The Scoundrel's Daughters

Engagement offers

Dmitry

As soon as Dina turned eighteen years old, our castle had been flooded by engagement offers from every corner of the Empire. We even received a few from nobles of the neighboring countries whom I helped out during the last war. Victor knocked on my door and walked in hesitantly handing me another stack of letters.

- What the actual f**k?! - I asked and he shrugged.

- Your daughter is intelligent and beautiful just like her mother. Also, she is YOUR daughter, honestly, this is what I've been expecting since she first opened her eyes. - I groaned and rested my head on my desk.

- This is ridiculous... I have a bad feeling about it. - Victor took a seat and started looking at the letters as my assistant.

- Well, I have my worries too, but not because of these letters. - he said and I lifted my head to look at him.

- Elaborate. - he nodded.

- Don't get pissed, but the public opinion on your two daughters is very different.

- How so? - I asked and Victor sighed.

- While Dinara looks like Lady Catherine used to, and she is the fruit of your love that's well-known in the whole Empire, Tatyana is very similar to Lady Rene, whose reputation was bad to begin with and with whom your marriage was an arranged one.

- But I married her again, and we love each other dearly. She is my second chance for the happily ever after. - I said and my heart hurt to the thought that a few idiots still had a bad opinion about Rene, their hostility seemed to get stuck on my dear little girl too.

- I know this, and many others too, but you know well Dima, that the opinion of the Empire is mostly the opinion of the Emperor. - I sighed. That old geezer, I should've killed with back then pretending it to be another accident like the one with the chandelier, but his son is no better. Only if Isaac would get out of the way, we could make Finley the Emperor. I shook my head chasing these thoughts away.

- Any idea what we could do? - I asked and the doors of my office opened.

- About what? - Rene asked while she walked in. She saw the stack of letters and sighed. Rene took them from my desk and out of Victor's hands. She walked to me and sat in my lap. After reading the names she put all letters together and with a wicked smile she set all of them on fire.

- My Duchess?! - Victor jumped up in surprise and Rene extinguished the fire as soon as only ashes remained from the letters. She turned to me, caressed my face and gave a kiss om my cheek before she said.

- Dina is not getting married until she wants to. - she hopped out of my lap and turned back from the door of my office. In her eyes the fire was still burning as she said.

- Anyone who tries to hurt my daughters, I'll make sure of the end of their lineage. See you at dinner Mitya! - she added sweetly and skipped away. Victor fall back on the sofa trying to calm his probably racing heart.

- What should we do? - he asked and I shrugged picking up my work.

- You heard the Duchess, Dina is not getting married yet. - Victor didn't dare to say anything else about the topic. At dinner I saw Dina's troubled expression.

- What's wrong my angel? - she avoided to look in my eyes and I saw Tanya holding her hand.

- Tell it to daddy Dina! - she encouraged her sister and I smiled at my youngest. Tanya speak only a little, she spent most of her time in the library, in the garden or following her siblings around. At the beginning I was worried that she might turn out to be a bit slow, but I understood, she is just being herself this way, and that's perfectly normal. Dina sighed.

-I got a letter from the Crown Prince. He invited me to the palace to "get to know each other" - she said quoting the content of the letter. I saw from the corner of my eye how Fin's grip got stronger on his knife. He matured a lot in the last year, but he still had a soft spot for Dina. To be honest, I wondered why he never tried to persuaded either of us to marry Dina to him. From the way he looked at her it was obvious that he loved Dina.

- Where is the letter? - Rene asked and Dina handed it to her. She read it, showed it to me and I've nodded.

- Do you want to go? - I asked and I could immediately tell from the grimace on my angel's face that she'd prefer to clean the stables instead. Rene chuckled and set tye letter on fire. Dina gasped, Fin grinned and Tanya nodded in approval.

- Mom, that was a letter from the Crown Prince... Wouldn't we be in trouble if I refrain from answering it? - Rene smiled.

- My angel, I'll answer it for you, no need to worry about it.

- Now I'm actually more worried. - she said and I couldn't hold my chuckle back.

- My little witch, could you please tell us what do you want to respond, so Dina could calm down? - Rene turned to Dina and in a soft voice she said.

- Dear Nephew, Unfortunately your manners are still lacking, but if you need me to visit you and give you a reminder of proper etiquette, I'd do it gladly. Everything for the family, am I right? Regarding your offer for my daughter and invitation we have to sincerely decline it. Dinara is not planning to get married soon, you on the other hand are getting out of time, so I'd hurry to find someone I can convince. If you need a more official reason, I'm sending my daughter to study abroad, so she won't be able to visit your Highness.

Sincerely, Duchess Rene Rankin. - Dina's jaw dropped and with a movement of her long fingers, Rene made her words into a letter.

- Shoul I call for Victor? - I asked and she nodded.

- I could send it to him with a magical bird, but let that fucker wait for a while! - she said and I held her hand giving her a kiss.

- Are you really sending me abroad? - Dina asked and I smiled at her.

- If you want to go. We have noticed with your mom, that the castle and the obligations to attend those damned parties were making you feel down. So, Rene thought, that a little change of air, some new experiences, might help you decide what you want to do in the future.

- You are still the heiress of the Rankin Dukedom, but if you don't want to, we won't force you. - Rene added and Dina's eyes sparkled happily. She even cried a bit. I got up and hugged her.

- Why are you crying my love? - I've asked and Tanya gave Dina a handkerchief.

- I didn't know how to tell you about how I felt lately. I knew you wouldn't get angry no matter what I do, but it's so good to hear that you noticed my struggle and offered me a choice. Other ladies have no choice at all whether it's about their marriage or future and for some reason, I thought I should act like that too. - I turned her to look into my eyes.

- I haven't risked my life at all those battles and worked my ass off ever since I inherited this title, to force anything onto any of my kids. Your lives are your decisions.

- I agree. We will give you advices and maybe we won't agree all the time with your decisions, but we promise to be there on the way and at the end of the road, making sure everything turns out to be right. - Dina hugged me and cried happily.

- I suppose this means you want to go to have some new adventures.-she nodded.

- You'll need a reliable escort. - Rene said and she pat Fin's shoulder.

- This handsome fellow will go with you and protect you, also I'm sending Magda and Jesse to join you two.

- Is that okay? - Dina asked and Fin stood up quickly bowing a bit to her.

- It would be an absolute honor to join you Dina! - she blushed a bit and we shared a knowing glance with Rene.

-You heard the dude, he is going with you. Not to mention, Finley also needs to learn more about the world, who knows what the future holds.

- Maybe both of you would profit greatly by learning about the situation in our Empire and get to know other people and countries. - Rene said.

- I have one condition only, you must come back the latest, to Tanya's debutant ball.

- That's four years daddy! I don't think I can be far from you, mom and Tanya for that long! - Dina said and I felt so proud.

- You can return whenever you want my angel.

- Finley can teleport you all home any time! You can even come back a few times and go again! The limit is only set by his abilities, and believe me if I say, your resources are pretty wide! - Rene said and I could see in her eyes how may trust she had in both kids. They weren't kids anymore even if neither of us wanted to accept it yet. Later that night, I held Rene in my arms and she sighed.

- This will be so difficult.

- I know , but we made tye right decision.

- I agree, if we wouldn't sent them away now to see the world, I'm afraid I might have kept them locked here till they grow old. - I kissed the back of her neck.

- Same here my little witch. They'll come home, maybe they'll visit as you said and go again when they want.

- That would be the best actually, but it's up to them.... - after some silence Rene asked.

- Mitya, are we old? - I turned her on her back and leaned above her. Rene's eyes sparkled in the night mysteriously and she looked even more beautiful than when I fell in love with her. I kissed her neck and started removing her nightgown. There were a few marks on her skin due to the pregnancy with Tanya. I knew she could've made them disappear, but I told her she shouldn't do it unless she is bothered by them. They were the first memories of Tanya's existence and her skin will always hold onto those sweet memories.

- We are not old at all my little witch. You are even more gorgeous than when I married you, and you'll only get more beautiful in my eyes as time passes. Because, you are my happily ever after. - Rene wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me deeply.

- I love you so much. - she whispered and I kissed her neck wandering down on her body while I whispered against her skin.

- I love you too, more than anything.