"Who would have thought it came down to this?" she asked the painting of her mother. The oval shaped portrait hung across her four-poster bed. The wooden frame was finely carved with flowers. "What is father hoping to gain? If only you were alive, mom..."
She didn't know how to end her sentence. Emotions welled in her chest that left an indescribable feeling. In fact, words couldn't portray how she felt and the situation she was put in; a fifteen year old who was suppose to marry a stranger. Tears stung at her eyes. She blinked them away and allowed the moisture to cast a path down her cheeks.
She peered at the portrait, noting how she resembled the woman smiling serenely at her. The woman's blond hair was gathered into a bun on the top of her head. Loose golden ringlets framed her heart shaped face. Golden jewelry adorned her neck and ears. She wore a sky blue dress with ruffles around her neck and arms. Friendly brown orbs gazed at her.
Lucy lifted a hand to her forehead and slightly shook her head. Now was not the time to cry. As a lady, she had to conceal her emotions, even when she was alone because after Sebastion's promotion to butler and the coldness she received from her servants, she made a promise to act more like a lady; like her mother.
There was a soft but alarming rap at the door and both of Lucy's hands clutched at her skirts. The sapphire silk broke her from her reverie. She wore her mother's favorite color to spite her father's decision. The same thing went for the necklace that held a large sapphire gemstone adorned with small white diamonds. But hidden under all those fancy jewels was her golden chain that held the three golden celestial keys. With the keys, she could summon her spirits at any time.
"My lady, are you ready?" Sebastian asked.
It was then Lucy realized that she needed to regain her composure. She wiped her face with the back of her hands and she cleared her throat, "Yes. Have most of the guests arrived?"
"Yes. My lady, they are awaiting your presence."
"I'm coming out," Lucy announced walking to the door. Her gloved fingers made contact with the brass doorknob and she stopped momentarily. She knew that by opening the door and following Sebastian to the ballroom was going to be a major turning point in her life. Within the next hour she was going to be acquainted with her fiance, the person she was bound to spend the rest of her life with. Lucy pushed away those thoughts. She opened the door and followed Sebastian to the ballroom.
"Lady Lucy Heartfilia, daughter of Lord Jude Heartfilia and Lady Layla Heartfilia," the announcer, a petite butler with ruddy cheeks declared. Lucy gathered her skirts and made her way down the stairwell. She was aware that all of her father's guests had laid eyes on her as she made her way down to the dance floor. A strained smile etched its way onto her face as she greeted the people that were closest to her.
Somewhere between the friendly small talk and excessive smiling, Lucy found her anxiousness building up. After what seemed like an eternity with intermingling with guests, Lucy decided to head upstairs to the second level. More guests were typically located there and it was her job as a lady to associate herself with all of her visitors.
She was in the midst of chatting with an elderly man and his wife when she noticed her father's hurried footsteps to the main entrance of the ballroom. A tall man with black hair dressed in a dark tuxedo and a long cape stopped at the landing of the stairwell. The butler took his cape from his broad shoulders and exchanged a few words with him. The servant's eyes widened and appeared lost before Lord Heartfilia was at the man's side.
"Guests of Lord Heartfilia, I introduce Lord Mard Geer, the wealthiest man in Fiore." The guests gasped at such a fine introduction and an important person who attended the ball. Lucy's heart raced as she saw her father walked side by side with the important lord around the second level. People were trying to interrupt their conversation but Lord Heartfilia evaded them and they were walking toward her. Lucy's smile faltered as black eyes clashed with her chocolate ones. Her breath caught in her throat. Something predatory flickered in those eyes, which caused her to step back.
"Lady Heartfilia, are you okay?" the elderly man asked with concern laced in his aged voice.
Slowly, Lucy nodded her head. "W-ill you please excuse me?" she questioned the couple.
"Sure." She stepped away from the pair and turned around to make an escape, only her father's voice made her pause.
"My dearest daughter, Lucy." Her father had a sickeningly sweet tone, "This is Mard Geer, your fiance."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, my lord, how do you do?" she asked.
Although, Lucy wanted to flee more than anything in the world, she had to stand her ground or else risk ruining her family's reputation. This man, she surmised, was bad news. The way he gazed at her was not a way a gentleman would eye a lady in public. But no one seemed to notice this but her. Perhaps she was looking too far into it, telling herself all the possible flaws he had.
She felt useless at the way Lord Geer looked at her. There was amused expression on his face as if he enjoyed her sudden reaction to his appearance. Lucy figured that he had no objections to this marriage. After all, he was a man and he would not be the one who had to adapt to a new niche. If this marriage happened Lucy had to leave everyone and everything behind to move into a foreign place. She would become a wife, a mother to his children, and a prisoner in a different house. No more strolls in the woods or attempting to talk to the house staff or Sebastian. She would especially miss Sebastian, even if he had turned cold on her.
"Fine, thank you. And please the pleasure is all mine," Lord Geer responded with a touch of coolness and boredom.
The politeness he had spoken to her was just a farce.
A strained smile plastered on her lips as she glanced elsewhere in the ballroom, seeking an excuse to escape both men's company. Other noble guests lingered in the room in small groups while the musicians on the main level played soothing classical music. There were servants moving around the room with drinks on a tray. Her eyes met Sebastian's dark ones and for a moment she exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"How long was this reunion planned?" she asked as a way to make light conversation.
"For awhile now," her father replied. Lucy felt sick. Of course, Lord Heartfilia was scheming to make more money and he was willing to sell her to the devil if it meant he could secure a large financial sum.
"I see..." She was at lost to find anything else to say.
"I will leave you two alone to get to know one another." Her father bowed before Lord Geer, which shocked her. He never lowered himself to anyone before because he always thought of himself having more power and being better than everyone else.
He swiveled on his feet and left her in the company of a complete stranger.
Lord Geer's smile transformed into a smirk as he lightly bent his head in a gesture to greet a lady but Lucy knew it was all for show. She shuddered at the thought of being alone with him. The people saved her from getting to see who he truly was or what she sensed was radiating from his form; immorality.
Could the man be a wizard like her?
His aura felt different from the other guests in the room. Capricorn, her mother's most loyal spirit, taught her to discern magical auras from regular ones. Most people didn't have the ability to do magic. In fact, wizards were rare. They mostly gathered in places called magical guilds but to meet one intermingling with other people was even rarer. Wizards did difficult jobs or missions; mostly to slay monsters and to protect people and places. They were viewed as useful but when they weren't using their powers for the benefits of Fiore, they were feared.
If this man was a wizard like herself, then she had a good reason to be frightened of him.
She drew her gaze away from the stranger to look for Sebastian. He was moving near them. It was almost as if he could sense her distress and he was coming to rescue her.
"Are you having a pleasant time so far?" Lucy forced herself to question Lord Geer. She was buying time as she averted her attention back to him.
His black eyes roamed over her body and alertness slammed into her. "I was bored until we met. Maybe a marriageable reunion between us won't be so bad."
"You see, that's where I disagree," she replied. Her stomach felt like it was in knots. "I'm not the type of lady you're looking for."
"And you know what I want?" He tilted his head back. The smirk grew into a mocking grin.
She had to raise her head to get a better view of him and she cursed him for being tall. Physically, he towered over her. "I'm not some obedient girl who will bow to your whims."
"A challenge then?"
"No. This isn't right. You have nothing better to gain from this marriage more than I."
His eyes lit with malicious pleasure as he closed the distance between them. He glittered like the courtier he was.
Her heart was pounding. She looked helplessly around the room, silently asking for help. She couldn't believe he would act ungentlemanly toward a lady in front of the other courtiers.
Expression like ice, Sebastain intervened. Lucy's eyes widened at his bold move. "Will you like a glass of fine champagne, sir?"
She didn't get a chance to see Lord Geer's expression. Instead, she turned around and hastily walked out of the ballroom. Her chest was heaving by the time she arrived into the garden. There was a lovely fountain that made sprinkled water sparkle like diamonds. Brick pathways surrounded the fountain and there were benches for strollers to sit down. In the background had a grand maze of flowers. One could get lost inside of it. Fortunately, she was the only one who was outside to admire the maze. As she looked up, she saw the lights on from the ballroom. Music softly drifted into the wind. Lucy brushed back several strands of blond hair from her face. She gathered her skirts around her before she sat down on one of the benches. Above her, she could make out an exquisite balcony. It was the same one her father loved to stand on and watch everything from it. He said it made him believe he was the king of his kingdom. He was right. He was the king of the Heartfilia estate.
And she dreaded being his daughter more than anything.
"What the hell were you thinking, Sebastian?" a cold voice penetrated through the darkness of the garden. Lucy's head shot up to the balcony. Without thinking, she rose on her feet and moved into the shadows under the balcony. Whoever was up there with Sebastian would never be able to detect her presence.
"My apologies, Master," replied the butler.
"Things were getting interesting. Who knew my little fiancé was such a spitfire?"
"Which is my reason for intervening, Master. We can't have Master Heartfilia or his daughter knowing your true motive."
"You mean that insufferable brute. He's more blinded with making a fortune than to realize my true objective."
Lucy's hands were clenched on holding her skirts. She gritted her teeth to prevent a sound at the revelation. Sebastian wasn't who she thought he was.
"But we have to be careful with Lady Heartfilia. She might not look it but she is quite astute for a young wizard."
"That is why I am here, Sebastian. Are you sure she is what you claim her to be?"
"I know she is a celestial wizard like her mother. Although many years have passed since the death of her mother, one can't forget that type of magic. And I have proof to believe that she possesses three of the rare golden keys."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Master Geer."
Lucy trembled in fear. Her heart rate echoed in her ears as the truth stabbed her in her guts. Lord Geer was marrying her for more than just a business proposal. And Sebastian, the man she considered to be family, betrayed her.
Actually, my sister and I finished this story and we decided that we are going to post the chapters every couple of days on this site. Also, we changed the title to "The Golden Keys" because we plan on posting all the books in the same place. We hope you don't mind. It's just if we post the books separately, there will be a lot of spams. Thanks and see you until next time.
