01
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AdeLint ignored the voice in her head telling her not to do it, she knew that once her aunt found out, it would be over for her yet– her feet kept moving. "I can't wait to see that face when she finally finds out she is marrying an old man." Her cousin, AliCana spoke, her high pitched voice filled with glee. Letting out a soft breath, AdeLint managed to calm herself down as she skillfully climbed over the walls of the courtyard.
"I can't wait to see her ruined, I heard Mr XanDare loves fair and beautiful girls." Another voice chimed in, this one she recognized too well, AliBella, her eldest cousin– and her biggest torturer. AliCana chuckled while AliBella continued with her words. "Mother did us right on this one, we can finally get rid of that whore who thinks she is better than us– and I can finally get married to ClinTon." AdeLint could imagine AliBella's ugly face blushing, making her lips curled up in disgust. If she didn't need to urgently leave the house– which was her prison, she would have rushed into the room and given that bitch a mirror so she could see how ugly she truly is.
No, AdeLint told herself not to get angry lest her beautiful face got wrinkled, how would she find a good man to marry then? AdeLint quickly smoothened her features and emotions as she jumped down the fence. The moment she entered the sunflower field behind the house, her red lips rose in a gleeful smile. "Yes!" She exclaimed in triumph, the voices of her cousins still echoing in the distance, her eyes rolled, ignoring their stupid voices– if she hadn't needed to live with them until she turned eighteen, she wouldn't have suffered so much in just three years.
The mother and daughter trio almost ruined her beautiful face. As the wind picked up, AdeLint's silky black strands fluttered gently,she smoothed down her now worn out blue silk gown and adjusted her plain white jacket– just yesterday, AdeLint mistakenly found out that the man who was discussing her marriage with her aunt was a man in his sixties who could barely see his own hands, nonetheless her beautiful face– how could such a vile thing be deserving of her? And that stupid Clinton, he couldn't even go against his mother's wishes despite claiming he loved her. Whenever she thought of him, all she saw was a stupid log of sticks jumping up and down.
AdeLint was glad she had not given him anything of herself, they had not even held hands yet. Picking up her skirt, she quickly walked down the familiar path out of the sunflower field, down to town– where the crowd bustled, men in their silk, wide sleeved, floor length blazers, wide trousers and long sleeved round necks– women in their floor length, silk gown, with their wide sleeved jackets embroidered with different patterns, of flowers, butterflies, plants, clouds, annals and the likes, all in different arrays of bright and dull colors, some wore veils while some didn't.
The smell of salt, mixed with sweat made AdeLint wrinkle up her nose, she quickly put on the silk veil in her hand. Then she walked down the stoned path to the capital square which led to different paths. She took the market route so that no one would be able to find her amidst the crowd. The market bustled with merchants going and coming, selling silk dresses and flower shoes, hairpins, fishes and all kinds of sea food and crops– AdeLint avoided the market, and went through a more remote side where restaurants and shops lined up in roles.
She headed for the most remote place, and went straight to a dress shop. This was where her best friend and her owned a shop, of course no one knew except the two. She entered through the back door and arrived at the room reserved for the shop owner. LeiLani sat on the rosewood chair, making calculations on the abacus, not even raising her head when the door was pulled open. AdeLint collapsed on the chair before the table and took off her veil. "I am finished LeiLani!" AdeLint cried out, picking up a peach blossom pastry for herself.
"Just like every other time you come here, what is it this time?" LeiLani replied– without even lifting up her head.
"you haven't seen me in a month and this is all you have to say to me?" AdeLint complained, adjusting herself elegantly on the chair. "You know it's a privilege alone to behold a face like mine yet I come to you everytime."
" Yes, yes, you have a beautiful face, why don't you come and work so I can also keep my skin and face fresh like yours. I am too busy managing our shop to have time for myself." LeiLani wrote down the calculations she had just made. "Besides, you only come to me when you need my help, what is it this time, another man has been wrapped up around your charm, or have you finally found someone who does otherwise?" She placed down the pen in her hand.
"That's not it," AdeLint placed down the pastry in her hand. "My aunt wants to marry me away."
"Oh." LeiLani didn't show a hint of surprise, instead she asked. "Do you not like this one either? Does he have a crooked nose or does his eyes twitch too much or does he have a ugly face or… does his mouth stink, which one is it?" Since the moment AdeLint turned eighteen, she had been getting suitors, however none of them have been to her taste, not even one. AdeLint had complaints about each and everyone of them.
"He is an old man, I heard he can't even see his own hands, how can such an old hag deserve me? I need your help to get out of this, my aunt is serious about the wedding this time, she wants us to wed in a month." AdeLint's eyes followed LeiLani as she stood up and made her way to the door to Lock. LeiLani was a beauty, while AdeLint had the beauty of a bold seductress, LeiLani could be seen to be on the more soft and elegant side.
With soft doe eyes, pink lips, dark brown hair and milky skin, she had on a white silk gown which was paired with a purple jacket, both new, her hair was packed up in a half bun, held up by a plum blossom hair pin, while the rest of it cascaded down her back in soft, dark brown waves, her cheek was dusted with light blush and she had on a flower shaped earring and a white choker which held a purple begonia. A true beauty.
AdeLint sighed. "How is your marriage coming up? Is that bastard still refusing to propose to your parents or has he finally decided to do right by you?" AdeLint switched up the conversation, her friend's beauty making her think of how the man she fancied didn't deserve such beauty like her friend. "If he still hasn't gone to your parents for your hand in marriage, I will find you another man, he will be good looking enough for you– what do you think?"
"Worry about yourself." LeiLani replied– rolling her eyes– "we really need to do something about this, that old hag keeps trying to sell you for her own sake, why don't you leave that house? You might be able to find a man that is to your liking." LeiLani held her hand. "Is Clinton still refusing to go against his mother?"
"That bastard? I wouldn't have gone for him if he weren't slightly handsome." She rolled her eyes. "I have been thinking– since the right man refuses to find me, I might as well go seduce someone of high status, we are in the capital, there are a lot of men who are of high status, why should I keep settling for that ClinTon and those unworthy, scrawny, disgusting, infuriating, eye blinding and ugly old hags– I need to find someone who is worthy of me." AdeLint spoke with resolve, her gaze fixed on the carving on the wall. It was the carving of an enchanting and alluring fox, the carving that best described her.
The room descended in silence, AdeLint and LeiLani both lost in their thoughts– AdeLint wished she had not been born a merchant's daughter, that her parents had not died, at least she would still be able to find someone worthy of her. "Marriage is a lifetime issue, you can't just marry anyone." LeiLani spoke but AdeLint chuckled.
"I'd rather marry a rich and handsome man than marry a poor man who claims to love me but is unable to protect me. Money, power, status, that is all that matters, love?... it's just a tool poor and powerless people fool themselves with." Her fox eyes were filled with hatred and anger as her fist tightened. "If my father had been powerful enough…" She didn't need to continue her statement, LeiLani knew it all too well, had her father been powerful enough, her mother wouldn't have died the pitiful death she died.
Before they could say anymore words, they heard loud shrieks coming from outside. "It's the warlord! It's the war Lord! He is back!" A particular voice shrieked. The two friends exchanged looks before they both put on their veils and headed out to the streets to see what was going on. People were rushing from the remote places to the streets. AdeLint squeezed into the crowd, her heart beating quickly at the thought of finally seeing the rumoured war Lord. WickFord Fordham, he was said to be ruthless and evil but he had a bewitching look that made his enemies underestimate him.
Girls gushed from the side, men looked at him in respect, awe, fear, and amazement. It was particularly sunny that afternoon, soldiers in armors walked behind a man on a white horse, the man had on a white and silver armour, his face not clear from where AdeLint stood but she could feel the power radiating from him, he seemed to be on his mid twinties, he gripped on the rein of the horse, back straight, head held high and no matter how hard or loud the girls shrieked, he didn't glance at them.
The armour he had on was particularly dazzling, and he seemed like a bright light among the thousands of troops wearing black armory. His sword was strapped by his side, his skin a golden color beneath the sunlight and his hair– white strands blew softly with the wind as the horse walked softly– AdeLint heart suddenly started beating frantically– it was a first, she had never had this feeling before, admist the loud, cheering crowd, all she could see was him and nothing else.
Look here. She found herself saying in her heart, let me see your face. Her heart screamed, as if a spell was casted upon her, her feet moved and she found herself following him in the crowd, her feet moved fast, pushing the screaming girls away, she wanted to see him, to see his face. WickFord! WickFord!! Look at me… please. As if he heard her, he tilted his head to the side and their eyes met. She had never seen anyone with eyes so deep, so dark… so… so terrifying yet intriguing. She let out a soft yet sharp breath.
Time stopped and she couldn't look away, she wanted to speak, to smile or to wink at him– anything to leave an impression but she couldn't do so. "Ah!" Someone pushed her and she fell forward, out of the crowd– right in front of his horse. Her breath caught in her throat and she quickly stood up, but the man only casted her a glance before he looked away.
"Move."
"Huh?"
"Move out of the way." He casted her a dark gaze that sent shivers down her spine– she quickly moved to the side, it was then she noticed that the crowd had gibe silent. WickFord said nothing more, he took his gaze away from her, nudged his horse and the creature began to move, farther and farther away from her, while AdeLint stood rooted in her spot.
"AdeLint are you okay!" LeiLani quickly ran to her to check her up, her voice filled with concern, however– AdeLint couldn't hear a thing her friend said, her lips moved and she spoke the word every other girls in the crowd wished to but couldn't speak.
"I am going to marry him… WickFord Fordham
, I will marry him." She spoke with certainty.
~P-Lia~