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1856 Words
Arden’s temper is always on the edge every time her mother brings back the past, saying that his decision has something to do with Arena Remington, his mate who died and disappeared years ago.
The Remingtons already knew that their daughter was already dead, which led every clan to try their luck on the Gunners for territory expansion by letting their daughters marry Arden, who’s now available to the public because of his mom’s vulgar declaration about his single status.
The reason he’s also eager to choose a girl is that Arden is already dealing with his mother’s antics and her plans for his life, and he just wants to end it.
Well, yes, she looked exactly like Arena, but that’s my least concern because all I want right now is someone to bear my child and to shut my mother up about these lineages she is talking about.
Mrs. Gunner failed to stop his son from throwing a grand party. She went where Erina is while the servants are busy with her dress.
Erina saw how Arden’s mother entered the room through her reflection in the mirror. She gestured to the three servants to leave, explaining the reason why they immediately stopped fixing Erina’s hair, and her dress, and putting makeup on her.
Erina could see the hostility in her eyes when she walked toward her and stopped behind her. She pulled the straps of her dress at the back, and Erina gasped when she made it tighter.
“Don’t get too attached to my son. He’s not for you,” she said sternly, her eyes looking at her in the mirror.
Erina looked at her in a cold manner. She knew that Arden’s mother hated her, which she expected.
“I am here because my father sold me to your son, and your son bought me, Madame,” Erina answered in a serious voice, showing less interest in her son.
“Then that’s good. You know what your position is on his mansion in our clan. You are just here to bear his child. Nothing more. He is not going to marry you or make you his wife. Just because he has chosen you out of all the girls in this town doesn’t mean he likes you. Believe me, the only thing that he likes about you is your face,” she said, without showing any humor.
My face? Well, that’s at least good. I know that the asshole likes something about me.
And his mother really thinks that I am here for their wealth? Does she think that I am interested in their territories? Hah. Now I am more fired up to do this mission given to me by my mother so I could see this woman suffer like her son. Watching her would probably satisfy me.
All of the royals and the wealthiest clans in the other towns went to the mansion to witness the chosen girl and to party as well.
“Let’s all welcome, Erina Riverdale,” someone introduced as Erina walked down the grand staircase while Arden was waiting for him.
Erina pulled up the sides of her big gown as she locked eyes with Arden, who was wearing fancy clothes—dressed like how the typical royalties do—in his King aura, full of menace because of his dark features.
As soon as Erina went downstairs, Arden offered his hand to her. Erina placed her hand gently on his hand as he guided her to the center.
The musicians started playing a different kind of music with a touch of slow and romantic with the use of a violin and grand piano on the side as Arden and Erina danced in a slow movement.
Some of the guests joined them as they remained in the middle. The grand chandelier sparkled while Erina curiously looked at Arden, who looked so serious while looking at her.
I never knew he had this side… someone who would dance with the girl as if he wouldn’t devour her. Phew. Interesting.
Arden turned her around, grabbed her waist, and swayed her again to shift their position. She’s stunned that she knows how to blend his dance as if her body knew what to do, but of course, there are instances where she would accidentally stomp on his foot, but Arden doesn’t care at all.
“I’m sorry. I’m not a good dancer,” she apologized as if she truly meant it.
“I can sense it,” he said, arching his brow as they continued swaying each other.
Erina can feel the hawk-like eyes of the girls looking at Arden as if they were just waiting for their turn and glaring at Erina.
“I don’t understand why, out of all the girls presented to you, the richest girls, full of class and elegance, and someone who would like your mother, you chose me instead.” Erina didn’t help by asking him.
“Does it bother you?” His voice sounded raspy and cold.
“I’m just curious,” Erina mumbled.
“Because you piqued my interest,” he answered.
I piqued his interest? In what way? Was it because I am pretty?
Erina felt the glares of someone somewhere and found Arden’s mother looking at her intensely as if she were trying to find a fault in her so she would have a reason to throw her out.
Erina can feel that Arden’s mother can’t control her entirely. She lets him do it his way, just like his son wants it, and Erina wants to take advantage of that situation in order to succeed.
After the dance, Erina was forced to socialize a bit as everyone was eager to talk to her, even though she could hear the whispers from the upper-class royals as they made fun of her.
“I heard she was sold by his stepfather to Arden, and he bought her. Which means she’s that low,” Erina heard the group of girls in their long gowns looking at her in a most obvious way.
“And I also heard the reason why she was chosen by Arden was that she resembled someone in the past. You know the issue of the deceased daughter of the Remingtons, one of the wealthiest royal families that were supposed to be Arden’s mate.”
“She really thinks the King likes her because she was chosen to bear his child. Poor girl. Arden is just using her as a tool to bear his child, then choose a more decent and wealthy girl he could marry and wear his surname,” they giggled while sipping their drink and fanning themselves.
“The only thing Arden would give to her is none other than his nickname, but not his surname,” and they laughed softly.
Erina’s temper got to her. She recited a Latin spell until the glass they were holding suddenly shattered, making the wine spill on their fancy dress and faces.
The three screamed as everyone having fun at the party looked at them.
Mrs. Gunner abruptly went to the girls to aid them, and since she saw Erina, the first thing that comes to her mind is to order her.
“Get me some table napkins,” she said sternly.
The servants were about to do it when Mrs. Gunner shouted.
“Erina. Didn’t you hear me?” She looked at her sharply.
Erina nodded and excused herself as she went out of the venue. She groaned and rolled her eyes.
Serves them right. They really think I would let it slip, huh? They should thank me that I didn’t perform a fatal spell, or else they should be poisoned by now.
And since she’s new to the mansion, Erina doesn’t really know where to go. It was so big that the corridors confused her.
She opened a door and peeked her head inside when she saw some paintings. Her curiosity got the best of her as she went inside. She took the lamp resting on the table and lit it with the lighter beside it. As soon as the fire rose up, the whole room became illuminated in the dark.
She realized that the room is filled with old things and probably the storage room because the things were covered with a thin white sheet and some are dusty as if the room is already abandoned.
She went to the large frame covered with a thin white sheet and pulled it down to see the painting.
As soon as the white sheet fell to the floor, a painting of the girl appeared, and she froze when she saw it.
She gasped as she felt goosebumps throughout her entire body when the girl in the painting looked just exactly like her.
Her hair is naturally long and straight, and she looked so snobby as she looked at the camera. In her fancy dress and jewelry, Erina knew that she was royalty by blood.
She grazed her fingers on the painting and looked at the colors of her eyes, which resembled hers confusingly.
She remembered the whispers that the reason why Arden chose her was that she resembled someone in the past.
“Who’s this?” she asked as her heartbeat doubled.
She heard footsteps nearing, which is why she quickly pulled the thin sheet and covered the painting again, and immediately blew the fire out of the lamp until it became dark.
She slowly opened the door and peeked her head outside, where she saw that the corridor was already empty. She slowly went outside and closed it again as Erina’s mind went to the painting that looked just like her.
Who’s that girl in Arden’s life? His first love? His mate? Girlfriend? She looked just like me. Maybe if I straightened my hair… and she’s probably younger than me? But that was years ago? Which means we’re the same age by now.
Erina was excited to report that piece of information to her mother, but first, she needs to find the kitchen.
She was about to turn to the right of the corridor when her vision went dark as her head was completely covered. She screamed as she felt two men gripping her arms and dragging her somewhere.
“Help!” she screamed.
Erina was about to perform a ritual when she realized that the man was probably ordered by Arden’s mother, and knowing that the witches are well known for making spells, she would reveal herself.
She tried to free herself, but to no avail. She can hear the music in the venue fading in the living area as if she were being dragged outside the mansion. Her feet felt the cold snow, which gave her the idea that she’d really been taken out of the mansion.
“Let me go!” She screamed, but the men who are holding her are just too strong.
“What did the King say?” she heard the other men ask.
“To kill her,” the other men replied.
What? They’re… planning to kill me? The King? Is that… Arden?
- Writer
