Chapter 8
1373 Words
Another year passed before I saw Serina again. My father threw a glorious ball to celebrate Laelia’s sixth birthday. Everyone came to honor the occasion, and I smiled as I watched her happily and graciously greet her guests.
They all swooned over how adorable she looked in her beautiful white and golden dress. Laelia would certainly grow up to be a stunning princess, one that my father, my brothers, and I would need to protect from all those nasty men out there.
As I was watching my sister, Serina appeared, performing a graceful curtsy beside her mother. She then crouched down and handed my sister a beautiful necklace that wasn’t even wrapped. I watched as Serina and my sister laughed together.
I was sure Serina was telling her a story about the necklace or perhaps how lovely it would look on her. From where I stood, I couldn’t hear them clearly, but it felt as if time had stopped. Serina… she really was a woman now. She had changed so much and was incredibly beautiful. I had never seen anyone like her before.
Her long blonde hair cascaded down her back like a beautiful waterfall. Her eyes retained their wildness and kindness, and the long dark blue dress she wore hugged her curves in a way that would drive any man or prince wild.
“Don’t think about it,” I heard a voice say.
I turned to my left and saw Will had appeared. I had barely noticed him all evening, and now he chose to make his presence known.
“What?” I asked innocently.
“Let her be, brother. It has been three years. It’s time to move on.”
I took a sip of my drink before handing it to him. “I’m in love with her,” I said firmly.
I started to walk away, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back with surprising force.
“For someone in love with her, you clearly haven’t been paying attention. Do you not see the man beside her?”
I looked back at Serina and noticed the man standing next to her—clearly not her father. He was likely a young lord or possibly a duke. He appeared to be only a year or two older than her.
“Who is he?” I inquired.
“Her fiancé,” he told me.
“Her what?”
“You didn’t know?” he asked.
“No! How do you know, brother?” I demanded, grabbing his collar with one hand.
He glanced down at my hand, clearly irritated. At that moment, Henry stepped in. Having just turned sixteen, he was now a man.
“Are you two trying to ruin Laelia’s birthday?” he asked in a low voice.
We exchanged a brief look before Henry intervened, pulling us apart and positioning himself between us.
“She is our sister!” he reminded us. “Let’s not spoil this day! I can’t believe I’m the one saying this. Usually, it’s me you have to stop from fighting everyone.”
I sighed in frustration and turned my eyes toward Serina.
“Well, look who has turned into a beautiful woman,” Henry remarked, following my line of sight.
“Call her beautiful one more time and I’ll run you through,” I warned him.
“So, that’s what this is about,” he said with a teasing smile. “Don’t worry, I don’t go for married ones.”
“You’re such a liar,” I retorted.
He simply laughed and walked away, not heading toward Serina. I couldn’t stop staring at her, and as if she could feel my gaze, she slowly turned to meet my eyes. Her initial look of shock quickly turned to anger before she looked away, handing her cup to her fiancé and leaving the party.
“Don’t go,” Will said, stepping in front of me.
“Get out of my way.”
“Just let her marry Lord Byron.”
“Byron… where have I heard that name before?” I murmured to myself.
“Just let it be, James,” he urged.
“Will, move or I will make you,” I warned.
He sighed, shaking his head. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
Ignoring his threat, I stormed past him and followed Serina. She had disappeared into a quieter hallway before turning a corner. I caught a glimpse of her and quickly followed. I continued after her until we were in a secluded corridor.
Just as I was about to grab her arm, she stopped and said, “Why did you follow me?”
“What do you mean?” I replied.
She turned around, tears in her eyes, looking as though she had been deeply hurt.
“You shouldn’t have,” she said.
“Serina—”
“Don’t!” she interrupted. “Don’t say my name!”
“Then what am I supposed to call you?” I inquired.
“Nothing! You’re not supposed to be here with me! You should be at the party celebrating your younger sister’s birthday!”
“I had to see you,” I told her.
She shook her head, and as I tried to get closer, she stepped back, holding up her hand to keep me at a distance. I froze, confused.
“I thought you were going to wait for me,” I said.
“Wait for you? I waited.”
“No, you didn’t!”
“You think I wanted this? You think I want to marry Lord Byron?”
“Clearly you do, or you wouldn’t have accepted,” I said, a bit angrily.
“Oh yeah?”
I nodded.
“James, have you even talked to your father about us?” she asked.
Her words made me freeze for a moment. “I needed… time. I need time,” I said.
“I gave you time! Three years, to be exact.”
“I was at war for two of them!”
“And the last year?” she inquired.
I was silent. I hadn’t used that year to talk to my father. I thought I had more time, but could I really be surprised that she had chosen to marry someone else? She was twenty now.
“Well?”
“I…”
“I knew it,” she said, tears spilling over as she threw her arms into the air, looking defeated. “Did you even want me?”
“Of course I did! I do!”
“Then what’s holding you back? Something must be… Maybe my title really means something.”
“Never!” I exclaimed, stepping closer. “I want you. I will always want you!”
She shook her head, her long blond hair swaying as she struggled to hold herself together while tears continued to stream down her cheeks.
“Well… you can’t have me,” she said.
“Serina…”
“Time is up…”
“Please, don’t go,” I said, taking another step closer. “I want you!”
“I… I can’t wait anymore. Something tells me that even if I gave you a year or two, you still wouldn’t find a way.”
“But I will. Just give me a year!”
“I can’t!” she yelled. “My father is sick!”
I looked at her in shock as she wiped away her tears.
“Why do you think there is so much pressure on me? If I don’t marry, my mother and I will lose everything! I don’t have time, James!”
She took a deep breath and composed herself. I watched her, feeling speechless. According to the laws, as a woman, she could not inherit—inheritance always went to the son.
“Let me help then. I can keep you safe, even if I can’t marry you just yet,” I said.
She shook her head. “I cannot be a secret, James. I refuse to live like that.”
“Serina—”
“I have to go back now. I’m sorry. I can’t wait any longer.”
“Serina!”
But she didn’t listen. She just walked away.
- Writer
