Published on:- 16/12/24 [Monday]
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Name : Edmund Sinclair
Title : The Marquees
Age : 24
Family : Marquees Family
Timeline: End of the 19th Century, Ashbourne Kingdom.
Famous : For his coldness, unreadable eyes, bravery and breaking the rules.

...

The days before the Marquess's arrival were filled with tension and expectation.

Rose did her best to stay focused on her daily tasks, but the looming marriage overshadowed everything.

The idea of marrying a man she had never met, chosen by her father and the royal court, left her uneasy. She tried to suppress her doubts and determined to be an obedient daughter, but deep within her, an unfamiliar longing stirred.

"How can I marry someone from an ancient era? I've already been married once, and it ended in heartbreak. Even my son chose to stay with his father..." Rose's thoughts spiraled as memories from her modern life flooded her mind.

Her head buzzed with confusion when a soft knock broke her reverie. The door opened, and Matilda stepped in.

Rose glanced at Matilda, the personal maid she'd met when she woke up in this strange timeline.

Over time, Rose realized that Matilda suspected something was off, that she was behaving differently from the person she was supposed to be.

"Breakfast is ready, My Lady", Matilda said politely.

Rose nodded in quiet acknowledgment while her thoughts were still tangled.

...

The morning of the marquees's arrival arrived sooner than she expected.

Rose stood before her mirror, smoothing out the folds of her lavender gown.

The green dress was simple but elegant, its soft hue complementing the gentle curve of her neck and the delicate contours of her face and also matched with her eyes.

Her ginger hair had been styled intricately, with loose tendrils framing her features that added a touch of softness to her poised appearance.

As she adjusted her gown one last time, a gentle knock broke her concentration.

"My lady, the Marquess has arrived," her maid said as her voice was tinged with excitement.

Rose's chest tightened at the words, but she maintained her composure and nodded as she turned to face the door.

Rose's heart fluttered unexpectedly. She forced herself to take a steady breath while her fingers were grazing the smooth fabric of her gown as she adjusted it one final time.

Today would change everything.

As Rose stepped out of her chambers, the corridors seemed quieter than usual and the air was heavy with expectation.

Every step she took echoed softly against the polished floors, was a constant reminder of the moment awaiting her.

The grand hall loomed ahead and its tall doors were slightly ajar. She caught glimpses of movement beyond and the servants were bustling to prepare for the Marquess's formal reception.

Her maid, Matilda, followed close behind as her expression had a mixture of excitement and reassurance.

When Rose reached the drawing room, the butler announced her presence.

And the moment Rose entered the drawing room, Her gaze was immediately drawn to the man who now stood at the center of the room.

The Marquess. The Marquess of Westmarch.

A soft gasped escaped from her mouth.

Edmund Sinclair stood near the windows as his back was facing her. He seemed like a figure of quiet dignity. His dark coat fit perfectly, and his posture was that of a man used to command.

He was tall and his presence was commanding with sharp features and air around him was screaming authority and everything about him spoke of both nobility and quiet intensity.

When he turned, their eyes met, and for a fleeting moment, time seemed to still.

He was not what she had expected. There was no immediate warmth or charm in his gaze- only calm, collected observance.

He seemed to study her, taking in every detail of her appearance, yet his face remained unreadable and his emotions were masked behind a cool, distant demeanor.

Rose curtsied as her breath was slightly unsteady despite her best efforts to appear composed.

"Lady Rose, A pleasure to meet you", Edmund said in low voice and there was no warmth, no immediate pleasantries.

It was just simple formality as his tone was neutral, polite, also detached. As if their meeting was nothing more than a matter of course for him, not something to be anticipated or enjoyed.

It was the kind of greeting that confirmed to Rose that this marriage was not born of love or passion or something else but it was a just duty, a necessity or it was an unacceptable pressure from the royal decree.

"So, like me. He is not interested in this arranged marriage as well. Why don't he voice out or use his authority to change the decree?", Rose thought as she maintained her composure.

"Likewise, my lord," Rose replied as she was trying to keep her voice steady.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Rose felt the weight of the silence and the tension hung thick in the air.

He didn't smile, didn't offer any small talk. He simply stood there, observing her, and she could feel his gaze like a silent pressure against her skin.

Finally, he took a step forward as his movements were measured and deliberate.

"Your father speaks highly of you. I look forward to getting to know you better", he said as his voice was still as calm as ever.

His words were not unkind, but there was an impenetrable distance between them like a quiet barrier that Rose couldn't cross.

She nodded and was unsure of what else to say.

"Know me better? Firstly go and learn how to talk and express yourself. You are acting like a log right now", She thought but her transes were broken by his next statement.

"We shall have a quiet dinner this evening. I trust that will be agreeable", Edmund added as his gaze flickered for a moment toward her father, the Duke who had just entered the room.

'Dinner? Who wants to eat with you? I don't want to eat with you, hmmpp'.

Rose nodded again and the conversation turned back to the formalities of the evening.

But the Marquess's silence lingered in her mind, as did the unspoken weight of his presence.

He was distant, yes, but there was something about him that intrigued her -a coldness, an aloofness that only seemed to deepen the mystery of who he was.

"Let me find out more about you, Marquees Edmund who looks similar to my ex-husband but I know you are not him. He was never cold like you. He was a jolly person", Rose thought and compared her ex-husband to Edmund while looking down at the floor, causing Edmund to frown slightly at her current action.

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