Anthony and Ophelia

Chapter 1

Lady Ophelia

A Meeting With the Grand Duke

I sat with my legs crossed as I looked at the duke in front of me. I picked up my teacup and took a sip.

It was the duke who spoke first. "Why have you called me here? You know I'm a busy man."

I cleared my throat and got straight to the point. "I want to sign a marriage contract with you. I found out some people of mine are plotting to kill me, so I decided to marry you for more power."

The duke closed his eyes for a second, then opened them once again. "You cut to the chase, interesting. I don't see how that affects me and you didn't mention anything that would benefit me."

I silently laughed at myself. Of course, this wasn't going to be easy. I sighed. "Well, I heard that you need to get married to someone quickly. You could marry me for a year, then it'd all be done," I said.

"That's not important to me."

I pursed my lips. "I heard the emperor is pushing you to marry the fourth princess of the neighboring kingdom. You don't seem to like her very much. Though it's strange, there were rumors that you two were childhood friends."

"Dismiss them. I have no close relationship with that woman. She's unimportant to me. If that is all, I'll take my leave." Grand Duke Anthony stood up and walked to the door.

I started to panic. "Wait! I have something else. Just sit down until I'm done. Maybe one of the things that I have to say might interest you!"

The duke turned around. "Fine. You have thirty minutes."

Yes! That was more than enough time. I sighed with relief. "My family runs a plantation. They also control one of the trade routes used with another kingdom!"

"Those could be a bit useful. However, it would be hard to persuade me with just that." The duke sat unfazed with a stone face.

Time to use my trump cards. "Alright. I know a secret you're hiding and the location of what you're looking for."

Suddenly, a smirk slowly grew on the duke's face. "Like?"

I knew that I had the advantage. "You keep the royal seal buried underground with the late emperor. You hide it because the royal family doesn't want to pass a law all the nobles are pushing for. And the mana stones you're searching for? I know where there's an infinite amount of them. It's also in a secluded place so no one can find them easily."

"Interesting..." the duke mused. "And how did you get this information?"

I smiled. "Now that's my little secret. And your secret is safe with me as long as you sign the contract. I promise after a year, you won't ever see me again."

Really, before I died, the Duke made a late discovery of mana stones in the northern mountains. They'd be used for powering tools, mages, and profit. It was also discovered that the Royal Seal was buried with King Arnold. Anthony was exiled for hiding it. But I couldn't exactly tell him that now, could I?

Grand Duke Anthony laughed. "What if the information about the mana stones is wrong? And what if you go blabbing about the seal during or after the marriage?"

"I assure you it won't happen. If it does, you can kill me and my most loved ones, and you can take all of our fortunes."

The duke nodded. "I see. I suppose this will be on a document? I have a few conditions though."

"It will be, yes. I'll make the contract, but what are your conditions?" I asked, getting more suspicious.

"First, we must act as if we are a real couple. Second, during the marriage, you will have to do all the duties of a duchess. And third, you'll live at my manor from now on. As for our cover story, we've been talking secretly and wanted to make our relationship public and official. How we fell in love? It was love at first sight," the duke said.