Chapter 2
"Isabela, once you marry into the Petersen family, treat Mr. Petersen well and don't throw tantrums," my mother instructed.
Her words made my skin crawl, but I kept my head down and stayed silent.
Out of nowhere, Makenna stormed in. Her eyes fell on the emerald ornament in the courtyard. Without hesitation, she grabbed it and hurled it to the ground.
Pointing a finger at my nose, she yelled, "What does he have besides money? I didn't want him, but you're so desperate! You're shameless!"
I rolled my eyes inwardly, not understanding why she was so worked up.
She'd always complained about his obsession with wealth, yet now that he offered a generous betrothal gift, she blamed me.
I traced the gold bracelet Alexander had given me the day before. Its solid weight on my wrist made me feel safe for the first time in ages.
No more worrying about hunger, no more stress. What did I care about her petty tantrums?
The wedding date was set just two weeks away.
Alexander, worried I might exhaust myself, had someone arrange for Elmsville's top seamstresses to start on my dress. I only needed to rest.
He even sent two nannies.
Not for discipline, but to set up a small courtyard kitchen, preparing ginseng and bird's nest soup for me every day.
"Lady Isabela," one called, carrying a bowl of silver ear soup, smiling warmly.
"Mr. Petersen told us you're delicate," she said. "Take care of yourself. Only then can you and he grow old together. Just don't..."
"Don't what?" I asked, intrigued.
The words "grow old together" made my cheeks burn. I nudged her to continue.
She tried to stifle a laugh, shoulders shaking.
"Mr. Petersen said... don't go before him. He doesn't ever want to marry anyone else. You're the only one he wants," she managed finally.
My heart thudded, but I snorted.
He played it cool, yet could charm effortlessly when he wanted.
Believing him? That was another matter entirely.
I didn't care about some eternal love; as long as I had money to spend and food in my belly, I was satisfied.
Two weeks vanished in a blink.
On the wedding day, red silk draped from the Stafford mansion to the Petersen estate. The procession was so extravagant, horns and drums blaring, it could rival royalty.
That night, red candles burned bright, the air thick with warmth and incense.
Half-asleep, I vaguely remembered Alexander whispering, "Looks like you need a bit more TLC," before I drifted off.
Morning sunlight fell across the foot of the bed when I woke.
A maid entered with a basin of water, smiling. "Mr. Petersen said not to wake you. He guessed you'd be exhausted after last night."
My face turned crimson. I wished I could vanish into the floor.
Then Alexander pushed aside the curtain. His ears glowed bright red, he fidgeted, clearly unsure what to do with his hands and feet.
"You're awake?" he mumbled, scratching his head, voice unusually low. "I... just finished morning sword practice. After you eat, I'll show you around our family's businesses."
During my first days at the Petersen household, Alexander guided me across Elmsville. We explored every corner together.
When we tired of carriages, he brought out two gentle horses and patiently taught me to hold the reins.
If my feet ached, he'd squat silently, patting his back and motioning for me to climb on.
Being the only Petersen left, free from parental oversight, meant we could do as we pleased. No rules, no interference.
He grinned, pride radiating from his handsome face, showing off the confidence of the family's heir.
"Even the emperor couldn't keep me in line, let alone my parents. Don't be shy. We should spend more time together, get closer, build some real feelings between us," Alexander said.
I nodded solemnly, playing along.
He wasn't wrong. Even if I was just after his money, if we got close, he'd probably be even more generous with me.
And if he ever did get tired of me, if there's some real affection between us, he wouldn't just let me go hungry.
My own mother ended up miserable because she and my father never cared for each other. I'm not about to end up like her.
Seeing how I agreed without a second thought, Alexander slapped his thigh.
"Hey, I thought you'd play hard to get, but looks like we're a perfect match!" he laughed.
Looking at his silly grin, I scrunched up my lips in fake annoyance, but inside, I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement.
He might seem clever, but honestly, he's surprisingly easy to win over.
But whenever I had a quiet moment, I still couldn't wrap my head around how he decided to marry me out of the blue.
Makenna was the most talented woman in all of Elmsville. I couldn't even compare to her, not even a little.
He spent two years chasing after her, so how did he suddenly turn his attention to me?
But then I'd think, what's the point in worrying about it? I'm Alexander's legitimate wife now, and that's all that really matters.
On the day of our first visit back to my family after the wedding, Alexander had made sure the gifts were ready bright and early. Holding my hand tightly, he led me straight to the Stafford mansion.
But as soon as we reached the gate, two servants stepped forward, blocking our way.
Alexander's brows knitted together, and his tone grew noticeably colder.