The following morning, Duncan returned to the mansion after attending to a few matters outside. As soon as he arrived, Lucas greeted him with a bow.
"Good morning, my Lord."
"Good morning, Lucas," Duncan replied.
"My Lord, Lady Ruby has been waiting for you. She wishes to speak with you." Lucas briefly explained the conversation he had with Ruby the previous day and confessed that he had told her everything regarding Alora.
"I see," Duncan said before making his way toward the garden.
Ruby was tending to her flowers when Duncan arrived. She carefully planted a few roses before dusting the soil from her hands. Seeing her son, she smiled warmly.
"Good morning, Mother," Duncan greeted, bowing respectfully.
"Good morning, my dear." Ruby gestured toward a nearby bench. "Come, sit with me."
The two sat together beneath the shade of a flowering tree.
"I believe you already know why I called you," Ruby began.
"Yes, Mother." Duncan smiled faintly. "It's about the girl."
"And your future wife," Ruby added.
Duncan sighed softly.
"I'm happy that you helped that poor girl. Your intentions were good, and I'm proud that you chose kindness." She paused before continuing. "But Duncan, don't become too close to her. She's a commoner, and people may misunderstand your kindness. Worse still... she may misunderstand it herself."
"Mother," Duncan chuckled, "you worry too much. I'll marry when I'm ready."
"I know, my son, but the time has come for you to start thinking about marriage." Ruby folded her hands neatly on her lap. "If not Maya, then perhaps I should begin searching for another suitable lady."
Duncan immediately shook his head.
"No. I don't want an arranged marriage. As for Maya..." He smiled. "She's my childhood friend and my best friend. I've never seen her as anything more."
Ruby nodded knowingly.
"I thought as much. Unfortunately, the rest of society doesn't. People have already begun whispering that the two of you are secretly engaged."
"I know," Duncan admitted. "I once asked Maya if she had found someone she wished to marry, but she told me she hadn't found the right man yet."
Ruby sighed.
"She's already twenty-one. Before long, people will begin questioning why she still isn't married."
After a brief silence, she looked directly at Duncan.
"And another thing... I don't want you giving Maya false hope. The longer these rumors continue, the more she'll believe she already belongs to you. Let her find someone who truly loves her."
Duncan smiled mischievously.
"What if I decide to marry Maya after all? I'm sure you'd be happy."
Ruby laughed.
"I do like Maya."
She paused before shaking her head.
"But as my daughter-in-law... no."
Duncan raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"She has quite a temper. If I weren't your mother, I'm certain she would've shouted at me by now."
The two shared a laugh.
"I like Maya," Duncan admitted, "but I've never imagined spending the rest of my life with her. As for marriage... I'm simply waiting for the right person."
Without realizing it, Alora's smiling face flashed across his mind.
Ruby noticed the small smile on his face but chose not to ask questions.
"I trust your judgment," she said gently. "Just don't take too long. I'd like to see my grandchildren before I grow too old."
Duncan laughed.
"I'll do my best, Mother."
After bidding her farewell, he left the garden.
Ashbourne Mansion
At the Ashbourne estate, Damon made his way toward Maya's room. He had spent the entire night thinking about their conversation and had made up his mind.
He knocked gently.
"Come in," Maya answered.
Damon entered the room.
"Good morning, Father," Maya greeted respectfully, bowing her head.
"Good morning, my child."
He took a seat across from her.
"I spoke with your mother yesterday, and we've reached a decision."
Maya immediately sensed something was wrong.
"What decision?"
"We're going to begin searching for a husband for you."
"No!" Maya exclaimed, rising to her feet. "I want Duncan."
Damon sighed deeply.
"So we're back to Duncan."
"He'll marry me, Father. He's only taking his time."
"Time?" Damon repeated. "Time is exactly what you no longer have."
He stood from his chair and slowly walked around the room.
"I've tried to reason with you, Maya, but you're too stubborn to listen. Rumors are spreading that Duncan is involved with a commoner. Whether they're true or not doesn't matter. What matters is that if Duncan truly wanted to marry you, he would've asked for your hand by now."
"He will," Maya insisted stubbornly.
Damon shook his head.
"I've heard enough."
He turned toward the door.
"I've already begun arranging a marriage between you and another noble lord."
Maya's eyes widened.
"You'll marry him."
"And that's final."
Without waiting for her response, Damon walked out of the room, leaving Maya standing in stunned silence.
The moment the door closed, her knees gave way. She collapsed onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow as tears streamed down her cheeks.
A gentle knock interrupted her sobs.
"Come in..." she whispered weakly.
The door opened.
"Maya!"
Maya immediately looked up.
"Clara!"
She rushed forward and embraced her friend tightly.
"Clara!" Maya exclaimed, pulling her friend into a tight embrace.
Clara laughed softly. "I've missed you too."
"When did you return?" Maya asked, wiping the tears from her face.
"Just this morning. I've been in Valtheris attending my sister's wedding." Clara sat beside her on the bed. "It was beautiful. They looked so happy together. You could tell they truly loved each other."
The mention of marriage caused Maya's smile to disappear.
"What happened?" Clara asked, noticing her friend's expression.
Unable to hold it in any longer, Maya told her everything—her father's ultimatum, his decision to find her another husband, and her fear of losing Duncan.
When she finished, Clara sighed.
"Maya... I think your parents are right."
Maya looked away.
"If Duncan truly intended to marry you, he would've proposed by now. People already believe the two of you are engaged, yet nothing has happened."
"Everyone keeps saying that," Maya muttered sadly. "I don't know what to do anymore. How can I tell a grown man to marry me?"
"You can't," Clara replied gently. "In our society, it's the man who asks for a woman's hand, not the other way around."
She hesitated before continuing.
"If I were you... I'd consider marrying the man your father chooses."
"No!" Maya snapped, standing abruptly. "I can't marry a man I don't love."
She clenched her fists.
"I know what's happening."
"What do you mean?" Clara asked.
"It's that commoner."
Clara frowned.
"What commoner?"
Maya told her everything that had happened at the bakery and again at the King's birthday celebration.
When she finished, Clara couldn't help but laugh.
"Maya... a lord marrying a commoner? That's almost impossible. Noblemen don't marry commoners—they simply enjoy their company. What makes you think Lord Duncan would marry her?"
Maya lowered her gaze.
"It's the way he looks at her."
She swallowed hard.
"He has never looked at me that way before."
After a brief silence, Maya leaned closer and lowered her voice.
"Can I tell you something?"
Clara nodded.
"Of course."
"I was the one who started the rumors about Duncan and that commoner."
Clara's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Maya!"
"That's too extreme."
"What were you thinking?"
"I only wanted to keep her away from him," Maya replied defensively. "Girls like her never miss an opportunity to get close to nobles."
"But this could make everything worse," Clara warned. "What if Duncan discovers the truth? He'll never forgive you."
Maya remained silent.
After a long pause, Clara let out a deep sigh.
"I don't agree with what you did."
She reached over and held Maya's hand.
"But you're my friend, and I want you to be happy."
Maya's face brightened.
"Really?"
Clara smiled faintly.
"Really."
Maya threw her arms around her.
"Thank you... thank you so much."
The two friends remained in each other's embrace for a while before Clara finally took her leave.
That evening, Maya made her way to her mother's room.
"Mother..."
Evelyn looked up from the embroidery she was working on.
"What is it, my dear?"
Maya walked over and knelt beside her.
"I heard what Father said."
Evelyn sighed.
"So did I."
"I don't want to marry another man."
"Maya..."
"I only want Duncan."
Evelyn gently held her daughter's hands.
"My child, sometimes the person we love isn't the person we're meant to spend our lives with."
Maya shook her head repeatedly.
"No."
"I'll never love anyone else."
"I'll wait for him."
"And if he never chooses you?" Evelyn asked quietly.
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
"He will."
"You don't know that," Evelyn replied softly.
"I do."
"Maya..."
"If I can't marry Duncan..."
She looked directly into her mother's eyes.
"I'd rather die."
Evelyn froze.
Her face drained of color.
"Maya..."
"I mean it."
"I won't marry another man."
"I'd rather end my life."
Evelyn immediately embraced her daughter.
"Don't ever say such a thing again."
Tears filled her own eyes.
After calming Maya down and putting her to bed, Evelyn quietly left the room.
She walked through the silent hallway, deep in thought.
"If arranging a marriage with Duncan is the only way to save my daughter's happiness..."
She stopped walking.
"Then I'll speak with Lady Ruby myself."
Perhaps...
The two families could form an alliance.
Perhaps...
There was still hope.
With that thought, Evelyn made up her mind.
Tomorrow...
She would pay Lady Ruby a visit.