the kiss. Her knees trembled.

What was all that about? She asked herself.

The Unyielding Princess of Daliston had never been so confused in her life.