Violetta swallowed hard, her slender throat bobbing with the action as a sudden nervousness gripped her. She cast her eyes down, long lashes fluttering against the delicate, porcelain skin of her cheeks as she struggled to find the right words to assuage her brother's concerns. "I...I know about his family, Augustus," Violetta admitted, her melodic voice a low, hesitant murmur. "I know of their treachery, their betrayal of the crown." She paused, taking a deep, shuddering breath as she fought to steady her nerves. "And yet...I choose to marry him, despite it all." Violetta's voice was a low, resolute whisper, a sound that held a note of defiant determination.
Slowly, Violetta raised her gaze to meet her brother's, her violet eyes shimmering with a mix of emotion as she stared at him with a look of heartfelt sincerity. "I swear to you, dear brother, that I have no ulterior motives," Violetta vowed, her voice ringing out clear and strong in the quiet of the courtroom. "I am not marrying Lucien for his name, or his family's disgraced legacy." She shook her head, a look of quiet, almost fierce determination settling over her beautiful features. "I am marrying him because because I think that's the right move, I promise to tell you everything." Violetta's voice was a low, fervent whisper, a sound that held a desperate, pleading note as she gazed at her brother with a look of open, vulnerable emotion. "Please, Augustus...you must believe me. I would never do anything to betray you, or the crown. I swear it."
Augustus sighed, a long, slow expulsion of breath as he gazed down at Violetta's lovely face. He reached out, his large, strong hands coming to rest on his sister's slender shoulders. He squeezed gently, a silent gesture of comfort and reassurance as he met her anxious, shimmering gaze. "Shhh, dear sister," Augustus murmured, his deep voice a low, soothing rasp. "You need not worry so. I know that you would never betray me, or the crown." His thumbs brushed over the delicate, lace-covered skin of Violetta's shoulders, a tender, almost reverent caress. "You are the most loyal, true-hearted person I know. If you say that this marriage is what you desire, then...I will allow it." Augustus' voice was a low, solemn vow, a sound that held a note of reluctant acceptance and a touch of brotherly affection.
Violetta's face broke into a brilliant, radiant smile at her brother's words. "Oh, Augustus!" she exclaimed, a note of joyful relief and a touch of tearful gratitude in her melodic voice. "Thank you, thank you so much!" She surged forward, her slender arms wrapping around her brother's neck in a fierce, loving embrace. She clung to him, her body molding to the hard, muscular lines of his own as she buried her face against the crook of his neck. "I love you," Violetta whispered, her voice a low, fervent murmur against Augustus' skin. "I love you so very much, dear brother." Tears of happiness and relief streamed down her face, dampening the fine lawn of Augustus' collar as Violetta held him close, pouring all of her love and affection into the tight, intimate embrace. "Thank you for believing in me," she breathed, a note of heartfelt gratitude coloring her words. "Thank you for supporting me, even when...even when everyone left me by myself for all these years, you stayed, thank you." Violetta's voice was a low, choked whisper, a sound that held a desperate, almost anguished note of love and devotion.
Augustus gently tilted Violetta's chin up with his fingers, his thumb brushing away the tears that clung to her long, dark lashes. He cupped her face tenderly, his palm cradling the delicate, tear-stained cheek as he gazed down at her with a look of deep, abiding love and affection. "Shhh, sweet sister," he murmured, his voice a low, soothing rumble. "Do not cry, I beg of you. I cannot bear to see you so distressed." His other hand came up to mirror the first, both hands cupping Violetta's face with a gentle, almost reverent touch as he tilted her head back to meet his gaze.
"You must know that I love you too, Violetta. More than words can express." Augustus' voice was a low, fervent whisper, a sound that held a desperate, almost anguished note of devotion. "You are the only family I have left, the only person in this world whom I can truly trust and count on." He leaned in closer, his forehead coming to rest against Violetta's own as he struggled to find the right words to convey the depth of his love for her. "I would do anything within my power to see you happy. And if marrying this Lucien D'Artois is what brings you joy...then I will stand by your side, now and forever." Augustus' voice was a low, solemn vow, a sound that held a note of unshakable, unyielding loyalty and love.
A pretty blush colored Violetta's cheeks at her brother's heartfelt declaration, and she ducked her head shyly, unable to meet his intense gaze. For a moment, she simply stood there, her slender body trembling slightly as she fought to regain her composure. Then, with a soft, shuddering sigh, Violetta raised her head, her violet eyes shimmering with unshed tears of gratitude and love.
"Augustus," she murmured, her voice a low, breathless whisper. "Thank you...thank you for everything." Unable to find the words to express the depth of her feelings, Violetta leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her brother's cheek. She lingered there for a long moment, her lips brushing against the warm, slightly rough skin, a silent gesture of her love and devotion.
Augustus smiled softly, a look of tender, almost fatherly affection softening his handsome features as he gazed down at his sister's lovely face. "There is no need to thank me, dear one," he murmured, his deep voice a low, indulgent rasp. He leaned down, his lips coming to rest against Violetta's forehead in a gentle, almost reverent kiss. "You are my heart, Violetta. My dear, sweet sister." Augustus' voice was a low, fervent whisper, a sound that held a desperate, almost anguished note of love and protectiveness. "I just want to see you happy." He pressed another soft, lingering kiss to Violetta's brow, a silent vow of his eternal love and loyalty.
As Violetta and Augustus shared their heartfelt moment inside the courtroom, outside in the dimly lit hallway, Cassian had Lucien cornered against the stone wall. The Duke's eyes flashed with a dangerous, almost manic intensity as he stared down at the shorter man, his fists clenched at his sides. "You've been avoiding me," Cassian growled, his voice a low, accusatory rasp. "Ever since Duchess Velyssia announced your engagement, you've done everything in your power to stay out of my sight." A muscle ticked in Cassian's jaw, a sign of his barely restrained anger and frustration. "I wonder why that is. Are you...afraid of me?" Cassian's voice was a mocking, almost taunting sneer, a sound that held a dark, threatening promise.
Lucien leaned back against the wall, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips as he gazed down at Cassian with a look of amused, almost contemptuous disdain. "Afraid?" he repeated, a note of mocking laughter underlying his words. "No, Duke Vrost, I'm not afraid of you." Lucien's voice was a low, confident drawl, a sound that held a hint of something darker, more primal beneath the surface. "But I must admit, I am...concerned." He paused, his eyes glinting with a sudden, sharp intelligence as he studied Cassian's face. "You see, I know that you have feelings for my wife. Strong, passionate feelings that I cannot, and will not, deny." Lucien's voice was a low, fervent murmur, a sound that held a desperate, almost anguished note of longing and desire. "And if I stay too long in the presence of a man who has such feelings for my beloved Violetta...I'm afraid I might do something I would regret." Lucien's voice was a low, menacing growl, a sound that held a dark, almost violent promise of the consequences that would befall any man who dared to come between him and his woman.
Cassian's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint appearing in their depths as he leaned in closer to Lucien. "You're playing a dangerous game," Cassian growled, his voice a low, menacing rasp. "Duchess Velyssia may have agreed to marry you, but she's not yet your wife. So I suggest you curb your arrogance before it gets you into trouble." Cassian's jaw clenched, the muscles in his neck and shoulders tensing as he fought to control his rising temper. His hands curled into fists at his sides, a subtle threat of the violence that simmered just beneath the surface of his anger.
Lucien just grinned, a slow, wicked curl of his lips that held a note of dark amusement and a hint of something more sinister. "Oh, but I'm not worried, Duke," he purred, his voice a low, silken drawl. "You see, I have something that you want...something that you can never have." Lucien's eyes gleamed with a sudden, sharp intelligence as he gazed up at Cassian, a look of cruel, almost sadistic delight in his gaze. "And once Violetta and I are married, she will be mine...forever and always." Lucien's voice was a low, fervent whisper, a sound that held a desperate, almost obsessed note of possession and control. "So go ahead, Duke Vrost. Keep your jealousy and your anger. It matters not to me." Lucien's grin widened, a look of mocking, almost taunting satisfaction in his eyes as he gazed up at Cassian with a silent, defiant challenge. "For in the end, it is I who will have Violetta...and you who will be left with nothing."