A few hours later….
Standing outside of a 10000 sqft mansion was Evangeline.
The mansion was Victorian style and had light gray stone walls and a green roof. The mansion had many windows, each window had a brown wooden trim and had velvet dark green curtains that covered the inside view. The front of the mansion had a fenced in dark brown porch with stone pillars and dark gray stone steps that led up to the front door. Around the trim of the mansion were short well kept bushes that had flowers growing in them.
The front yard of the mansion was an acre and had a gazebo, a stone fountain, and freshly trimmed grass.
She stared at the scenery around her, listening to the chirps of the birds and the footsteps of animals scurrying around her.
'Most people would see this and think I was the luckiest woman in the world… They would jump at the chance to live in such a beautiful place… Sir Dutton Rowe a successful business man, the envy of all Kingdom Sectar… He has everything, such a beautiful family… A wonderful home… Everything anyone could ever want…'
She walked up the stone stairs, making her way to the front door.
'Everyone wants to be him, every young man wants to marry into the family of such a successful business man… Who wouldn't want to be related to such a successful and kind Baron… But unless you were on the dark side of the city… You couldn't possibly know the truth… The truth he's hidden so well…'
She sighed as she opened the front door and entered the mansion.
She looked around her, seeing nothing but a dark empty room.
'My father has a major gambling addiction…'
She closed the door behind her, taking in the gloominess that surrounded her.
'We once had everything… We had so much until my father fell into the love of gambling… He won big one time, a million dollars at his finger tips… He thought if he won big once he could certainly do it again… But loss after loss, debt after debt… It had gotten so bad that no matter how big he won he could never escape the raging debt he owed… The depression soon got to him, and soon it turned into anger… The more he lost the angrier he got and with no where to put all that anger… He just directed it to me…'
She looked down at her hand, staring at the engagement ring.
'When the debts got out of hand he would sell the things in the home and when he ran out of things of his own to sell… He would turn to mine… Everything Cade gave me, except for the very few items I kept hidden he would sell… He would make a pretty good buck on them too… Always making enough money to save his life but never enough to fully get us out of debt… Even with all the business he gets it's still not enough… It's never enough… Besides the house, we have nothing… And if he finds this engagement ring, he'll sell it too… I must keep it hidden…'
"Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I'm rich, I'm rich again…" The sounds of Sir Dutton singing cut through the silence in the room, causing Evangeline to freeze.
'I have to get upstairs… Get out of here… He can't find this ring…'
She crept over to a wooden stair well going unnoticed by Dutton, she snuck up the stairs, to her room.
She rushed inside her room, quietly closing the door behind her, and turned around, leaning her back against the door.
Evangeline's room was 170 sq ft. The walls of the room were white and she had a singular twin sized bed that sat on the floor, a white vanity that had a circular mirror, and a circular window.
She sighed softly, walking over to her vanity.
'A perfect life… That's what they always uttered but they don't know… But how could anyone know… It's all hidden so well…'
She stared at herself in the mirror, sadness overwhelming her, as she reached out to touch her reflection.
'Why would he love someone like me…'
BOOM
Her bedroom door swung open, sending chills down her spine.
She looked towards the door, seeing Dutton coming into the room, holding a snowy blue dress in his hand.
The dress was floor length and had a high neckline. Around the bodice of the dress was a white swirl floral detail that faded down the skirt of the dress. The sleeves of the dress were bell styled and the skirt of the dress had three defined box pleats.
He strided into the room, humming a gleeful tune, as he made his way over to Evangeline.
"F-Father," She stuttered, stumbling back as she caught herself on the vanity, "Why are you so happy?"
"Put on the dress and I'll explain everything to you," He hummed, handing the dress over to her.
She stared at the dress, her body softly trembling.
"It's alright," He assured, "The dress is for you."
She reached out, touching the dress, the feel of the expensive fabric causing her to marvel.
"F-Father this…"
"I know," He interrupted, cheerfully smiling, "It's expensive. A dress worth thousands of dollars. Something fit for a princess."
She looked up at her father, her eyes big and wide.
"F-Father, how can we afford something so expensive," She inquired.
"I'll explain everything in a moment, but for now get dressed," He instructed, handing the dress over to her, "When you've gotten dressed, meet me downstairs in the living room. We have much to go over."
She glanced down at the dress and looked back at her father, nodding slightly, as he left the room, humming to himself.
She looked back down at the dress, hearing the door squeak closed, a small sigh left her lips as she looked back up at the door.
'What does he have planned,' She wondered as she looked at herself in the mirror, holding the dress against her body, 'Whatever he has planned… It can't be good.'
She took a deep breath, blowing away her nerves as she put on the dress.
'It's beautiful,' She thought as she marvelled at her reflection.
She looked towards her bedroom door, her heart heavied with concern.
"Don't keep him waiting," She uttered, touching the side of her face, "It's better to get it over with…"
She walked over to the door, each step feeling weighted.
'Only for a moment,'
She put her hand on the doorknob forcing herself to open the door.
"I'm rich, I'm rich,"
Sir Dutton's cheers echoed throughout the house.
She looked down at her engagement ring, remembering the proposal.
'No matter what happens, it doesn't matter… He can not take away the fact that you are an engaged woman now…'
She left the room, following the sounds of her father's voice to the living room.
The living room had tall arched windows that had green curtains covering them and a graystone fireplace. The entire room was completely bare, except for one singular white rug that sat in the center of their brown wood floor and a brown table that had sharp edges. The walls were colored in a muted olive green and on the ceiling was a circular sunroof. Around the room was a balcony that had a black metal banister around it.
Dutton stood in front of the windows, his back facing Evangeline.
She walked into the room, her mind feeling uneasy, as she forced herself to speak.
"F-Father," She stuttered.
He pulled back the curtains from the windows, the bright sunlight filling the room with light.
She put her hand up, shielding her eyes from the overwhelming sunlight, as Dutton turned around, staring at her.
"How beautiful you are," He complimented, marching over to her, "You are quite the showstopping beauty."
She stared at him as he grabbed on to her hand, her mind burning with fear.
"F-Father what is this all about," She questioned, her heart shaking with concern.
"You, it's all about you, you are the woman of the hour," He sang, rubbing her hand, "You are…"
He paused, feeling the ring on her finger, and looked down at her hand, seeing the engagement ring.
"What is this," He grilled, meeting her eyes, "Who's ring do you have on?"
"I-It's mine… Cade proposed and…"
"Cade, it's always Cade, that imaginary forest boy, it's getting old," Dutton grumbled, throwing down her hands, "When are you going to get over him?"
"Get over him? I'm engaged to him, I can't just get over him," She huffed.
"Well you're gonna have to, because you are engaged already," Sir Dutton hissed, turning away from her.
"Engaged already, what are you talking about," She questioned, getting in front of him, "I'm not engaged."
"Yes you are," Dutton lashed, "You are engaged to His Royal Highness Silas, The Grand Duke of Parola. He paid a pretty penny for your hand, it was an offer I could not refuse."
"What are you talking about, I accepted no proposal," She protested, "And you can not force me to marry into…"
SMACK
"You will marry him and you will go with him today,"
Dutton's words echoed through the room as Evangeline sat on the floor, touching her face.
Her cheek stung with intense pain from a fierce slap as she looked up at her father daring not to respond.
He pulled her up off the floor by the collar of her snowy blue dress. Forcing her to look into his eyes.
"I'm not asking you anymore, I'm telling you, the offer he made is worth more than your entire life. The amount of gold he offered will pay off all my debts and leave me living comfortably for the rest of my life. You have no choice in the matter, you will marry him," He demanded, his shouts stinging her ears.
She raised her hand, weakly pushing on his chest.
"I want to marry Cade, I have no interest in a man I barely know," She cried, barely able to speak.
"You have no choice," He barked, grabbing onto her face, "You will marry who I tell you to marry. I've already accepted the dowry."
She whimpered in pain as he threw her to the ground. Her cheeks now revealing light bruising.
"Father please," She begged, crawling over to his legs, grabbing hold of them, "Please I want to be with Cade, don't make me go to a man I don't know. Don't make me marry someone else."
He kicked her off, sliding her across the floor.
"That forest boy, you always talk about that forest boy. You know nothing about him, you have no idea of his origins, you say you love him but you've never seen his face because he hides from you. Only ever speaking to you from a distance, sometimes I wonder if he's even real or if you're just imagining things to get out of your duties as the daughter of a noble," He snickered.
"He's real," She screamed, using up all her energy, "He's real and he loves me and I love him. I won't marry anyone else. I refuse, and if you make me go I'll make the Grand Duke wish he never asked for my hand in the first place."
"You're going Evangeline, you are going to live with His Royal Highness and you will behave yourself or else I'll come over there and make you behave," He warned, towering over her, "This is an opportunity of a lifetime, you should be thanking me for helping you become a Royal instead you throw this tantrum and think I will put up with this nonsense? Well I won't! Not now, not ever. Now pack your things, the carriage will be here to take you before nightfall and you will go even if you have to be taken there kicking and screaming."
"Then that is what you'll have to do," She screamed, stumbling to her feet, as she flashed her engagement ring, "I am to be married to Cade of the Brightly Kingdom. I have no interest in Silas or any other man. You can not force me to go, I will not marry Silas, I will not have any other man other than Cade."
He grabbed her wrist, his grip causing her to yelp in pain.
"Let go of me," She shouted as she tried to yank her hand away.
He ripped the engagement ring off of her finger, pushing her down to the ground.
"You will forget all about this Cade forest prince and accept your life as a Duchess," Dutton fumed, turning away from her, "You belong to the Grand Duke of Parola now. Get over it."
He began walking away as she stumbled to her feet, rushing over to him.
"Give it back," She cried, trying to grab the ring.
"Get back," Dutton warned.
"Give me my ring, give it back to me now," She wailed, reaching for the ring.
"I said get back," Dutton shouted, shoving her away.
THUD
She stumbled backwards, the back of her head hitting the corner of the table.
She touched the back of her head and looked down at her hand, seeing her blood smeared on her fingers.
Her heart sank, as her vision went blurry.
"I told you to get back," Dutton quavered with widened eyes, "Why couldn't you just listen.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM
They looked over at the front door hearing intense knocking.
"Stay quiet," Dutton warned, "If that's him, I don't want him to see you in this manner."
She continued looking at the door, her vision going in and out as every sound echoed in her ears.
Step, step, step
The echoing sounds of Dutton's footsteps gave Evangeline an uneasy feeling.
"I have to get out of here," She whispered, as she heard the door screech open.
"Y-Your here," Dutton spluttered, "W-What might I owe…"
"I heard screaming all the way outside, what's going on in here," Declan questioned.
"I don't know what you mean," Dutton lied, taking a gulp of air, "Everything is okay in here."
Declan barged into the house, pushing Dutton out of the way, and looked over, seeing Evangeline laying on the floor.
"Miss Evangeline," He shrieked, rushing over to her.
'This must be Silas,' She thought, as her vision blurred, 'I won't let you take me away.'
"What did you do to her," He shouted, looking back at Dutton.
"She fell herself, I did nothing to her," Dutton deflected.
Declan looked back at Evangeline, reaching out towards her, "Don't worry Miss Evangeline, I'll get you some help."
"No," She screamed, pushing his hand away.
She stumbled to her feet, forcing herself to run to the door, as Declan tried stopping her.
"Get away from me," She screamed, pushing Declan out of the way.
She ran outside, stumbling down the steps as she felt herself slowly slipping out of consciousness.
She ran forward, tripping over her own feet, but before she hit the ground, Silas caught her.
He flipped her over to face him, as he cradled the back of her head.
She placed her hand on his chest, his familiarity creating a safe space for her.
"Help me," She whispered, passing out in his arms.
He looked down at his hand, seeing the palm of his hand covered in her blood.
His veins ran cold as Declan rushed out of the house, making his way over to them.
"Your Grace," He bowed.
"Get her to the carriage and attend to her wounds," Silas commanded, his body shaking.
"Yes, Your Grace," Declan nodded, scooping Evangeline up in his arms.
Silas darted into the house, his eyes filled with coldness as anger pulsated throughout his veins.
He glared at Dutton seeing him shivering in fear and rushed over to him, grabbing Dutton by the neck.
"Please Your Grace, I didn't mean to, I…"
"I warned you," Silas stormed.
"Your Royal Highness, when did…"
"In the forest glade… During the storm," Silas grumbled, "I warned you. I told you if you hurt her again I would cut out your tongue."
Dutton's eyes widened in realization.
"Cade," He uttered…