For a moment, something inside me felt at ease. At the back of my mind, I had been worried about my people who mysteriously disappeared. Seeing my mother rush towards me gave me a sense of comfort. Hopefully, no one was hurt.
Her red hair fluttered as she practically ran towards me, with Hazel following closely behind her.
No matter the situation, as Marchioness, mother had to uphold an image of elegance and I reminded her of it, in our frenzied reunion.
"Mother, the nobles are watching"
Coming close to mother I realized she looked haggard and much leaner than I had last seen her. It was only on few occasions that I saw my headstrong mother look so pallid.
She reached out, and cupped my cheeks gently.
"Oh my. Adria, you're safe" She breathed a sigh of relief and looked at me carefully. "Where did you go? Ah, this is not the time. Come with me"
Quickly, she pulled me along with her, and a few moments later, we were away from the noble's and guards in the hall and moving towards a private room. It was then that I recognized the venue at which we were at.
'The old Southern temple....'
When I was younger, I had ventured here a few times as plot from the novel had led me to believe it had an importance. In the end, it all turned out to be a ruse. The old temple didn't look as dilapidated as it did in the past, so it had made me not to recognize the place.
On my wrist, secretly, the blue magic stone was tied with a chain. I felt the gem radiate and begin to vibrate for a brief moment.
"...!"
Then it stopped.
Alarmed, I clutched my wrist subconsciously. The heat from the stone wasn't just my imagination, the area was so hot as if almost burning.
Though I tried to manage my expression, mother, who had just pulled me into a room, asked with concern. "Are you alright? You look so shaken"
"I'm quite alright. You should know your daughter isn't weak"
I decided to focus on my plan today. The bottle of poison laid in a pocket I had crafted out in my gown, waiting to be used. I figured a wedding couldn't be held when there was no groom. However, seeing mother, I realized the wedding could be cancelled without much risks.
Until married, noble ladies were still considered subject to their family's orders. As my second guardian, according to the law, if mother doesn't give her assent to the marriage, I could refuse the union with more ease. No longer could I be forced to say 'I do' when I didn't wish to. Only when both guardians agreed to their daughter's marriage, could a priest join a woman to a man, without the lady's agreement.
Even if a lady were to run away, the wedding service could be conducted in her absence. Thus, becoming someone's legal wife even if she were to elope with her beloved knight. This goes to show, no matter how much the Empire's policies aimed to be undiscriminating against gender, all the laws were yet to accommodate the female's unlimited rights.
"Mother, I need your help to cancel this wedding"
I finally opened my mouth after deciding. Mother sat down on the peach colored chair, opposite to me, as Hazel entered and closed the door behind her.
"I didn't know what I'd do if he didn't keep his word"
Mother muttered, still recollecting herself.
Hazel tapped her on the shoulder and beckoned that she listened to me. She smiled weakly and asked for my understanding.
"Where are Harper and Henry?"
I asked Hazel, about her children who I hadn't seen either.
With a loud sigh, she shook her head tiredly then said. "Truly, I have not a single clue. They both disappeared after the chaotic breakfast yesterday"
"What exactly happened?" I asked because I didn't have a single clue about what had initiated the sudden turn of events.
"That bastard happened" This time, mother answered. Finally, she was looking straight at me with the ferocious intensity that I was familiar with. "I'm just glad he kept his word"
"Who?"
"Your father"
I paused. Music from the nearby hall began to play. Mother had to put together a document to show the priests, in order to prevent the wedding from taking place.
"Kept his word for what?"
Mother also paused for a moment, listening to the gentle music from the closed door.
"It's a long story. Let's say it's a devil's deal"
"Okay. I understand. I'll listen later. Right now, our first priority is cancelling this wedding"
"But Adri-
It was time for us to act fast. I turned to Hazel who stood near the door.
"Hazel, please could you bring ink and parchment?"
"The thing is-
Preventing the wedding like this, was better than to risk getting into a scandal or even getting caught.
"Mother, do you happen to have the Marchioness' seal on you? That would be great"
"Adria!"
Mother banged her hand against the table, calling out to me loudly. It was then I turned back to her and saw how exasperated she was. I had thought she was merely feeling anxious from not comprehending the sudden situation.
But that wasn't it.
"Yes mother? Do you have any other way to stop this wedding?"
Maybe that was it. Maybe she had another plan. Of course she did. My mother was Jessica Deor, a former fearless knight who had now a relentless, scheming and caring parent. She would always benefit from what was in my best interest.
Then why did she look guilty?
Only after a heavy silence settled in the room for a moment, mother closed her eyes, then opened them with a sigh.
"I've been trying to say the wedding can't be cancelled"
"What? Why?"
The fire which I had said burned intensely in my mother's eyes, was suddenly extinguished. It seemed the fearless mother who I respected, had vanished within a mere day. No longer could she look me in the eye.
"You see....I...
"You what, mother?"
My tone now had an edge to it, as the suspense became unbearable. And the ominous feeling I had, didn't help in quelling my rising annoyance.
I could feel a tremble in my fingers as mother examined my expression, before finally saying.
"I'm sorry Adria...I already gave my official agreement to your wedding to Ronald"