"I'm sorry, what?" Isla sat in shock at the news that her father just shared. She couldnt believe it, no she wouldn't believe it!
"Isla what is it my darling? You look rather pale" The Duchess leaned over to brush the long wild red strand of hair that had fallen over her daughter's face.
Across the dining table sat opposite of Isla, Elspeth only looked on, of course her younger half sister was about to make this moment focus on her. As if the news the Duke had shared wasn't just about Elspeth being told she is to marry the infamous Grand Duke of House De Cristo.
"Father, you can't be serious you're having Elspeth marry his Grace the Grand Duke?" Isla finally found the ability to speak again. The Duke of the Montgomery household name gave a quick dismissing glance towards his youngest daughter.
"Isla please not now, this isn't about you" he almost pleaded for Isla to let it go. He did not have the energy to deal with her outbursts today. A order was given by the Emperor that a daughter of the Montgomery house was to wed the Grand Duke, the decision had been made that it was to be Elspeth. It only made sense, she was the oldest and The Duchess insisted it be Elspeth, she did not want her precious biological daughter, Isla, to marry such a rumored cold hearted man.
However, that's not how Isla saw it. For years she had been infatuated with the Grand Duke Raymond Valance De Cristo. The stories of his prowess in the almost decade year war between their Kingdom of Northova of the Holy Valance Empire and the Eastern Kingdom of Estellos.
The Grand Duke was almost unmatched in combat and strategy, only one other man was known to be his equal in that regard and that was the Crown Prince of Valance.
Then there was his dashing good looks, with his icy blue eyes that complimented his striking silver hair, a trait given to him by his northern bloodline from his father's side. Grand Duke Raymond Valance De Cristo was also rumored to have The Emperor's favor even over the Crown Prince. Isla had been waiting for the day for her debut into high society for a chance to meet and make the Grand Duke fall inlove with her, despite his unfavorable rumors that seemed to shadow all his accomplishments in the Empire.
Yes, Isla didn't care about his infamous reputation of being a cold hearted killer, who cared only for himself. A man who was ruthless to those around him, guarded and unwavering showing no emotion, Isla had already set it in her mind she was going to be the one to penetrate through his steely walls. He would be awe struck by the sight of her beauty and blinded by her equally exceptional personality!
Isla had it all planned out, the day of her debutante ball at the Golden Hall, dressed in her house colors of burgundy and gold, her brilliant green eyes shimmering, her long flowing red hair styled elegantly, the most beautiful maiden in the empire captivating the Grand Duke as she descended down the golden stairs draped in red velvet carpet to the ballroom floor. It would be love at first sight.
But no! Now everything was in disarray! All of Isla's perfectly thought out dream was to be ruined by her father and her half sister! Why was Elspeth the one to marry the Grand Duke? How dare she! She wasn't even all that special, not like Isla. She was told so, told that Elspeth lacked talent, the decorum and the fancy of anyone around her. Isla was the favorite, that what she grew up her whole almost 20 years of life believing.
"Isla my sweet you are much too good for such a tyrant of a man, when you're time comes to wed you will be with someone who can cherish you like you're father and I" The Duchess tried to console her daughter, tried to show her that Elspeth wasn't being given a wonderful arrangement.
Elspeth didn't even flinch at what her step mother was insinuating, she was far to used to it. The current Duchess was the second wife of Duke Edward Mongomery. His first wife, the beautiful and graceful Rebecca, had died when Elspeth was only 3 years old and a short year later after her death The Duke had Remarried to Julianna Inglewood, a daughter of a Baron. And less than a year after their marriage, Isla was born.
Julianna had loved the Duke Edward Montgomery from afar even before Rebecca had passed. After Rebecca's death the Duke was pressured to remarry for the sake of Elspeth to have a mother to raise her and for the estate to have a lady present to run things. Julianna was over the moon when he came courting her. Yet, she always felt she could never hold a candle to his late wife, her presence still lingering on the grounds of the Montgomery estate.
She knew how much the Duke had loved Rebecca and even in death Julianna was overcome with jealousy. Elspeth was nothing more than a reminder how she would never be as good as Rebecca, and so she took her insecurity out on the girl. When Julianna fell pregnant with Isla things only got worse for Elspeth, as her step mother wanted her own daughter to be the more cherished one.
As for The Duke, he spent most of the early years away at war and was unaware of the Duchess's neglect towards his eldest daughter. The Duke loved both his daughters with all his heart however he was always away and when home could never pick up on the mistreatment of Elspeth, and Isla's growing vibrant personality and need for attention was always quick to overcome any other thoughts.
"Isla I will not ask again for you to not make scene this isn't about you, now sit quietly. I have matters to discuss with Elspeth"
Excuse me! Isla was flabbergasted. Did her father just essentially tell her to shut up? Oh not if she had anything to say about it! No one told her to be quiet! Not now not ever!
"I beg your pardon? No father you will listen to what I have to say-"
"ISLA!" The Duke slammed the dining room table with his fist, the dining ware hovering barely an inch above then back down onto the golden table cloth. Everyone in the room flinched. The help slinked back into the shadows of the room trying their best to ignore the scene playing out before them.
"I grow tired of your insolence! As of late your outburst have grown more bold! Do not forget your place, you are but a mere girl barely an adult and my daughter. I am the Duke! You WILL NOT talk back to me again! Or so help me-"
"Edward!" The Duchess intervened "do not speak our daughter that way! You have no-"
"Silence Julianna! It is due to you spoiling her so she thinks she has a right! It is past time she learned, if you can not stand by me in teaching her her place then you and Isla may leave the dining hall" The Duke's emerald eyes flared.
The Duchess flinched in her seat falling silent. Shaken by her husband's display of authority. Isla was overcome with a mixture of frustration, anger and most of all embarrassment. Tears stung at the corner of her eyes. She quickly got up with such force almost knocking the heavy mahogany chair she sat in over.
Gathering her skirts she rushed out of the dining hall. Her mother, father and sister quietly watched. Elspeth was in utter shock. Never had her father yelled at her sister in such a way.
Isla rushed down the hall making her way towards the gardens. The Duke actually yelled at her. The Duke told her to know her place and worst of all didn't acknowledge how she felt over this arranged marriage.
Did father tell me no? He told me to shut my mouth and deal with it. He said I was spoiled! What the actual hell is going on right now?!