Contract with the Devil

*FLASHBACK*“Honey, wait here, okay?” the woman with eyes that were exactly like Mia’s said to her, making her sit on the bench, with little Lily by her side. “Take care of your sister. We'll be back pretty soon.”Mia nodded, although she had a very bad feeling inside her childish heart. They were supposed to travel somewhere else, she didn’t know exactly where, since her parents didn’t tell her. But it was okay. She was going to be a bigger girl and take care of her little sister—who was no more than a one year old baby. She waited and waited, and two trains had already departed. Mia was nervous, and everything got worse when little Lily started to cry, out of hunger, no doubt. “Shh, shh…” Mia tried to make the small kid be quiet, but that was not possible. Soon, someone approached them. “Little girl, where are your parents?” the guard asked, frowning. “I… I don’t know. Mommy said she would buy the tickets with daddy,” Mia answered, and the furrow in the man’s brows deepened. “I

The world was spinning, and, soon, everything became black. Mia could hear murmurs in a distance, and within seconds, she was finally able to understand what was being said. “She needs to rest!” that was Lily talking. “I know, but the Grand Duke is still…”“I don’t give a damn about him!” Lily said between greeted teeth, irritably. “What should I tell him, then?” Mr. Gordon asked, panicking. “I…” Mia tried to speak, but someone’s hand was on her shoulder. “No, Mia! Stay there!” Mia opened her eyes and her vision was still blurred, but she could tell that her little sister was worried. “I have to talk to him,” Mia said, and despite her sister trying to hold her in bed, she sat up. “Sorry, Lily, we cannot leave the Grand Duke waiting now, can we?” Lily made a face and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “He is inconsiderate. He saw you were unwell and yet stayed around. He should have asked someone to come check on you later. That would be the right thing to do!” “Unfortu

Ball day arrived and Mia was a nervous wreck. At least the Grand Duke didn't continue visiting after handing over the invitation, giving her a few days to breathe easy.“Oh, Mia! It's terrible!" Lily said, walking out of her room with a towel on her head.“What happened, my dear?” Mia asked, looking at the towel. "Lily...""It was an accident!" Lily said and her eyes glistened with the tears she was trying to hold back. For Lily to cry over something related to her appearance meant that whatever had happened, was serious."Let me take a look at that." Mia asked, taking a step forward, but Lily shook her head tearfully and walked away.“I can't go to the Ball looking like this! can't!" She ran into hert room and locked herself in there. Mia took a deep breath.She stopped in front of Lily's door, raised her hand, took another breath, and knocked twice.“Lily, my love, let me see it. Maybe it can be fixed!”"No!" was Lily's rude reply.“Lily Chapman, open that door right now!” Mia comma

Inside the carriage, Radna was sitting next to Mia.“It’s to balance better!” Lily had said, after all, her dress was much more voluminous and that would make up for Radna's size.Mia said nothing, she wasn't in the mood. Radna took what Lily said in an attempt to please her. And when he saw how she smiled, he thought he was succeeding.Mia's leg brushed against his every now and then, and as the carriage gave a slight jolt, her hand, seeking support, settled right on Radna's thigh, and Radna swallowed hard.In that human body, with human desires and sensations, he had no way of controlling his reactions. Mia's touch was like she was on fire and he wanted nothing more than to get burned.'I must be losing my mind!' he thought, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Mia, who was staring at her hands in her lap. She was clearly nervous.“Sister, the day seems to be excellent for a picnic. Too bad we didn't bring anything to eat…” Lily commented and Mia gave her a sideways look. Lily w

The next week, Ewald didn’t take Radna’s words seriously. He visited Mia every single morning and, of course, rumors of a possible engagement were circulating. During breakfast, Randal kept glancing at Radna, who didnt touch his food. “What is bothering you, brother?” Radna ws not listening and Randal had to call him two more times, until one of the servants poked him. He looked around and found his brother, the King, staring at him with an eyebrow lifted. “I’m sorry, what did you say?” Randal put his cuttery on the table and smiled. “Why are you so distracted? Is it because of a woman?” Randal asked. He knew Radna had been visiting the Chapman residence quite often. “Yes.” Radna answered. “One of the Miss Chapmans, perhaps?”“Yes.” “Which one?’ Randal asked and smirked, but Radna just smiled at him and got back to eating. “Oh, come on, brother!”“No.”Randal knew better than anyone not to keep pushing Radna. As much as they were twins, Randal didn’t have different eye-color