AllFreeNovel
Share Us
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.”
My insides twist. Tears prick my eyes. I want to scream, but I can’t.
Hold your tongue.
Ihatethat I have to heed father’s words.
If not for this betrothal, Aderick, the eldest of the two, would inherit a disaster; a barony in ruins, crippling debt that will take a generation to pay off, and the wrath of the Duthriss family.
Kastel would have nothing.
Just a dire future.
All because of my father’s pride and stupidity. The extension to the castle he commissioned lies in half-finished ruins, marble columns cracked and exposed to the elements, water and mud and snow pooling on the crumbling stone floors.
“At least let me stay a little longer,” I plead, my voice cracking. “Just a few weeks… until spring.”
Father stares down at me, his expression cold. “No. The Emperor has made it clear that you must reach Tyron before winter’s end. After you finish eating, you may go down to the stables and say your goodbyes to the boys. Then you will go to your mother’s chambers and allow her to choose attire that is a little more appropriate for your station. I willnothave you presenting yourself to the Archduke in trousers and a fucking tunic.” He shoots my mother a stern look. “I don’t know how you raised such an unladylike daughter.”
“I don’t know, either,” Dorava says softly. “But I will ensure that she is dressed in a manner that His Imperial Highness should find pleasing, at the very least.”
I glare at her, but she refuses to meet my gaze. Dorava has never said anything nasty to me. She’s never raised her hand in anger or been blatantly cruel. But she never stands up to father, either.
“Good.” My father returns to his seat. He picks up his silver fork and starts to eat.
Silence hangs over the dinner table like a cold, damp fog.
I force myself to eat. The food sticks in my throat. I can’t taste anything anymore.
I knew this day would come.
I just didn’t think it would come sosoon.
But I suppose all things must end sooner or later, and people like me, who have no power, will always be at the mercy of the ones that rule.
I can only hope that Archduke Corvan Duthriss isn’t as terrible as the stories make him out to be.
2
FINLEY
Ishift around on the hard, narrow bench, trying to make myself comfortable.
