Chapter 21 : The Bride of a Fractured Crown
Johannes said nothing.
Not a word, even as he guided me back to my chambers, the shawl still wrapped tightly around my shoulders. It was clear that the banquet was no longer an option for me—not in this condition.
Marilyn’s face turned pale the moment she caught sight of the raw, red imprint marring my neck.
“Miss Prim, what in the world happened to you?”
She ushered me to the bed, her hands trembling as she examined the damage.
“Who would do this? You could’ve been killed!”
“It’s nothing,” I murmured.
“Nothing? The bruise is as clear as daylight! Girls these days… do they even understand how precious their lives are?”
She sighed, her worry palpable as she gently applied salve to the wound. “It’ll take at least a week for this to fade. Maybe more.”
The thick bandage wrapped around my neck felt surreal.
She left, only to return not long after with news.
“The banquet ended smoothly,” she said. “The Duke announced the marriage himself. He told the guests you were unwell and would be formally introduced at the wedding.”
I sighed, guilt settling like dust.
“I’m sorry. You helped so much, and I still managed to get lost.”
“How could that be your fault?” Marilyn said briskly. “If anything, it’s mine for not escorting you.”
With a thoughtful pause, she added, “It’s clear now we need a dedicated maid. The house has been without a proper hostess for too long. None of the current staff is suited for the position.”
Apparently, she was seeking the Duke’s permission.
“Fortunately,” she smiled, “he told me I could recommend someone.”
“Then I trust your judgment,” I replied. “Who would you suggest?”
“Someone quiet,” she said simply. “The Shultz family is under too much scrutiny. Discretion is everything.”
How easy is it to find someone with a closed mouth and open loyalty?
Still, the subject left me uneasy. When I continued asking for suggestions, Marilyn finally responded with a sigh and a lecture.
“If you are to become the Duchess, you must learn to assert your wishes clearly. Know your rights, and fulfill your duties.”
She wasn’t wrong.
Before long, the whirlwind of wedding preparations consumed me entirely.
Days passed in a blur.
It had already been a week since Johannes publicly announced our marriage. Peaceful days, yet unnervingly quiet.
I hadn’t seen him since.
Perhaps it was for the best. He was likely too busy to think of me, and I—I wasn’t sure what I felt anymore.
But duty remained.
I owed him at least that much.
“Difficult,” I muttered, chewing the end of my fountain pen.
The sunlight slanted across my desk, illuminating the books stacked like miniature fortresses.
The History of the Schultz Family. The Family Tree. The Economic Impact. Political Alignments. Regional Influence…
I had known there would be much to learn.
But this much?
Still, I pushed forward, scribbling notes with determination.
1. The Schultz family, one of the three founding ducal lines of Docilia, remains among the most powerful noble houses.
2. Across generations, they have produced renowned scholars and military commanders. Their success in commerce and politics has kept them prosperous, even during regime changes.
3. The province of Mussen, under their influence, is so reliant on their resources that it might as well be run by Duke Schultz himself.
Not bad for a day’s work.
A knock broke the silence.
“Fret Gunner,” said the soft voice beyond the door.
I glanced at the clock.
Class time.
“Come in.”
“You’ve nearly memorized everything,” Fret said after a round of questions. He looked pleased.
I offered a small nod.
“Let’s go deeper,” he said. “Few know this, but the late Duke’s mother was the king’s only sister. That makes Johannes third in line to the throne.”
My breath caught.
Third.
I had always known he wielded power—but this…
It put everything into terrifying clarity.
Someone like him could replace me without a second thought.
A chill crept over me.
“Wait,” I whispered.
Fret tilted his head. “Yes?”
“The current king executed the previous king’s son?”
Fret nodded solemnly.
“To the throne, even blood is expendable. The Schultz family and the royal house are… tense. The palace has frozen their financial networks. It doesn’t threaten their livelihood, but it certainly hampers their influence.”
He paused, watching my expression.
I stayed silent. Political scandal or not, it felt like a distant storm.
He went on. “The idea is to strangle their role in politics and business. Smother their legacy.”
I frowned.
“We—the staff, that is—do not believe the former Duke was guilty of embezzlement.”
“Neither do I,” I said. “My father always spoke well of the Duke.”
Perhaps the royal family needed a scapegoat. And what better one than a rising power?
The bitterness that settled in my chest wouldn’t leave.
“That’s all for today,” Fret said. “Have you chosen your maid?”
“Not yet. Marilyn suggested someone, but I’m still considering.”
“Don’t wait too long. The wedding is close.”
He handed me design sketches and a guest list. I nodded, heart fluttering.
“Are you nervous, ma’am?”
“A little.”
Today was the day.
The wedding.
Ahin, my newly appointed maid, smiled warmly. “Everything will go perfectly.”
“You’ve worked hard, too. Thank you.”
“Nonsense,” she said. “You look breathtaking. Truly the most beautiful bride I’ve seen.”
“The dress helps.”
“No, you do,” she replied with a grin, smoothing the organza layers. Her fingers danced among the lace with practiced ease.
“Let’s not inflate my ego,” I teased.
“Just the truth,” she said, then adjusted my veil.
Her bronze skin gleamed softly under the light, freckles like constellations across her cheeks.
“All done,” she murmured. “You’re perfect.”
She hesitated. “Thank you, truly. It means a lot that you chose me. A foreigner like me doesn’t often find work in houses like this.”
“You earned it.”
In truth, hiring Ahin had been a careful decision.
A foreign maid, unfamiliar with Docilian gossip, and discreet.
She didn’t know the history. She didn’t need to. What mattered was her loyalty—and her silence.
A war refugee from the northeast, Ahin spoke little, but enough.
And in this house, silence was worth its weight in gold.
“Ahin,” I said gently, “could I have a moment alone?”
“Of course, ma’am.”
Once the door shut, I walked to the window, my heart thundering.
From this moment on, I would belong to House Schultz.
And nothing would ever be the same again.
