Chapter 3- The First Meeting With the Duke

PAIGE

It's evening, and I'm in my room getting ready for the ball in the Palace.

“I have to devise a plan to get out of my engagement with Christian,” I think to myself while my maid does my hair.

I have an idea, but it will be quite a gamble, since I have the intention of changing the original storyline. It's going to be tricky.

In the original story, Paige Rimestone is a side character, not the Heroine of the story, the actual Heroine is Paige's best friend and she's out studying abroad, and she doesn’t return till after Paige's death, there she investigates in the process sparking a love flame in the heart of the cold Duke.

But

I'm going to have to take matters into my own hands if I'm going to change my fate. “I'll just make some changes, nothing serious, “ I think to myself.

I start strategising. “The only way out of this is getting help from a more superior noble, but only one comes to mind--Noah Wingknight,” I think to myself.

Paige never met Noah in the novel. I'm not sure if an encounter with him will affect the following course of events. I'm still weighing my options.

***

At the ball

The palace ballroom was a world of light and sound. A thousand candles burned in great glass holders, making everything glow. Their light shone off the gold trim on the walls and the jewels in the ladies' hair.

The room was a sea of people. Women in wide, colorful silk skirts twirled as they danced. Men in dark, smart coats bowed and led them through the steps. Their shoes tapped on the polished floor in time with the music from the violins.

Everyone was talking and laughing. Servants wove through the crowd, holding trays of shiny glasses filled with wine. The air was warm and smelled of perfume and beeswax from the candles. It was beautiful, loud, and full of life.

There he was, with a smile that caught the eye of men, women, and children. A smile that looked more judgmental than humble. A simple saying, “I'm better than you… you have no business with me”.

I take quick glances at him, hoping that he will be alone soon, but that's just wishful thinking, given that it's Noah. Every woman threw themselves at him. Yet, he remained uninterested in all their green light.

The party was now at its loudest and most lively point.

The musicians began to play a faster, happier song. Soon, almost everyone was dancing, moving quickly across the floor in time with the music.

The talking and laughter grew much louder, almost drowning out the band. People were smiling, clapping, and calling out to one another. The energy in the room felt electric and exciting. The celebration had truly begun.

I notice him walking out of the party towards the open courtyard. “That's my cue,” I say to myself.

I saw him moving through the crowd, and I slowly began to follow. I didn't hurry.

I kept a comfortable distance, pausing sometimes to seem interested in a conversation nearby or to admire a large flower arrangement. I held my champagne glass lightly, trying to look calm.

I pretended to look at the details on the wall tapestries, all while keeping him in the corner of my eye. When he finally stopped near the fountain, I took a slow breath and walked over.

I was about to break the silence.

“Is there a reason why you're following me?” His calm but cold voice breaks the silence as he turns around, his eyes parsing through me like he was sizing me up.

“Pardon me, your grace, I'm Paige Rimestone, daughter of Jude Rimestone.” I curtsy, trying to keep my composure.

I didn't think of what I would do if I met him so I searched my arsenal, which is my mind, for my options.

“I've heard of your family…do you have business with me Miss Rimestone? “ he gives me one of those fake smiles he hands to everyone.

“No but, I've come to make you a proposal…or should I say I've come to strike a deal with you,” I say with confidence, I had no idea I had.

Noah's agenda in this story is to tear down the aristocratic monarchy that is this kingdom's foundation, and I happen to know this because I've read the book. The nobles want to make a system where no noble will be completely under their control, but Noah is against this.

All the paperwork to make this rule a reality is read but something, the most crucial thing is missing–THE ROYAL SEAL

“A deal you say?” His face expressionless

“Yes, a deal,” I reply, trying not to be too intimidated by him.

“And you think we can do business why?” He tone shirt to one of annoyance.

I try as much as I can not to make a fool of myself, since I know exactly what I'm going to do. His expression shows that he is not interested in dealing with me so I have to resort to my last resort.

Blackmail.

“I think you would want to hear me out…,” I sound unbothered by his annoyance. I look at my nails, then back at him, “as it concerns a certain royal seal,” I say with more confidence than I had in my new life combined.

I watch as his expression shifts from annoyance to shock, then quickly to indifference. I knew I was getting somewhere.

“Paige! What are you doing here, I saw you walking out of the ball,” I turned to see that it was Christian, my betrothed

“He just had to show up while I was making my deal,” I say to myself. Then I get an Epiphany.

I grab Noah by the arm and stand close to him in a very intimate way, “I'm so sorry, Christian, I should have told you. Noah, and I have been seeing each other”.

I watch the blood drain from Christian's face as he hears this, Noah was no different, but still stayed indifferent.

I gave Noah the look that says Play along or else. He looked shocked but intrigued.

“You…you can't do this, Paige!” Christian says, obviously in disbelief.

Noah decides to play along after the loo I gave him.

“She's right, we are seeing each other and I plan to marry her, so don't bother her again,” He says as he wraps one hand around my waist.

Christian's face showed his displeasure. “This isn't over,” he stormed off.

It was time for me to go. My carriage and guard arrive.

“I'll see you soon, your grace.” I curtsy.

“Make sure you take care of her,” he says to the guard. The guard nods and the carriage moves.