My Fiancé Is The Duke's Disgraced Daughter

There was a window in Elizabeth's room; it overlooked the courtyard and the city beyond. Almost as though in a daze, she stared out it, watching as the sun dipped beneath the horizon and the stars came out.

A knock came from her door. She opened it and found herself face to face with Gerard, the servant from earlier. He was carrying her trunk, an impressive feat for one who looked as old as him.

"Greetings, my lady, I have brought your luggage. May I come in?"

Elizabeth nodded, and Gerard entered, placing down the trunk in the corner of the room, "I apologise for the delay, we had to check it for cursed items and such, but our appraiser is not so skilled an individual. Circumstances forced him to leave his education before it could truly even begin, you see."

"Did you find any? Cursed items I mean," Elizabeth asked. It was automatic, this need to make polite, pleasant conversation. It was the training she had been engraved with after all.

"None whatsoever," Gerard said, "Though, of course, we expected as such. These checks are simply basic procedure."

"Of course, we had such procedures back home as well," Elizabeth said.

"Many thanks for your understanding," Gerard made to leave, but then he stopped at the door, "I hope… you were not too put off by my lord today. I can imagine how it went. Please understand, he does not hate you—"

"I know he doesn't," Elizabeth said. She remembered his sharp, hawk-like eyes. They did not glare at her with hatred, rather… " It's likely that he doesn't even consider me worthy of attention. He has too many problems in front of him to hate a woman he doesn't even know. It's true he's frustrated, but he's frustrated with my father, not me."

Gerard smiled, "…Yes, that is correct. You have discerned the heart of the matter impressively quickly. He intends to leave you to do whatever you wish to do, so long as you don't get in his way."

Elizabeth looked down, "I see. That makes sense."

"However, do you intend to leave it at that?" Gerard asked, "I know of your story, I know why you have been sent here. However, I also know of your ability. You were one of the best students in the Royal Academy in your time. Lord Wulf does not have any interest in you so he does not know this, but I believe you could be of great assistance to him."

The pride that had been trampled by Prince Albert and the no-name peasant he liked suddenly burned like embers strengthening with wind, and Elizabeth looked him in the eyes again, "And why should I be of great assistance to him?"

Gerard did not drop his smile, "Why not? This is your home now too, after all, and there is but one man in charge of defending it. Don't you think it would behove you to help him?" He bowed, "Have a good night. If you should want for dinner, please come find me. My room is on the ground floor, closest to the stairs."

With that, he took his leave.

Gerard's words echoed in her head for a long time after that. She turned them over in her mind, examining each word with increasing scrutiny. Everything that she was, everything that she thought she'd be, had been destroyed in a single moment back at the Royal Academy. Now she was here, in a place she barely knew anything about, and was being asked to… what? Help?

It was stupid, but some part of her had once thought—hoped—that Albert would realise his mistake and burst into her house, apologising and promising never to take her for granted again. If she began putting effort here, it felt almost as though she would be betraying the hope of that future once and for all.

Perhaps one day a letter still might arrive, perhaps…

Round and round it went, and Elizabeth did not know when sleep overtook the deafening worries in her mind.

*

The sunrise was a late, but beautiful thing in the Wulf territory. Kenric Wulf awoke at the same early time he usually did, and after breakfast, he began his paperwork in the dark. Reports upon reports always awaited him no matter the time, and he had to look through each one, lest he miss something important. He had letters to write too, and budgets to check, and a million more things that he attended to with perfect diligence.

By the time he'd finished his daily work, three o'clock had already rolled around, and he stretched as he made his way to the sparring ground (his favourite part of the manor). Edward and Liam were fighting today. Liam had lost his arm in battle a year ago, but he had not given up, even now he kept up his training.

It was an admirable thing, and Kenric had said as such, but unfortunately, he had lost too much skill to be anything but a liability on the battlefield. Kenric had told him this as well, which was why he was currently working as a cook in the manor.

The spar between him and Edward was more of a training session than anything. Edward was moving deliberately slow enough so that Liam could keep up and train at an effective level. Kenric watched silently, there were no notes to give in this instance. Edward was a skilled enough individual to execute this perfectly.

Aida walked up to him, bowing slightly, "My lord." She had worn her black hair in a long ponytail once, but then in one of their many spars, Edward accidentally chopped off a part of it. Ever since then, she'd worn her hair in a tight bun, a style she announced she'd grown to like.

Aida said conversationally, "Lady Filangris didn't show up for breakfast this morning."

"I see."

"Nor did she attend lunch."

Kenric didn't even spare her a glance, "If she doesn't wish to eat, that is of no concern to me."

Suddenly, Aida clapped her hands in excitement, "But she's your bride-to-be! Why didn't you tell us that yesterday? We would have introduced ourselves to her! I had to hear who she was from Gerard!"

"Introduce yourself now, if it bothers you," Kenric said dismissively.

"I've heard the rumour, you know?" Aida said, "She was supposed to marry a prince, but then she took things a little too far against someone he liked in the Royal Academy, and her engagement was broken for it. Do you think she's waiting to be called back? Her father might have a change of heart, you know?"

"I don't care."

In the sparring ring, Liam was beginning to breathe heavily, and his movements were starting to slow down. After a while, Kenric called, "Enough! Training anymore won't do you any good, Liam."

Edward and Liam instantly came to a stop and bowed towards Kenric. "Aida, you'll be sparring with me next."

Aida made a face, "Ugh."

"Now," Kenric ordered. They replaced Edward and Liam in the ring, and Aida took her stance. She preferred spears to swords, and used them incredibly well.

"Begin," Kenric said.

Aida waited in a ready stance, pointing her spear at Kenric, and they slowly circled each other. "Today might be the day I finally defeat you, my lord!" Aida taunted.

"I would welcome that outcome," Kenric said, "However—"

It was speed surpassing speed. It looked like a step, but in an instant, Kenric was in front of Aida, his cane striking her right in the stomach. Aida flew, and Kenric watched with an impassive expression, "—It seems I won't get to see it anytime soon."

Aida, now flat on her back on the ground, let out a wheezing groan in response. He looked to the spectators, and Edward swallowed, "Er—am I to be next, my lord?"

Kenric paused for a moment, then he shook his head and leaned on his cane once more, "No, I'll save the rest of my time for emergencies."

Edward looked at Kenric's cane, a solemn look on his face.

"I think I have a solution for that, Lord Wulf."

The words had come from the entrance to the manor from someone unexpected: Elizabeth Filangris.