(Author's POV)
"What did you do to Lord Adrien, Arinelle?!" Seraphina gasped, her voice a pitch higher in panic.
Arinelle sat frozen, hands tightly folded in her lap, trembling under the weight of everyone's gaze.
"Adrien, please, let's talk about this calmly," her mother urged, trying to smooth over the tension. But Adrien, perched confidently in his seat, seemed to revel in the chaos.
He raised an eyebrow and leaned forward. "Arinelle did… nothing."
"NOTHING?!" The room erupted in disbelief, voices overlapping in shock.
"I have to admit, I'm officially confused," Lysara chimed in after a long silence, her eyes darting between the others.
"Yes," Adrien continued, a smirk creeping across his face. "She did nothing, but..." He paused dramatically, snapping his fingers.
Instantly, his loyal right-hand man appeared, bowing respectfully before handing Adrien a sealed envelope.
"You may go," Adrien ordered, and the man bowed again before retreating swiftly.
Adrien then tossed the envelope onto the table, and Lady Vivienne rushed to grab it. But the mere sight of it made her stomach churn. What secrets did it hold?
[ To the Esteemed House Lysaire,
After thorough examination and official verification by the Court of Bonds and the Beast-Taming Council, it has been confirmed that Lady Arinelle Lysaire bears a dormant Serpent Core incompatible with the Falcon Bloodline of House Mireen.
In simpler terms, a union between Lady Arinelle and Lord Adrien Mireen cannot result in a successful cultivation bond.
Any attempt to proceed with such a bond will result in mutual degradation of both cores, risking permanent spiritual damage.
Therefore, by decree of the Council, the engagement between House Lysaire and House Mireen is hereby nullified, effective immediately.
Signed and Sealed,
Lord Adrien Mireen
Falcon of the Seventh Sky, Heir of House Mireen
(With approval of the Beast Council and the High Court of Noble Contracts) ]
The room fell into an eerie silence.
Seraphina's sharp gasp broke the stillness, Lysara's eyes widened in shock, and Arinelle felt her heart racing, heat creeping into her cheeks. This was beyond embarrassing.
"I think you've all absorbed the news. If you'll excuse me, I need to leave," Adrien said, rising slightly as if to escape the tension.
"Wait a moment," her mother interjected, her expression darkening as she gripped the crumpled paper tightly. The sound of the rustling only made Arinelle's face grow hotter.
Adrien raised an eyebrow, a hint of arrogance creeping into his demeanor. "What?" he replied, the indifference in his voice palpable.
"What about the announcement?" Lady Vivienne asked nervously, her hands trembling slightly.
"I've got that covered. I'll let everyone know that—" he started, but her mother interrupted. "I'm not talking about the kingdom. I'm talking about your marriage announcement! We've already told everyone about your union!"
"Not my issue. It won't change anything for me," he replied coolly, a smirk forming on his lips.
"Adrien, think this through! Please, just go through with the wedding, and you can sort out a divorce later. This could ruin Arinelle's reputation and her chances with future suitors," her mother pleaded, desperation creeping into her voice. But Adrien remained resolute, as if he had already made his decision. "I am actually doing you all a big favor." He smirked.
"Huh?" Seraphina blurted, eyeing him with confusion.
"Would you have preferred me to show up with another woman on our wedding day?" he shot back. The air was thick with silence—a heavy, uncomfortable pause that stretched on, echoing what remained unsaid.
"I've found someone else—Gabriella from House Oren. She's... Arinelle's replacement." The word "replacement" lingered like a shadow, dark and foreboding.
Seraphina's heart raced, processing the betrayal. "I see... we've all agreed, then. Have a nice day," Adrien said curtly before striding away, leaving a trail of unsettled feelings behind.
The mansion was eerily quiet, the kind of quiet that felt charged with unspoken emotions. News of Arinelle's broken engagement hung like a storm cloud.
"I can't believe this," Lady Vivienne murmured, pacing her room anxiously. "After all my years of hard work, all for nothing because she wasn't the right match for him."
A shaky laugh escaped her lips, a laugh tinged with panic rather than joy. "And Gabriella? How could he just replace Arinelle like that? Is it the age gap? Adrien is six years older, and Gabriella is almost as young as Lysara. What did I miss?"
Frustration bubbled within her as she wrestled with the chaos of it all, desperate to find clarity in the midst of confusion.
Lady Vivienne couldn't shake off her thoughts. Every theory she concocted just felt wrong and didn't add up.
Hours had passed since Adrien had left, but the energy he brought lingered like an afterthought. In her room, Arinelle sat on a stool, watching her reflection in the mirror while her maid, Natasha, skillfully braided her hair, preparing her for bed.
"Miss Arinelle," Natasha said, her hands working diligently, "aren't you worried about what Master Adrien did earlier today?"
Arinelle took a moment, her eyes still glued to her reflection, taking in her striking features: her blue ink-colored hair and crimson eyes—an inheritance from her father. Her pale skin shimmered softly in the dim light.
"I honestly don't know what to feel right now," Arinelle replied quietly, feeling a heaviness in her chest. "I'd rather let it all settle for a bit."
"But my lady, this isn't just a simple engagement; the entire kingdom knows about it! What will you do? It could scare off potential suitors and tarnish your reputation," Natasha's voice grew bolder, worry lining her tone.
"I understand," Arinelle said, lowering her gaze. "But I don't think obsessing over it will change anything, will it?"
Natasha paused, surprised by Arinelle's calmness in such a troubling situation.
"Are you sure this is how you want to handle it? Maybe you could talk to Adrien and ask him to reconsider? You could even think about getting married and separating later…"
With a deep sigh, Arinelle's eyes remained locked on her reflection. "He's already moved on. He had replaced me." she said softly. The weight of her words hung in the air between them, unanswered and heavy.