The Duke's Unwanted Wife

It looked like a giant worm with no eyes. It flew in the skies, carrying various people in its belly. It bore the insignia of the royal family, painted blue like the sky. If it wasn’t for the noise it made while traveling, it could easily blend in with the sky. It was a thing that people rode without a care in the world.    

“I refuse to ride in that thing. I will prefer a carriage.”    

“Even if I tell you Lord Sebastian has ridden in it multiple times, traveling all over the kingdom? Surely you can’t back down from that kind of challenge. Don’t worry, it isn’t as unstable as a carriage and it’s very safe and comfortable. You won’t feel anything after a few minutes.”    

“If you think you can trick me into…..”    

“We’re not going to ride it? I was curious about it though. It’s okay. I think I can travel faster than it.”    

“We’re going immediately. Where do we sit?”    

Duchess Everon couldn’t even begin to guess why there was fear in Natalia’s eyes. Marvis didn’t seem hurt or even bothered by his clothes anymore. But the moment they entered the VIP section of the train, many eyes focused on them. Two strangers with the elusive Duchess Everon, one of them being a werecreature. It started strange rumors that traveled faster than they did.    

The journey was a total of four hours and they arrived quite safely. Apart from getting up to stretch a few times, the journey was more comfortable than traveling in a carriage. However, the ‘I told you so’ expression on Vera’s face was annoying. There was a carriage waiting for them as they disembarked the sky tube that was meant to take them straight to the palace.    

“I’ve already requested a meeting with her highness. Please don’t forget your promise, Lady Adamantine.”    

“I sincerely hoped we wouldn’t run into each other again but you are persistent, aren’t you? Fine, I will talk to her highness.”    

The carriage stopped in front of the First Princess’s palace and the doors were almost ripped off its hinges. Marvis posed to attack but Natalia shook her head, unsurprised to see her brother.    

“Have you begun acting like a barbarian?”    

“There’s no doubt about it. It’s you. I’ve missed that snarky attitude,” he grinned. She shook her head and descended from the carriage. He wasted no time in sweeping her into his arms, hugging her tightly. The two had many worries about each other but more importantly, they were both safe.    

“How’s mother?”    

“She’s healing nicely. She was able to take a walk in the garden last week so she has been going on regular walks. It’s a bit regretful that she spent a better portion of her life bedridden but I’m happy to see her like this.”    

“That’s good to hear. Oh, by the way, this is Marvis Jane. Marvis, this is my brother, Sebastian.”    

“You must be Lord Adamantine. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Marvis politely bowed. Sebastian looked at Natalia with confusion.    

“Marvis is a knight, even though he doesn’t look like it. Where’s Amaika? They would usually be here to greet me by now.”    

“Amaika? They were standing right behind me. Where’s…..”    

From above, a giant green bird swooped down to pick Marvis and took to the skies. The siblings eyes widened as they watched this happen.    

"Is that…..bad?"    

"I don't know. I'll call Amaika back. AMAIKA!" Natalia called at the top of her lungs. There was no response. However, a few minutes after she started hacking violently, the two landed beside her.    

"Are you okay?" The three asked at the same time.    

"I'm fine. Amaika, why did you do that?"    

"I needed to confirm something, master."    

"Confirm what?"    

"This werewolf…. belongs to an ancient noble bloodline of the purest kind. It is the purest anyone has ever seen in more than a thousand years. Just where did you find him, master?"    

Both Natalia and Marvis looked surprised. Natalia was only able to figure out that he was a bit strong, for a werewolf but Marvis was aware that he didn't have a pure bloodline since he was born from a human mother.    

"I am a werephoenix and I cannot lie to my master. You are someone with enough potential to match up with your divine ancestors which means….."    

"He can ascend," Natalia suddenly said. Amaika nodded.    

"What are you all talking about? We've been standing here suspiciously for a long time. Let's at least go in and talk. And you have to answer all our questions, Natalia," Sebastian said, pulling her along inside the palace. She sighed, walking ahead of Amaika and Marvis who was still in shock. They quickly got settled and lunch was served to them.    

"First of all, why do people think you are dead, Natalia?"    

"It's bad manners to talk while eating, Bastian."    

"Don't lecture me about manners right now. Tell me the truth."    

"I ingested Basilisk breath for a few months so I could fake my death. I also have a contract with the mother of fairies, Madaline. That's why I was able to survive."    

"HOW COULD YOU DO SOMETHING SO DANGEROUS?! WHAT IF YOU REALLY DIED?"    

"I'm alive, aren't I? I preferred slowly poisoning myself over a period of few months than living a miserable life with that monster Fredrich. Just because you can't see the scars doesn't mean they're not there, Bastian."    

".....what did that bastard do?"    

"He has tried choking me to death multiple times. I was treated worse than a slave there, constantly served food that was worse than poison and almost fell into multiple traps with the Fae that lingered in that cursed castle and those mangled overgrown lizards. The list of what he has done is too long for me to recall off the top of my head. But, what are you going to do against a king who is a semi trascendental and would soon ascend?"    

The entire table gained a silence that was worse than the one that reigned over it a few minutes prior when she was speaking. To escape someone like that, she did something incredibly smart and risky. They could understand her reasons as well as her grief and anger that she could finally express.    

"Whatever price I had to pay to leave there was worth it. If time was reversed, I would still do something like that, if not worse, to escape that hell. I happened to meet Marvis dying by a stream and I saved his life just like he saved mine."    

"Please stop saying I saved your life. It's embarrassing because I didn't. I just assumed you were in danger and basically kidnapped you," he mumbled, his cheeks turning pink.    

"You saved my life, I saved yours. I don't think there's anything wrong with saying that. We journey together here and you saved us from being attacked by a dragon."    

"Please stop…."    

Sebastian and Amika watched the exchange between the two and thought there was something weird about it. The two…..almost sounded like a couple, especially with the way Marvis was carelessly blushing despite being a man. Well, he was in men's clothing so they just assumed he was a man. They couldn't really tell.    

"Whatever happened, the result is that you're safe. Thank you for protecting my sister, Sir Jane. We will be residing temporarily in the first princess's palace until I can get the title of Duke of Graviscera and transfer it to my sister. If you need anything, the maids are here to help," Sebastian said politely.    

"No, thank you for your hospitality. I'm rarely treated well by nobility but you and your sister are very strange. I don't mind staying anywhere as long as Lia is there. I'm also curious about what the werephoenix said."    

"You may address us as Amaika."    

"Okay!" Marvis replied cheerily.    

"Lia?" Sebastian asked in a suspicious tone and Natalia immediately knew he was trying to stir trouble where there was none.    

"That was the name I gave when we first met. Don't make a fuss, Sebastian. Where is her highness, Temara?"    

"She's currently with her royal parents discussing one of the policies I asked them if they could change. Since we are done with the revision, all we need is the Queen's approval and a fast implementation."    

"I see you're both working hard. How's the marriage preparation?"    

"I kept it all for you to handle, my dearest little sister," he grinned widely. She sighed, rolling her eyes. She continued eating while the conversation continued around her. If you had to ask who she thought her family was, it was this same set of people seated around the table, even Marvis who she just met because the man who was her sworn nemesis in her last life was someone more valuable than a friend in her present one. Slowly but surely, something was blooming in her. She didn't know what it was but she didn't dislike it one bit.