Capítulo 1: Contract marriage (1)
"Duke Edgar, please spend the night with my daughter. You will not regret it," A bold mother pushed her daughter towards Edgar Collins as he stepped off his carriage.
All eyes were on the three of them as everyone waited to see the duke's next move.
"I wasn't aware your daughter works in the red light district. I am not looking for a wife there," Duke Edgar strode past the disappointed mother and humiliated daughter without stopping.
He had only arrived less than three minutes ago, but this was his second encounter with a mother and daughter harboring such delusions. They were perhaps the most shameless, but he had been receiving proposal after proposal ever since people heard he was looking for a wife.
The culprit responsible for the rumor was none other than the scheming king who apparently had nothing better to do than to ruin the life of his friend.
The ploy worked perhaps a little too well. After all, Duke Edgar Collins was the only child, the sole heir of countless swathes of land. His luxurious lifestyle was second only to the monarch. In addition to his material wealth, he also enjoyed a close friendship with the king. Nothing, it was said, was impossible for Duke Edgar.
He was said to be a monster but when his wealth became known, his dangerous nature was forgotten.
"Duke Collins is here," a young woman whispered excitedly to her companion as Edgar headed toward Baron Desmond Barrett's mansion. Edgar could not catch what her companion said, but it was doubtlessly something equally silly.
'This is going to be a pain in the ass,' he sighed, already knowing how the night would end. Another "you will find in my daughter the perfect mistress of your household" would be the death of him.
The heat from their desperation made the place hot and uncomfortable. He needed a nice cold drink more than he needed a wife.
Edgar had no idea why he agreed to attend the baron's party. Desmond Barrett was the head of a failing household and a man he never cared for. Edgar also couldn't figure out why a man on the brink of bankruptcy would throw such an elaborate party.
Was Baron Desmond trying to get kicked out of his own home?
"Duke Collins," the man himself appeared to interrupt Edgar's thoughts. The baron, hair tied into his usual ponytail and white suit, had Edgar struck by an odd thought. The baron's suit matched his hair. Black with the occasional specs of white.
Edgar didn't miss the way the baron announced his name like he was a young girl making her debut at a ball and was coming down the stairs. "Baron," he greeted the man.
"It was so kind of you to visit my home to attend my party," Baron Barrett continued, pleasantly surprised to see the infamous Duke Collins grace his presence. He was also secretly relieved that his guests would not be disappointed. He had spent the day fielding questions from guests who came only to see the duke.
Baron Barrett had made sure to spread the news that the duke would be at his party, but he did not anticipate the guest's foul mood.
"Save it, baron. You know why I am here. Unlike the king, I am still unconvinced that you have the information I am looking for." The king had instructed Edgar to solve the mysterious disappearances of several young women before panic set in.
Baron Barrett had sent a note to Edgar, claiming he had sensitive information he could only convey in person. Edgar doubted that he had anything useful, but the King insisted the no lead be left unchecked.
"Of course, I know why you are here, but it would be rude of me to not offer you a drink first, Edgar. Forgive me but you seem to be sweating quite an awful lot," Desmond looked around wondering if his house needed more windows opened.
"I am not here for a fucking drink. Let me tell you that," Edgar grabbed the baron's neck, indifferent to the crowd eyeing his every action. "I might have a lot of time on my hands these days but I do not like when it is wasted. If you have called me here to entertain your guests. I will see that you hang first thing in the morning."
"I apologize," Baron Barrett as his feet were lifted off the ground. He heard the duke was a monster, but dismissed it as a joke.
Desmond tried to gulp, but Edgar's grip was too tight.
"You apologize?" Edgar tightened his hold around Baron Barrett's neck. "That sounds like you are admitting that you have no information for me. It wouldn't take too long for me to snap the neck of such a frail old man. Is this entertaining enough for your guests?"
Desmond felt the hairs on his body stand tall as Edgar's cold breath brushed against his skin. "I-I have information. I swear it. I-It's upstairs."
"Good boy," Edgar dropped the baron. "Why did you wait so long to say that? Did you wish for me to kill you?"
"No d-duke. I should have brought it right away. Forgive me. C-Can you put me down before everyone thinks you are in the wrong? I don't want them to get the wrong impression of you." It was a feeble excuse, but Baron Desmond could no longer bear the humiliation of being strangled in his own home.
"Of course," Edgar released the small man before patting his shoulders in mock concern. "I hope you are fine. In exchange, I'd like some space alone. Away from your prying guests."
"The garden has been made off-limits so no one would bother you there. But my daughter wishes to have a moment with you. If you can spare some time with her, I will be grateful."
"Do I look like a shooting star to you, baron?" Edgar looked down at the pathetic man, the height difference making his disdain even more obvious.
"Shooting star? I do not understand Edgar. How could you be a shooting star?" Baron Barrett attempted to feign confusion.
"Why else would you think I can grant your daughter's wish? Run along and bring what you have for me."
"Y-Yes, sir."
Edgar made a mental note that this would be the last house call he did under the king's orders. The baron was nothing more than an opportunist. Using others' names to boost his popularity.
Before anyone else could introduce their daughters to him, Edgar walked off in a random direction, hoping it would somehow lead to the garden. He had never visited the baron's estate before and quite frankly, he was hoping this would be the last.
"Follow him," he heard someone mutter behind him.
Edgar instinctively pulled a cigar out of his coat pocket as he hurried outside. He deserved a quick smoke after dealing with that fool of a baron. As he found his way out of the baron's mansion, the cold air chafed against his skin almost sending him inside.
But the nosy guests kept him outside. Lighting the cigar, Edgar mused that he preferred the freezing cold to the heated gazes of hopeful young women.
His sharp senses informed him that he wasn't alone. Someone light-footed was attempting to tiptoe away unnoticed. Walking closer, he noticed the silhouette of a young lady hugging herself tightly.
"That coat is a little thin for such weather, isn't it?" He made his presence known.
The woman stopped short in her tracks, seemingly shaken up from being discovered. But she steeled herself quickly. "The party is inside," she informed him without turning around.
"I am very much aware of that, Alessandra. Why are you tensing up like I wasn't supposed to know your name? Surely Baron Barrett only has one cursed daughter who masks herself even in the comfort of her own home."
After a moment of silence, Alessandra finally spoke. "Are you scared of me?"
"No. There are scarier things in life darling. Why would I be scared of a girl, mask or no mask?" Edgar exhaled, the pale smoke contrasting with the dark sky.
"That's going to kill you if you don't stop." If Edgar could see Alessandra closer, he would've noticed her nose had twisted in disgust once the smell reached her.
"Good, it'll speed up the process. Are you scared of me?" He asked after she had not once looked around to see who she was speaking to.
"I do not know who you are," she replied.
"Right. I am Edgar Collins. Just Edgar would be fine."
"The duke?" Alessandra's eyes widened. For once in her life, her father was not exaggerating and making false boasts. "They say you are to be married. Is that why you are here? Are you here for Kate?"
"I rather die. No offense," he added as that was her sister he was insulting. "None of the young women in there shall be my wife. They are all like matching dolls in a set."
Alessandra was seized by a wild idea. "I am not inside."
"Then you are as naive as them for not realizing you are setting yourself up for a loveless match," Edgar said.
"What if I don't want you to love me?"
Edgar chuckled. That's the lie too many girls tell themselves. After some time, most eventually crave something more. However, amused by how she could convince him. "You may change my mind."
"What about a contract?" Alessandra knew her suggestion was insane and the duke could easily take offense, but she was desperate to escape.
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Capítulo 2: Contract marriage (2)
"Did your father set this up?" It was the only plausible scenario for Edgar.
"My father has no idea that I am out here speaking to you, Duke Edgar. I have told you the party is on the inside. No one was supposed to see me passing by. My father won't be pleased to see you here with me," Alessandra replied with the honest truth.
Not many people could say they often saw the baron's daughter since Desmond kept his daughter out of sight. Alessandra wasn't of any use to him thanks to the mask she wore and the rumors surrounding her.
"Everything I say right now has nothing to do with my father. I leave it up to you to believe me. I am not interested in marrying anyone for love. I only wish to leave this place and never look back."
"What is it? Your father has plans to marry you off to a man far older than you or is he just shipping you off somewhere you do not wish to go? Has to be something drastic for you to ask a man you don't know to marry you," Edgar pressed his cigar against the stone wall to end it.
"It is suffocating to be here. I am forgotten by my own father. I do not care for your looks Duke Edgar nor your money or anything else others might want. Frankly, I only see you as an escape," she explained her reasoning for choosing him.
Their meeting was completely unexpected on her side, but Alessandra didn't want to leave without proposing what she had in mind.
"I've heard my family speak of how the king wishes for you to get married. For a man who does not wish to have any romantic relationships with anyone, I might be a good choice. I will live quietly like a ghost, taking care of what you want of me, and I shall never love you."
"Is that so?" For once in his life, Edgar did not find her words unbelievable. Still, he wasn't looking to entertain the idea of being married to her just yet. "It isn't hard for me to find an actress to play the role of my wife."
"If it was so easy you would have done so already," Alessandra said, seeing through his bluff. He most likely needed a wife who would make sense to the king. "If the king has done this to toy with you, choosing a wife like me will certainly make him regret this."
The corners of Edgar's mouth lifted. "You are quick on your feet. This is why I keep telling my peers not to believe rumors. It's been said countless times that Alessandra Barrett is just a timid girl who freaks out and runs away when spotted by someone."
"You are said to be a monster, but you sound human to me. I do what I must to survive here. If you do not wish to do a contract with me, I shall leave you be," Alessandra took one step forward and then waited for an answer.
When Edgar did not respond, she took another step thinking the man did not want any plans in what she was offering him but then, he surprised her.
"Meet me at my residence tomorrow. We will further discuss this there and then I will give you my answer."
Alessandra turned around in a haste, almost making herself fall. She was surprised because he was actually contemplating it, but was even more surprised Edgar wanted her to meet him at his residence. "I don't leave here."
"I gathered that from you sneaking around. It is a test for you. I want to see how determined you are. I'm sorry to end our conversation here but I have stayed at your home longer than I wanted to. It was nice chatting with you, Alessandra. Hopefully, we shall see each other soon," Edgar turned on his heel to go back inside to find her father.
Alessandra began to panic as she thought of how she would meet with the duke tomorrow. At least he seemed to be taking her seriously unless he would have a crowd waiting to laugh at her for believing he would marry her even with a contract. "We shall see each other tomorrow," she promised.
"Duke Edgar? Who are you speaking to?" Kate Barrett, the younger daughter of the baron stepped outside.
She heard the duke was all alone and thought to give him some company. Seeing the duke walking away while her father's daughter was standing outside made her blood boil.
Kate thought highly of herself. She used her looks to elevate her position amongst her peers. She was identical to her mother with blonde hair and blue eyes. Two things she believed made her more beautiful compared to everyone else.
Dressed like a doll, Kate was hoping to have a word with the duke and catch his interest. She begged her father to have a moment alone with the duke, but Alessandra had stolen it away from her.
"I hope she did not offend you, Duke Edgar. She was not meant to be out here," Kate glared at Alessandra, warning her to run away.
"Hmm," Edgar stopped right beside Kate. "She has not offended me. Not like your father has."
"Thank goodness. She-"
"It might be due to me being an only child, but shouldn't you be referring to her as your sister or at least by her name?" Edgar quickly picked up that the younger girl did not like the older one.
Seeing the duke speaking to her sister, Alessandra used this chance to run away before any of them would ask her to speak. She wished Kate would have stayed inside rather than come out.
Now that Kate knew she had spoken to the duke, all hell would break loose tomorrow.
Edgar listened quietly to the sound of Alessandra running away while Kate tried to think of a good answer to what he had asked her. He wondered what Alessandra was so afraid of when it came to Kate.
"You are correct, Duke Edgar. It has to do with you not having any siblings. When siblings argue, we tend to do petty things, but I love my older sister. As you can see, she is extremely shy and can be awkward. That is why I was concerned she might have offended you," Kate put on her mask of being a good sister.
She would do anything to make the duke see she was a good person. There was no one else she saw worthy of being her husband.
"If that makes you sleep better at night," Edgar proceeded to walk away after Alessandra had gotten far away. If only he was in her position and not the one stuck with Kate.
"You know, I was hoping for some alone time between the two of us. I wish to show you that I can be an excellent choice for your wife," Kate followed behind him, gripping his arm to slow him down.
Edgar sighed annoyed with Kate who could not take a hint. The baron and his wife raised her to be like a spoiled princess. Fortunately, he had experience with an actual spoiled princess to know how to handle Kate. "Is there some misconception that I am looking for a wife who can only please me in bed?" He smacked her hand away.
If anyone were to see them like this rumors would quickly spread. He did not feel the need to add another rumor to the long list he had.
"I'm sorry," Kate was caught off guard by him denying her advances. There were plenty of men who would jump at what she was doing for Edgar. "You visit the red light district."
Edgar shrugged his shoulders not seeing what that had to do with his future wife. "Who is to say I do not go there to read a book?"
"It is awfully loud there."
"I work better when there is a lot of noise around, but please enlighten me. What do you know of how loud it is?" Edgar grinned, enjoying the sight of Kate realizing her mistake. "What on earth would the baron's daughter be doing there unless you are listening to the gossip of what others do there?"
"N-No. You are misunderstanding," Kate tried to clear it up right away. She had never visited such a place.
"Understand this Kate. What you are doing will never entice me. Besides, I've received a better offer. Excuse me," Edgar stated before leaving Kate behind both utterly confused and embarrassed.
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