The pattering outside seemed to get softer for a moment, but then lightning struck and it worsened again.
Artemesia stared at the man's face, "I'm afraid… I can't fully consent to that."
He raised a brow, amused, "Oh? Why so?"
"While I can confirm I myself will not abandon you before we reach our goal, I can not say the same about you. To grant you control over the divorce would be to surrender my future to you."
"And why would you assume I would misuse this authority? To cause harm to myself?"
She paused, "Then…why would you want the authority in the first place?"
"My dear Lady Montclair, do not forget that I am bound to the Crown. Marrying you would bind me to you; allowing you control over the divorce would bind you directly to the Crown. And I am sure you understand the risks."
Artemesia hesitated, not convinced.
"If I do not agree to this term…"
"Then I do not agree to the alliance itself," he completed calmly. "I can not surrender the throne to you, just as you can't your future."
Her throat ran dry, "And… if I do agree…?"
"Then consider it a deal." He leaned back, relaxed.
She seemed to mull it over, "I would need to think about it."
"For how long, exactly? Last I heard, your wedding was in a few days."
Droplets tapped against the window, as if listening in on their conversation.
She froze. The room went cold.
"How… did His Highness come to know?"
He stared at the table, eyes distant. "I was invited. Informally, by Duke Rowan."
Tia glanced at his face, but quickly nodded, "I see. But that wedding will not take place, should you accept my proposal."
"Me?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Don't you need some time?"
"If you approve of my terms, then I have already accepted it." he stated casually.
She went silent, "...You… do?"
He hummed, fiddling with his cufflinks.
"I shall grant you some-"
"I accept." She said suddenly.
He raised a brow, "How decisive."
"I will take that as a compliment," she rose from her seat, and curtsied.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for lending me your time. I will soon send you the clauses of this agreement in black and white, as well as the next steps to be taken."
He got up as well, watching her leave.
"Wait," he ordered. Artemesia flinched, dropping her cloak.
Leander walked to his desk and opened a drawer. He took something out, and approached Artemesia, offering it.
A deep red cloak.
"You'll catch a cold in that one." He glanced pointedly at the green one discarded on the floor.
She hesitated, but then decided she was in no position to refuse. "Thank you once again, Your Highness."
"I trust you can see yourself out?" he asked, and she nodded.
Pulling the hood up, she opened the door and left the room, the door closing shut after her.
Leander exhaled, slow and deep. He then silently walked to the window,
Soon, a cloaked figure was seen crossing the Villa's gates. The soldiers were throwing dirty looks at how she kept tripping on her cloak.
"It's a bit big on her," he mumbled.
Before he could think about it, his lips curled upward in a small smile.
Cute.
. . .
Leah was frantically pacing in the garden. It was about to be dawn, and her Lady had not returned.
Even worse, it had rained quite a lot. There was no way she couldn't have gotten soaked.
Suddenly, the bushes rustled. Leah froze.
"Who's there?" She took on a defensive stance.
A figure cloaked in red emerged from behind a tree, breathing heavily.
"Thank you, Leah." the soft voice said.
The Lady in-waiting recognized her Lady's voice immediately. "Lady Tia!" she whispered happily.
"Is the ladder still here?"
"Yes, my Lady!" She quickly set up the ladder once again, so it stood at the ground and reached her balcony.
"Please, climb quickly," Leah urged, "so I can discard this on time."
Artemesia obliged, taking one careful step at a time.
Leah watched her Lady carefully. She seemed especially clumsy today. Or maybe it was this new cloak she sported.
When she was up safely, the attendant removed the ladder and disposed of it near the soldiers' training grounds.
She soon joined her Lady in her bedroom as well, eager to hear about what happened.
"So…?"
"So?" Tia raised a brow, putting her hair up in a ponytail. Leah saw that her clothes were slightly damp, and quickly fetched her Lady's nightgown.
"Did His Highness accept?"
"Accept-"
Oh.
She told Leah that she was going to the Prince to confess her feelings.
"Oh… um-" she blushed. Why did she tell such a stupid lie?
Leah, however, picked up on the wrong signs, "Oh my!"
"Huh, what- No, No! It's not like that!"
"Should I expect a proposal soon, My Lady?"
Tia waved her hands in front of her face, but then paused.
"Actually… yes" she said in a small voice.
"...Oh. my. God!." Leah squealed excitedly.
Artemesia quickly got up and covered her big mouth with her hands.
"Shush!"
. . .
"What?!"
"You… You're declining? Just like that?" Thedosia could not believe her ears.
"I could not have been more embarrassed while saying this, but yes, I no longer want to marry Julian."
Jonathan's eyes were wide. "What… what caused this?"
Artemesia shifted. "I…do not think we can get any long-term benefit from this."
Her mother pursed her lips, "And… that's all?"
The brother shared the sentiment, "If you were happy with Julian-"
"No, John. Julian is the problem," she clenched her arm, "I… do not think he is faithful to me."
"Why do you think so?"
"He… had gotten too comfortable with Florence in my hindsight."
The room was quiet, the clatter of cookware and laughter echoing in the hall outside.
Thedosia's eyes were shut tightly, her lips pale. Jonathan went completely still.
"That…bastard." He sprang up from his seat, jaw clenched so tight that a vein popped on his temple.
"Jonathan, no." she quickly stepped in front of her brother, blocking his way.
"Step aside, Artemesia. I will not stand to bear this any longer."
"Jonathan." The Duchess was up too. Her tone was no longer gentle.
"Please. Calm down." Artemesia tried to calm him down, "Do you think I would let him get away that easily?"
"Oh? Enlighten me, Artemesia. What great plan do you have in store-"
"I'm going to burn Blackridge to the ground."
The room went still. Frigid, even.
Jonathan froze. So did Thedosia.
"...Tia?"
At that moment, Artemesia did not look like the Artemesia they knew. At all.
Her eyes were narrowed, a fire burning bright inside them. Her fists were clenched, and her brows were knitted tightly together.
She looked like a completely different person. Starved for revenge.
"And no human being," she spat out each syllable angrily, "will make it out alive when I do."
Somewhere in the distance, a dish clattered to the floor.