~Nyx~ Today is the day that Duke Noc will be here. I would be a liar if I said it wasn’t going to hurt to see him with Josephine. My time at his estate had caused me to grow fond of him. I guess I hadn’t realized my feelings for him until I heard of the proposed marriage between them. I got up as a maid who also didn’t care for me entered. She was a close friend of Ariel’s. Though she wasn’t verbal with her abuse but did small things to humiliate the one she picked on. Which tended to be me. If I remembered right her name was Brooke. I sat down in front of my vanity so Brooke could brush my hair. She ripped through my hair with the brush. Making my scalp ache and hurt but I bit my lip. I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of me being in pain. After ten grueling minutes she had braided my hair into a nice updo. Little stands of my wild hair fell in curls along the sides of my face. She helped me dress in a simple dress. It had a cream top and a red satin skirt that fell down to

-Nyx- I quickly strode to the house to wash myself for dinner. I was going to be late if I didn't hurry. And I knew my father would not be happy about that. Once in my room I washed my hands and face. Drying my face quickly I headed down stairs for dinner. I entered the dining room to see I was one of the last ones to arrive. Father's unruly gaze fixated on me. It was clear he was pissed but holding it in. He couldn't ruin his perfect reputation as the perfect man. He made the public thinking he was this loving doting father but that was far from the truth. Father gave me a warning glare before I took my seat. Once we were all seated the meal was called in. It was tomato basil soup tonight. One of my favorites, Yareha, made the best soup ever. My mouth watered as it was served. My father prayed before taking the first bite queuing that everyone else may eat now. I wasted no time grabbing some fresh baked bread from the many bowls in front of me. I dipped it in the soup before ginger

-Noc- I couldn't take my eyes off of her, she was very beautiful. Thorn had sent me a letter a day after we arrived. It said we needed to talk soon. Since it was almost the end of the day so it would have to wait tomorrow. I settled into bed to go to sleep, I was going to be getting up pretty early tomorrow. I drifted off with her lovely face on my mind. ~Next Day~ I rised before the sun had even risen. Dressed in a dark gray cloak I slipped out of the manor and to the stables. The stable hand had my horse ready to go. I mounted her and kicked for her to run. She took off at a quick gait** toward the castle. The air was cool and the fog was heavy. I took in the fresh air. I felt like I was sufficating in that manor. The only one keeping me sane was Lady Nyx. As I entered the castle I halted and dismounted my horse handing her off to a palace stable boy. I entered the grand palace walking to the gardens that Thorn told me to meet him in. As I entered I seen him standing there in is

-Nyx- I woke up with a swollen face. I cried majority of the night. I would fall asleep but it never lasted long enough with all my tossing and turning. I felt exhaused, and my body hurt from my restlessness. As dawn broke I decide it was futile trying to sleep. I slipped out of my bed and headed for my shower. The words Noc had said kept echoing through my mind. I didn't understand any of it. He was engaged to my sister and he knew that I was not really sickly. He knew that my father invented that cover to hid what he had done. And yet he wanted her over me. He could have insisted that he wanted me. Instead of playing these games with my head. Between him and the crowned prince I felt like I was being tugged around like a rag doll. I wasn't something to play with. I shut off the water and stormed out to dress myself. I needed a walk in the garden. The walls of this manor made me feel as if I was suffocating. I quickly dressed in a simple dress. I prefered it this way anyway. All th