Chapter 1

Idle chatter and clanking of glasses against one another set the tone for the glamorous evening party. As Lords and Ladies flamboyantly took to the dance floor, enjoying the sound of the music to it's fullest.

In every corner of the room, stood fairly aged Mama's, who kept their keen gazes on all the singles in attendance. And standing beside them, were their overly groomed daughters, struggling against a tight corset.

As the helps passed about the tray of drinks, so did these women freely spread any form of gossip at their disposal.

At the centre of it all, stood the subject of discussion, hand in hand, engaged in a practised definition of that they called...

The waltz.

"Keep your eyes on me when you're on the dance floor." A not so friendly voice chided me, barely looking into my eyes as she addressed me.

I had certainly displeased him.

First it was the length of my black hair that displeased him, and after, was the lustre from my sparkly silver dress. There was simply no pleasing this man, his scrunched up nose said it all.

He was disgusted by me.

"My apologies." I simply replied, tempted to remind him that he could take his own advice.

"I take it, you haven't been attending the dance classes I sponsored on your behalf?" He asked, whilst breaking away to twirl me as though I were a table top.

My brown eyes averted themselves from his intimidating gaze and fixed themselves on the flashy get up he had about him.

"It is not as though I haven't been attending, my schedule has been divided you see."

"Nothing can be more important than a woman knowing how to dance the waltz. Most especially my future bride." He strictly lectured, recieting his daily mantra into uninterested ears.

I faked a smile and melted into him, passing off as an idle couple, something I doubt we could be.

"Of course." I replied in haste, not wanting to let the efforts of those who dressed me up go to an awful waste.

The dull music matched my mood, I could feel my feet asleep from this listless choreography. I was on the verge of even yawning in the open.

"Have you given it some thought?" I sheepishly chimed into the conversation, keeping both my fingers crossed for the best possible response from my fiance.

"Whatever do you mean?"

I scoffed inwardly, seeing as he had chosen to feign ignorance and completely avoid the conversation.

"I'm speaking of me, becoming a doctor for the military."

His countenance swiftly shifted from a bored expression towards one of discomfort. The change was so obvious, that some people started whispering behind us.

"Don't make me laugh Agatha, becoming a doctor isn't common between women. You could catch the plague!" He hastily told me, repeating the same reason as he did that time before.

"And more so, under the military, have you been possessed?!" Ace, my fiance failed to keep his voice low, and almost drew a scene to the two of us.

"Why? It isn't unheard of, and you said so yourself, that I have unrivaled knowledge of medicine." I challenged in the most meek way I could.

"As a wife, and not as a doctor. If anyone should use you, then it should be your husband and children." He so shamelessly spat out, daring to openly say the word, 'use' as though I were some thing.

"I agree my duties as a wife and mother are to come first, but surely I can be of more service to society." The conversation had taken a familiar turn, we were certainly relieving the same scenario.

And each time, I found myself losing.

"To society? Agatha, need I remind you, that you are in no place to speak. Before you pay your debt to society, let your father pay off his debts first. Don't forget the circumstances in which this alliance was formed." His tone sounded rash towards the end, his hand firmly gripped my sides, causing me to whimper in pain.

At the mention of my father's debt, I instantly knew I had lost the battle with him and silently accepted my defeat, by keeping silent.

Satisfied with his win, he spread his lips into a content smile and continued to dance, bringing up the most pointless conversation topics.

All I did, was answer with a nod, half listening to what he said, flashing the widest smile I could at him, till the soul crushing music came to an abrupt end.

We both took a bow to each other, then took one to the musicians and finally to all the guests at our engagement dinner.

"If you'll excuse me..." I half said, not waiting a second to receive his consent to take a stroll to clear my head.

He might have not heard me, or rather, he didn't bother to listen, because the moment our little dance ended, he loosened his grip on me and glued his eyes to the ladies in attendance.

Utilizing this, I quietly slipped away from the ballroom and headed straight to the large fountain located right outside the Villa.

There, I could have some tranquility, even if it were only just for a bit. The garden was large, and the mesmerizing fountain at the centre helped to soothe my tensed nerves.

To a minimum.

"If anyone should use me? Use? What does he take me for?!" I voiced out my thoughts, angrily curling my fingers into a fist.

I paced about the open area, mimicking his domineering tone till I found myself calmer. I rested my back against a tree, and took in a deep breath.

"Possessed by the devil? What in hell's name is so wrong with wanting to be a physician? Is it that abominable?" I reflected to myself, running my anxious fingers through my hair.

I took in a deep breath and relaxed my tensed shoulders, unaware of what line of action to take next.

"No one is here, I believe we're at liberty to speak." I heard a familiar voice say in whispers, from a close distance.

"Are you certain?" Another voice I could easily make out sounded, as their footsteps approached the tree I had my back against.

I was tempted to jump out from where I stood and alert them of my presence, but my memory suddenly sharpened, placing a face to the voices.

"You were certainly very invested in your dance this evening, I take it that you've fallen head over heels for that witch?" The unforgiving tone belonging to one woman alone voiced out, in a spiteful manner.

"Hardly. I felt degraded to even hold the hand of such a low class wrench. It's all tolerance my love." Ace's clear cut voice replied hers, sending a cold shiver down my spine.

Just who were they referring to?

"I find it hard to believe, you've known her since childhood, it is only natural that you two were to wed. Do you take me for a fool?" The ginger haired Valeria asked, refraining from placing a lid on her words.

I nearly stumbled upon my dress and gave away my cover, though I doubt these lovers would care enough to notice me.

"You are the only apple of my eyes, and do not forget I'm only putting up with her on your request." Ace mentioned, causing me to raise a suspicious brow.

"But my patience is wearing thin, break off the alliance already and have that woman's name destroyed. What else are you waiting for?"

I covered my mouth with my right palm, holding in my gasp. Never had I imagined that the man whom I called friend had such Ill intentions towards me.

"Have some more perseverance, wait till midnight, when I announce it to all our guests. Just exercise a bit more patience my love." He softly spoke into her ears, gently playing with her ginger locks of hair.

"I've arranged a lover for her amongst the guests to claim she has been unfaithful and deflowered. After this humiliation, no one shall ever dare to lend the Bellemere's any financial aid. They'll die repaying debt." He furthermore went on to say without any form of shame at all.

"And then, we shall be wed." He told her, then planted a youthful kiss on her thin lips, sealing their evil deed.

*Thunder*

"I think it shall rain, let's retire back into the mansion." He offered, taking her by the glove, leading her towards the brightly lit house.

I stood in place unable to move or digest the shock I had just received.

The memories flashed before my mind, painful flashes compromising of my father and mother forcing me into this alliance. The images of all my medical books burnt to ashes along with my dreams all skimmed across my eyes.

If having to give up on my dreams wasn't the final blow to my resolve, then this reveal certainly was.