Jewelry Box

CH. 2 A Contract Offer

Victoria

“You look beautiful, my lady,” Nora and the other maids squealed. I smiled uncomfortably at their excitement.

The least I felt was happiness. The fresh memories of what happened still played like a recorder in my mind. Gulping, I turned and faked a smile at everyone present in the room.

“Shall we go?” I suggested. Nora and the rest started guiding me out of the bedroom.

Today was the so-called engagement party. It was a year before my wedding and my awful marriage to James. If I wanted to avoid this and make the Kendrick family pay, I would need a plan. So far, my only plan was to cancel the engagement in front of everyone. To embarrass the Kendrick family before the royal family. But what would be my excuse?

I bit on my nail as I strolled down the familiar hallways. A nostalgic feeling crept into my chest, making my eyes watery.

“Remember, you will go in alone,” Nora mumbled from the side. “Mr. Kendrick will meet you.” I hummed an answer. How could I not remember?

In my past life, it was embarrassing. I showed up alone and Kendrick showed up late. The stupid bastard made the excuse that he was late due to work, but it was all lies. I already knew he was with that woman.

Clenching, I continued walking down the stairs. As I turned on the corner, I noticed a figure in the garden. I halted and stared at the men.

“My lady?” Nora called, but I ignored her. A small idea started popping into my mind. How could I have missed it?

“I will be back,” I said, and dashed in the opposite direction towards the garden. It might be crazy what I’m about to do, but if I needed this plan to work. I would have to take advantage of the person who is in front of me.

“Hey!” I called. The man turned around as he heard my voice. It was a stupid move, but I had no other choice. So, doing the most unladylike thing, I wrapped my arms around the man and kissed him.

I expected him to push me, but he kissed me back the same way with hunger, desire or, better said, more passionately?

I moaned against his lips as he pushed his tongue and explored every little part of my mouth. My legs were ready to buckle if this continued.

“LADY VICTORIA!” I heard the headmaid yell from behind. Breathlessly, I slowly back away just to be greeted with the most beautiful blue eyes I’ve ever seen. With soft pants, I kept my hold on him. I could barely stand before him.

He gazed down at me with no emotions. Was that a good or bad thing?

I felt confused, but I had no choice but to wait for some other reaction after someone else appeared.

“Lady Victoria! What are you doing?” the head maid retorted as her heels clicked on the concrete floor.

“Please, play along,” I whispered close to his face. The man just stared at me. What was he thinking?

“What?” I snapped around as the head maid halted in her tracks. I faked a smile and leaned my head on his chest. “Don’t you see I’m busy?”

The head maid and everyone else looked at me in shock. Their baffled looks made me suppress a smile that threatened to escape. I know a word about this was getting delivered to everyone inside, especially my father. I could even imagine the duke's family appearing any second.

“My lady, what is wrong with you?” Nora said with worry. They all looked confused, but I wasn’t.

It was a stupid move; I have to admit it. I didn’t even know who the man was.

I just impulsively ran to him because he looked good from behind and he was the only choice right at that moment.

“What’s happening here?” a familiar voice said. I darted my eyes to the side and saw James’s mother walking with her entire congregation of hypocrites our way.

I unconsciously gripped the man’s shirt. This needed to work. I need to free myself from this engagement.

“Oh my,” I smiled, looking down and acting embarrassed. Worried he wouldn’t follow along, I spared the man a glance. His eyes were glued to the group of people.

Please don’t ruin things.

“What’s the meaning of this, Victoria?” James’ mother asked. “Why are you in someone else’s arms?”

“I can explain,” I whispered innocently. If she thought I was a naïve and stupid girl, I wasn’t anymore.

“Explain then!” James’ mother grumbled.

I bit the inside of my cheek and looked up. Unexpectedly, the man was looking down at me. He was really handsome.

“VICTORIA!” James’s mother screeched.

“I-“

“It’s just as you see it, duchess,” the man cut me off. Confused, I looked at him. “Can’t you see with your eyes?”

I tensed as the man wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer to his chest. My heart beat erratically against my chest. I could feel my face up.

“W-What do you mean?” the duchess stuttered. “Victoria!” I cleared my throat and faced her.

“I’m sorry duchess, but as you can see, I am in love with someone else,” I smirked.

The duchess’s face turned red from all the anger she was trying to control. Bitting on my lip, I tried to suppress a chuckle.

“What?” another familiar voice said from the side.

Moving my eyes, I find Kendrick with a scowl on his face. But that was not the interesting thing. The most interesting thing was the woman next to him. The b***h who got between us in the past.

“Victoria Lombardy!” Kendrick yelled. “What’s the meaning of this?”

I flinched at his yells, but tried to remain composed. It wasn’t the time to back down, not after what he did to me.

“It’s just as you see it, James. I have someone else I like,” I said, and turned to face the stranger completely.

All the guests present started murmuring amongst themselves. I balled my hands and kept my head high as James scowled angrily.

“You’re my fiancée!” James retorted. I watched him walk towards me and angrily raise his hand. As I close my eyes and embrace for a hit, I hear several gasps. Confused, I opened my eyes and blinked.

“Don’t touch her!” the man before me growled. My hands loosened on the sides as I looked at both men having a silent argument among themselves.

“ENOUGH!” someone yelled. “Stop this!” My heart stopped as I heard the angry voice of my father. “Victoria, what’s the meaning of this?” my father asked.

I flinched behind the stranger.

“Victoria, tell me what’s all this?” my father asked again. I nervously gripped my dress and moved to the side.

“I’m sorry, father,” I said and raised my head. “I can’t continue with this!” Half was true, the other half, well, it was fake.

“I can’t marry James,” I explained, staring at my father dead in the eyes. Mustering my courage, I looked around at everyone. Every face, glare and whisper, “I like someone else.”

There was complete silence as everyone waited for my father to say something, but another guest opened his mouth.

“Interesting,” I heard the familiar voice say from behind the crowd. I knew that voice. It’s the king, King Florian. “Duke Lombardy, I think we should listen to this young couple’s explanation, don’t you think?”

My father stared at the king for a while before slowly acknowledging him.

“Care to explain to me, Duke Graham, what’s all this about?” my father asked, making me tense. What did he say?

My eyes darted to the man next to me. Did he just say Duke Graham?

No way! This must be some mistake!

I turned to look at the duke, who just stared at my father with no emotions. If this is the person who I think it is, then I might have ruined my plan.

My hands started shaking as I nervously clasped them together to hide my fear. No way, how could I make this kind of mistake?

“It’s exactly as Lady Victoria said,” the duke answered. “We are lovers.”

My eyes almost bolled out as I looked at him in shock. I didn’t know how I should feel. Should I feel relieved or worried?

“I have the best intentions with Lady Victoria, Duke Lombardy. I hope you understand this,” Duke Graham answered.

I shifted my eyes, worried about my father’s reaction, but he looked calm instead.

“Victoria?” my father said as his eyes met mine. I jolted, startled. “What about you? What do you want?”

This was my chance to cancel the engagement. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and get my determination straight. Opening my eyes again, I looked straight into my father’s eyes.

“I wish to cancel my engagement to the Kendrick family,” I said loud and clear.

All the guests started whispering as James’ mother fainted in the side. I kept my gaze on my father. I needed his approval for this, to be sure that he was on my side.

“Very well, doesn’t that answer all the questions?” the king suddenly intervened. I snapped my head and saw the smirk plastered on his face. Why did I feel uneasy? “If Lady Victoria wants this, then why not give her what she wants, Duke Lombardy?”

My father hummed and walked closer to us. My hand darted to the long coat Duke Graham was wearing.

“We will need to talk about this,” my father whispered with a warning. Duke Graham remained stoic as he let go of James’s shirt.

I watched my father, and the duke stared at each other. What was crossing between them, I didn’t know, but so far I have taken my first step to vengeance.

“You b***h!” James screeched suddenly as he tried to grab my arm, but this time my father got between us, stopping his assault.

“Who are you calling, b***h?” my father growled. James’s face paled as my father’s hand tightened on him. “Get out of my sight!”

“W-What?” James stuttered, stumbling backward.

“Leave James,” I ordered, looking away.

“You’re my fiancé! How could you do this to me?” James retorted as some guards approached us.

I snapped angrily and looked at him.

“Really? You’re asking me?” I said and walked up to him. How dare this bastard try to question my decision?

Lifting my hand, I slapped James across the face, earning some gasp from several guests.

“You’re asking me how could I?” I grasped his collar. “You’ve been f*****g that b***h!”

James’s eyes widened to the size of a saucer as I pointed at the red-haired woman in the crowd.

“What did you think, that I knew nothing of this?” I said and laughed hard in his face. James looked troubled, but I would not fall for it. “Yes, you’ve been cheating with that woman.” I let go of his collar.

“That is your real woman, right?” I said, pointing this time to his lover, Melissa. My father looked at me in shock. “Yes, he’s been cheating with Melissa.”

My father let out an angry groan, staring directly at James, who paled by the second.

“IS this true?” my father asked James, but he just looked at us. “ANSWER ME!”

“It’s… of course not!” James denied, taking a few steps back. My father barked some orders as I remained on my spot, staring at James’ cowardly frame.

This will be the talk of the century in this city. As the crowd dispersed, I sighed tiredly as I was left alone, or so I thought.

“Now that is a hassle,” I said when someone stood behind me. I gasped, then turned to look at the person. “D-Duke Graham?”

Why was I stuttering like an i***t?

“Care to explain what’s all this, Lady Victoria?” Duke Graham asked, arms crossed over his chest.

I cursed and looked down at the concrete floor. How could I have mistaken this man for someone else?

Every woman knew Duke Graham. He was the notorious cold duke. Feared by everyone and hated by most aristocrats. This man had more blood in his hands than anyone else in this empire, and no one would approach him for the same reason. Everyone wanted to keep their heads attached to their necks.

“So?” Duke Graham continued with his imposing body. I gulped and awkwardly smiled.

“I’m sorry!” I replied and bowed apologetically. “Didn’t know I would drag the duke in to my mess!” It was the truth. I was here trying to save my neck and maybe I would even die sooner than expected again.

Patiently I waited for him to say something, but instead I heard a sigh.

“The Duke will question me about our relationship,” Duke Graham suddenly said. I looked at him in shock. Was I hearing wrong?

“Y-You want to continue with this farce?” I asked, baffled. The duke raised an eyebrow.

“Isn’t that why you approached me?” Duke Graham asked. I blinked. It was half the truth, though.

Shaking my head, I straightened up and look at his blue eyes.

“Not really, I just needed to break up this engagement,” I said with honesty. “I am sorry I used you.”

Duke Graham remained emotionless. So, feeling uncomfortable, I looked away.

“Then let’s get in a relationship,” Duke Graham suddenly responded, making me blush.

“Excuse me?” I asked when he grasped my chin and forced me to look at his enigmatic eyes.

“How about if we make a contract marriage?” Duke Graham suddenly smirked, which sent chills down my back. “I think it would be beneficial for both of us.”

How would all this be beneficial for him?

“What?” I said, slapping his hand from my face. “I have no intention of forming a contract with you!”

“But I am,” Duke Graham smiled. I blushed as I looked at his face. He was handsome, tempting. “Think about it, Lady Victoria. My help will be of benefit to you. If you agree, I can give you anything you want.”

I clenched as his words seeped into my mind. He was right; he was the perfect candidate for this. If I wanted my revenge, I would need to use someone with power in this empire. And canceling the engagement didn’t mean my revenge was over. I had to destroy them.

“Think about it,” Duke Graham whispered, pulling me out of my thoughts. “I can help you.” With a kiss to my hair, Duke Graham walked away.

I watched him, stunned, as he disappeared through the glass doors. With a sigh, I looked around and noticed a shadowy presence nearby. I frowned. Was someone still prying?

Ignoring it, I turned around. I had other important things to worry about and that was thinking about how to solve this mess with Duke Graham.