The Neglected Princess

13. Ariana Reinhart

Next day. Victor, Octavius, Owen and Olivia travel to the area near the mountain, where the grave of the late Duchess Hubbert is located. They boarded a carriage escorted by knights.

On the way, Olivia kept staring out the window of the horse carriage. The foreign roads that passed seemed very beautiful. In addition to the forest, there is also a large field of roses.

"Dad, are these flowers not picked and sold?" ask Olivia.

"Who dares to pluck the flowers that are above the Hubbert family's land?" sahut Octavius answered.

Olivia widens her eyes, "A-what? So, this flower farm belongs to our family?" ask Olivia astonishment.

"really. Father bought all the land around the mountain and asked the farmer to plant flowers and take care of them. Of course with a great wage" replied Octavius.

"Because your mother loves roses so much, this is all I can do for her. I can't keep him company, because I still have to take responsibility for you guys" continued Victor.

"Dad, why are you talking like that? You must be very happy and proud to have a responsible husband like you. Believe me," said Olivia.

Victor smiled, rubbing the head of Olivia sitting next to him. He was happy to hear his daughter proud of him.

Because the journey is quite far, Olivia who was tired also decided to sleep for a while. Octavius and Owen were talking. They talk about their own work. While Victor continued to look towards the field of roses while imagining the face of his late wife. Victor recalled an old memory, the beginning of his encounter with his late wife.

***

Twenty-five years ago. Victor was just about to reach adulthood. He attended a feast of maturity organized by the palace. The party looks so good. Many sons and daughters of nobles who were also present enlivened the feast.

In the middle of the party, Victor who was bored also tried to escape from the event. He went to the park located on the north side where the party took place. He climbed up into the tree and sat leaning against the leafy leaves. A breeze whipped through his hair and knocked the dried leaves to the ground.

Suddenly he heard someone crying. Victor sat down and looked for the source of the voice. It turned out, right below him, there was a girl sobbing. Victor silently observed the gaphis. He saw the girl nagging like she was upset, wiping away her tears.

"Who's that cute girl?" Inner Victor.

Suddenly someone came and disturbed the girl. The man pulled the girl's hand violently, while the girl screamed for release in pain.

"Deliver!" exclaim that girl.

"You're crazy, huh? how dare you fight Dad. You want to embarrass the family, huh?" said the young man.

"Why should I? aren't there many other ladies here besides me?" the girl looked at the man in front of her.

"You think they're worth our family? You don't fuck around, Ariana. If you don't go back to the party and get your match, you'll be punished by me" the man said.

It looks like the girl and the boy are having a mouth war. Victor continued to quietly observe, until he heard his surname called.

"No, I don't want to!" the girl screamed again.

"You fool!" Sentence of boys.

"In this empire, there were no more great families like Duke Hubbert's. You should be grateful, because the Duke family is willing to accept you as their future daughter-in-law. After all, the boy named Victor was famously handsome. He's also a war hero. Goddamnit! If only the Duke family had a daughter, I'd rather get married. You're useless," said the man.

"Sir .. Didn't Brother hear the rumors? N-doesn't the people say, Young Duke is creepy and cold-hearted? B-what if he tortures me later? Or ... or .. " said the girl stammered, then cried.

The man hugged the girl and patted her on the back, "You are a fool, Ariana. If he dares to sculpt you, of course your brother will reward him for you. As strong as she is, she can't be as willing as my sister, you understand? I know how you feel and what you think, but you also have to think about our family. Thinking of Mom," the man said to his sister.

Hugs off. The older brother wiped his tears and was finally willing to come back to the party. After the brothers left, Victor got down and went back to the party.

***

Victor met his father and mother. Right next to his Father and Mother, he saw a middle-aged man, boy and girl whom he saw in the park.

Victor's father immediately introduced the three men to Victor and told Victor, if the girl standing between his Father and Brother was Victor's future wife.

Victor was not surprised, he just silently accepted what his parents had decided. As the son and successor of the family, he could not refuse a marriage. Because Victor wanted to know his future wife, Victor also asked permission to speak with his future wife. Both sides agree and agree.

Victor went to the park, followed by his future wife. Victor stopped his steps right in the rose garden and turned to look at his future wife.

"You're afraid of me?" ask Victor.

"Yes? W-what do you mean?" ask the girl.

"Look at me carefully and tell me the truth. How'd I?" ask Victor.

"A-pa?" the girl frowned and immediately turned her eyes away after seeing Victor's face.

Victor then told him that he saw his future wife crying in the park and whatever happened there. Victor also said that he could not refuse marriage because it was his duty as successor.

"It's okay if you don't like me. You just have to play the role of wife, without having to care about me. I mean, don't mind how I feel, and you can do everything you like. I won't hurt or disturb you either. Is this how you can calm down?" said Victor looking at his future wife.

"Are you seriously saying that? That means, even if we get married, you and I will not take care of each other's personal problems, right? You will also guarantee my safety, as well as the well-being of my family?" said the girl looked at Victor.

"Yes" replied Victor briefly.

The girl looked down, "All right. If so, I'll marry you and do my best as a young Duchess." Said the girl.

"What's your name?" ask Victor.

"Ariana Reinhart" the girl replied.

Victor silently looked at Ariana in front of him. Ariana was still with her position down. He did not dare look at Victor.